From the Editor's Desk

By Sharon Ward
Director of Communications
  

Holy Cow, man!  You guys are just full of news.  22 pages in this issue!  And I thought I would average about 12.  This is not a complaint.  Your response shows the vibrancy within Progress in Canada.  And some of my regular reporters don’t have much or anything in this issue.  Keep the good news coming.

I was all set to go with a cover story, but the Quidi Vidi story needed to be on the cover for this issue.  Crystal did it!  I don’t know how many times I heard that Quidi Vidi was not to be counted out and now we have the proof!  I had the pleasure of meeting new member Sylvia Harnett at the Eastern Region Convention this weekend and if she and Crystal are representative of the energy coming from this club, then watch out.

The regional convention was, as you might expect, a good time to see Progress from different perspectives.  Pictou County’s Debbie VanSickle talked to me about the fact that the Pictou County Club works in a rural environment with several towns over a broad landscape.  Their approach to fundraising and community service is very different from the approach of a Halifax based or Calgary based club.  Some clubs serve a suburban area, the needs and resources of which would be different again.

It’s good to know the parameters under which your club will thrive, and the market which you are serving.  Many clubs would not be able to pull off a stellar event like Halifax’s Sports Celebrity Dinner, nor should they expect to.

Still, there are things common to all events that can be applied as needed, so getting together and sharing ideas really does a lot of good.  Which is a devious segue to National Director Rosalie Courage’s article on sponsorship and convention.  Rosalie has given us some very good advice in this column and the highlight is the invitation to bring your sponsorship challenges and solutions to the National Convention in Saskatoon in September.  Take a good look at this opportunity.  Do your homework and come prepared.

Finally, I invite those who are interested in serving Progress nationally to take a good look at the positions available in September (including this one!) and submit your name for consideration.  Serving on your national board is a fabulous opportunity to grow and learn more about the club as a whole.  If you’re interested in this position, email me with questions.  I’m only too happy to answer them.  The deadlines for my last 2 issues are: July 8 for July/August and September 2 for September/October.

Ciao for now,
Sharon Ward