Candidate for National President Elect

Janey Davies
CPC Regina Wascana

Dear Fellow Progressians:

In September at National Convention I will be asking for your vote for National President Elect. I would like to tell you a little about myself.

I have been happily married for 31 years to Evan. We have 4 children (3 girls, 1 boy), 3 adorable grandchildren, 2 outstanding step-grandchildren.

Hobbies – reading, golf, Red Hat Beaches, family travel, dinner party group.

My life outside of Progress:

• Work full time as an Office Manager for Regina Catholic School System

• Director of Research, Special Olympics Canada Board (2 years)

• Regina Beach Town Alderman (6 years)

• Lay Presider for St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church

• Children’s Liturgy Teacher

• Member of the William Booth Special Care Home/Regina Wascana Grace Hospice Community Council

• Involved in local community associations

• Founding Member of the Last Mountain Lake Cultural Centre

• Lakeshore Museum Board

• Local fundraising events

Personally speaking, I have been known to be passionate about the things I do. I believe without passion there is no drive. The people I have met in Progress and many other areas I have worked in, that are successful at what they do, have passion. Of course, some passions are greater than others. I joined Progress because I attended a meeting where I saw that passion – that drive to do for others. I see that every time I attend a Progress meeting, regional meeting and especially Convention. I see people with passion, fellow Progressians that I have met from all across Canada with a passion for what they believe in.

I was born into a family of 10 children. Like most families I know we did not have a lot of material things growing up but what we did have a lot of was love and appreciation for life. We also have a sister with an intellectual disability. She was struck by a car at the age of 6 and suffered severe injuries. Now, in as much as that is a tragedy, the end result was a family who has spent our lives working to improve the lives of individuals with an intellectual disability. I hope never to see someone struggle to be accepted like she had to. We have come a long way since those days. God works in mysterious ways. I believe I was put here to do a job and that job was to be a small part of the success of Progress and my friends, we are a huge success.

Where do I want to see Progress go?
We are only as strong as our weakest link – and that in my opinion is profile. We have outstanding members who do outstanding deeds and raise outstanding amounts of money all across Canada that are known by only a small percentage of Canadians. I believe we need to increase our profile through a National advertising campaign. I commend the clubs that advertise their events and don’t become complacent with selling tickets to the same-old-same-old, but once the event is over so is the advertising. I believe we need to combine our resources and use them to build a profile that will be very recognizable always and wherever we go. I plan to work diligently to this end.

As National President Elect it is the mandate of that position to work on increasing membership and I feel that membership-building is a very club-oriented chore. People join Progress for different reasons but after some research I have discovered most often that reason is because of the charity the club supports. I joined Progress because of that. I did not know a soul in Progress but because of the charity I wanted to belong. Further to that, I know Progress offers more than just raising funds and doing community work and each club is specific in their interclub and social activities. Again, another reason some join a club. I would like to work alongside the National Vice Presidents and Zone Governors with individual clubs on structuring a campaign that would profile their club and entice someone to join their particular club.

I also believe strongly that we need to do a better job of retaining members and involving them at different levels of Progress (if not board members, then committees to National positions). If elected, I will personally select advisors for the position of NPE and work towards a program of member retention and involvement.

With your support, I look forward to working on these challenges over the next year and then as President of this great organization.

I Believe in Progress, in Progressians!

I look forward to seeing you in St. John’s.

Yours for Progress,
Janey Davies