Halifax Cornwallis

Submitted by Sharon Ward
CPC Halifax Cornwallis
  

An overnight success, after 17 years!
The 17th Annual Progress Women of Excellence Awards (WOE), held on November 23, sold out for the second year in a row! The club thought that last year’s sell out might be a one-of, but with a repeat in 2006, we are ready to call ourselves an overnight success and move forward from a confident base. This year, we also saw an increase in media coverage of our event, with more articles than any other year printed about the event and the women we honoured.

A contingent from CPC Halifax were present, all decked out in their tuxes, and helped us out by selling raffle tickets at the table. The grand prize was a “Heavenly Bed” from The Westin and the guys did a great job as usual. A big thanks from Halifax Cornwallis!

Charitable dollars are getting harder than ever to pull out of the community, so we are double pleased at selling out our event. The first 15 years, selling tickets was a painful ordeal and was the most stressful part of the whole event for the club. This year, like last year, we did not have to “sell” a ticket. The calls and emails came in going out. And we turned away many – too many to ignore. So for 2007, we are looking for a larger venue. We have to thank the staff and management of the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel for their incredible hospitality and service, and it is with regret that we must move on.

But move on we must. The need in our communities grows all the time. Government funding is getting more scarce daily. Not only do the organizations we support require more every year, but also, there are more groups out there looking for a helping hand.

Membership is growing as well. Lindy Hearn and Janet Davis joined us in September, and we have four new and one returning member lined up to be inducted at our Christmas Dinner later this week. There is a strong group also waiting in the wings in the New Year, so we should have no problem reaching our goal of 35 members this year.

In November, the club presented a cheque to Special Olympics Nova Scotia for $15,000, proceeds from our EastLink Cable TV Live Auction, which is broadcast across Nova Scotia.

Also in November, we donated contents for Christmas stockings, to be given out to homeless folks through several local churches. In addition, we donated Christmas Cards and stamps, and members to help address the cards to get them in the mail. Club members also donated tome to the Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle event, manning the pre-registration tables for two days previous to the event. Plans are in the works to get even more involved next year.

This week has been busy for the ladies of Halifax Cornwallis. On Monday night, a small “choir” of club members, associates and friends entertained the residents at Veterans Memorial Hospital with a program of Christmas Carols, and on Thursday night, the club presented Phoenix Youth Programs (PYP--our primary cause) a cheque for $40,000 (proceeds from WOE) along with a cheque for $500 to buy presents for the young residents of Phoenix House. The presentation was made at the annual Tree Trimming at the PYP emergency shelter.

Committees have already been struck for our events next year: Girls’ Night Out, slated for March 30; Eastlink Cable TV Live Auction on May 27 and WOE in November 2007. It is never too early to start planning and making improvements. May this festive season bring you and your families together in joy and love, and for whatever holiday you celebrate, Peace on Earth.