Friday, May 20, 2011

OPIRG Brock Weekly Events Newsletter



Submitted by lisakretz on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 15:22
OPIRG Circle Logo
OPIRG BROCK
WEEKLY EVENTS NEWSLETTER
May 23-29
People from all walks of life are invited to participate in the research, education, and action facilitated through OPIRG Brock – including not only students but interested community members. All events listed occur in St. Catharines unless indicated otherwise. For a map of the Brock Campus please see: http://www.brocku.ca/parking-services/campus-map. To learn more about OPIRG Brock please see our website at: www.opirgbrock.org. To submit events for inclusion in the newsletter please email opirgbu@gmail.com the Thursday of the week before the event; we’d love to hear from you!
URGENT REQUEST: SAVE THE INFOSHOP FUND!
Hello OPIRG-Brock supporters,
We sincerely hope that this message finds you well and enjoying these early (wet) days of Spring!
As we look back on this past year at our downtown InfoShop, we have plenty of reasons to celebrate. By bringing like-minded, eco/politically-conscious folks together, we are making our local communities and world a better place for ALL. We also have much to look forward to. But in order to keep the InfoShop open and accessible to everyone, we need your help now.
In the last year we have made a concerted effort to fundraise and, to date, we have raised approximately $2,000, and have $1,200 more committed. Unfortunately fundraising efforts have been diffuse, and we need to focus our efforts on a few key fundraising initiatives if we are to cover the cost of the InfoShop – which is more than $10,000 annually.
Fundraising will be a big part of the upcoming year for us as we work to make the InfoShop a sustainable space. An annual fundraising plan is in the works and we are always working towards striking an ideal balance between keeping our services accessible to all, and raising enough funds to sustain the Infoshop.
This is a time sensitive issue. We need to give our landlord notice by July 1, 2011, about the upcoming year's lease. If we do not raise an additional $6,800, we will have to close up the InfoShop at its current location.
To this end, today, we are launching the Save the InfoShop fundraising campaign. And we need your help to make it a success. Throughout May and June, with the help of our committed volunteers and supporters like you, we hope to bring in enough funds to keep the InfoShop open in downtown St. Catharines! So please help to spread the word.
In order to help support the campaign we have developed a letter for requesting donations which our volunteers can use. We have also created a brochure about the InfoShop and the services that it provides to students and the local community. Checks must be made out to Ontario PIRG, and we can provide charitable receipts that may be claimed come tax season. Please drop us a line (at 688-5550 ex. 4430) or email (opirgbu@gmail.com) if you require any more information on any of the resources listed above.
We are also reaching out to our community partners to help us be creative about raising funds. If you have an idea, suggestion, or lead for us to follow up on, please let us know. We need your help to make this campaign a success, and we have seven weeks to do it in!
Please help to keep the InfoShop open so that students and community members can continue to enjoy the unique programming around social justice and environmental issues that we provide in this space.
Sincerely,
The OPIRG Staff and Volunteer Board of Directors
Volunteer Opportunities!
OPIRG InfoShop Community Garage Sale!
Are you just starting your Spring cleaning? Do you have un-needed goods cluttering your space? Consider donating them to the OPIRG InfoShop Community Garage Sale! This will be a fundraising event to keep the InfoShop, an important resource for social justice and environmental initiatives, in our downtown core!
DATE: June 4th 2011
TIME:10am to 4pm
LOCATION: 10 Summer Street (Beside Rapid City Cycle)
If you have items you would like to donate to our Community Garage Sale please email OPIRG at opirgbu@gmail.com.
OPIRG Summer Music Event
OPIRG Brock and CFBU Summer Music Event: June 18th
OPIRG and CFBU have been hard at work getting the ball rolling for a big June music show at the OPIRG InfoShop. This will be a kick off to some serious summer fundraising to save the Infoshop! If you are …
-a musician interested in playing a set
-a volunteer looking to get involved with organizing, promoting the event, etc
-a baking enthusiast (oh yes , there will be a bake sale!)
Contact us! Email: opirgbu@gmail.com
Food Not Bombs Needs Food
Food Not Bombs - In need of food donations!
Food not Bombs is a deeply valued group of dedicated volunteers working hard to feed vulnerable St Catharines community members. Besides holding regular servings of free vegan food every Sunday in Montabello Park, Food Not Bombs also raises awareness about Canada’s military spending and its connection to food prices, availability, and issues of sustainability. If you are interested in donating food to Food not Bombs, or have contacts to pass along, please email: foodnotbombs-niagara@hotmail.com
Migrant Worker Bike Collection
The Ontario Public Interest Research (OPIRG) group is gearing up for its second annual Migrant Worker Bike Collection! After a successful year of collection and a strong relationship between the Virgil Migrant Worker Support Center and OPIRG we are excited to start again!
Please take a minute to look at this Cogeco coverage of last year’s bike ride delivery to the Virgil centre:
http://www.opirgbrock.org/node/710
Often migrant workers find themselves living in very rural communities with no means of transportation. This makes it difficult to access necessities like grocery stores, post offices for communicating with family back home, and for simply getting to know their new communities.
We are asking people to look into their sheds, garages, and around their homes and apartments to dig out old bikes they no longer use and donate them to our bike drive!
We will take care of fixing up the bikes and making them road safe!
Bikes can be donated by contacting opirgbu@gmail.com
Please help us spread this message to your friends and family.
Food Not Bombs Volunteers Needed for Saturday afternoons and Sundays
Food Not Bombs - Niagara is starting up again after our winter hibernation! Food servings will be happening every Sunday in Montebello Park. If you would like to help, please contact us about the following. (Or you could just show up; but letting us know is always helpful.):
Food pick-up: Saturdays at 2pm at the market (2 volunteers needed/week)
Cooking: Sundays at 12-2:30 at 10 Bellevue (3 + volunteers needed/week)
Serving: Sundays at 2:45-5pm at Montebello (3 + volunteers needed/week)
Clean-up: Sundays 5:30-6pm at 10 Bellevue (2 volunteers needed/week)
Outreach: help w/ posters (there are some currently at the OPIRG InfoShop at 10 Summer Street), flyers, zines, information, help w/ media (notices in BrockPress, perhaps classifieds?, rants in the view, help with the webpage, email, or fb site, etc.)
Inventory: We are always in need of basic food items to help spruce up donations. Contact us to help.
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=8426983118
Email:
foodnotbombsniagara@gmail.com
Website:
http://foodnotbombs-niagara.weebly.com/
Website Aid Needed - Climate Action Niagara
Hi All, Climate Action Niagara is a local environmental group looking for a volunteer to upload content, articles and events to their website on a regular basis. Approx 2-3 hours per week.
Contact can.info@cogeco.net if interested.
Events!
Free! Documentary Screening: BBC Dispatches, Africa’s Last Taboo
Tuesday May 24, 8 pm, OPIRG Brock InfoShop, 10 Summer St.
This documentary addresses how gay people in Africa are facing increased persecution from governments, religious organizations and their own communities.
To help raise funds for the OPIRG InfoShop, we have gourmet vegan pizza and donuts available for sale each Tuesday! Local Summer Street shops Bella Noella's and Rise Above Bakery will be supplying the food for us, and all proceeds will go towards keeping the InfoShop running.
Critical Mass
Friday May 27, 9:30am at 10 Summer Street, and 5pm at Montebello Park
Put the Fun between your legs this May 27th 2011!
Critical Mass is back in St Catharines and it’s happening the last Friday of every month! There will be two rides every last Friday:
First Ride: 9:30am, meet in the OPIRG InfoShop (10 Summer St)
This is a 45 minute bike ride to Virgil, helping to deliver bikes to Migrant Workers (we have a secured a ride back).
Second Ride: 5pm, meet in Montabello Park for a downtown Critical Mass ride!
Let’s take to the streets! No one is the leader of Critical Mass, so get out there and start telling people all about the coolest monthly alternative transportation event in town! Make your own posters, and contact various media outlets. This is participatory democracy in action!
Other Newsworthy Notes!
OVER 100,000 PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES NOT GOING TO LANDFILL AS A RESULT OF WATER FOUNTAIN USE IN THE WALKER COMPLEX AT BROCK UNIVERSITY!
The installation of a new water fountain in the Walker Complex at Brock university - which has a built in electronic counter of how many plastic water bottles are not going to landfill as a result of people filling up their reusable water containers – has resulted in over 100,000 plastic water bottles being saved from going to landfill! Sounds like a good reason for having more water fountains available!
FreeSkool Classes are here! See the amazing courses available below!
Ceol Gaeilge as Damhsa - Irish Music and Dance
Instructors: Sam Krawec & Laurel Walsh
Contact: samkrawec@riseup.net
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 7-8pm
Location: InfoShop, 10 Summer Street
This class provides an opportunity for anyone interested in Irish music, dancing, or Celtic culture generally to meet up and learn some fun tunes and step dances! To participate in the music making you will need a penny whistle in D. They are available in most music stores for about $10; for example Ryson's Music on Court Street has a fine selection. No background or experience is required, all are welcome to grow and learn together, starting right from basic scales and steps. As we get more comfortable with the music we'll introduce a variety of common tunes and take any requests (The Lord of the Rings music? That whistle part from The Titanic?). Students can choose to spend the hour focusing on pennywhistle or step dancing if they prefer one over the other, but classes will end with everyone playing together - music and dance are inseparable!
Traditional music and dance bring people together from all walks of life, of all ages and for different reasons. These elements are the foundation of a sustainable community.
KindCycle
Instructor: Ben Krawec
Day/Time: Thursdays, 1-8pm
Instructor: benkrawec@gmail.com
Kind Cycle is a community based organization run with support from OPIRG. Kind Cycle’s primary goal is to ensure that the disadvantaged members of our society have the mobility they need in order to thrive independently. Kind Cycle does this by receiving donated bicycles and fixing them up so that they can be given away. The project was begun as part of an effort to ensure that the migrant workers in the Niagara Region have bikes in good working order to increase their quality of life, and that remains our primary focus. However, we also give bicycles to members of the local community, as well as offer free repairs and instruction on bike maintenance and repair. In conjunction with our primary goal we hope to encourage optimism and community bonding by providing a welcoming space for people to volunteer their time and talents for a greater purpose. We also seek to support a transition to a more sustainable, equitable and affordable way of life by providing environmentally sustainable transportation, showing initiative and making a direct and tangible demonstration of good will. This year Kind Cycle volunteers repaired numerous bikes, many of which were delivered to Migrant workers. The program also taught valuable skills to those wanting to learn bike repairs and maintenance. The InfoShop houses the Kind Cycle project. Donations to the Kind Cycle project for bike repairs help contribute to the “Sustain the InfoShop” fund.
KindCycle needs more teachers and students! We are in need of people who are either already experienced in bike repair or are eager to learn. We also need funding, parts, tools, bikes, and storage. This is a great opportunity great opportunity to help Migrant workers, learn bike repair, and build community.
If you are coming in to learn how to fix bikes it is recommended that you bring your bike for learning on, but it isn’t mandatory.
The Art of Breaking Boundaries
Instructor: Mike DiRisio
Contact: mike.dirisio@gmail.com
Day/Time: Thursdays 8-10 pm
Location: InfoShop, 10 Summer Street (right behind Pizza Pizza on St. Paul Street)
This class provides an opportunity for anyone interested in creating visual art to get together, meet and learn from other artists, and experiment with new techniques and media. No artistic background or experience is required, as each class will begin with the basics. Mediums and techniques may include drawing, painting, sculpture, found object, collage, printmaking (as we have access to a silkscreen) or anything else we can dream up. Each week will focus on a particular medium or combination of media (please contact instructor for schedule). As we get more comfortable with each medium, the class will act as a space to be creative and push boundaries. For more advanced students, we will also discuss ways in which the arts can address social and political issues, and act as a powerful means for social change. Please bring art supplies with you, as there will be a limited number of extra materials. In the first class we will discuss which media and techniques we're all interested in, and make the schedule of weekly media. The schedule of weekly media will then be posted on the OPIRG website (under the description of the class.
Beginners Guitar Class
Instructor Jaimie Godard
Day/Time: every Friday of the month but the first one, 7-8 pm
This class is geared towards teaching the very basics of playing the guitar. My goal is to help students develop the skills necessary to eventually be able to teach themselves by practicing and learning songs. You do not need any knowledge of music theory or how to play guitar to take part in this class. You just need a guitar! I can also offer help getting started with bass, keys, or ukulele if anyone is interested. (BYOG) Bring your own guitar.
From Environmental Justice Toronto and the Indigenous Sovereignty and Solidarity Network:
Oil Spill in Lubicon Territory: When Pipelines Fail
Monday May 23rd, Doors open at 6:30 pm, Event starts 7 pm sharp, Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor St W (Bloor and Landsdowne), Toronto -
A discussion on the implications for Little Buffalo and how Toronto can support.
With special guest Melina Laboucon-Massimo from the community of Little Buffalo, Lubicon Cree Territory, Alberta.
On April 29th, 2011, the Plains All American pipeline burst and caused nearly 4.5 million liters of tar sands crude and diluent to spill uncontrollably out onto Lubicon traditional territory. The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) in Alberta failed to give adequate notice to the community of the spill or information on clean up efforts. In fact, during the first five days of the crisis, the ERCB sent the community just one fax report and failed to attend a community meeting, though were explicitly invited. Most of the community and Peace River region was unaware of the spill for days outside of rumors. However, children experienced nausea, burning eyes and headaches, forcing the school at Little Buffalo to be closed until May 10th. Corporate negligence, coupled with government inaction, compounded by the racism of indifference has left the community reeling. They have been forced now to take matters into their own hands.
The spill has been exacerbated by wildfires burning uncontrolled in Alberta. The community of Little Buffalo, and now the oil spill site, is located near these dangerous, uncontrolled fires. On May 15th, the company suspended clean up efforts because of the fires. Come learn from a discussion on the implications for Little Buffalo and find out how Toronto can support.
Please Join Us May 23rd
Doors open at 6:30 pm, event starts 7 pm sharp.
Toronto Free Galery
1277 Bloor St W (Bloor and Landsdowne)
Building is accessible.
For more information, please email Environmental Justice Toronto at ej.action@gmail.com or the Indigenous Sovereignty and Solidarity Network at iswtoronto@gmail.com
Event Supported by: Environmental Justice Toronto, Indigenous Sovereignty and Solidarity Network, UTERN and FES York University.
OPIRG-Carleton JOB POSTING: Position Available
Finance and Organisational Development Coordinator
The Ontario Public Interest Research Group – Carleton (OPIRG-Carleton) is seeking applications for a Financial and Organisational Development Coordinator. This is a 52-55 week, full-time contract position to cover a leave from approximately June 9th 2011-June 22nd 2012.
OPIRG-Carleton is a student funded and directed organization with a mandate to support research, education, and action on environmental and social justice issues. OPIRG-Carleton endeavours to foster a non-hierarchical working environment by following consensus decision-making processes. OPIRG-Carleton strives to be an anti-oppressive working environment
OPIRG-Carleton has a high turnover in volunteers and staff provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organisation. They carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the organization, assist volunteers in their activism, and provide connections to other activists and organizations. They have an awareness of and interest in issues relating to combating racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ableism and other forms of discrimination, and the ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. OPIRG-Carleton is a small office environment so staff work collaboratively.
Responsibilities:
Finances:
Manage the organization’s financial resources;
Responsible for complete financial management of the organization, including bookkeeping, budget setting, audit preparation, payroll, remittances, accounts payable, accounts receivable and so on;
Maintain financial systems and records and provide financial information;
Examine accounting records, perform financial analysis and prepare financial statements and reports;
Plan, prepare and administer the annual budget in consultation with the employer;
Provide regular financial reports to the employer and report financial concerns and irregularities promptly;
Schedule the annual audit and assists accountant with the auditing of the books;
Develop and deliver financial training to the Board of Directors;
Provide financial management training to volunteers and staff, as required;
Coordinate refund periods;
Communicate with Provincial bookkeeper and finance committee as required;
Write grant proposals.
Organisational & Board Development
Coordinate strategic planning, the development of annual goal plans and budget, and staff/board recognition;
Assist with regular, special and committee meetings of the Board, elections and participate in meetings as appropriate and/or required;
Assist the Board of Directors in board recruitment, orientation, placement, training, policy development, and local AGM preparation and facilitation;
Establish and maintain systems that support organizational learning and memory (e.g. overall filing systems, archives, operating manuals);
Supervise grant and work-study staff as required and/or appropriate;
Assist the Board of Directors in promotion and awarding of the Terry Cottam Research Bursary.
General Duties:
Submit timely documentation of work completed via staff reports;
Communicate with the employer on regular basis and attend meetings when required;
Participate with other staff and volunteers in the maintenance of regular office hours, cleaning, maintenance, and improvements;
Participate in general communications (mail, phone, fax, email) and organisational networking as required and/or appropriate;
Participate in regular staff meetings, performance reviews, and work plan development;
Acquire training for professional development as appropriate and/or required.
Support and assist staff & Board of Directors in fundraising/programming/coalitions as appropriate and/or required (e.g. Speakers Tours, Demonstrations, Radical Frosh activities, etc.);
Participate in programming to meet organizational anti-oppression/anti-racism goals as required and/or appropriate.
Provincial:
Attend Provincial meetings and participates in provincial network activities as required.
Qualifications
MUST have demonstrable:
Bookkeeping, payroll, budgeting and finance experience including use of simply accounting software program;
Administrative knowledge;
Knowledge and skills in accounting;
Strong understanding of financial analysis and budgeting processes;
Experience in managing financial resources;
Experience using business accounting, spreadsheet and word processing software;
Sound knowledge of the internet and email software;
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, peak workloads and meet deadlines;
Good judgement, discretion, tact and ability to deal with the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers in a diplomatic manner;
Very good organizational, interpersonal and communication skills;
Ability to work independently and contribute effectively in a team environment;
Additional assets include:
Website maintenance and updating an asset but not required;
Familiarity with social justice issues and experience with anti-oppression work also an asset;
Knowledge of the campus, local NGOs, social and environmental organizations and community organizations an asset.
Terms of employment
Salary: $20.01/hr (+ cost of living adjustment)
Hours of work: 30 hours / week, office hours 4 days a week (generally Monday thru Thursday), plus evenings and occasional weekend meetings and events. Possibility to increase hours to include a Friday work day depending on finances.
Ideal Start Date: Tuesday June 7th 2011
Staff are supervised by and responsible to a volunteer Board of Directors and unionized under CUPE Local 1281, with a 6 month probationary period.
How to Apply
OPIRG-Carleton welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and invites aboriginal people, people of colour, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people, transgendered people, transsexual people, intersexed people, working class people, single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and people with disabilities to apply.
We regret that the OPIRG office is not currently wheelchair accessible. It is only accessible by a stair case.
We encourage applicants to describe in their cover letter the contributions and experiences they, as individuals who identify with marginalized communities, would bring to OPIRG-Carleton.
Applicants must provide all of the following in order to be considered:
1) a cover letter explaining how they meet the required qualifications;
2) a resume;
2) 3 references and;
4) a brief statement, no longer than 300 words, on their views of power and oppression.
Only those invited for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place on or between June 3rd and 6th.
DEADLINE for applications: Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 at 1:00pm.
Application submission by email to opirg@carleton.ca is preferred. If using this method please send your application as a PDF document.
Alternatively applications can be submitted by mail:
Hiring Committee – OPIRG-Carleton
326 UniCentre, Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
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