e-newsletter 13: Get People Talking About You!

A Message from the Co-operators Insurance Group

What’s New with Your Insurance Policy?

You may have recently received a renewal questionnaire package to complete for your insurance policy. These documents were either emailed or mailed directly to your Centre. The package contained:

2009 Renewal Questionnaire

Renewal Application for Non-Profit Directors and Officers Liability
Wrongful Dismissal Supplementary Questionnaire

During the year things may have changed at your childcare Centre: for example; the number of children may have changed, the number of teachers, or often the Directors and Officers/Board members may have changed. We kindly ask that you complete these documents and return them to us as soon as possible.

Sustainability – On Board with Our Partner PCPC

At the Co-operators we are sincere in our commitment to becoming a more sustainable organization and have implemented steps to help us accomplish this goal. This year on the 2009 Renewal Questionnaire we have asked that you provide us with ‘a contact email address.’ Doing little things through email can help us all in being more sustainable.

Insurance 101 – Do You Need Directors and Officer’s Liability Insurance?

Who needs it? Your volunteer directors do!

Directors and Officers may be personally sued for negligence, errors and omissions in their duties as officials of a Centre. This may often be for financial decisions you make as a Director or Officer. The Commercial General Liability policy does not cover such errors and omissions and therefore this coverage is necessary. For more information on this coverage, please contact:

Tim Kott (1.877.840.2450 extension 2437)
Nancy Lal (1.877.840.2450 extension 2429)
Anita Caswell (1.877.840.2450 extension 2426)

130 MacDonell Street
Guelph, Ontario N1H 6P8
Telephone (519) 824-4400
Fax (519) 826-0925

Reminder to Toronto member centres:

Police Reference Checks Procedure for Toronto Police Services

Recently, the Toronto Police Services Board announced changes to its policy for agency participation in the Police Reference Check Program for the Vulnerable Sector. These changes were announced in the March 27 letter to all agencies having a Memorandum of Understanding with the Toronto Police Services.

A requirement of the new policy is that every agency must certify that its management (and human resources personnel, if any) have an understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) as it applies to hiring and/or approval of volunteers and at least one agency member whose responsibility includes review and assessment of the suitability of volunteer applicants will receive training on the Code as it applies to volunteer selection.

The training requirement, according to the Toronto Police Services letter, “may be met … through training on the Human Rights Code delivered by a consultant, the Ontario Human Rights Commission … (through an agency like Volunteer Toronto …) or through a study program undertaken by the responsible Agency member using resources available on the Commission’s website”.

self – study program on line:

Ontario Human Rights Commission
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/prc_iterimguide_item/view

Forms:

Police Reference Check Program http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/prcp”:http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/prcp

Sharing, Learning and Growing with PCPC at the Annual General Meeting!

Make sure to save the date October 8, 2009 on your calendars for the PCPC Annual General Meeting… watch for more information in the upcoming months!

• Location: Mitchell Field Community Centre (89 Church Avenue – at Yonge and Finch)
• Registration: 7:15pm
• AGM: 7:30pm

As a non-profit, co-operative charity, we need you, our members, to approve the audit and elect the Officers for 2009/2010.

Congratulations to Arbor Glen Community Childcare…_*

They are celebrating their 20^th^ Anniversary on July 13^th, 2009!

Arbor Glen Community Childcare was established in 1989 to meet the needs of its community. They are dedicated to providing a theme-based program where children aged 2 ½ to 12 years old learn through play in a nurturing, safe and secure environment. The teachers encourage social skills, self-esteem and self-awareness through sharing, co-operation and problem solving. Children develop a joy of learning by observing, questioning and discovery.

The Centre is licensed and overseen by the City of Toronto and the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The staff members are fully trained ECE’s and Assistants with diplomas in Early Childhood Education or Assistant Certification. Programs consist of a Preschool/Nursery program, a Junior and Senior Kindergarten program, as well as a School Age program.

Arbor Glen Community Childcare sets the stage for learning by creating an enriched and stimulating environment where children pursue their natural inclination to learn and be independent.

Get People Talking About You!

Marketing and advertising your childcare Centre should be on-going and often requires the assistance of many volunteers within Centre.

(Some) Promotional Ideas…

An important part of letting the community know you are out there is through promotional ideas and events.

• Professional looking signage is very important. Consider a sandwich-board type sign designed by a professional. These signs inform the local traffic of your location. Make sure the telephone number is on the sign.
• An advertisement in the local newspaper under ‘Childcare Available’ will easily advertise a spot in your program and will generate telephone calls.
• Use your local newspaper – they are always looking for neighbourhood stories. Call and let them know when you have an upcoming event that they may attend. If they can’t, take your own pictures and send them in with a story. Also, you could ask a past member to write a letter to the editor ‘raving’ about the Centre.
• Invite all relatives to holiday parties, graduations, etc. They will talk about, and show pictures of, the ‘great’ Centre that their child attends.
• Sponsor a team of parents (or children, if appropriate) in local community events.
• Prepare a list of ‘Things to Love About ABC Centre’ and include it in the promotion package that is distributed in the community.
• A lot of members have older children in the public schools. You can use this resource to promote your Centre. Make sure that you have the principal’s permission to send home flyers with the children. If the members pick-up their children at the school, encourage them to talk about the Centre with the other waiting parents. The local park/playground is another good place to talk to prospective members.
• Advertise your programs with different titles. Let the neighbourhood know what you have to offer that is different – lower ratios, parent participation, professionally qualified staff.
• Invite all forms of local media to an Open House and the resulting news/articles can introduce the new program to the community.

For more promotional ideas, visit the PCPC website and follow the link (www.pcpcontario.org/marketing-committee) to view the Marketing Committee presentation. (Please note that the Marketing Committee presentation is only available to current PCPC members)

(Some Ways to ) Advertise Your Centre…

• Most people don’t understand the concept of co-operative and/or non-profit childcare. Design a professional looking brochure to outline the benefits of parent involvement in children’s programs and hand them out to the membership to distribute throughout the community in which the membership is involved.
• Use Information Fairs to advertise: Parenting shows, Toronto Science Centre’s Education fair, or Education weeks at the local mall are all perfect opportunities to promote your Centre.
• Try your local cable television station for advertising – it is normally free for non-profit groups. Radio stations, local newspapers and magazines often have community calendars to feature upcoming events.
• Ask to leave brochures or business cards in paediatricians’ offices, children’s and maternity wards at the hospital, children’s service agencies, libraries, children’s stores and with Welcome Wagon hostesses.
• Make sure that your Centre is listed in the telephone book and the Yellow Pages under the Childcare Section.
• Most malls have a community booth which is free to non-profit organizations. This is a great opportunity to get out and meet the general public in your community. This also gets the Centre’s name into the public’s awareness – don’t miss it!
• The logo on all of your public relations material should be a good ‘eye-catcher’ and support the program goals of the Centre.

For more advertising tips, visit the PCPC website and follow the link (www.pcpcontario.org/marketing-committee) to view the Marketing Committee presentation. (Please note that the Marketing Committee presentation is only available to current PCPC members) __

Do You Need a Website?

A website that is professional-looking, easy to navigate and is up-to-date is a valuable investment that complements your current marketing methods. The Internet is one of the first places that people turn to when looking for information on specific products and services. A website is like a virtual business card that provides detailed information about your Centre.

On average, a website gets 7 seconds before the user clicks beyond it – that’s how long you have to grab the user’s attention.

The best websites to attract attention are the ones that are highly visual with little text and few ‘scrolling’ opportunities. If there is too much text, likely you will lose the reader’s attention.

Flash items or pop-up boxes annoy users, so avoid these techniques to grab attention.

The website should be straightforward – each menu item should be clearly labelled, and be of equal and high importance. The content should be logically organized and easy to find.

Remember:

Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Maintain an alumnus list as a potential source of new members, send them letters and ask for recommendations.

_Childcare programs are frequently viewed as high risk decisions.

Word of mouth from friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbours weigh heavily with the potential parent member. Therefore, plan your promotion materials with this in mind. Be genuine; convey personal experiences; refer to feelings and beliefs; promote your staff as qualified, caring and warm; provide a history of why the Centre was founded; use testimonials that are spontaneous but do not seem like paid commercials. Parents will also want to know the qualifications of the staff members._

Stay tuned to future newsletters for more tips and ideas on Marketing your Centre!

Promoting Sun Safety in Your Childcare Centre…

According to the Canadian Dermatology Association (2009), the most harmful effects of sun exposure occur during early childhood. In fact, two or more sunburns during childhood doubles the risk of developing skin cancer later in life (Health Canada, 2003). The Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Dermatology Association both identify the use of shade as a key strategy to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, hats and sunscreen are essential elements of sun protection. Shade from trees, buildings, umbrellas, awnings, canopies or gazebos are effective strategies to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Consider the outdoor play areas at your facility and on outings:

• Are there shaded areas for play? Do you encourage play in shaded areas?
• Is shade available from 11am to 4pm when ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the strongest?
• Is your play area on grass or concrete? Surfaces such as concrete, sand and water reflect higher levels of ultraviolet radiation than surfaces such as grass, wood or soil.
• Do you take along portable shade (e.g. umbrellas) when on outings?

Childcare Centres can promote sun safety and the use of shade by:

• Integrating sun safety education into your Centre activities
• Initiating a project to add shade to your childcare Centre yard and play areas

What’s happening in… your Centre? your Community? your Province? your Country? your World?

July 1^st is Canada Day! Most communities across the country will host organized celebrations for Canada Day, usually outdoor public events such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbeques, air and maritime shows, fireworks, and free musical concerts, as well as citizenship ceremonies for new citizens. To learn more about the celebrations in your area, contact your local community offices or websites.

Fundraising Ideas

Remember that all of these fundraising ideas, and many more can be found in the Governance Series Workshops (Member’s Only Section) of the PCPC website www.pcpcontario.org

Fun Fairs: A fun fair is a collection of activities for the whole family to participate in. It can be held in combination with another event, or on its own – the sky’s the limit with this type of event!

Examples:

• Refreshment Booth: sell coffee, juice, pop, maybe donuts, hot dogs and baked items (if possible, try and have the food donated)
• Face Painting: children absolutely love to have their faces painted
• Fish Pond: this simple to make game is a hit because there is a winner every time
• Balloons: balloons make everyone happy
• Guessing Game: this type of game is always fun and anything goes

The possibilities are endless!

Get to know potential funders!

The CIBC World Markets Children’s Foundation
Address: 25 King Street West, 30^th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5L 1A2
Contact: Mr. Jason Young
Telephone: (416) 594-7000 (telephone)
Email/Website: Jason.young@cibc.com and http://www.cibcwmmiracleday.com
Funding Interest: Child Development; Children; Disabled Children; Mentally Disabled Children; Physically Disabled Children
Granting Region: Canada-wide
Grant Information: Request in writing must include charitable registration number, background and focus of organization, list of Board of Directors, details and time frame for project, statement of sources of funding, a recognition plan for donors, and most recent audited financial statements

The Counselling Foundation of Canada
Address: 18 Spadina Road, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2S7
Contact: Ms. Jean E. Faulds, Executive Director
Telephone/Fax: (416) 923-8953 (telephone); (416) 923-2536 (fax)
Email/Website: admin@counselling.net and http://www.counselling.net
Funding Interest: Child Development; Children
Granting Region: Toronto Area
Grant Information: Letter of intent to be sent before sending a proposal; Proposal to include description of project, detailed budget of project, financial statement, letter from Executive Officer, a reference letter from 3 community figures knowledgeable in the field outlining need for the project and capability of the organization to provide the service, list of Board of Directors, and charitable registration number

The Craig Stewart Esplen Family Foundation
Address: 3200 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M8X 1E1
Contact: Colin G. Campbell, Secretary-Treasurer
Telephone/Fax: (416) 207-3090 (telephone); (416) 207-3895 (fax)
Email: snewstead@humberviewgroup.com
Funding Interest: Children
Granting Region: Ontario

Did you know? (fun facts and quotes)

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning!

Going Green!

What Else Can I Do, You Ask…

• Reuse jars, bags, and food containers!
• Upgrade your furnace to a more energy-efficient model!
• Use passive solar to capture heat in your home and office; open curtains in the day and close them at dusk, except in the summer, when you should close curtains during the hottest hours of the day. Besides carbon, you’ll save 25 to 75% on your heating and cooling bills!
• Use recycled-content toilet paper. If every household in the U.S. used one recycled roll per year, 424,000 trees would be saved!
• Hang laundry to dry, eliminating one dryer cycle per week!
• Run ceiling fans instead of AC. In hot climates, this can easily save more than one ton of carbon dioxide!

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Going Green!

All 'Going Green' articles on one page »

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Going Green 22 · December 17
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Going Green 20 · November 20
Going Green 19: A Brief Overview of “Green IT for Dummies” · October 27

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