It was something of a farewell party at the Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation's annual general meeting March 25, as the organization said good-bye to one staff member and two board members.
Tara Howse worked her last day as a community development co-ordinator with the TNRC March 19, resigning to embark on a bike trek across Canada with her husband.
"She is the queen of networking," said TNRC's executive director Charlene Lafreniere, also a member of Thompson city council, as she gave a farewell message to Howse. "She also did a lot of work in the area of community safety. She's led the charge for the sexually exploited awareness team. You're really going to be missed by us."
Also leaving the organization were president of the board Marilyn Duval, a member for the past four years, and city councillor Oswald Sawh, who had served on the TNRC board every year except one since the establishment of the non-profit organization in 2001. Both decided not to let their names stand for re-election.
"In the last 16 months, this organization has grown tremendously," said Duval, praising the performance of Lafreniere since she took the helm a year-and-a-half ago. "Charlene is a real motivator for her staff. They know she's a mover and shaker. You're really a support and you've got a great team."
Lafreniere said it was sad to see Duval go.
"I'm really going to miss her on the board," said Lafreniere.
Eight of 10 positions on the board were filled by acclamation, with seven of the members - Loretta Dykun, Terri-Lyn Gagnon, Cynthia Lathlin, Natalie Lagace, Christine Auger, Sheri DeGroot and Brenda Apetagon - re-elected. They will be joined by Greg Fidler. Two spots remain vacant.
The 25 AGM attendees watched a video review outlining the TNRC's projects and work over the last year, prepared by Tammy Lee Marche of Bull Market Consulting Ltd., a tradition now in its third year.
They also heard from small grant fund recipients Ron Cook and Peggy Martin.
Cook, representing the Northern and Aboriginal Elders Council - Sikwan Mamawewin, spoke about how the $5,000 grant received from TNRC enabled his organization to bring more of a community feel to its Mile 20 (Eagle Ridge) spring ceremonies.
"We've been gathering there now for 32 years," said Cook, but last year was the first time they ever applied for any grant funding, which was used to set up a community kitchen for all the campers at the site to use.
"The camp really felt that closeness," explained Cook. "People said, 'We should do this every year.'"
Martin, of the Hello Parents network, said their TNRC grant was put towards the staging of their annual bike rodeo.
"One of the challenges was our location had always been in the City Centre Mall parking lot," said Martin, but last year the spot was unavailable so the event moved to the Giant Tiger parking lot. 'We had over 300 kids and parents participating. It was a great day and the sun was shining. On behalf of Hello Parents, I want to say thank you."
The auditor's report showed that TNRC spent $387,308 in the year ending Dec. 31, 2009, with salaries and benefits ($126, 499) and special projects ($196,707) as the two larges expenditures. Revenues were $377,403, mostly from the provincial government, leaving a $9,905 deficit.
A motion was also passed to extend the year-end for the upcoming year to March 31, 2011 in order to simplify accounting.
"Most funders and granters are on a fiscal year," said Lafreniere. "We're on a calendar year."
