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This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 30th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This fall, Hospice Greater Saint John will open Atlantic Canada’s first residential hospice and provide 24-hour medical and non-medical care to patients, and support for their families, with 10 patient suites and four family rooms.

“We’ve got an excellent spectrum of care, from beginning of life and beyond, that we take for granted,” said Cathy Connolly, community relations co-ordinator at hospice. “The one area that has not yet come to fruition is end-of-life care.”

To meet this need, Hospice Greater Saint John was established in 1983 as a community non-profit charity. Hospice services include non-medical support programs to people coping with advancing illness; staff and volunteers work collaboratively with medical partners to help people live with illness and support families coping with loss. In the last year alone, Hospice Greater Saint John supported a total of 531 people and their families.

The Hospice Shoppe concept exists in other parts of Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom, so hospice engaged UNB Saint John to complete a feasibility study and develop a business plan for opening and operating a Hospice Shoppe in Saint John as a means for significant, consistent revenue to support operating costs.

“We wanted the Shoppe to have a community feel, and the community behind it,” Connolly said of the Shoppe, which sells a wide selection of clothing as well as china, home décor, bridal gowns and children’s wear.

Items that are not sold in the Shoppe remain in the community since they are donated to the New Brunswick Association for Community Living and are in turn sold to Value Village as a means of generating revenue to support their own programs.

“It’s the boutique experience of second-hand shopping” Connolly said. “There has been great uptake. The community is shopping at an amazing pace and offering their volunteer time.”

All revenue generated at the Shoppe directly supports the programs and services that Hospice Greater Saint John provides, at no charge, to families facing a palliative, terminal illness. There are two part-time Shoppe associates but is otherwise staffed by a team of approximately 50 to 60 volunteers, who cover the four-hour shifts.

Volunteer responsibilities in the Shoppe include sorting, organizing and pricing merchandise. In addition they create displays, assist customers, serve as cashiers and also take part in other special projects.

For more information on how to donate items or volunteer time at the Hospice Shoppe, visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 23rd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Saint John has been designated a 2010 Cultural Capital of Canada by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage.

This past January, the city kicked off Saint John 225, a year-long program of events that celebrates the creativity, culture and heritage of the Saint John region. We’re fortunate to live in a city with so much talent, a place where exceptionally talented people have chosen to earn a living and carve their niche. Events and initiatives such as these are great ways for Saint Johners to familiarize themselves with the people and places that are putting Saint John on the map as a cultural capital.

A lot of us spend so much of our days staring at screens – computer, television, cellphone – that we owe it to our eyes and imaginations to take in some of the great art created locally. This month’s Party with a Purpose will give FUSION members and party-goers the chance to learn about a new project aimed at Saint John art lovers, amidst a backdrop of New Brunswick artists with work ranging from traditional to highly contemporary.

Hosted by the Peter Buckland Gallery, the purpose of this month’s party is to learn more about Vault 15, an art investment project Buckland is developing with interested Saint Johners.

This project will bring together 15 to 20 individuals who will, over the course of a five-year period, contribute money each month and pool resources as a group to buy pieces of contemporary art and develop an art collection.

“The concept is perfect for younger people because it can take 15 to 20 years for the value of contemporary art to kick in,” said Buckland, who is forming the group and will eventually seek out the work and broker the purchase of the pieces. The group will get together throughout the year to make decisions pertaining to the collection. Buckland will host an annual private function for group members to get together and see the pieces they have acquired. Meanwhile, over the course of the years the pieces will hang in the homes and offices of the individuals involved.

“The cool thing is that over the next five years, people will get to enjoy the art, learn about it and accumulate a private collection that has real substance,” Buckland said. The specifics of how the group will select, buy and share pieces have not been established because it will be up to the people involved to determine how they want to operate. This group creates a means for people who love art but lack the resources to amass a personal collection to support our arts community on a larger scale.

The March Party with a Purpose will take place Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Peter Buckland Gallery on Prince William Street. For more information, please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

For more information on the Peter Buckland Gallery, check out their website!

Map and directions are below:

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 16th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Whether it’s at school, in the workplace or in a new city, it can be very challenging to adjust to new surroundings.

Anyone who has ever been “the new guy” can relate to the feeling of isolation that is often a part of acclimatizing in an unfamiliar environment. In an effort to help newcomers to Saint John get their bearings, FUSION has started hosting Newcomers Night, a bimonthly event that aims to give those who are new in the city an opportunity to meet other newcomers and FUSION members in a small, casual event.

“Rather than just inviting them to our regular networking functions, where people can get lost in the crowd, we wanted to give those new to the city a warm welcome in a more intimate setting,” said Kelly Lawson, FUSION’s ambassadors committee co-chairwoman and event organizer. “We thought it’d be nice to have a night that is specifically for newcomers.”

The event aims to create an environment for people to meet other newcomers to share stories of their experiences here, and freely ask questions about where to go, what to do, etc.

In a busy city such as Saint John there is no shortage of opportunities to get out and meet people, but it can be tough to make a strong social connection when you’re working a big crowd. Newcomers Night is a chance for people to meet and really get to know others and often learn a little more about life in the city.

“As a person who is relatively new to Saint John myself, it’s not too far gone for me to remember feeling lost and alone after moving here,” Lawson said. “It seemed to me that everyone was already so caught up in their own lives, families and routines that no one had time to bring on a new friend. Newcomers Night is FUSION’s way of giving people who are new a proper welcome and help them establish a sense of connectedness to their new city.”

People find their way to Saint John for any number of reasons – work, school, family, etc. But the people who move to the city and want become engaged in what’s happening in their community must first develop this sense of connectedness and belonging. A conversation that is based on the shared experience of being new in a city is enough to forge common ground; and those who have participated in past Newcomers Night events can now go to other social and networking events in the city knowing that there will likely be a familiar face or two in the crowd.

FUSION’s Newcomers Night will take place on Wednesday – St. Patrick’s Day – from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Big Tide Brewing Company on Princess Street. For more information please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 9th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Sustainability is something we hear a lot about these days; people are becoming increasingly conscious of how the decisions we make today will have an impact on our future, environmentally, financially and socially.

But what is the best way for a community to tackle such a broad issue? Over the next few weeks, the city’s new business network, Sustainable Saint John, will meet with current and potential members to discuss the issue of sustainibility and identify the best ways for the network to proceed.

“The city can’t do this on its own, so we have to think how do you mobilize the entire community to promote this theme of sustainability,” says deputy city manager Andrew Beckett.

Charting the Path Forward is a two-part workshop event that will examine the key success factors for the network and the best course of action to ensure the factors are met.

Sustainable Saint John is a regional network launched in 2009 by the city’s environment committee, with support from the province’s Environmental Trust Fund and in partnership with the Saint John Board of Trade. The network was formed as a result of feedback from Saint Johners expressing the need to think and act sustainably by balancing the community’s economic, environmental and social needs. Recent community initiatives such as Vision 2015 have articulated this vision for a sustainable community.

“We started to develop the tool kit about a year ago, and there was a great level of interest from the local communities and great stories exchanged between local businesses on how they were promoting sustainability,” Beckett said.

The Sustainable Saint John Business Toolkit was developed to help businesses and organizations create their own sustainable action plan.

“Sustainability is an issue that is gaining momentum across the country,” said Saint John Board of Trade president Imelda Gilman on the business group’s partnership with the Sustainable Saint John network.

“The business case for sustainability is very strong. We look forward to playing a supportive role and helping to promote it to our members and other businesses in the Greater Saint John area.”

In a community like ours, it is crucial that both environment and social sustainability be taken into consideration. Getting businesses and organizations committed by way of an official network gives them the means to share resources, feedback and new ideas that will ensure the city remains on a course that will not simply see us sustain ourselves, but prosper in the future.

Sustainable Saint John’s Charting the Path Forward workshops will take place March 16 and March 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lily Lake Pavilion.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

Click here for more information on the workshops.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 2nd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Reasons for volunteering are as varied as the types of organizations that rely on volunteer support to exist.

And while a connection to the cause is crucial, building your knowledge of board development is also an important ingredient for creating a successful volunteer experience. The Saint John Volunteer Centre offers programs that demystify some of the more complicated components of serving on a board or committee, and is helping to produce more efficient, knowledgeable boards throughout Greater Saint John.

The Saint John Volunteer Centre has been a volunteer resource for more than 35 years and has offered an education services program component for the last five years. The purpose of the education services program is to enhance the overall well-being of our community by providing support and resources for board members, staff and volunteers of non-profit agencies. This includes needs assessments, educational opportunities, individual and group consultations and workshops.

“We try to base the workshops on board development and volunteering for different organizations and boards,” says Brian Boudreau, training resource co-ordinator at the Saint John Volunteer Centre. “We get a lot of people who are already involved on a committee but are interested in learning more about what’s required when moving up to the board level. We want to help people know what it’s like to sit on a board or committee.”

Once participants have completed a workshop, they are asked to give their feedback on what kinds of topics they would like to see a session address in the future and this information is used to develop a schedule each year for a program called Noon Nuggets. The volunteer centre’s Noon Nuggets program is a series of one-hour, brown-bag lunch board development and volunteer management workshops offered over the noon hour. The workshops, offered with support from the United Way, take place monthly from September to June and are open to the public. Noon Nuggets draws upon the experience and expertise of community members, who lead the sessions, which cover a range of issues pertaining to work with non-profit agencies.

“When they leave, we hope they are leaving with a better understanding of what they are (or aren’t) doing and how they should operate,” Boudreau said.

The education services program allows volunteers to become more efficient, effective members of their organizations, and also give them an opportunity to share their particular knowledge or expertise with other members of the community. When the “do’s and don’ts” of how a board or committee should operate are clearly and commonly understood, the volunteers are able turn their attention back to the issues or activities at hand, rather than being mired in the organizational details.

Upcoming Noon Nuggets topics for the remainder of the 2010 series include: program evaluation, community interfacing, how to read financial statements for the non-profit sector, fitted volunteer recruitment and compassionate communications.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 23th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This week, FUSION is partnering with the International Institute of Business Analysis’s (IIBA) Fundy Region Chapter to host a Party with a Purpose. IIBA International is an independent non-profit professional association that serves the growing field of business analysis. By hosting February’s Party with a Purpose, the local chapter aims to increase the profile of the profession and awareness of their organization.

“We want to bring awareness of the IIBA and our local chapter activities to a broader audience,” says Jeff Sheehan, communications director for the IIBA Fundy Region Chapter board of directors. “Too many people still ask what a business analyst is.”

IIBA was first formed in 2003 and has since become the leading association in the world of business analysis. The organization aims to help business analysts develop their skills and further their careers by providing access to industry articles and webinars, member forums and the opportunity to achieve the professional designations. IIBA has fulfilled its mandate through the creation of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK), a collection of industry knowledge and best practices, and the Certified Business Analysis Professional designation (CBAP).

“Globally, the IIBA has experienced double-digit growth in membership since its launch five years ago. This represents an incredible networking opportunity for business analysts,” says Sheehan of the institute, which has grown to include more than 100 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide.

The Fundy Region IIBA Chapter received its official charter in July 2007, and works to actively promote the business analysis profession in our region. Since its inception, the Fundy region chapter has grown to include more than 50 members, representing the health, energy, information and communications technology, and natural resources sectors. The chapter hosts events and activities monthly, including IIBA Awareness, CBAP designation study groups, networking opportunities and guest speakers. Although there is a membership fee to join IIBA International, people interested in getting involved at the local level can do so at no cost.

During this month’s Party with a Purpose, the IIBA Fundy Chapter representatives will provide an overview of the IIBA and the Fundy chapter, and will highlight their premier sponsor SwiftRadius, a regional IT consulting firm. “We hope to offer a little insight into a role that is becoming more defined as an actual profession, and is becoming recognized around the world,” Sheehan said.

February’s Party with a Purpose will take place this Friday at Lemongrass from 5:30 to 7p.m.

For more information, please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in Here NB on February 18th, 2010.

SAINT JOHN – A community activist and networking group is spreading its reach this spring, with new chapters set to open across the province.

Members of Fusion Saint John have spent the past six years working to improve the city, offering everything from networking parties to urban planning and development committees aimed at retaining residents and improving life in Saint John. Recent recipients of a $25,000 grant from the provincial Population Growth Secretariat, the group is set to open new chapters and welcome new acolytes in Fredericton and Moncton.

“Fusion Saint John is a successful model because it brings together young professionals and gives them a place where they can take on challenges that are important to their community. We want young people to be involved,” said Phillippe Ouellette, acting director of the Population Growth Secretariat’s retention branch.

Fusion Saint John’s made a name for itself with offerings like Newcomer’s Night and Party With a Purpose networking evenings. The group also hosts Operation Red Nose to fight drunk driving in the winter, and has a host of committees covering everything from immigration to arts and culture.

Ouellette said the great thing about the Fusion model is its flexibility and freedom.

“Members can define it the way they want and choose which committees they want to form so they can mobilize around the important issues.

Leadership opportunities are what these types of initiatives breed, and healthier communities that people want to live in,” he said.

The group has already opened branches in Bangor and Halifax, and expects to see new groups formed in Fredericton and Moncton by spring.

Early meetings in Fredericton saw over a dozen interested citizens show up to discuss the next step, said Oullette.

“Fredericton’s not Toronto; we’re not going to be the next big city, but we can have an exciting culture with lots of arts and a vibrancy in our cities. People with a vested interest in having that are the best people to create that. They can really make that happen,” said Ouellette.

Contact Saint John reporter Paige Aarhus at aarhus.paige@herenb.com

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 16th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

On March 8, KV Networks will host its 5th Annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, one of a number of events taking place across our region to mark International Women’s Day 2010.

KV Networks is a business networking group for women entrepreneurs in the Kennebecasis Valley and surrounding areas. The group was formed five years ago and aims to promote women in business and provide a support network for members to further their business goals.

“When the group started there was only six of us, and it was about support for women doing non-traditional things and being entrepreneurial,” says Janet Kyle, one of KV Networks’ founding members, of the group which has since grown to more than 50 members. “Our approach is very casual, but very worthwhile and effective.”

The group meets twice each month on Thursday mornings. Meetings alternate between roundtable discussion and information speakers, where members and guest speakers discuss their own industry and areas of expertise.

“A lot of women have left 9-5 jobs to do something a little outside the box, while still juggling the other aspects of life,” Kyle said. “We meet to support each other and act as a sounding board. There’s a powerful, positive energy at our meetings.”

New members are welcome. While a membership fee of $2 is collected at each meeting, and donated to local charities or non-profit groups, there is no formal membership process. Members come from a variety of backgrounds and represent a huge range of entrepreneurial enterprises, from financial planning to hypnotism.

“Being new to town, I had explored several other network groups and gone to other meetings, but joined KV Networks because it is an open, inclusive environment for meeting people from a wide range of ages and business areas,” says Teri Woosnam, who has recently relocated to Saint John to operate her own business, and joined KV Networks after it was recommended to her by a customer. “It’s about promoting business, but also network, helping people and sharing information.”

In addition to the biweekly meetings, which are open to anyone interested in attending, KV Networks hosts two public events each year, featuring guest speakers and door prizes. In addition to the International Women’s Day breakfast event, the group also marks Small Business Week with an event.

The 5th Annual KV Networks International Women’s Day Breakfast will take place March 8 from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. at Kings Valley Wesleyan Church. Tickets are $20 each and the registration deadline is March 3. For more information, visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 9th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Next Monday, the Saint John YMCA-YWCA will join its Y counterparts across Canada to kick off the 2010 Strong Kids campaign.

More than 50 YMCAs across Canada participate in the Strong Kids campaign, which is focused on raising funds to support children, teens and families who can’t afford the full costs associated with participating in Y programs or activities.

At the local level, the Saint John Y’s goal is to raise $80,000. Money raised in Saint John will stay in the city and provide financial assistance for children and youths who want to participate in a Y program. The majority of funds raised will be used for “camperships,” which send kids to residential and day camps, membership sponsorships, youth leadership programs, child care support as well as health and wellness sponsorship programs.

The theme for this year’s campaign launch is “Kids Helping Kids,” with walkathons scheduled for six Y locations in Saint John to raise awareness for the campaign and teach those already enrolled in Y programs what it means to help those less fortunate, linking to the Y’s focus on community support and development.

“Each Y is undertaking its own activity to mark the occasion, so we came up with the idea of the walkathon,” says Shilo Boucher, chief operating officer at the Saint John Y.

“It’s a great way for our program participants, children, parents, members and staff to get involved, learn more about Strong Kids, and understand how the funds are used and how important they are to the Y and our community,” Boucher said.

“It’s very powerful as we have over 70 students who come to the Y’s Broadview location every day, many of whom are members themselves, or have children in child care. So it will be an opportunity for these the students to have an impact on their community.”

The Strong Kids campaign also offers an opportunity for people to be a part of the Y beyond making a donation; people are also encouraged to generate support by sharing their “Y story” online, or volunteering at one of the 13 Y locations in Greater Saint John.

“As a charity, we rely heavily on volunteer time and expertise,” Boucher said. “In 2009 we had over 278 active volunteers contributing over 6,500 hours of service.”

Supporting the Strong Kids campaign in Saint John will allow our local Y to continue to maintain a strong presence in the city, in terms of both the programs it offers and the fact that many are offered at multiple locations in the city.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

Visit the Saint John Y’s website for more details!

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 2nd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

FUSION is currently seeking Saint Johners interested in becoming a part of its government relations committee, which is being revitalized after a two-year hiatus.

“In past years, the government relations committee primarily focused on municipal, provincial and federal election engagement strategies, and since the last provincial election the committee has been inactive,” says FUSION board member and committee co-chairwoman Jane MacEachern.

The committee is non-partisan, and is reorganizing with the goal of establishing a network for Saint Johners who have a strong interest in public administration and the political process. Committee members will be working to keep the lines of communication between political parties and FUSION members open, and to find ways to create feedback among members, elected officials and government staffers.

“Right now we think of the committee is going through a bit of a renaissance, but we need the support and help of the community to rebuild our membership and help us define a role for the committee,” says committee co-chairman Eric Savoie. “We are also welcoming feedback and input from political parties and government officials on how we can work together. This needs to be a real partnership if it’s going to work.”

During past elections the committee co-hosted a Campaign on the Clock event with the Saint John Board of Trade, a type of political speed dating allowing Saint Johners an opportunity to meet and interact with all municipal candidates in one stop.

“Government relations extends well beyond elections, and to keep FUSION members engaged in the political and civic process we need to focus on more than just getting people out to vote,” Savoie said. “It’s equally important to have a sustained dialogue between our members and elected officials so they will be more aware of the challenges facing our community and identifying possible solutions.”

We are once again in a political election year, with the province going to the polls in September, so it is particularly timely that FUSION’s government relations committee has resurrected itself, since voter turnout continues to be an issue not only in New Brunswick, but across Canada. If the successes of past Campaign on the Clock events are any indication, Saint Johners are keen to know more about the people they will elect to represent them at each level of government.

The government relations committee will serve as a forum for members to become aware of, and involved, in the political process in our city and province, and will create a connection between members and the people and parties we elect to represent our best interests. This, in turn, will hopefully make people feel more connected to the political process, addressing the issue of voter apathy in our community.

FUSION’s government relations committee is currently seeking members and is planning its first meeting of 2010. For more information, please visit us online at www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.