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Living + Magazine Issue 1 - Positive Living BC

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INTERNAL EXCHANGE<br />

FINANCE COMMITTEE<br />

<strong>BC</strong>PWA finances stable<br />

The Finance Standing Committee<br />

is responsible for overseeing the<br />

ongoing financial affairs of the<br />

Society; drafting, presenting and<br />

revising the Society’s annual<br />

budget; reviewing and making<br />

recommendations on the monthly<br />

financial statements; and reviewing<br />

the annual audited financial<br />

statements.<br />

The Society has faced<br />

many financial challenges.<br />

We have seen substantial<br />

cuts to our funding by the<br />

City of Vancouver, (who no<br />

longer fund us at all), and<br />

the Federal Government<br />

through the AIDS Community<br />

Action Program (ACAP). This is<br />

at a time when the demand on<br />

services is ever increasing: we have<br />

seen our membership go from<br />

1800 four years ago, to more than<br />

4000 today. If it were not for the<br />

commitment, dedication, and<br />

contribution of our volunteers<br />

and “unusually small” staff, who,<br />

with determination, continue<br />

much needed programs and services<br />

despite growing demands and<br />

shrinking funding. I applaud<br />

them all.<br />

On March 31, 1999 the Board<br />

voted to establish a Task Force,<br />

Many programs and<br />

services offered through <strong>BC</strong>PWA<br />

are wholly dependent on the<br />

support of the community.<br />

charged with conceiving, considering,<br />

preparing, and implementing<br />

necessary plans and strategies<br />

to maintain or, if at all possible,<br />

increase the amount of funding<br />

<strong>BC</strong>PWA gets from the provincial<br />

Ministry of Health. The uncertainty<br />

we still face is the region-<br />

alization of HIV/AIDS service<br />

contracts, a concern being addressed<br />

by the Task Force.<br />

Through much discussion and<br />

deliberation, and in spite of the<br />

financial challenges, we do have<br />

financial stability. This stability has<br />

resulted from the difficult adjusting<br />

of department budgets, the<br />

streamlining of programs and<br />

services, and increased revenues<br />

through our Fund Development<br />

Department. We have also been<br />

able to hire new staff positions<br />

to better enable us to meet the<br />

future. The question for the<br />

future is sustainability, as membership<br />

still increases.<br />

I would like to express my<br />

gratitude to the members of the<br />

Finance Committee, for their wisdom,<br />

professionalism, due diligence,<br />

commitment, cohesiveness<br />

and spirit of collaboration, and<br />

their caring concern.<br />

by Malsah<br />

STANDING COMMITTEE<br />

Fund Development Committee<br />

The Fund Development Standing<br />

Committee is responsible for the<br />

planning, organizing, and conducting<br />

of all aspects of the society’s<br />

Fund Development activities.<br />

Fund development is more than<br />

raising money from government,<br />

individuals, foundations, community,<br />

and corporations. It involves<br />

structures and systems, communicating<br />

the mission and vision, enlisting<br />

volunteer participation,<br />

and inviting participation from<br />

diverse groups. It is about building<br />

relationships with individuals<br />

who will continue to support<br />

<strong>BC</strong>PWA in the short and long<br />

term.<br />

<strong>BC</strong>PWA’s Fund Development<br />

Department was created just prior<br />

to AIDS Walk 98. A very successful<br />

walk with the highest net proceeds<br />

ever. By adding an Events<br />

Coordinator to the team, Fund<br />

Development now administers<br />

every aspect of the Walk, without<br />

the need to contract services.<br />

AIDS Walk, <strong>BC</strong>PWA’s largest<br />

fundraising event, benefits thousands<br />

of PWA’s in B. C. by providing<br />

direct services like the Complimentary<br />

Health Fund. The<br />

walk also benefits eleven other organizations<br />

(98 walk partners)<br />

that provide direct services to<br />

those living with HIV/AIDS.<br />

A key initiative with our fund<br />

development strategy this year has<br />

been to increase our partnerships<br />

within the community. This has<br />

proven to be a great success as we<br />

combine the strengths of numerous<br />

organizations. Care To Dance,<br />

our second annual pledged event,<br />

co-produced with the Shooting<br />

Stars Foundation, was successful<br />

and partial proceeds went to<br />

YouthCo AIDS Society. HairDo!<br />

was a first year event in partnership<br />

with Friends For Life. AIDS<br />

Walk 98 had eleven partners.<br />

continued on page 14<br />

8 LIVING + • JULY/AUGUST 1999

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