OSCA Program Committee
Report to the AGM
November 2, 2004
- provided advice and support to Firehall staff regarding program decisions
- started investigating new potential services such as lunch time drop in, dance classes
- invested in new wheel for pottery studio (based on e-mail discussion over the summer)
- submitted grant application for kitchen remodelling - not successful with Community Foundation, but planning to submit to city program in the future.
- revised program committee mandate passed by OSCA board
- worked on strengthening financial accountability and increasing transparency
- Established subsidy policy which has been passed by OSCA board
During the 2003-2004 year a renewed OSCA Program Committee was formed, with membership from the OSCA board and community members. We met regularly during the year to discuss issues around programs offered in the Firehall. Several new intitiatives were proposed, including a lunch time drop in for Hopewell students, dance classes, and new morning and afternoon programming. While initial work was done on these ideas, larger concerns over the use of Hopewell gym have taken much of our energy over the latter part of the program year. The proposed change in City policy would mean that Ottawa would no longer pay for OSCA use of Hopewell gym for recreational programs after December 2004. Since programs are run on a break-even basis this would cause an increase of between $5 and $20 for each participant in a program at the gym. We are working with community groups in other downtown areas that would be affected by this change and hope for a resolution over the next month.
We are very interested in welcoming new members from the community to champion new ideas, and to help support the ongoing work of the committee in ensuring that recreational, After four and summer camp programs are available in Old Ottawa South.