I only became aware of these thoughts of yours tonight. You should have phoned me. You obviously know who I am and how to contact me. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous on your part. So you've been defaming me for a lot longer than I knew you were. Where's your honour? You could have asked for a meeting with the Board. But you didn't. You like to sit outside sniping at the people inside doing the work.
I'll answer your concerns as best I can, point by point.
1. The permit is part of the landlord/tenant dispute and can't be discussed. Have you ever been part of a legal dispute? Usually, your lawyers tell you to shut up.
2.The Board of Directors does not have any onus upon it to make reports to the general public. It does have an onus to report to Members at the Annual General Meeting. Members at the General Meeting will be welcomed.
3.What does "repleased" mean? Is this a legal term I don't know? If so, I will be happy to address this question in a future communication, after someone explains it to me.
4. As anyone who has been involved in the most minor of legal situations knows, we cannot comment while the situation is up for decision.
5. We are spending money at Westmoreland, Federal stimulus money, a grant. Put simply, if we didn't spend it on our expansion plan at Westmoreland, we'd have had to give it back. All the money for the reno of Westmoreland was accounted for separately. To cancel the reno at Westmoreland would have been to refuse the dedicated funding provided by the Federal government, key word "dedicated". The funding of the Westmoreland reno and the failed Ernest project are two separate issues. The money for Westmoreland could not have been diverted to Ernest. The money for Westmoreland is dedicated funding, meaning it can not be spent in any other way than the grant application dictates.Would it have pleased people in the Perth neighbourhood if we had turned down the money and no renovations would have happened? Or could they be happy that we got it and that we have a Board of Directors who are actively trying to figure out the benefits possible for both ends of the neighbourhood?
6. What do staff have to do with union negotiations? Fundamentally, the writer reveals his/her ignorance of procedures. Contract negotiations are a very formal process. Personalities do not enter into the mix. To imply that personalities were a consideration is to insult both management and workers. From management's viewpoint, the achievement of this Collective Agreement was that there would be some rules and from the worker's viewpoint, the achievement would be that there would be some rules. The DBG policies were lacking in rules and both sides agreed that there should be rules and agreed on rules in the new contract. The contract with LIUNA was a win/win. The employees are better served, and so is the Club.
7. Your last query is simply absurd. I can't make any sense of it. All I can say is that the union did its best for its members. I don't think Manny and Matteo betrayed them in any way during negotiations, if that's what you're thinking. Nor Tony Palermo. Justin was part of the management negotiating team. I have no idea what you are talking about here. So I can't answer you.
I'm posting this around 11:45. Is that acceptable? Or do I deserve some criticism?
I thought about stepping down. I thought about being bullied into stepping down and I thought about staying on to do the heavy lifting of the work that needs to be done. For now, I'm staying on and you can vote against me, if you're a Member, at the next Annual General Meeting.
Point of clarification - Justin Hanna is not the Executive Director of the DBG. He is the Operations Manager, which is the same position he was in before the resignation of the former Executive Director. To repeat, Justin Hanna is the Operations Manager, as he was before.
I spent an hour writing a reply to this post, but it disappeared suddenly. I'll try again. I have looked back at my posts for the offensive phrase, and I only used it once. It is a rhetorical device to assert that I used it over and over again. It's called "the straw man". "John" is setting up a straw man for me. I will just ignore it for now and say what I want to say. I am defensive, of course, of the very good people on the Board who are doing good work putting the DBG back on a good course. I am only evasive in that there is, as you all seem to know, a legal case going on, and I can't comment beyond saying that it's really just a landlord/tenant dispute and not so dramatic as the rumours are making it out to be. Point of information, Justin Hanna is not the ED, he is the Operations Manager, as he was before the retirement of the former ED. The dues paying Members of the DBG are communicated with regularly by our excellent staff and seem to be happy with the almost tripling of services in the Perth neighbourhood, including for the first time ever, swimming lessons. The TDSB and the TCDSB seem to also be happy with the collaborative model for delivery of services that our staff proposed and implemented....we have access to both school boards' facilities and resources that we never had before. Our staff did this. They had the 'what if' concepts and they went out to make them reality. You'll surely make fun of me for this (but you're really making fun of the staff), we were handed lemons and we are making lemonade. And we plan to keep on with improvements...the Westmoreland renovation means we are thinking about how to use that building 16 hours a day, instead of the mere 4 hours a day it has been used for since the early '60s. The Board and the staff are working hard for the future of the Club and its programs and do not deserve the discredit some people are trying to heap on them.
I noticed a few teens wondering the streets in the evening a couple of weeks ago. At least one was smoking. The Boys and Girls club promised that the new location was going to reach out to this age group that is already forgotten and have a place for them to go. I agree with Mother of Two that the club would help the kids develop their skills and help them obtain a better future. Don't let these kids fall through the cracks.
I am a mother of two children and I am wondering what I am to do to defend their rights. We need to know what is the real problem in order to help to resolve it or at least to find solutions to help our kids to have a place but no just a place a second home where they can develop their skills, where they can waste their energy in order to grow up like any other kid. If we want to have a good future for our young people we have to put our efforts together and fight for their rights. Kindly let us know what the problem is.
The post above, "language," was in response to a post by Jack that has now been removed by the moderator because of foul language; it isn't a response to Carla's post.
Also, if you are going to operate a program using taxpayers dollars the entire city should know about what is going on here. Full disclosure needs to be made to the kids, to the community, to the landlord and to the city. We are speaking about honesty and accountability here. I am still waiting for the letter that was to be sent home in September.
It's a good time to remind everyone to please read and abide by the Code of Conduct for this website. In this case, please refrain from personal attacks and foul language. We're talking about a kids' club here, and trying to maintain a family-friendly website.
To address the question directly, the lack of information is an excellent reason. If you consider serving on the board of an organization, it is very important to have a good relationship and be able to trust the other members of the board. Leaving your kids with someone also demands trust. If the boys and girls club need help dealing with their problems, the first step needs to be full disclosure and open communications. Nobody is suggesting this is easy, just ask Michael McCain.
Can we please refrain from using foul language in this discussion and others? It's precisely the kind of thing that puts people off commenting here, or even reading about what's going on. I think most of us are interested in what's good for the kids and the community, but people have different ideas about what that means. It strikes me that the phrase "i just want what's good for the kids" gets used an awful lot by people who won't even listen to each other. They are so far away from agreeing with each other, that after a while their claims ring a bit hollow.
I heard from Ana's office that she is working hard on providing something for this area. She knows that there is a need. She also said that the issue was money but that doesn't match with what the club has said. I am getting tired of the silence. This area continues to be overlooked.
I think the main problem here is lack of communication from the club. There have been posts from former board members and others previously involved with the club, but no official updates from the club itself. It seems that the longer the information stays hidden, the more vicious the rumours get.
I really do hope that this gets cleared up. Current staff and board members should really post something to explain what happened, and provide a status update, otherwise the situation might just continue to deteriorate.
I've had several people ask me directly* if I know what's happening with the B&G Club, but everything I know is through indirect channels. I don't like spreading rumours or false info, so I usually don't say much. I wish I could point people to a document or press release from the club that explains everything, but right now I can't.
I hope you all can get this sorted out soon. Good luck. And if the club wants me to post some news or other info to this site, like I have in the past, please get in touch.
Cheers,
Vic
* People seem to think I have answers about everything in the 'hood because I run this site. Unfortunately, that's not always the case :)
I've just been reading the B&G comments on this site and am getting increasingly confused. One thing that seems clear, though, is that the Club isn't communicating effectively with the members of the Junction Triangle. I've just reread the Justin Hanna letter, from September 2010, to try to get a better understanding of the situation, and it certainly is vague by way of explanation. I still don't quite understand what was wrong with the building on Ernest, after all the work that was put into it. And it's awful to think of all the money, time, and donations going to waste, not to mention the feeling of having something wonderful and long-deserved offered and then snatched away. He does say, though, that "in the next few weeks, senior staff will be meeting to form a working group tasked with compiling an Executive Plan written, designed and published specifically for the Junction Triangle Community. A plan that looks specifically at your community, its demographics , the interest of youths, and other program service deliveries in the area. This plan, with its goal of being completed by spring 2011, will for the first time look at our critical role in the Junction Community." Maybe we could hear from Justin Hanna how the plan is coming?
There are no false and erroneous accusations.
I suggest you gather your facts before commenting on things you have no knowledge of which entails who I am and what I have or have not done.
And note...I did not blame the current board, present exec director and/or staff involved as they are not responsible for what lead up to this fiasco.
If there is an investigation and a court order is issued, there are a couple of us willing to step forth and disclose what we were privy to when we served on the board.
Until then....
Why didn't you run for a position on the board? You could be on it helping to make things better instead of making good people's lives miserable with false and erroneous accusations.
She was asked to resign years (2007 or 8) ago by the former board due to conflict of interest because she worked for Adam's office.
She served on the original Board of Directors for 5 years. Is the conflict of interest now gone?
It amazes me that this b/g club issue is still floating around and no one has correct facts.
The children in this community have been IGNORED and neglected for years! This is no novelty except to the new group of parents that have moved in or taken an interest in the community.
Facts.
-Years ago, when the lease expired on their old building (Randolph) ,a group of us parents involved the media, rallied Leons and did everything in our power to aid this club to persuade the previous building owner to renew the lease
- Adam Giambrone was also involved in assisting this club.
At this time, involved parents took the time to go and look at viable venues for this club. The issue at the time was finances.
Lack of finances.
I along with others, organized 2 community festivals to benefit this club by raising funds. Perth Community Festival was born.
The MAIN ISSUE at the time was,
the Executive Director and former board of directors at the Dovercourt B/G Club were not concerned with this location. (Oh they said they were but I was there..)
-Their whole focus was building a 2nd floor at the Dovercourt B/G location and this club was ignored.
Many questions were asked by parents in this community and the media became involved. Search articles (leon's boys/girls)
The question was being asked, "why is this community ignored?"
When I inquired into who governs these non-profit organizations with some of my friends that worked there and the answer is, (feel free to search this) it's up to the executive board.
The NATIONAL BOARD was aware of what was happening with the Randolph location at the time.
-A temporary solution was provided by the former executive director knowing fully well that the finances were not there to sustain this club long term.
-He then QUIT or retired and left the place in shambles.
-The president of the Board quit right after him and several members resigned.
I think this speaks volumes!!! 1+1=2
My suggestion would be that "those interested" in helping spend their time and energy" find out how to open up a legal investigation into the financial matters of this club and where the monies have been allocated over the years instead of arguing here on this site.
The answers lie with the former executive director who will blame it on the board he manipulated.
The answers lie with him along with the lack of paperwork he left behind.
He knew financially they could not sustain this place and the current board is at a loss for what to do so they have no blame.
The new executive director (Justin) was left to pick up the pieces of the mess he left behind.
Their decision to close this location was the only one they could make.
If an actual legal investigation comes out of this, pls. feel free to contact me at carla.heavenly@gmail.com I have a lot of information which I will gladly happily disclose if a legal case is open and a subpoena issued by a court judge.
Feb.3, 2011. \
I only became aware of these thoughts of yours tonight. You should have phoned me. You obviously know who I am and how to contact me. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous on your part. So you've been defaming me for a lot longer than I knew you were. Where's your honour? You could have asked for a meeting with the Board. But you didn't. You like to sit outside sniping at the people inside doing the work.
Are your kids in the programs we offer? Call the DBG office, 416- 536-4103. They will help you get your children into programs.
I'll answer your concerns as best I can, point by point.
1. The permit is part of the landlord/tenant dispute and can't be discussed. Have you ever been part of a legal dispute? Usually, your lawyers tell you to shut up.
2.The Board of Directors does not have any onus upon it to make reports to the general public. It does have an onus to report to Members at the Annual General Meeting. Members at the General Meeting will be welcomed.
3.What does "repleased" mean? Is this a legal term I don't know? If so, I will be happy to address this question in a future communication, after someone explains it to me.
4. As anyone who has been involved in the most minor of legal situations knows, we cannot comment while the situation is up for decision.
5. We are spending money at Westmoreland, Federal stimulus money, a grant. Put simply, if we didn't spend it on our expansion plan at Westmoreland, we'd have had to give it back. All the money for the reno of Westmoreland was accounted for separately. To cancel the reno at Westmoreland would have been to refuse the dedicated funding provided by the Federal government, key word "dedicated". The funding of the Westmoreland reno and the failed Ernest project are two separate issues. The money for Westmoreland could not have been diverted to Ernest. The money for Westmoreland is dedicated funding, meaning it can not be spent in any other way than the grant application dictates.Would it have pleased people in the Perth neighbourhood if we had turned down the money and no renovations would have happened? Or could they be happy that we got it and that we have a Board of Directors who are actively trying to figure out the benefits possible for both ends of the neighbourhood?
6. What do staff have to do with union negotiations? Fundamentally, the writer reveals his/her ignorance of procedures. Contract negotiations are a very formal process. Personalities do not enter into the mix. To imply that personalities were a consideration is to insult both management and workers. From management's viewpoint, the achievement of this Collective Agreement was that there would be some rules and from the worker's viewpoint, the achievement would be that there would be some rules. The DBG policies were lacking in rules and both sides agreed that there should be rules and agreed on rules in the new contract. The contract with LIUNA was a win/win. The employees are better served, and so is the Club.
7. Your last query is simply absurd. I can't make any sense of it. All I can say is that the union did its best for its members. I don't think Manny and Matteo betrayed them in any way during negotiations, if that's what you're thinking. Nor Tony Palermo. Justin was part of the management negotiating team. I have no idea what you are talking about here. So I can't answer you.
I'm posting this around 11:45. Is that acceptable? Or do I deserve some criticism?
I thought about stepping down. I thought about being bullied into stepping down and I thought about staying on to do the heavy lifting of the work that needs to be done. For now, I'm staying on and you can vote against me, if you're a Member, at the next Annual General Meeting.
The air is cleared.
Point of clarification - Justin Hanna is not the Executive Director of the DBG. He is the Operations Manager, which is the same position he was in before the resignation of the former Executive Director. To repeat, Justin Hanna is the Operations Manager, as he was before.
I spent an hour writing a reply to this post, but it disappeared suddenly. I'll try again. I have looked back at my posts for the offensive phrase, and I only used it once. It is a rhetorical device to assert that I used it over and over again. It's called "the straw man". "John" is setting up a straw man for me. I will just ignore it for now and say what I want to say. I am defensive, of course, of the very good people on the Board who are doing good work putting the DBG back on a good course. I am only evasive in that there is, as you all seem to know, a legal case going on, and I can't comment beyond saying that it's really just a landlord/tenant dispute and not so dramatic as the rumours are making it out to be. Point of information, Justin Hanna is not the ED, he is the Operations Manager, as he was before the retirement of the former ED. The dues paying Members of the DBG are communicated with regularly by our excellent staff and seem to be happy with the almost tripling of services in the Perth neighbourhood, including for the first time ever, swimming lessons. The TDSB and the TCDSB seem to also be happy with the collaborative model for delivery of services that our staff proposed and implemented....we have access to both school boards' facilities and resources that we never had before. Our staff did this. They had the 'what if' concepts and they went out to make them reality. You'll surely make fun of me for this (but you're really making fun of the staff), we were handed lemons and we are making lemonade. And we plan to keep on with improvements...the Westmoreland renovation means we are thinking about how to use that building 16 hours a day, instead of the mere 4 hours a day it has been used for since the early '60s. The Board and the staff are working hard for the future of the Club and its programs and do not deserve the discredit some people are trying to heap on them.
I noticed a few teens wondering the streets in the evening a couple of weeks ago. At least one was smoking. The Boys and Girls club promised that the new location was going to reach out to this age group that is already forgotten and have a place for them to go. I agree with Mother of Two that the club would help the kids develop their skills and help them obtain a better future. Don't let these kids fall through the cracks.
I am a mother of two children and I am wondering what I am to do to defend their rights. We need to know what is the real problem in order to help to resolve it or at least to find solutions to help our kids to have a place but no just a place a second home where they can develop their skills, where they can waste their energy in order to grow up like any other kid. If we want to have a good future for our young people we have to put our efforts together and fight for their rights. Kindly let us know what the problem is.
The post above, "language," was in response to a post by Jack that has now been removed by the moderator because of foul language; it isn't a response to Carla's post.
Also, if you are going to operate a program using taxpayers dollars the entire city should know about what is going on here. Full disclosure needs to be made to the kids, to the community, to the landlord and to the city. We are speaking about honesty and accountability here. I am still waiting for the letter that was to be sent home in September.
It's a good time to remind everyone to please read and abide by the Code of Conduct for this website. In this case, please refrain from personal attacks and foul language. We're talking about a kids' club here, and trying to maintain a family-friendly website.
Thanks,
Vic
To address the question directly, the lack of information is an excellent reason. If you consider serving on the board of an organization, it is very important to have a good relationship and be able to trust the other members of the board. Leaving your kids with someone also demands trust. If the boys and girls club need help dealing with their problems, the first step needs to be full disclosure and open communications. Nobody is suggesting this is easy, just ask Michael McCain.
Can we please refrain from using foul language in this discussion and others? It's precisely the kind of thing that puts people off commenting here, or even reading about what's going on. I think most of us are interested in what's good for the kids and the community, but people have different ideas about what that means. It strikes me that the phrase "i just want what's good for the kids" gets used an awful lot by people who won't even listen to each other. They are so far away from agreeing with each other, that after a while their claims ring a bit hollow.
CORRECTION- Sorry All. I meant the YMCA and not the United Way who I spoke to about helping us fund raise and run a facility for us. JF
I try to convince people it's true, but nobody falls for it :)
So that nick name Vic "The All Knowing" is not true ? : )
I heard from Ana's office that she is working hard on providing something for this area. She knows that there is a need. She also said that the issue was money but that doesn't match with what the club has said. I am getting tired of the silence. This area continues to be overlooked.
I think the main problem here is lack of communication from the club. There have been posts from former board members and others previously involved with the club, but no official updates from the club itself. It seems that the longer the information stays hidden, the more vicious the rumours get.
I really do hope that this gets cleared up. Current staff and board members should really post something to explain what happened, and provide a status update, otherwise the situation might just continue to deteriorate.
I've had several people ask me directly* if I know what's happening with the B&G Club, but everything I know is through indirect channels. I don't like spreading rumours or false info, so I usually don't say much. I wish I could point people to a document or press release from the club that explains everything, but right now I can't.
I hope you all can get this sorted out soon. Good luck. And if the club wants me to post some news or other info to this site, like I have in the past, please get in touch.
Cheers,
Vic
* People seem to think I have answers about everything in the 'hood because I run this site. Unfortunately, that's not always the case :)
I've just been reading the B&G comments on this site and am getting increasingly confused. One thing that seems clear, though, is that the Club isn't communicating effectively with the members of the Junction Triangle. I've just reread the Justin Hanna letter, from September 2010, to try to get a better understanding of the situation, and it certainly is vague by way of explanation. I still don't quite understand what was wrong with the building on Ernest, after all the work that was put into it. And it's awful to think of all the money, time, and donations going to waste, not to mention the feeling of having something wonderful and long-deserved offered and then snatched away. He does say, though, that "in the next few weeks, senior staff will be meeting to form a working group tasked with compiling an Executive Plan written, designed and published specifically for the Junction Triangle Community. A plan that looks specifically at your community, its demographics , the interest of youths, and other program service deliveries in the area. This plan, with its goal of being completed by spring 2011, will for the first time look at our critical role in the Junction Community." Maybe we could hear from Justin Hanna how the plan is coming?
There are no false and erroneous accusations.
I suggest you gather your facts before commenting on things you have no knowledge of which entails who I am and what I have or have not done.
And note...I did not blame the current board, present exec director and/or staff involved as they are not responsible for what lead up to this fiasco.
If there is an investigation and a court order is issued, there are a couple of us willing to step forth and disclose what we were privy to when we served on the board.
Until then....
The whole point is that he doesn't have any actual information, but he's saying it anyway?
Why didn't you run for a position on the board? You could be on it helping to make things better instead of making good people's lives miserable with false and erroneous accusations.
Marjolein is part of the board again?
She was asked to resign years (2007 or 8) ago by the former board due to conflict of interest because she worked for Adam's office.
She served on the original Board of Directors for 5 years. Is the conflict of interest now gone?
It amazes me that this b/g club issue is still floating around and no one has correct facts.
The children in this community have been IGNORED and neglected for years! This is no novelty except to the new group of parents that have moved in or taken an interest in the community.
Facts.
-Years ago, when the lease expired on their old building (Randolph) ,a group of us parents involved the media, rallied Leons and did everything in our power to aid this club to persuade the previous building owner to renew the lease
- Adam Giambrone was also involved in assisting this club.
At this time, involved parents took the time to go and look at viable venues for this club. The issue at the time was finances.
Lack of finances.
I along with others, organized 2 community festivals to benefit this club by raising funds. Perth Community Festival was born.
The MAIN ISSUE at the time was,
the Executive Director and former board of directors at the Dovercourt B/G Club were not concerned with this location. (Oh they said they were but I was there..)
-Their whole focus was building a 2nd floor at the Dovercourt B/G location and this club was ignored.
Many questions were asked by parents in this community and the media became involved. Search articles (leon's boys/girls)
The question was being asked, "why is this community ignored?"
When I inquired into who governs these non-profit organizations with some of my friends that worked there and the answer is, (feel free to search this) it's up to the executive board.
The NATIONAL BOARD was aware of what was happening with the Randolph location at the time.
-A temporary solution was provided by the former executive director knowing fully well that the finances were not there to sustain this club long term.
-He then QUIT or retired and left the place in shambles.
-The president of the Board quit right after him and several members resigned.
I think this speaks volumes!!! 1+1=2
My suggestion would be that "those interested" in helping spend their time and energy" find out how to open up a legal investigation into the financial matters of this club and where the monies have been allocated over the years instead of arguing here on this site.
The answers lie with the former executive director who will blame it on the board he manipulated.
The answers lie with him along with the lack of paperwork he left behind.
He knew financially they could not sustain this place and the current board is at a loss for what to do so they have no blame.
The new executive director (Justin) was left to pick up the pieces of the mess he left behind.
Their decision to close this location was the only one they could make.
If an actual legal investigation comes out of this, pls. feel free to contact me at carla.heavenly@gmail.com
I have a lot of information which I will gladly happily disclose if a legal case is open and a subpoena issued by a court judge.