The early bird registration deadline for the 2nd national Rural Research Workshop is Friday, March 30, 2012.  $250 for 2 days or $125 for 1 day.

The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF), the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), and the Canadian Rural Health Research Society (CRHRS), along with the Rural Ontario Institute and many other partners, are pleased to invite you to the:

2nd national Rural Research Workshop
“Policy and Research in Community Investment”
www.crrf.ca/?page_id=720

Thursday, May 24 and Friday, May 25, 2012
Victoria Hall, Bytown Pavilion, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario

The Workshop will focus on the complex relationships between policy and research as they relate to the practice of rural community investment, while examining the challenges, opportunities and lessons that these three-way interrelationships present.

Invited Speakers

The Day 1 keynote address – “Policy and Research and Rural Community Re-Investment in the Context of Globalization” – will be made by Dr. Lou Hammond Ketilson, University of Saskatchewan
The Day 2 keynote address – “A Critical Reflection on the Emergent Themes and Challenges from the Workshop” – will be made by Dr. William (Bill) Reimer, Concordia University

Also on the programme...

• “From Other Corners” – Responses and Perspectives from Policy and Practice – And an Open Facilitated Discussion
• “Rural Community Investment: The Policy & Research Challenges and Opportunities” (A facilitated plenary session with a discussant panel and open floor challenge and debate)
• Action! – From “Talk to Walk”:  What Needs to be Done in Policy and Research? What are the Priorities? Who Makes it Happen?  (A facilitated agenda building session.)

Visit www.crrf.ca/?page_id=720 for further details and registration information or download the detailed program here.

The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) was organized in May 2007 in response to concerns about proposed changes to the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (Bill 65).  Since then ONN has emerged as a nonpartisan convener of sector voices, and a communication broker and coordinator for nonprofits in Ontario and support for this network has continued to grow as the broad ranging work of ONN continues to be relevant in many areas.

Most recently ONN ‘led the charge’ on behalf of the non-profit sector leading up to, and since the release of the Drummond Report in mid February 2012.  In late 2011 ONN provided a submission to the Commission which was representative of the non-profit sector’s thinking on the anticipated report.  This submission can be found at:

www.theonn.ca/wp-content/uploads/ONN-Submission-to-the-Commission-on-the-Reform-of-Ontarios-Public-Services-Nov-15-2011.pdf

Following the release of the Drummond Report on February 15, 2012, ONN noted in a press release that the non-profit sector provided an important solution to the public service delivery reforms suggested in the report.  Read the full release at:

www.theonn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Drummond-Press-Release-Feb.16_Final.pdf

In recent days, a brief, incisive non-profit sector-based analysis of the Drummond Report has been developed by ONN and the four fundamental principles that guide this work are intended to help focus dialogue within the sector and between the sector and the provincial government as it prepares its 2012 budget and beyond.  Find this analysis at:

http://www.theonn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ONN-Drummond-Analysis-March_2012.pdf

Finally a wealth of information posted by the Ontario Nonprofit Network and others on the Drummond Report can be found at www.theonn.ca/what-we-do/drummond-commission

We encourage non-profit organizations across rural Ontario to take the time to better understand the impacts of the Drummond Report through the links noted above.  While doing so, take some time to become familiar with the Ontario Nonprofit Network.  They continue to work on behalf of all our organizations and the non-profit sector in Ontario and we need to recognize and applaud their significant efforts in this regard.

Rob Black, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Ontario Institute

Rural Ontario is chock full of successful cooperative enterprises – a historical legacy worth celebrating and an important mechanism through which to help build the successful, sustainable rural communities of tomorrow.  Check out the many events and awareness building activities that the Ontario Cooperative sector has planned for 2012.   

Co-ops - Building a Better Ontario.pdf (267.48 kb) 
http://www.ontario.coop/all_about_cooperatives/2012_the_international_year_of_cooperatives 

It is well understood that leadership effectiveness and member involvement have a huge impact on the health and well being of organizations and groups in communities across rural Ontario.  Many organizations across the province are under intense pressure and facing uncertain times as they try to remain relevant, keep organization costs in check, sustain their organizations and move forward… all because times and members’ interests change, and it becomes harder to acquire the funds necessary to sustain the organization and more difficult to find individuals willing to stand up, get involved and take on the leadership aspects of the organization.

The individuals who do accept the leadership responsibility for those organizations are, in most cases, willing, able, capable and interested enough to take on a leadership role to ensure a positive road forward… but they can’t do it alone!

Organizations need the support of their members – folks who are interested in attending the meetings and getting involved in the issues and various activities held on behalf of their organization.  They also need individuals to step forward to continue leading the organization.  As your organization approaches its next Annual General Meeting it is absolutely critical now to identify, support and encourage current and emerging leaders who have the self-confidence, critical thinking, communications and leadership skills to continue the good work of your organization.  It will be these people who will lead the way in to the future!

Economic growth starts with encouraging and then building the capacity of people to provide effective leadership thereby ensuring strong businesses, organizations and communities across rural Ontario.  Most definitely there is value in developing leaders… for the individual leader, for their businesses, for the individuals around them, for the communities in which they live and for the organizations on which they serve.  It is vitally important that each of us be on the look out for, and then encourage and support current and emerging leaders for our rural organizations.

As you approach your organization’s next AGM, think about it.  Who are YOU encouraging?

Rob Black, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Ontario Institute