With a new executive director hired, and their board of directors just one member shy of a full slate, members of Pink Triangle Services (PTS) were optimistic for the coming year at their annual general meeting held June 26 in PTS’s offices on Nepean St.
Approximately 30 people gathered to hear reports from president Michael Henschel, treasurer Jeff Atkinson and out-going executive director Wayne Adams, along with electing next year’s board of directors.
Atkinson fielded the most questions following his report, which focussed on a five-year plan for the organization. The past year PTS saw an overall increase in revenue, due largely to an increase in monies received from government grants. The $151,923 received from these grants marked a 55 percent increase from the previous year, and more than compensated the over-$20,000 dip in fundraising dollars from 2005 numbers.
The five-year plan outlined how PTS plans to save money on rent by relocating to 251 Bank St, while increasing revenue through individual donations and city funding. The plan projects a loss of $21,016 for 2007, but by 2011 PTS anticipates accumulating just over $9,000 in surplus.
“You will note there is a significant loss for 2006. In fact it would have been much higher had we note been able to reallocate some grant money. Clearly we cannot continue to lose money. At some point our savings will run out. That is why we are taking steps to reduce one of our major fixed costs — rent — by relocating to another space,” said Atkinson in his report.
PTS will also be making a push for community support through volunteers in the coming year. According to volunteer statistics distributed at the meeting, January through June saw an increase of 22 volunteers over the latter half of 2006, totalling 71. Over the remainder of the year, PTS hopes to see the number grow to 95 through advertising the need for volunteers through Volunteer Ottawa, and by partnering with volunteer and co-operative education programs at Ottawa’s post-secondary institutions.
New executive director Ken Mews was introduced at the meeting, and will oversee the day-to-day operations at PTS. Mews marks the first permanent executive director in over a year for the organization, as Adams acted as interim-director since the resignation of Michelle Reis-Amores in May 2006.
Elections at the end of the meeting saw the existing executive consisting of Henschel, Atkinson and vice-president Lisa Ostapyk, re-elected, along with Jessica Freedman, Catherine Purdie and Kerry Chalmers returning for another year. Adams has also joined the ranks as a board member along with other new recruits Melanie Bejzyk, Shannon Blatt, Gordon Boissoneault, Lyle Borden.
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