DESPATCHES DECember 2016 Air Cadet League of Canada Ontario Provincial Committee Expression of Interest & Call for Input: QBO Who is interested in helping to improve our Financial Control practices? We are seeking Squadron Sponsoring Committees and individuals to participate in a 2017 OPC-guided project, to help adapt Intuit Canada s QuickBooks Online (QBO) software for League use, as well as revise appropriate policies / procedures / training resources. In addition, we need to know the Squadron-level needs / wants / worry points which should be considered during this set up? The plan is to have an introductory QBO webinar ready for early 2017, but still require an ACC-9 to be completed and submitted for 2016-17. Contact OPC@aircadetleague.on.ca to register names of volunteers and to identify finance issues. Keep the Date Open: Saturday, March 4 Toronto Marlies vs St. John s Icecaps @ Ricoh Colisium - 5:00 p.m. The Toronto Marlies Hockey Club proudly presents the 2017 CADETS NIGHT and Program Outreach! Current Cadets, Alumni, League members, family, friends and community supporters are invited to join a celebration of Canada s premier youth development program! IN THIS ISSUE.. News about 2017 National Courses Ontario Volunteer Service Awards - Deadline is January 25 SSC 2016-17 Calendar Milestones Mark Your Calendars: for Effective Speaking and Debating Competitions OPC Notes: Contents Insurance, Leaders Wanted, 2017 AGM Dates, Call for Volunteers Changes to SSC Recognition Lottery Ticket Submissions and Two Bravo Zulu s National Awards to Ontario Cadets Announced You Deserve a (Volunteer Service) Medal Lists of Squadron CO s and Sponsor Chairs Wanted OPC HOLIDAY HOURS Wishing everyone the joys of the Season and a great 2017! The OPC Office will close at the end of the business day on Thursday, December 22 for two weeks and re-open on Monday, January 9. During this period, if you require emergency assistance, please email the Executive Director or your assigned PDO and we will respond as quickly as possible. Staff Contacts ADDITIONAL LOTTERY BONUS BOOKS AVAILABLE SSC s receive $35 back on each Bonus Book sold. Over a dozen Squadrons sell two books per Cadet to cover their OPC Assessment! Give David Brown or John Evans a call, and you ll have your Books delivered next day.
2017 National Courses Handbooks, Dates, Volunteers Two National Courses Handbooks are available this year. The standard version - for SSC and OPC Members, and Squadron Staff - is available on the back end of the OPC website for registered users. The second version - for Cadets and Parents - is available from the front end of the OPC website (no password required). The latest updated Handbooks are V4, which include the 2017 National Summer Training Courses Selection Process. This year there is a Cadet Supplemental Booklet to assist Cadets with their applications, and provide clearer instructions for Narratives. The Booklet has been sent to all the COs and SSC Chairs and is available from the front end of the OPC website. Squadrons must submit applications to Detachment offices by January 6, 2017. Important Dates for OPC (not including North-Western Ontario): Qualifying Exams for Power and Glider Pilot Scholarships are scheduled for Saturday, January 14, 2017, at various locations throughout Ontario. National Courses interview schedules will be released no later than Tuesday, January 31, 2017. The interview date for National Courses is Saturday, February 11, 2017. Important Dates for North-Western Ontario: Qualifying Exams for Power and Glider Pilot Scholarships are scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2017. National Courses interview schedules will be released no later than Friday, February 3, 2017. The interview date for National Courses is Sunday, February 26, 2017. Request for Alternate Interview Dates: As per instructions in the Handbook, the CO must send a request to the Area Cadet Officer / Zone Training Officer for consideration and approval. Upon DND approval, the request is submitted to OPC to review and grant - or not - the alternate date. When submitting the request, please advise the reason for the alternate date and, if the Cadet is travelling, please advise when they are not available for an interview. All requests will be reviewed and approved on a case by case basis. Requests for school-related events or International exchanges through the school are deemed to be reasonable. Please refer to the Handbook for further information. Home Schooled Cadets: All Cadets require an education assessment score, including those who receive home schooling. As noted in the Handbook, home-schooled Cadets applying for the first time will meet in-person with Mr. Craig Hawkins. This meeting is separate from their National Courses interview. After an initial meeting, Cadets applying for a National Course in subsequent years only require a phone interview. In both circumstances, the Cadet will need to provide samples of work, essays, assignments, projects, textbook lists, course outlines, etc. Please advise both Anne Kozich and Mr. Craig Hawkins (hawkinsfamily@rogers.com) of any home-schooled candidates, and refer to the Handbook for further details. Volunteers Required : If you are available to assist with the scoring of Cadet Narratives and / or Education Assessments, please contact Anne Kozich. The scoring is done during regular business hours at the OPC office in Markham. If you are available to assist with the Interview Boards, contact Anne Kozich and advise which Interview Board you wish to participate with. If you are willing to travel to an alternate location to avoid conflicts of interest (i.e., interviewing Cadets you may know), please indicate. Anne can be reached at 905-477-4411 or 1-800-513-0952, Ext. 225, or by e-mail at: anne.kozich@aircadetleague.on.ca
http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/citizenship/honours/vsa.shtml Submitting Nominations Through the OPC The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards are a means for the Ontario Government, through the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, to recognize volunteers for their contributions. They are presented to volunteers in diverse fields of endeavour, who contribute consecutive years of service to a single group within Ontario, and whose work is characterized by the following: Volunteer time given on an ongoing and active basis to the same group for which no payment has been received Membership alone is not a qualification for recognition Services performed during the normal course of professional or business duties are not eligible for recognition. Since 2007, the OPC has recommended its annual quota of six members at the provincial level. For the past several years, however, we have also been permitted to sponsor nominations of up to six adult members - and three youth volunteers, under the age of 24 - at each of our chapters (Squadron Sponsoring Committees). Please read the information on the Ministry web site thoroughly. If you believe that you have SSC members who qualify for this recognition, the OPC will be pleased to endorse your nominations. Note: Civilian Volunteers are eligible; however, CIC Officers and (paid) Civilian Instructors do not meet the Ministry criteria. The Deadline is January 25, 2017. When completing the HTML nomination form, please indicate Air Cadet League of Canada (OPC) as the Nominating Organization and ## Squadron Sponsoring Committee as the Branch [Step 1]. The Nominating Organization contact is: Mr. David S. Brown Program Development Officer david.brown@aircadetleague.on.ca Tel: 905-477-4411 x224 Fax: 905-479-2789 Your SSC Chair is the Head of the Organization in Step 2. For Brief Description of Objectives and Activities in Step 3, you might consider something like: The Sponsoring Committee is a partner with the Department of National Defence in offering the Air Cadet Program through XXX Air Cadet Squadron in [your municipality / community], to youth aged 12-18 years. Its civilian members provide hundreds of hours of unpaid service to support the program through administrative, event management and fundraising activities. If you require clarification, assistance or have any questions about the Awards, or your SSC members eligibility, please give David Brown a call or email at the OPC Office.
SSC Calendar 2016-17 A Guideline to Your Annual Milestones Sep 15 Sep Dec Oct 22 Oct 31 Nov 30 Dec 02 Jan 06 Jan 14 Jan 21 Mid-Jan Jan 31 Feb 03 Feb 11 Feb 25 Feb 26 Feb 28 Mar 31 Apr 01 Apr May Apr 20 Apr 29 Apr 30 Apr 30 May Jun Jun 01 Late Jun Training Year budget approved by SSC Fall Tagging Tagging Coordination form submitted to OPC & DET prior to event OPC Conference & AGM Richmond Hill Compliance deadlines: ACC9 submitted to Nicky Grantham, OPC Financial Services Annual Commitment Report submitted to your PDO 1st installment (40%) of Squadron Assessment Fee remitted to OPC Lottery ticket stubs and proceeds, for books sold to date, submitted to OPC National Courses applications: Names of Cadets writing Flying Scholarship qualifying exams submitted to DET Paper copies of applications completed and submitted to DET Electronic applications completed in FORTRESS and submitted to RCSU Flying Scholarship qualifying exams written (except NWO) Flying Scholarship qualifying exams written in NW Ontario Local Support Allocation claims submitted by Treasurer via CO to DET National Courses Interview Board schedules announced National Courses Interview Board schedules released for NW Ontario National Courses Interview Boards conducted Regional Effective Speaking Competition held for NW Ontario National Courses Interview Boards conducted for NW Ontario Deadline for Charities to submit T3010 forms to CRA Charities Directorate; Reminder: Submit GST66 and RC7066 using data from an approved ACC9 Deadline for all Lottery ticket stubs and sales proceeds to be submitted to OPC Generic Certificate of Insurance and Named 3rd-party Certificates issued (beginning of National ACLC fiscal year) Spring Tagging - submit Tagging Coordination form to OPC & DET prior to event OPC Lottery Draw at OPC Office Provincial Effective Speaking Competition held at Mohawk College, Hamilton Provincial Debating Competition held at Mohawk College, Hamilton 2nd installment (60%) of Squadron Assessment Fee remitted to OPC Annual Ceremonial Reviews held Transport Canada Medical Certificates (CAT 3) for flying scholarships due at RCSU 2017 Lottery payments issued to Squadrons in full compliance
Effective Speaking Program Mark Your Calendars! Each year, the Air Cadet League of Canada promotes Effective Speaking and the OPC would like to generate more interest and participation on all levels of the program. Squadron staff and SSCs are encouraged to provide Cadets the opportunity to participate in Effective Speaking and experience its competitive nature, get feedback and have the chance to move forward to the regional, provincial and national competitions. The program enables our cadets to improve their public presentation skills and deliver their message more effectively while developing confidence, citizenship and leadership skills. Thirteen Cadets representing the OPC s 13 Regions will face off at the ES Provincial Competition scheduled on April 29, 2017 at Mohawk College in Hamilton. The Provincial winner will go on to represent the OPC at the Air Cadet League's 2017 National Effective Speaking Competition in Winnipeg, MB in June 2017. This year, for the first time, competitors at each level will be given the opportunity to individually choose whether or not they wish to hear the presentations given by fellow speakers. Before the start of each competition, speakers will be required to notify the Competition Coordinator whether they would prefer to be present in the auditorium, or otherwise sequestered in a separate holding area, for both the prepared speeches as well as for those impromptu speeches that will be presented by the remaining competitors following their own speeches. For more information, contact the OPC Effective Speaking Coordinators: Jackie Villanueva jackie.villanueva@aircadetleague.on.ca // 647-284-0970 Jim Gale - jamesrgale@gmail.com // 519-368-4223 2017 Effective Speaking Regional Coordinators ROC SQUADRONS AREA COORDINATOR EMAIL PHONE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 110, 142, 166, 180, 188, 246, 330, 618, 631, 700, 818, 876 132, 197, 242, 756, 758, 789, 800, 845, 892 8, 94, 140, 283, 351, 659, 707, 778, 883 2, 151, 172, 173, 534, 598, 608, 704, 718, 851, 856 58, 253, 325, 379, 585, 638, 653, 661, 870, 999 99, 102, 295, 714, 724, 734, 844 85, 164, 167, 183, 340, 532, 543, 769, 812, 895 City of Toronto John Evans johnd.evans@sympatico.ca 416-998-5938 Mississauga / Peel Karen Foley k.foley197cv@gmail.com 905-699-1781 York Region TBA TBA TBA Pickering to Picton Tehmina Peshimam tehmina@peshman.com 905-903-1112 Kingston East Janelle Bucci jpbucci@gmail.com 613-929-2529 Simcoe / Muskoka Tammy Hebner Craig Hawkins dthebner@rogers.com hawkinsfamily@rogers.com 705-549-0348 705-526-2194 Huron / Grey Bruce Deb Fletcher 812ssc@gmail.com 519-665-2423
Effective Speaking (cont d) & Debating 2017 Effective Speaking Regional Coordinators ROC SQUADRONS AREA COORDINATOR EMAIL PHONE 8 9 10 11 12 80, 104, 121, 296, 530, 822 150, 540, 713, 715, 735, 779, 820, 826 23, 62, 79, 87, 126, 128, 337, 611, 809 3, 19, 27, 153, 201, 599, 614, 741, 862 Waterloo / Wellington / Brant Sharmila Menon Nair sharmilamelon@gmail.com 519-591-6716 Halton / Hamilton George Hough houghg@cogeco.ca 905-528-7908 Niagara Region Bernice Nickerson Maj Dave Leonard ssc@62phantomaircadets.ca leondave@sympatico.ca 289-440-2641 London Region Roberta Foisy foisyroberta@hotmail.com 519-630-8593 044, 291, 294, 364, 535 Sarnia / Windsor Sid Thompson sid.b.thompson@hotmail.com 519-384-8135 13 10, 155, 200, 288, 355, 547, 696, 792 Northern Ontario John Stennett WO2 Susan Desroches jamisnb@cogeco.ca susan.desroches@forces.gc.ca 705-498-6549 1 (888) 297-3455 x2537 Debating: Get Ready for the 2017 "Clash" of Squadrons Clash is essential to a good debate: pointing out the differences between your arguments and your opposition's. Our province-wide Air Cadet Debating Competition is once again set to take place at Mohawk College in Hamilton on Sunday, April 30, 2017. Since 2003, this optional training activity for Cadets has steadily grown in popularity, and the past few years we have been at capacity for our judging and facilities capabilities. The program helps our Cadets develop soft (or life) skills in the areas of effective speaking, listening and reasoning. It's also a relatively easy activity to implement at any LHQ - regardless of your Squadron size. Check out our OPC Debating home page at http://www.cpi-hamilton.ca/debatinghome.htm for more information and a illustrative video. We also hope to have a Debating Handbook published in the near future, to help out Squadron organizers and coaches. More announcements about the 14th Annual Debating Competition and Workshop will follow in the Spring. Be prepared to submit your team(s) early. We will try to ensure that each Squadron registering will have their number one team competing. Hope to see you there! In Memorium OPC Debating Coordinators: Fred Hopkinson & Mark Thususka OPC Debating PDO: Jackie Villanueva Captain Thomas McQueen: on November 30. CF-18 pilot with 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4 Wing: former WO2 with 611 Harvard Squadron, in Dunnville, and graduate of the Air Cadet Flying Program. Mrs. Carolyn Ann Hansen: on December 11. Sponsoring Committee Chair of 62 Phantom Squadron, in Grimsby. Outstanding six-year member of 62 s SSC and Cadet Mom.
OPC Contents Insurance for Squadrons Expressions of Interest - Leadership Are you interested in being the Chairperson of an ROC? The Chairs - or Co-Chairs - organize and manage the 13 Regional Operations Committees. They plan an average of four meetings per year, two in the Fall and two in the Spring. One meeting each season is devoted to League-focused topics that will inform and share best practices amongst local SSC s, the other is on topics that are of joint interest to SSC s and CO s who choose to attend. Are you interested in being an OPC Director! There are two different roles for Directors to perform: OPC Notes The insurance policy purchased by OPC for local Squadron Sponsoring Committees is simply contents insurance. It provides up to $15,000 of coverage for items owned by the SSC and maintained for the use of the Cadets at each individual Squadron. It is a no-frills, basic contents policy with no other coverages. There is a $1000 deductible on each claim made. The policy does NOT cover anything owned - or on loan - from DND. For coverage to be in force, the OPC / SSC must keep the following information current: SSC / Squadron mailing address SSC / Squadron physical address were the Squadron parades and may have office equipment and / or storage (if different than the mailing address) Physical address(es) where the SSC / Squadron s non-dnd assets are stored, if these location (s) are not where the Squadron parades. An approximate value by category of the following types of items: Band equipment Camping and / or Training equipment Office equipment Clothing Trophies and awards of value (e.g., swords or models). If these assets exceed $15,000, options of paying for additional coverage through the OPC policy - or obtaining local insurance coverage - should be pursued. OPC coverage is in force yearly, from January to December. Plan and execute ROC events, such as National Courses Selection Interview Boards, Effective Speaking Competitions, Debating Competitions, or Training sessions; or, Mentor the SSC at one or two Squadrons, to guide and assess their performance, as well as being part of good news stories, such as Honours & Awards presentations, Merit Review Boards for WO1 and WO2 promotions, and acting as Provincial representative at the Annual Ceremonial Review. To confirm your interest, contact your local Program Development Officer, or Executive Director Michael Hopkins, at michael.hopkins@aircadetleague.on.ca. Save the Date: 76th Conference & AGM The 76th Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held from Friday, October 27 to Saturday, October 28, 2017. Extensive changes are coming to the League and OPC, as a result of significant modifications to our Charitable Registration status by the Canada Revenue Agency and DND Renewal implementation. SSC representatives and Directors will be presented with critical information - so plan to attend!
OPC Notes Call for Volunteers: Provincial and Local Call for Volunteers for Provincial Directors, Members-at-Large and SSC members: Provide your time and energy for Local, Regional, &/or Provincial opportunities. Focus needed for aviation, fitness, citizenship, marketing & financial skills. To confirm your interest contact your local contact, PDO or ED michael.hopkins@aircadetleague.on.ca LEAGUE ACTIVITIES Overall OPC operations, business, fund development National Courses selection process SAMPLE TASKS (What Interests You?) Review and file Annual Commitment Report reviews, work on grant opportunities Check application completeness Honours & Awards administration Track members service, collate SSC performance, prepare awards, help in shipping process OPC Lottery fund development Registration and Screening Track and process Squadron returns; ensure success by 100% of tickets sold Coordination of active applications; filing Nevada (Break Open Ticket) fund development Halenda s Pepperoni fund development OPC Annual Meeting and Conference Provincial Effective Speaking and / or Debating competitions Coordination of OPC reps at external events OPC special events Local ACC-9 compliance OPC financial bookkeeping & expense accounts OPC Lottery and Assessment payments Financial training and consultation to Treasurers SSC support + Regional Operations Committees: In almost every town: recruit mentors, community supporters, media contacts Identify more sites Identify and share best marketing practices Plan and implement business sessions and activities Coordination of events Assign OPC reps to community and Squadron events, Annual Ceremonial Reviews & CTC graduations Marketing and corporate document administration Track Sqn returns; ensuring 100% success by due date Track Sqn returns; ensuring 100% success by policy compliance Track Sqn returns; ensuring 100% success by due date Tax and CRA compliance and QuickBooks Online trial project In most EOA, NOA, COA, WOA locations plus Local / ROC Effective Speaking coordination, Local / ROC Debating coordination
Recognition and Awards Changes to Sponsoring Committee Recognition 2016 saw a significant evolvement in the way the OPC recognizes the work of Squadron Sponsoring Committees. Traditionally, there were two tiers of SSC awards: the first consisting of four Province-wide awards for those Sponsoring Committees - one from each Detachment Area - judged to be top overall. The second tier consisted of a series of regional awards for the top SSC in each Region. The Province had traditionally been divided into OPC administrative regions / areas, and for the past few years these were based on the ROC jurisdictions. For 2016, however, the Honours & Awards Committee recommended to the Board of Governors that a more inclusive system to recognize the dedicated work of our 113 Sponsoring Committees (growing to 121 in 2017 with the addition of Squadrons in North-Western Ontario), rather than singling-out one Squadron from a geographical grouping of 15-20 local Units. The SSC annual assessment form- in use since 2010- assigns Committees a possible 50 points, based on input from Regional Chairs, Directors, and PDO s. Henceforth, Sponsoring Committees whose performance is rated in the top three point bands, will receive a Certificate to recognize their work throughout the previous Training Year: The Sponsoring Committee Ad Astra Award - for 46-50 points The Sponsoring Committee Award of Excellence - for 41-45 points The Sponsoring Committee Proficiency Award - for 36-40 points The format has been likened to a Michelin Star system for SSC s. In the inaugural year, 9 Squadrons received Ad Astra Awards, 17 received Excellence Awards, and 28 were recognized with a Proficiency Award; a total of 54 Squadrons (61% of our SSC s). The Ad Astra and Excellence Awards are to be given out annually at the Awards Banquet held in conjunction with the Conference & AGM, and Proficiency Awards will be presented locally by Directors or members of the Board of Governors. Any suggestions for further enhancing the recognition given to SSC s will be welcomed by the Honours & Awards Committee! James R. Gale, CD, Chairman jamesrgale@gmail.com Bravo Zulu to the 851 Prince Edward SSC in Picton! Once again, they are the first Squadron to have all of their Lottery tickets sold and returned to the OPC Office. (Packed neatly, in numerical order!) All books and full payment were received October 17. They were followed closely by 201 Dorchester SSC, who sold their mandatory books - and their Bonus Books - by November 25. Squadrons are encouraged to send early returns of booklets and proceeds sold to date by the Holiday Break - or any time in advance of the April 20 Lottery Draw - to ease the Staff and Volunteer workload of checking and separating more than approximately 139,000 stubs!
More Recognition BRAVO ZULU to Ontario Cadets! At the National Semi-Annual Meeting, held in November in Ottawa, the following flying and technical course awards, and scholarships, were announced for Cadets in OPC Squadrons: WESTJET PILOTS ASSOCIATION AWARD - $1,500 Ryan Petri, 330 Toronto IRVIN ERB AWARD - $1,000 Benjamin Skippen, 826 Hamilton BOMBER HARRIS AWARD - $500 Phoenix Golshan, 741 St. Thomas FRANK KOBE AWARD - $300 Gareth Thompson, 80 Kitchener ROCKWELL COLLINS AWARD - $300 Wolfgang Becker, 8 Richmond Hill Eng-Tsieng Chee, 631 Scarborough Nathan Feoillat, 58 Kingston Vendant Purohit, 700 Etobicoke DALE SCHOLARSHIP - $1,000 Rebecca Mather, 3 Strathroy AATC-AO AWARDS - $500 Top Academic: Joshua Larose, 844 Huntsville Most Improved: Thomas Lazsadi, 246 Toronto NAV CANADA - $500 ATC & Services: Evan Sawatsky, 128 Thorold AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION - $2,500 Reanna Palleske, 598 Cobourg Justin Pymento, 110 Scarborough Tristan Rhoads, 532 Goderich Benjamin Skippen, 826 Hamilton AIR TRANSPORT ASSOC. OF CANADA - $2,500 Vince Ou, 140 Aurora You Deserve a Medal! All League members and Civilian Volunteers - who have been registered & screened and have a minimum of 10 years service - are eligible for the Air Cadet League of Canada Volunteer Service Medal. All time spent on SSC s or at the Provincial level counts. Service as a CIC Officer or CI, however, does not. Bars are awarded for each 10 years service thereafter. Send an email to the Honours & Awards Committee outlining your dates and places of service, c/o PDO David Brown.
Send Us Your Leaders! Help: Lists of CO s and Sponsor Chairs! The Air Cadet League - and the OPC in particular - is long on history, but short on documentation! Office moves, limited storage space, and no budget line for history means that we have accumulated very little in the way of archives over the years, or even basic chronologies and lists of our leaders. We would like to begin to remedy this. A project has been initiated to build an historical directory of all of the Squadron CO s and SSC Chairs - ever - and for every Squadron. If you have a complete or partial list of your local leaders, please send us a scan of it. Parade locations can also be built into the directory, even photo s if you have them. We would also appreciate information you may have on OPC Directors who have been affiliated with your Squadron. Email to PDO David Brown! (And yes, that s S/L Lorne Haunts, DFM, CD of 58 Squadron, in Kingston). Staff Email Addresses & Telephone Extensions 90C Centurian Drive, Suite 203, Markham, ON L3R 8C5 General Line - 905-477-4411 Facsimile Line - 905-479-2789 Toll-Free Line - 1-800-513-0952 Michael Hopkins, Executive Director (michael.hopkins@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 223 Silva Chan, Administrative Assistant (silva.chan@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 221 Nicky Grantham, Financial Services (nicky.grantham@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 230 David Brown, Program Development Officer (david.brown@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 224 John Evans, Program Development Officer (john.evans@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext Anne Kozich, Program Development Officer (anne.kozich@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 225 Jackie Villanueva, Program Development Officer (jackie.villanueva@aircadetleague.on.ca) Ext 226 WELCOME to our newest Staff resource ~ Program Development Officer John Evans ~ whose knowledge, skills and connections will serve the Program well. John is a former Cadet, SSC Chair and ROC Chair - as well as the Dad of two former WO1 s! A review of the PDO s current portfolio and geographic taskings is currently in progress, with a broadcast of changes to all expected in early 2017.