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#ReDiscoverRedDeer

Organization closing in on a half million dollars in donations, 1 woman at a time!

Published

4 years ago

3 minute read

It was shades of February 2015 when the room started to overflow and we were reminded of our first-ever meeting when we were short on chairs, ballots, registration forms . . . at 6:55 p.m., just minutes before the meeting, the two of us were dragging out more chairs to meet the last-minute rush. Thankfully, that was a happiness problem and the meeting started (almost) on time.
Despite the cold, more than 130 people attended last night. We were thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our 14 new members!
Here are the highlights:
To kick off the evening, our very own Jodi Dore treated us to delicious Chai Lattes, Almond Milk Hot Chocolate and the most lovely heart-shaped Chai Spice Cookies from her company, The Chai Wallahs. Jodi also provided the door prize. That Jodi – she’s always there when we need her! Congratulations to Lauren Harder for winning the prize. Enjoy the chai and beautiful ceramic mugs.
Kim Mortimer of Snaphappy Photography was kept busy all evening taking candid pics of the whole crowd. We will use these photos for social media and other promotions. Stay tuned to see the photos. Thank you, KIm. We sure appreciate it.
 
Taylor Poor from the Salvation Army filled us in on how our November meeting funds are being used to support their Weekend Backpack Feeding program. Our donations will provide food for about 300 Red Deer kids for two months, so they don’t go hungry over the weekend.  It’s heartbreaking to think about the hungry youngsters in our community, but heartening to know that we have helped. 
 
With 12 nominations in the hat, we had three great pitches from:
  • Amanda Blair – The Lending Cupboard
  • Bonnee Gregg – Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society -The Dragonfly Centre
  • Eleanor Sugarman – The RDRHC Lifeline
After nominating the Outreach Centre 6 times and never even getting drawn, the 7th time was the charm for Bonnee. Her emotional and passionate endorsement of The Dragonfly Centre, which helps the children and their moms deal with the trauma of domestic abuse, garnered the most votes. 
 
Including February’s donations, we will exceed $400,000 in total donations since 2015. We celebrated with a second (or was that third) cookie and a glass of wine at the end of the evening. What a great way to start year #6!
 
Please mail or drop off your cheque to the Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society (Women’s Outreach will do) to 4751-56 Street, Red Deer T4N 2K2.

Our next meeting is on Monday, April 20th. With luck, we will be adding a plus to 15 degrees and not a minus like last night!
 
Thank you so much for your continued support – we are thrilled each and every one of you are part of 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer. With gratitude,
 
Cindy and Susan
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After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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#ReDiscoverRedDeer

Penhold Flight Instructor Releases Updated Instruction Manual For the 21st Century

Published on December 24, 2020

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Sky Wings Aviation founder Dennis Cooper lives to fly.

“2020 marks 50 years of flying for me,” said Cooper in a phone interview.  “I was a cadet and part of the glider program but got my pilots license in 1971 at Cold Lake before I even had my drivers license.”

Cooper later earned his Commercial license under Cecil Sorenson and other seasoned ex-Canadian Air Force pilots who transferred their tremendous knowledge base.  Working with Johnson Air Services and Pultz Aviation, he obtained his instrument rating and began his pilot career in earnest.

“One of the tools I had as a young pilot was the Pultz Instructor Manual and sometimes he (Pultz) would ask me questions and I would offer input,” he remembered.  “The original book was a 3-ring binder and we used that format for a long time at Sky Wings as well.”

Fast forward to the present.

“With current technology, many of our students wanted the manual in an electronic form so now instead of just having a softcover book that gets scuffed, dirty and ripped we now have a hardcover AND an electronic version for use everywhere,” added the instructor.  “Since the original book was written, much had changed.”

Changes to the original include an index which the first book did not have according to Cooper, modified levels of instructors, GPS information which did not exist years ago, procedures and general knowledge brought about by technology.

“We kept the artwork from the original,” said Cooper.  “It’s great and captures what we wanted.  We also added enhanced study and review questions based on feedback from students who have been through testing. The result is now a 558 page Instructors Manual that can follow a pilot from the beginning of their career to their end goal, no matter what that looks like.”

The new updated manual can be used in conjunction with Transport Canada publications.  It can adequately prepare a commercial pilot for the Transport Canada Flight Instructor written examination, the in-flight training and ground instruction, as well as the test flight.

Priced at $99 for the hardcover and $90 for the softcover, the “Cooper Flight Instructor Manual” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo and 3 flight suppliers at present.

“I bought Sky Wings Aviation in 1982 and even today I still feel the same when a new student flies for the first time.  I am excited when our students enter the plane, travel the runway and rise into the air for the first time for their first circuit, then return,” said Cooper whose wife Sherry also teaches at the school.  “I enjoy watching the transfer of knowledge from instructor to student, but most significantly, watching them conquer the air just like the Wright Brothers 118 years ago.”

Cooper is not finished yet with 3 more books ready to rewrite for the 21st century.

For more information on Sky Wings Aviation and the 9th Edition of the Cooper Flight Instructors Manual, go to:

Home – Skywings Aviation

 

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Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools picks up $30,000.00 tab to buy laptops for at-home schooling

Published on December 12, 2020

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Photo includes, from left, Foundation Board Member Morris Flewwelling, Trustee and Foundation Board Member Bev Manning and Foundation Board Chair Dave Tilstra.

Foundation donates 90 Chromebooks to students in need

As equity, student success and completion are priorities for Red Deer Public Schools, officials have recognized the move to at-home or temporary online learning has presented challenges for some students and their families who do not have access to technology.

In response to this challenge, the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools, recently donated 90 Chromebooks to schools to lend to students needing access to technology, totally $30,000.

Dave Tilstra, Chair of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools, said supporting students and ensuring they have the tools to learn is key to helping set kids up for success.

“Chromebooks will continue to be an important resource within schools and now at home. We are thrilled that we have been able to donate this much needed technology to students who would otherwise go without to ensure they have the best opportunities to continue learning,” he said.

Families who borrow a Chromebook from their child’s school are responsible for ensuring they have Wi-Fi connectivity and they will ‘sign out’ the devices and assume responsibility for their proper use and return.

“Equity is about fairness. The Foundation supports projects that help give kids life chances,” said Bruce Buruma, Executive Director for the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. “Families experience challenges during the best of times, but the past number of months have been tough for many. We know this donation will help ease one burden so students can focus on learning and families can focus on other priorities.”

The Foundation supports projects that align with the Division priorities of Literacy and Numeracy, Equity and Student Success and Completion.

For more information, please contact:

  • Bruce Buruma, Executive Director
  • Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools
  • Phone: 403-352-2827
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