By Tiffany Williams
Editor
The Ponoka Fort Ostell Chapter of the IODE was recently recognized at their provincial conference with a special honour. During their provincial convention in Banff president of the association, Marnie Wilkins, presented a three-minute presentation to over 100 people using PowerPoint and a display on the benefits of the Ponoka Youth Centre’s after school program.
The provincial Chapter of the IODE awarded a special education award to the Ponoka IDOE worth $750, which the Ponoka group matched. They donated the money to the PYC after school program.
Four women represented Ponoka at the conference where they heard speakers on social issues, discussed fundraising ideas and elected provincial officers.
Beth Reitz, executive director of the PYC was very pleased with the award that the Ponoka IODE won for the centre.
“We feel very grateful and happy that they presented the after school program at their convention,” said Reitz. “The fact that we won shows that other people are seeing the value in our after school program.”
The money that was donated to the PYC goes directly to help fund the after school program. Reitz notes that parents pay $3.50 per child to enroll them in the program and it costs the centre $10 per child to run it.
Wilkins thinks that the program is excellent for children in the community.
“It’s a place for young children to go after school in a constructive atmosphere with all kinds of programs,” said Wilkins.
The program is offered four days a week from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the PYC where children are given the opportunity to have fun in a safe environment while engaging in specific learning opportunities. The children make crafts, participate in community projects, homework events and theme events. There is no government funding for the program and it is run through fundraising efforts and donations.
The Ponoka IODE also won the 2006 provincial special education award after presenting the ‘Girl Power’ program at their conference. The Girl Power program is run through the elementary schools and helps teach girls positive social skills. Last year they also started the ‘Boy Power’ program, which is a similar program focused on the boys social skills.
“They are together and financed by the IODE and they are not taken out of the school budget,” said Wilkins.
The IODE has played a very important role in Ponoka for over 75 years and have been in Canada for more than 100 years. They are a group of women whose purpose is for the good and education of women and children.
Currently there are 14 active women in Ponoka with three honourary members who meet once a month.
“It’s a great organization. You really feel like you are giving back to the community,” said Wilkins.
They host a craft fair, a raffle; donate books to the library, which the helped co-found and fund scholarships at the local high schools.