The Bulletin

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President’s Message

Summer has been a long time coming this year - and in a sense, winter doesn’t even seem to be over yet! (And some say there is no climate change!). This summer, as much in response to the lateness of the season as to the economic times, many more people will choose to stay ‘home’ in Alberta, rather than travel. Taking advantage of the opportunity to see what our province has to offer is never a bad choice. From one end of the province to the other there is fabulous countryside, terrific people, and a chance to get more of an education as to what this province has to offer. While we applaud those who stay home, we also have to encourage you to be alert. Because some people are experiencing tough economic times, they may be prone to take chances to better their own situation, should they come across properties that appear not to be secure. Be vigilant, be careful, be safe. This summer will be an excellent time for our Rural Crime Watches to get out and meet new neighbours, talk about personal and property safety, and use that platform to encourage people to join local associations. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy. Have a wonderful summer.

Building a successful Rural Crime Watch Association

2010 – Strathcona County

2011 - Grande Prairie and districts in conjunction with another Crime Prevention Symposium. Yes, there is a cost to travel, and the further the distance, the need to stay a night or two. If associations start planning now, there should be no reason that every association shouldn’t be able to be represented at any future AGM. Organize a bus to travel together – whatever it takes. It is always worth the time and effort taken. If your association is up to the challenge, now is the time to volunteer for 2012, 2013, and 2014. Lots of lead time to put on an excellent event. Bonnie in the office is always available to assist in any way, so you are not alone!

Building a successful Rural Crime Watch Association

Peter Apedaile has been a member of the Smoky Lake RCW for 20 years, on the Board for 5 of those years, and has been the President for the past 4 months. 20 years ago, he felt that it was important to protect personal and public security, and thought that the Rural Crime Watch could help do that. He still feels that Rural Crime Watches could fill the bill in this area. “The success of an organization is PATIENCE – and it is important to involve people in the details of how things are done”. For Smoky Lake RCW (as with other associations) , there is an issue with how to grow the Crime Watch. At this point, there are between 2 and 5 new members a year; not enough to effectively replace retiring and/or deceased members, or to help the current membership to educate and inform residents on how to prevent crime in the area. Peter says that this is an issue for the current Board, and they need to have a conversation in this regard. People currently join the association due to the association’s reputation for vigilance. Smoky Lake has great resource materials, a fan-out system that pro-actively seeks out information on criminal activities, and they put on workshops that could and should be of interest to all residents of the area. Sometimes, however, despite the relevance of the workshop topic, and despite plenty of advertising, the workshops do not get the attendance they deserve. In part, this is due to a couple of things. Sometimes, the workshop is focused on a controversial topic (ie Domestic Violence) and sadly, volunteer organizations are very competitive, and jealously guard their domains. Where organizations with the common thread of crime prevention should be supporting one another, and ensuring that the issues are given broad attention, the need to protect turf gets in the way. The public – and especially the persons who are victims of the particular issue – are the losers in the long run, but it gives a black eye to the organizations whose mandate it is to prevent crime.

There is a need to target ‘rapid increase areas’ of crime, and the seasonality of crimes such as domestic violence. It is important to know and understand where the growth areas are in crime “hot spots”; the workshops and print materials Smoky Lake has available can help to identify these areas for the general public.

Apedaile advises that the Smoky Lake RCW maintains excellent support in the community from it’s members. There are always at least 150 – 200 in attendance at the local AGM’s. The association has a lot of social fund raising events – and in particular mans a food stand at the Pumpkin Festival. It is an active club with a wide age range of members.

When asked, what his association could do better, he replied “As a Board, we have to build and constantly maintain relationships with the R.C.M.P. and actively work to support that relationship”. Smoky Lake works constantly with Law Enforcement partners; this is a huge challenge as some members of the association have a different relationship with law enforcement than others do. This will depend on the geographic and/or ethnic background of the members, and personal experience with law enforcement in the past.

"The success of an organization is PATIENCE - and it is important to involve people in the details of how things are done".

April, 2009

The Government of Alberta announced the Volunteer Police Information Check Program – an initiative of Volunteer Alberta. This welcome new, three-year pilot program will cover the costs of police information checks (PICs) for eligible volunteers in nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations (volunteers who are in positions of trust and authority with minor children, seniors 65 and older, and persons with disabilities). The VPIC Program is a result of Premier Stelmach’s campaign promise to remove the burden of costly police information checks in the multi-step volunteer screening process. Giving credit where credit is due - thanks Premier Stelmach for listening and responding!

Demand for this program is expected to be strong in the initial months. Volunteer Alberta, Administrator of the program, will be working hard to process applications as quickly as possible. But there will inevitably be some growing pains at first, and we appreciate the sector’s patience in this regard.

This is a big win for our sector. This program is going to reduce administrative costs and remove a barrier to volunteerism. Now it’s our job as a sector to utilize this program responsibly as we continue to meet the needs of Albertans.

Information Sessions on Volunteer Police Information Check Program and its relation to screening volunteers are offered throughout the province. The first sessions are happening in Edmonton today :

Thursday April 16, 2009 3:30pm – 4:30 pm
Old Timers Cabin 9430 – 99 Street, Edmonton

Thursday April 16, 2009 5:30pm – 6:30 pm
Old Timers Cabin 9430 – 99 Street, Edmonton

To Be Determined: Calgary, Vegreville, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, High River, Hinton, Camrose, Airdrie >> For more information on applying for the program, how PICs relate to screening, and general information, visit our website here.

www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca
volab@volunteeralberta.ab.ca

May 5, 2009

“This proposed legislation supports our government’s commitment to safer communities because the information police receive as a result of this legislation can help them prevent further violence, injury or death,” said Fred Lindsay, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. “Gunshot and stab wounds pose a public safety concern and this Bill identifies and addresses this important public safety matter.”

Bill 46 the Gunshot and Stab Wound Mandatory Disclosure Act deals with individuals who are dropped off or show up at emergency rooms or health centres seeking treatment for gunshot or stab wounds. The proposed legislation ensures police would only be provided with limited information, such as the patient’s name, location of health facility and type of wound, not the individual’s health details.

“This Act will provide clarity regarding what information to disclose to police when individuals are treated for gunshot and stab wounds,” said Dave Quest, MLA for Strathcona who introduced the legislation. “It will balance a patient’s right to privacy of health information with law enforcement’s need for information to help keep the public safe.”

Under the proposed legislation, gunshot wounds must be reported. Stab wounds must also be reported unless the stab wound is self-inflicted or unintentionally inflicted. This will ensure individuals with mental health issues are not stigmatized or criminalized and will exclude those hurt by accident. To track the progress of Bill 46, visit the Legislative Assembly website: www.assembly.ab.ca.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Dave Quest Member of Legislative Assembly for Strathcona 780-415-0990

Eilish Lemieux Communications Solicitor General and Public Security 780-427-6171

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000

Rural Crime Watch Column for May 6, 2009

Watch Lake Rd., Lone Butte. Monday April 13. 5:30 PM. Small Calibre. Ranchers investigated but found nothing. Black Bear season is April 1 to June 30 but the calibre wasn't large enough for bear. Shouldn't be hunting from road anyway. No damage seen. But the area has a number of children who play in the bush. This isn't an isolated incident. Other communities have had similar occurrences. If you know of this incident please contact RCW and if you hear shots in your area call 911 and notify RCW.

As a ruralist, are you safer than your urban cousin? Or do you just think you are? MacLean's magazine's "The Most Dangerous Canadian Cities" 2008 data shows Vancouver is 72 percent above the national crime rate for all crimes. The most dangerous Canadian community with respect to murder is Port Coquitlam with 365 percent above the national rate. Robbery is prevalent in Vancouver at 180 percent. Auto theft is highest in Prince George at 194 percent and

Chilliwack at 130.

The RCMP's personnel placement is determined by these stats. So places like Prince George and Chilliwack could see an increase in personnel at the expense of rural detachments. What are ruralists options? Being ever vigilant; watching out for each other and RCW may be all you have. Or is it? Most people are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who would only hurt one another by accident. Then there are wolves. Wolves feed on sheep. They have a capacity for violence and no empathy for their fellow citizens. They are aggressive sociopaths. This is reality. There is no safety in denial.

Then there are sheepdogs. They are warriors. They walk toward gunfire, not away. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. They look like a wolf. They have a capacity for violence but they differ from wolves in that they love their fellows. Sheepdogs disturb sheep. The sheepdog is a constant reminder that there are wolves. Sheep would prefer that sheepdogs didn't have guns, give traffic tickets, or be airport security armed with an automatic rifle. Most LEOs (law enforcement officers) are sheepdogs. Some aren't. Some LEOs don't like civilian sheepdogs.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, www.killology.com says, "Sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog acknowledges reality."

After the Can Jet high jacking in Jamaica recently, most sheep, that is, most citizens said, "Thank God I wasn't on that plane." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "I wish I could have been there, I could have made a difference."

British political writer Edmund Burke noted in the seventeen hundreds that, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing."

Alberta's Brian Knight is being heralded a sheepdog for his shooting of thieves/wolves as they made off with his ATV. Charges are pending against Knight.

What do you think will happen to the thieves?

The media neglected to mention in Knight's incident that a theft under $5,000.00 gets an honourable mention in police logs. Couple that with the hour-long police response time to Knight's property, the wrist slapping for the theft the culprits will receive and you might understand Knight's frustration. No criticism of the RCMP; with the lack of funds and personnel that's what we get. Go to our web site for sheepdog information and current data on Knight. What are ruralists' options with decreasing police coverage and the rise in rural thefts? Who are your sheepdogs? Let us hear from you.

www.ruralcrimewatch.com.
Submitted by Jon McCormick, BC

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN) allows Albertans to take back their neighbourhoods by reporting problem residences and buildings. SCAN improves community safety by targeting properties used for illegal activities such as drugs, gangs, and prostitution. It also holds property owners accountable for what takes place on their property.

The act enables the SCAN investigative unit to mediate, investigate or apply to the courts for a Community Safety Order that requires individuals to vacate and/or close the property. Any criminal activity uncovered when dealing with these properties is turned over to the police to investigate.

Two SCAN teams currently operate and serve the entire province. One SCAN team is headquartered in Edmonton and serves the northern part of the province, while a second team is based in Calgary and looks after Southern Alberta. Regional offices are being set up in smaller centres throughout the province in the future.

Landlords or neighbours who are concerned tenants or residents may be using property for illegal activities that negatively affect the health,

safety and security of a neighbourhood or community can report a problem property by phoning the SCAN unit’s toll-free number at 1-866-960-SCAN (1-866-960-7226). An online complaint can also be filed at www.scan.alberta.ca.

Question and Answers about SCAN

What is SCAN legislation about?

• The act improves community safety by targeting and, if necessary, shutting down residential and commercial buildings regularly used for illegal activities such as producing, selling, or using illegal drugs, prostitution, solvent abuse, the unlawful sale and consumption of alcohol, gang activity, organized crime or the exploitation of children.
• SCAN focuses on how the activity affects the neighbourhood and community, not on the activity itself. It focuses on whether the activity negatively affects the health, safety or security of one or more persons in a neighbourhood; and/or if it interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of one or more properties in a community or neighbourhood.
• Because SCAN is civil legislation, the test in court is “balance of probabilities” as opposed to criminal law, in which the test is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

• In response to a public complaint, SCAN investigates a property that appears to be used for illegal activities, and can close it down if necessary. SCAN investigators can obtain court orders to make property owners take responsibility for the activities occurring on their property.

• When a concerned resident makes a complaint to SCAN, the unit will begin an investigation.
• Investigators will first meet with a property owner to try to solve the problem, or send a warning letter to the property owner, landlord, or the person who lives at the property.
• If necessary, SCAN will apply to the Court of Queen’s Bench for a Community Safety Order. This is a court order that prohibits all persons from causing, contributing to, permitting, or agreeing to the specified activities. If necessary, the order can close the property for a period of up to 90 days.
• Any criminal activity uncovered when dealing with these properties will be turned over to the police.

• All complaints are confidential. The identity of those who file complaints will not be revealed at any time.

• A copy of the order is posted on the property and served on the owner. The order will require the owner to take steps to stop the activity, and prevent tenants from continuing any illegal activities at the property. It may order some or all of the tenants to leave if they have been involved in those illegal activities.

• SCAN’s goal is to improve community safety. Tenants are only removed from a residence as a last resort, and if there is no cooperation from the tenant or the owner.
• If a Community Safety Order is obtained, all occupants of a property can be ordered to leave immediately. No one may re-enter the property without the consent of the SCAN unit or the court.

• The act permits the director of law enforcement to allow others to access a property that is closed by a Community Safety Order. Tenants who are not involved in illegal activities may be permitted to remain on the property.

• Each team has seven SCAN investigators appointed as Alberta sheriffs. The unit also includes a deputy director, two regional managers and two analysts.
• For the first year, two SCAN teams will serve the province with a northern team based in Edmonton and a southern one based in Calgary.
• SCAN investigators have completed an intensive seven-week training course and will continue to receive ongoing training as required. Many of the investigators are former police officers with extensive investigative experience and the others are newly hired sheriffs.
• In subsequent years, regional offices may be set up in smaller centres throughout the province. This will be determined by need.

• About $4 million in annual funding is required to meet the needs of the new program.

• SCAN has been doing some investigations outside Edmonton and Calgary during the first year of operation. Expansion into rural areas may occur in subsequent years.

• The police are responsible for enforcing the Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. These pieces of legislation deal directly with the offender and the behaviour, not the property where the criminal behaviour is occurring.
• SCAN assists the police in dealing with the problem property. Illegal activities are removed from the community and a safer neighbourhood is created for the families who live there.
• SCAN investigators also provide information to police that they may need in order to get a criminal warrant. Using this collaborative approach involving police and SCAN, the result will be safer neighbourhoods and communities.

• SCAN will help landlords remove problem tenants who disrupt neighbourhoods, destroy property, and bring property values down. SCAN holds landlords responsible for the activities taking place on their properties that affect the entire neighbourhood. It also empowers landlords to remove problem tenants.

• SCAN will initially pay for the costs of closing and managing a property while it is closed, but landlords will be billed the property management costs, such as security services to monitor the residence while it is closed.

New on our Rural Crime Watch Website

1. “Events” - Different associations want to advertise their meetings and special events; check under this heading for meeting dates and information. You can also find the minutes of the past AGM under this heading.
2. “ Links” – check out SOS Children’s Safety Magazine – great information available.
3. “ Community Awareness” – has links to many fraud information pages – it also has a new edition – if you are looking for a speaker for one of your events – there is a list under that heading.

If you have an announcement that you would like to have posted, please send it in to this office for forwarding to our Webmaster.

Rural Crime Watch Column for May 20, 2009

Canada’s National Post says about Brian Knight, “This is not vigilantism. A vigilante would have fed the thief to the pigs or dressed him in chains and cinder blocks and taken him for a swim in Buffalo Lake. No cops, no lawyers, no problem. So pay attention thieves, only in Alberta will you find a whole community closing in on you if you try and steal the equipment of a family business. Only in Alberta are they not content to sit quietly and wait for the police to arrive and copy serial numbers.” vOnly in Alberta? We think not. British Columbia has similar communities which have done likewise and others which are prepared to do the same. The time for honest citizens to sit back and allow thieves and bullies to run rampant is over.

Do some newspapers print police media releases without checking accuracy? Of course they do and without repercussions against the police for inaccuracy. Here is the epilog from one who was present.

Brian Knight found three men attempting to steal his ATV. He confronted them while his spouse called friends and neighbours. One thief took off on the ATV while the other two fled in a pick-up. Brian chased the ATV thief in his car, caught up to the thief and forced the guy off the road. The thief fled and Brian used his shotgun to send a blast over the thief’s head. Note, over his head! The thief stopped, raised his hands and allowed Brian and his friends to complete a citizen’s arrest. Then Brian erred, he called the police. He never anticipated the law would turn on honest citizens protecting their property.

Brian’s been charged with; 1) pointing a firearm at a thief. 2) Possessing a weapon dangerous to a thief. 3) Discharging a weapon dangerous to a thief. 4) Possession of an unregistered firearm and, ready for this? 5) Dangerous driving! You know the National Firearms Association’s legal department will be involved because of the unregistered firearm charge.

A few nights later one of the thieves who escaped, tried stealing from one of those who captured his buddy. He was caught. This time the farmers didn’t call police. Mmm, wonder why? Chances are this thief will take his felonious skills where he won’t receive bodily damage for his thieving ways. It has been said that defining Canadian maleness is the cowardly males who walked out of the classroom while the gunman prepared to assassinate the female students; the males who waited in the hallway, listening to the killing shots and did nothing. The males who, when Mark/Lepine Gharbi came out of the Ecole Polytechnique classroom that fateful day twenty years ago and walked by them, they did nothing.

Rural Crime Watch believes Canada’s Brian Knights define Canadian maleness.

Wolves start fights. Sheepdogs finish them.

Submitted by Jon McCormick, BC

Words Of Wisdom - To Live By

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

My “neighbours” in the Edmonton office are from Rural Development. I thought it would be an opportune thing to ask them for some input to our newsletter. And here it is. BHF

The Government of Alberta recognizes that safe and secure communities are fundamental to a prosperous and vibrant Alberta.

Ensuring safe and secure communities involves many government ministries and organizations. The Government of Alberta formed the Safe Communities Secretariat in 2008 - a partnership between Alberta Justice and eight other Ministries - to implement the recommendations of the Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force. (www.justice.gov.ab.ca/safe/). Increasing community capacity and a focus on crime prevention are some of the recommendations. Alberta’s 2008 Budget included funding of $468 million over three years to implement task force recommendations and another $33 million to build government-owned addiction treatment facilities.

Similarly, Alberta’s Rural Development Strategy (RDS) takes a cross-ministry approach to rural community sustainability, focusing on quality of life, community capacity and safe and secure rural communities – foundations for healthy economies. Alberta Government ministries work collaboratively to make strategic investments that will ensure opportunities are available in all parts of the province and that significant efforts are placed on building capacity.

Community capacity supports safe and secure communities

Rural Crime Watch prevention strategies are a key piece of community capacity. For example, parallel with the efforts of Rural Crime Watch, the city of Airdrie has engaged its citizens in a series of actions to encourage crime prevention and develop relationships to promote a greater sense of community. In 2006, faced with a vandalism and crime problem, the city held a Crime Fighting Café, an open forum for citizens, government, business and police to share ideas and initiatives for crime prevention. From that Café, they started a local Crime Watch program, revitalized their Citizen’s on Patrol and instituted the Neighborhood Incentive Program. Through this program, neighborhoods may apply to the city for up to $1,000 for community projects like block parties, neighborhood cleanup, community gardens or other projects that involve people working together, building relationships.

Potential resources for developing community capacity

Increasing community capacity is a worthwhile effort but one that requires resources. Two potential sources of funding for building community capacity are Rural Alberta's Development Fund (RADF) and the Rural Community Adaptation Program (RCAP). In 2006, the Government of Alberta established the RADF, an independent, not-for-profit company to provide financial resources to communities and organizations for developing projects that stimulate economic growth and address the challenges and opportunities of rural Alberta. ‘Rural’ is, defined as the approximately 1 million Albertans who live outside of Edmonton and Calgary. The $100 million provided to the Fund by the Government of Alberta is used to invest in projects that focus on rural community sustainability. Eligible applicants include:

1. Communities, regional organizations (e.g. economic development, education, health, etc.) and not-for-profit organizations.
2. Government of Alberta departments and agencies or other orders of government, including First Nations and Métis Settlements.
3. Non-Alberta or metropolitan urban entities, in collaboration with rural Alberta entities,

Further broad criteria for RADF include:

• Only projects that contribute to the growth, prosperity or quality of life of rural Alberta will be considered. A project must demonstrate how it supports the community and it must involve the community and/or communities where it is to be implemented.
• Project applicants must provide 25 percent or more of the overall cost of the project. The Fund’s minimum contribution level is $50,000 and its maximum is $5 million.

As of March 2009, the RADF Board had approved 55 projects committing approximately $63 million. Funded projects have included those that increase recreation, art and sport capacity; create intergenerational linkages and improve employability of at risk youth. Go to www.ruralalbertasfund.com for more details on the Fund, approved projects and application forms.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Community Adaptation Program (RCAP) consists of $15 million in new funding over three years to increase the capacity of rural communities and regions in transition - that are in or facing an imminent economic hardship caused by global economic volatility, a significant environmental event, or circumstances that require a new direction for the community – to acquire resources for projects resulting in greater community resilience and new, more diverse economic opportunities. For the purposes of this program, a rural community is defined as any Alberta community outside of the seven urban centres of Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, or Red Deer.

To be eligible for support, projects must be community based and focus on creative community driven actions and solutions that include at least one of the following themes: assessment and planning; capacity building; rural economic development or unique community solutions. Eligible applicants include rural communities represented by local governments and incorporated community organizations (e.g. not-for-profit organizations, industry associations, or regional organizations) that are collaborating with a rural community.

The program may fund up to 90% of eligible non-capital project costs and up to 50% of eligible capital costs, to a maximum of $500,000 per project. Successful applicants will be required to cost-share the project. The minimum grant request considered will be $10,000 per project. Program funding will expire on March 31, 2011 or earlier depending on availability of funds. Go to www.rural.gov.ab.ca for more details on RCAP and application forms.

Rural Crime Watch Organizations contribute to the province’s rural crime prevention efforts. If the RCW alone, or in partnership with others, have creative ideas or projects for a safer and more secure rural Alberta that coincide with funding guidelines, please consider applying to RADF or RCAP.

The Annual General Meeting –Strathcona County (Sherwood Park) - February

Plans are well under way for the AGM in the spring. This is a heads up to all Associations - start planning now to send representatives.

Cost: $65.00 per person Registration form is on the website, and will be sent out to all associations in the fall.

Registrations can be mailed to the Provincial Office

#305 7000 113 Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 5T6

or done by phone: 780-422-0922

or by email at: aprcwa@interbaun.com

The Provincial Board – What Makes A Successful Board?

Des Grant became a member of the South East Alberta Rural Crime Watch Association in 1993. He has been a member of the Provincial Board for 12 years, as President, and in his current position of Past-President.

“Communication is the key to our present success and our continued success”.

A good Board member is committed to the ideals of the organization, has the time to devote to the organization, and shares in the same concepts/ideals as the organization in the long term.

Grant joined the RCW and found the camaraderie and the feeling of helping people ‘on the ground’ interesting. He liked the idea of making the big-picture community safer, not just the local area that he lived in. He also believed in the importance of identifying and assisting police to apprehend wrong doers, and that is still his motivation.

In his opinion, the Provincial Board has done a good job of unifying the Province in crime prevention – from the local association level - and has been able to breathe life back into failing or defunct associations despite the small numbers of people in some areas. The RCMP are the cornerstone of the Rural Crime Watch, and are the receivers of RCW assistance and are the ultimate benefactors of information is obtained from the public.

A constant difficulty for the Board is maintaining communication with associations and the general public.

Of the many things Grant has been involved with over the years, he has most recently seen the acquisition of computers for rural associations, donated by Encana. He spent hours of researching fan out systems, and was instrumental in getting the Talking Technologies Inc. Phone Tree fan-out system in wide use around the province. The donated computers are in every corner of the province, and most have the TTI fan out system on board.

Grant has an ultimate personal goal to have every RCMP Detachment linked together through the TTI Phone Tree fan-out system, so they can disseminate information to all rural detachments throughout the province. Beyond that, he sees the fan-out system in all the border communities in BC and Saskatchewan. As he says “the criminal element does not recognize borders”. With rural detachments linked, word of criminal activity would be disseminated immediately after an occurrence and the rural population (and police) would be on alert from the get-go.

On attracting good people to the Provincial Board, Grant says “if we can communicate our successes to the public, that would attract good people to the Board”.

Board members need to have good personal communication skills, so they can express their opinions, and they need to know the questions to ask (and not be afraid to ask them) to ensure the Board is functional and accountable.

Grant says that the positive feeling that people take away from the Annual General Meeting is the key to continued success. The AGM is the perfect forum for communication; the group coalesces as a team, and they head back to their home associations full of enthusiasm and ideas to make their communities safer and better places to live. “We just need to boot that feeling up to the other 364 days of the year”.

Des Grant recommends the following reading for anyone who is interested in a Board position “A Board Manual – Elected to Lead” a joint venture by the U of A Faculty of Extension, Rural Agriculture and Rural Education and Development

“Governance For Non-Profit Organizations” – put out by Deloitte and Touche

“Supervisors Big Book of Answers” by Paula Maclean (Grant recommends anything written by MacLean, as books are easy to read, and easy to understand).

As Frank noted in his Presidential message – summer has been a L O N G time coming this year. Whatever your plans are for the next few months, be safe, be well, have fun. Look for more information on upcoming events in the next newsletter that will be out in late September/early October.

Remember: if you have any announcements concerning meetings or special events, send the information in by email. Depending on timing, it can go into the Fall Bulletin, but will definitely be posted to the web site. Enjoy! Disclaimer: Editorial opinions, reports and articles published herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Deadlines for Submission to the Bulletin: March 15, June 15, September 15 and November 15 Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association Contact Information

Phone: (780) 422-0922
Fax: (780) 644-7474
Email: aprcwa@interbaun.com
Website:www.ruralcrimewatch.ab.ca

Thank you to UFA Co-operative Limited, our sponsor for providing the printing and envelopes for this publication.

Disclaimer: Editorial opinions, reports and articles published herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association.