Jaden Babiuk still needs more bowlers to fill the lanes on Sunday.
As reported in Saturday’s Gazette, the six-year-old boy has spent the last few months organizing a charity event called Strikes for Cancer Bowl-a-thon to support the Canadian Cancer Society. According to his mother though, registrations are still slow.
“We would like to have (lanes) from one to 16 filled with teams,” Lisa Babiuk stated. “We’ve got one to six. We’ve got 10 open lanes.”
She added Jaden is still gunning for a full house, talking to everybody he knows to get the word out as much as possible.
“He’s a positive little guy. He doesn’t really worry about stuff like this.”
As an added incentive, the odds of winning the prizes or having a successful bid on the event’s silent auction are really good.
The charity fundraiser takes place this Sunday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The St. Albert Bowling Centre is located at 14 Inglewood Drive. Apart There will be games, a silent auction, refreshments, lunch afterwards and prizes for the top fundraisers.
Pre-registration requires $50 in pledges per person or $200 for a team of six. Businesses can sponsor a lane for $125. For more information visit www.strikesforcancer.com. There is a registration form on this website or you can also call the bowling centre at (780) 459-3337.
Vitalize 2009
Over 1,000 delegates from numerous Alberta volunteer-based voluntary organizations are expected to converge at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre in two weeks.
They’ll be taking part in a three-day professional development conference called Vitalize 2009, an annual event put together by the provincial government. It’s designed to provide a wide array of inexpensive educational sessions to those who work as or with volunteers. This year’s topics include how to influence public policy, advocating for systemic change and how to write more effective funding proposals. There is even a series suited to youth volunteers.
Leah Paton, conference co-ordinator, said that it is designed to be as relevant as possible.
“We take a look at the issues that are in the sector and bring in speakers that can address, not as much the issues, as solutions on how to move forward.”
According to her, the now-defunct Wild Rose Foundation — the conference’s host — is still trying to benefit as many Albertans in the volunteer sector as possible.
“We underwrite the cost of the conference in order to provide this opportunity to many organizations that may not have the funds to attend training throughout the year, so we bring in all the speakers and allow [the delegates] to choose sessions that are applicable to their organizations or their personal lives.”
Vitalize 2009 takes place from Thursday, June 4 to Saturday, June 6. The Friday night gala includes a performance by Colin James. Registration of $120 includes meals, kit bag, all workshops and plenary gatherings. Advance registrations will be accepted up to May 25.
For more information, contact Paton at 780-422-2247 or visit www.vitalizeconference.ca.
