SHOUT OUT - Osgoode Township Highschool Leadership Class

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Way to go! I know it's a little late for a Christmas story but I found one. The kids showed true leadership in recognizing that Christmas (I don't celebrate as I am not a Christian) is more than what is under the tree.

I used to have a tree with presents under it for my kids when they were small but stopped the practice a few years back as they aged out of their teens. Although we had a tree and participated in the holidays - because we were not Christian I always asked that my kids (and I) do something or give something somewhere. There are always people or families who could use extra supports ALL year but holidays are tough on some because the "Joneses" insist that if you don't have a tree with lots of presents and bling - then you're not a good parent or Christian.

So...to ALL of you who thought of others and did something to ease the way for someone else this holiday season A BIG APPLAUSE! YAHOOOOO! YOU ROCK!



Students help to feed street kids


Students help to feed street kids


By M.J. Deschamps, The Ottawa CitizenJanuary 2, 2010 5:06 AM



When high school principal Brett Reynolds heard that the person who usually sponsors Operation Come Home's annual Christmas dinner for youth living on the street would not be able to do so this year, he challenged his students to come up with a fundraising campaign.

Members of the Leadership class at Osgoode Township High School were already working on ways to send a community message of gratitude to Canadian troops in Afghanistan in time for Christmas.

So they put the two campaigns together.

As a result, a postcard campaign raised $1,000 for Operation Come Home and over 2,000 messages of care and support were sent to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

For student Susan Hart, the Afghanistan initiative was particularly gratifying. Both her dad and brother have done tours of duty in Afghanistan.

"Living in Osgoode, we don't have a lot of contact with or awareness about street kids, so I thought it would be a good experience for the students," said Reynolds.

"When they heard about these kids who were just like them who wouldn't be home for the holidays, they became determined to make sure they would have a Christmas dinner."

While Operation Come Home estimated that $500 would cover the cost of the dinner, the students ended up raising double that. The extra money will assist in buying ongoing supplies for the organization's breakfast program.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

PROGRESSIVE BLOGGERS

It’s not about you; it’s about what you do

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The cheap clichés always win: It’s not about you; it’s about what you do

It’s unfortunate when poor leadership drags down organizations. The labour performed by dedicated and passionate people is lost or forgotten in the shower or accusations and finger pointing that is the inevitable fallout from greed and inexperience. We post CAP stories that hit the news about the fallout from poor leadership because we believe (crazy bitches that we are) that we deserve good governance – corporate, political, and economic. It just happens that all bad governance CAP stories lead back to Pat.

It’s not like CAP in the past did not have relevancy. Dwight Dorey, former national leader of CAP, ensured CAPS position at the table during discussions of the governance initiative to change the Indian Act. Pat the (sorry choice but) Conservative Senator sat as CAP’s lackey at the table back then. CAP was the force behind the Corbierre decision and the vote rights for off-reserve First Nations people. CAP can be a force again (and must) but must first rise from and leave behind the useless baubles, bits, and shiny beads left behind by the former model (who dreamed of bigger glitter and bigger baubles) and focus on issues that are meaningful. (Come on nobody actually expects world peace and nobody expects every First Nation person living on a reserve to give up their life, community, and family, land, culture, and history to haul-ass and move to the city – get real.)

Ward knows I don’t mind being vocal when I think the people who would call themselves “leader” behave in ways that look and resemble the behaviour of sheep. I want our organizations to demand answers to right wrongs and defend our positions – NOT be a mouth piece for assimilation. Why should my tax-paying dollars go to defend the assimilation views from an organization that is supposed to protect or advance my rights? If CAP wants us to assimilate then they should simply close their office doors and cancel their lease.

Otherwise sit down Patrick Brazeau – your time in the sun came and left. Your legacy as a sponge is forever solidified in our history. Now let’s cross our fingers and pray that the newly elected leader finds and issue of relevance to the people and sticks to it.

PROGRESSIVE BLOGGERS