As the new chair of the Daajing Giids Community Hall Society, I want to address some inaccuracies and add clarity to your article in the June 19th issue headlined “Community Hall Board sees sudden leadership change”.
So, to start, history often repeats itself. The leadership change this year was quite similar to the leadership change that happened at the 2024-2025 AGM. So, what’s the big deal this time?
After the voting at the 2024 AGM, there were mostly new board members with only a few past board members remaining. Over the 2024-2025 year, several experienced board members dropped out for various reasons, leaving a very small team of dedicated board members running the society. Overall, membership to the DGCH Society was very low and several executive positions on the board remained unfilled.
At the 2025 AGM, 31 people attended the meeting. It was my impression that quite a few people had questions about the direction the hall society was taking and wanted to get involved and offer to stand for executive positions. After the first vote was held and a new chairperson elected, the remaining 2024-2025 board declined to stand again. It seems they felt they were a great team, and they all wanted to continue together or not at all. The 2025-2026 Board has both new members and returning members to balance enthusiasm and experience in running the society this coming year.
To clarify, Jason Rupke was quoted for a few things that are incorrect, so I want to correct the record.
1. There is no formal “quilting club”, simply a gathering of sewing and crafting and knitting members of the community that had been meeting for many years to socialize, work on projects, enjoy pot-luck lunch and discuss volunteering and fundraising in the community.
2. It was never a “FREE” use of the space. The drop-in program gathered a $5 fee from whomever attended and all funds were deposited to the Community Hall Society bank account. The final amount was based on the number of drop-in fees gathered. Yes, it was only usually about $40-$60 or so every couple of weeks, but it was an important use of space for community volunteers and elders who often did not get out much and for people to socialize and work on projects.
So, what’s a recap of the situation?
The drop-in social program has run for over 15 years (or longer). When the pandemic hit, a few core people of the quilters, sewers and crafters jumped into action and started making face masks instead. They sewed and supplied free face masks to as many people in the community as they could, when there were none available elsewhere. During the pandemic, only 4 – 6 people used the space (to maintain the 6 feet apart) and continued to volunteer sewing masks for the community and making quilts, many of which were made to donate to the hospitals in Daajing Giids and Masset for the comfort of the long-term care patients. Drop-in fees continued to be collected and deposited to the society’s bank account, whether there were 2 or 4 or 10 people attending.
On evaluation of rental fees, the 2024-2025 Board decided the “quilting group” should pay the same market rate as other long-term groups and organizations. Except the quilter’s weren’t a formal club … in other words, since there was no board and it was not a “non-profit society” there were no membership fees or grant funding, etc. available. With only 4-6 active participants at the time, even doubling the drop-in fee to $10 would not achieve the market rate of $150 per day. At first glance, paying market rate seemed a bit daunting to them and they considered ending the drop-in program.
Something not seemingly considered by the board, is that these same “quilters” have been fundraising for the community hall for over 40 years. They were key in raising the funds that built the hall in the first place. Many of these same people raised hammers as well as money to build the Eric Ross Room addition and the Farmer’s Market space too! And often use of the ER room was for volunteering in making hospital quilts, supplying their own time, energy and money, as well as paying the $5 drop-in fee.
Yes, the board offered a compromise, but it was not FREE space, as indicated by J. Rupke. The drop-in group was offered a reduced rate of $100 per day (see email attached). This still seemed like a lot to raise the drop-in fees for the few members of the group. They decided to rise to the occasion and held a raffle to raise the funds to pay for a year of rental for the ER room space. As well, they have spread the word and several new people have been joining the drop-in group for sewing, quilting, crafts and knitting. The “Sew Social” drop-in group will continue in September and invites members of the community to drop-in for knitting, sewing, crafting and quilting by the community. Dates will be announced starting September.
Moving forward, the future of the society with the new 2025-2026 board is very clear. The DGCH Society will continue the existing programs, will initiate new programs too and continue to manage and raise funds for the maintenance and operations of the hall facility. Programming ideas for September are already under discussion and we are looking forward to continuing the programs already running and adding some new programs as well. Kindergym, Tai Chi, Walking Group and others will all continue to be offered at the hall.
The motto for the 2025-2026 DGCH Society is “How can we help?” and the policy is “Many hands make light work”. Our goal is to continue to assist the community with event facilities, planning, fundraising, etc. and increase the participation of more people in our community at hall events.
We would like to thank the past 2024-2025 DGCH Society board for their contributions for the year and look forward to working with them in the future for the betterment of our community.
Going forward, we invite all members of the Daajing Giids community (and neighbouring communities too) to join in. Become a member! Sign up to volunteer (even just sometimes)! Even, simply show up and participate in community events!
Comments? Contributions? Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or reach me directly at [email protected].
I’m looking forward to contributing my skills for the betterment of the community in Daajing Giids.
With best regards,
Lucia Larose
Chair, 2025-2026 Daajing Giids Community Hall Society
