Fall Workshops and PeerNetBC AGM

Details: Published on Monday, 08 September 2014 17:00; Written by editor

PeerNetBC 2014 Annual General Meeting

Dear PeerNetBC Friends

We are sending you this invitation and notice of a special resolution for our AGM scheduled for September 23, 2014 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm here at the PeerNetBC office.

In accordance with the Society Act, we need to provide members at least 14 days notice of the AGM and of Special Resolutions. We're letting you know now and will send a reminder 14 days prior to the AGM. Just to clarify we are not rewriting our Bylaw, we will be voting to allow PeerNetBC to bypass Article 4.3 for this year's election of directors. Details below.

Exploring Facilitation Skills
Thu, Oct 02 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Facili-nightmares
Tue, Oct 07 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Foundations of Facilitation
Sat, Sep 27 2014 10:00 am - 04:00 pm

Power and Diversity
Wed, Oct 15 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Boundaries and Self Care
Tue, Oct 21 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Effective Allyship
Sat, Oct 25 2014 10:00 am - 04:00 pm

Levelling Group Power Imbalances
Tue, Oct 28 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Community Engagement
Thu, Nov 06 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Consensus and other Models of Decision Making
Thu, Nov 13 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Inclusive Leadership
Thu, Nov 20 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

Special Resolution

The co-executive directors informed the members of the Board that in accordance with Article 4.3 of the By-Laws of the PeerNet Association of BC,

(i) All Directors shall be elected to serve two-year terms;

(ii) Directors may serve up to three (3) consecutive terms;

the current President Mr. Ahmad Bisher will be completing his final term this year, 2nd year as President. It is with consideration of the organization’s life stage and the value of the organization’s continuity and health that the Board of Directors recommends extending the term of Mr. Ahmad Bisher for an additional 2-year term.

RESOLVED THAT subject to the members’ approval, Mr. Ahmad Bisher’s board position with PeerNetBC be extended for an additional term of 2 years with effect from September 23, 2014.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

PeerNetBC Fall Workshops

We are very excited to announce our latest series of workshop offerings. Over the fall, we will hosting 10 workshops out of our office at 408 - 602 West Hastings. You can register for the workshops on our site or email Robin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Starting on September 27th and going to November 20th, we have a very wide range of learning opportunities available to members of the community

Exploring Facilitation Skills
Thu, Oct 02 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Building on an understanding of the basic qualities and skills of facilitators as explored in the “Foundations of Facilitation” workshop, this 6 hour workshop will delve deeper into specific facilitation skills and techniques that help facilitators to most effectively create safe, supportive and successful peer-led groups. This workshop will also include a component of practising facilitation skills. Prerequisite: “Introduction to Facilitation” or equivalent experience

Facili-nightmares
Tue, Oct 07 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Facili-nightmares keep you awake? You are ready to facilitate, you've created a great agenda and prepped your materials. Then you stop and wonder, "What if no one participates?, What if someone creates an unsafe space or says something inappropriate? What if participants starts arguing with each other? What if they ask you something that you don't have an answer to? Challenging certain group behaviours can be well, challenging, but we can overcome our facili-nightmares. In this frequently requested training, we will explore various group dynamics and share strategies and tools to effectively facilitate groups.

Foundations of Facilitation
Sat, Sep 27 2014 10:00 am - 04:00 pm
Understanding the role and responsibilities of a facilitator is an essential component for creating successful peer-led groups. In this 6 hour workshop, participants will be introduced to the principles of peer support, and learn how to create authentic and well-functioning peer support groups based on these principles. Participants will use that model to explore qualities and skills needed to effectively facilitate groups. We will also look into how these skills are valuable for all members of a peer-led group.

Power and Diversity
Wed, Oct 15 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
There is a systemic imbalance of power in our society and recognizing how it influences group dynamics is an essential skill for group facilitators and group members. In this 3 hour workshop, participants will be introduced to the staircase of oppression for understanding the imbalance of power in our society and how this imbalance manifests itself in groups. Through group discussion and experiential learning, participants will have an opportunity to broaden their perspectives on accessibility, inclusion, power and privilege.

Boundaries and Self Care
Tue, Oct 21 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Facilitating peer-led groups can be a very rewarding experience but it can also be very demanding. In order to avoid burnout and to make group facilitation sustainable over the long-run, it is essential for facilitators to have a clear understanding of personal boundaries and to practice self-care. In this 3 hour workshop, participants will explore concepts for understanding personal boundaries and self-care within the context of a peer-led group. The workshop will also offer practical tips and tools to help participants take what they have learned in the workshop and apply it to their real-life situations. Although aimed at facilitators, the materials in this workshop can also be beneficial to other members of peer-led groups.

Effective Allyship
Sat, Oct 25 2014 10:00 am - 04:00 pm
This interactive facilitated dialogue is a follow up to Power and Diversity and on-going personal development work. One cannot call themselves an ally, but rather demonstrate through action and deeds. Participants and facilitators will explore their own roles and relationships with systemic, positional and personal power. Participants will build tools for inclusive community based practices for leveling power dynamics in both professional and personal relationships.

Levelling Group Power Imbalances
Tue, Oct 28 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
As a follow up to the skills learned in Power and Diversity and through our series of facilitation workshops, participants will learn more tools for their facilitators' toolkit and best practices for leveling power dynamics in a group setting. The influence of group dynamics will be explored. We include both preventative and corrective measures for dealing with systemic, positional, personal powers.

Community Engagement
Thu, Nov 06 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
In this 3 hour workshop, participants will explore effective practices in community mobilization, development and advocacy. The workshop will also offer tips and tools for engaging communities to mobilize and advocate for themselves. In addition, participants will learn the basics of advocating as an ally.

Consensus and other Models of Decision Making
Thu, Nov 13 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Guiding and participating effectively in a group decision-making process is an important skill for both facilitators and group members. In this 3 hour workshop, we will explore different models of decision making and identify the efficacy and limitations of the various models. We will examine the use of inclusive participatory-style decision making to strengthen the way a group functions.

Inclusive Leadership
Thu, Nov 20 2014 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Inclusive leadership is being mindful that we don’t all come from the same place and neither do the folks we intend to lead. We will create shared understanding and definitions of leadership as well as identify expectations and values about leadership. We will explore various frameworks of leadership and build analysis of who we identify as leaders, how we are and can be leaders and the roles and responsibilities of leaders. Participants will reflect on and identify their own leadership skills, as well as how to involve others inclusively.

PeerNetBC Annual General Meeting

You are invited to come join us for our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday September 23rd at 6pm, here at the PeerNetBC office. Look for more details coming in a couple of weeks.

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About PeerNetBC

Youth - Community - Health PeerNetBC has been helping people connect since 1986, providing resources for peer groups and peer-led initiatives. Our resources and services are available for community members and groups across British Columbia, including online, rural, First Nations, multicultural and youth engagement initiatives. PeerNetBC is a non-profit, registered charitable organization.