opportunity in two or three years is far too long. Paul Allen, the new Executive Director of The Abbeyfield Society, based in the United Kingdom , attended the conference and introduced his vision and plan for the growth of Abbeyfield and the structural changes under consideration which will be beneficial to Abbeyfield International. We have been reassured that Abbeyfield International will continue its excellent service to its membership.
One recommendation was the creation of one worldwide website for Abbeyfield with links to all national Abbeyfield websites. This would be an opportunity for sharing of resources on a global scale, and could lead to unlimited marketing opportunities.
Abbeyfield USA and Abbeyfield Canada have jointly proposed to Abbeyfield International that it investigate the greater use of technology as a means of communication. Skype is an opportunity for electronic face to face global conferencing with staff in St. Albans on a regular basis. This could be taken a further step by using this technology for face to face contact between national societies. The opportunities are endless if we are prepared to explore and embrace the changes in the way the world now communicates.
The conference was an outstanding success, and Abbeyfield must thank the Planning Committee, Bill Statten, Moira Bacon , Bob McMullan and Poppy for the many hours they devoted to it to ensure the programs, the social events and registrations went according to plan.
Abbeyfield Canada continues to grow. It has new family members and more are in the stages of development.
The year ended on a sad note when we learned of the death of Richard Carr-Gomm, the founder of Abbeyfield. He was always an inspiration for all of us, and we will miss him, but we will continue our work under the Guiding Principles he established for us. I would like to suggest that all societies consider having a copy of Richard’s autobiography “All Things Considered” in the house library, so that volunteers and board members may learn our history, and read how one man who cared so deeply about the plight of lonely people worked to assist communities and countries find solutions to address this distressing problem. The book is available at the national office so societies may contact Bob McMullan for information.
At the conference we were given the opportunity to view part of a documentary film which is being made of Richard’s life. We look forward to its completion.
As I reflect on my years with Abbeyfield I realize it must have started fifteen or so years ago. Recently I visited the Vernon Abbeyfield house and enjoyed the company of happy residents and volunteers. The visit not only energized me but I remembered once again the reason I accepted an invitation to join a group of volunteers who had a dream of an Abbeyfield house in our community. I am pleased now to be serving a term as President of Abbeyfield Canada . I look forward to meeting or talking to many of you over the next two years.
Elizabeth Seaton
One recommendation was the creation of one worldwide website for Abbeyfield with links to all national Abbeyfield websites. This would be an opportunity for sharing of resources on a global scale, and could lead to unlimited marketing opportunities.
Abbeyfield USA and Abbeyfield Canada have jointly proposed to Abbeyfield International that it investigate the greater use of technology as a means of communication. Skype is an opportunity for electronic face to face global conferencing with staff in St. Albans on a regular basis. This could be taken a further step by using this technology for face to face contact between national societies. The opportunities are endless if we are prepared to explore and embrace the changes in the way the world now communicates.
The conference was an outstanding success, and Abbeyfield must thank the Planning Committee, Bill Statten, Moira Bacon , Bob McMullan and Poppy for the many hours they devoted to it to ensure the programs, the social events and registrations went according to plan.
Abbeyfield Canada continues to grow. It has new family members and more are in the stages of development.
The year ended on a sad note when we learned of the death of Richard Carr-Gomm, the founder of Abbeyfield. He was always an inspiration for all of us, and we will miss him, but we will continue our work under the Guiding Principles he established for us. I would like to suggest that all societies consider having a copy of Richard’s autobiography “All Things Considered” in the house library, so that volunteers and board members may learn our history, and read how one man who cared so deeply about the plight of lonely people worked to assist communities and countries find solutions to address this distressing problem. The book is available at the national office so societies may contact Bob McMullan for information.
At the conference we were given the opportunity to view part of a documentary film which is being made of Richard’s life. We look forward to its completion.
As I reflect on my years with Abbeyfield I realize it must have started fifteen or so years ago. Recently I visited the Vernon Abbeyfield house and enjoyed the company of happy residents and volunteers. The visit not only energized me but I remembered once again the reason I accepted an invitation to join a group of volunteers who had a dream of an Abbeyfield house in our community. I am pleased now to be serving a term as President of Abbeyfield Canada . I look forward to meeting or talking to many of you over the next two years.
Elizabeth Seaton
Executive's Director's Letter
We were saddened by the death of our Founder, Richard Carr-Gomm, shortly after our Tenth Global Conference held in Toronto in October, 2008.
He was a romantic, coupled with a need to help other people. Few organisations could have had such an inspirational figure with never a sign of arrogance or self-importance.(See obituary inside)
ABBEYFIELD INTERNATIONAL 10TH GLOBAL CONFERENCE IN TORONTO, OCTOBER 18-20TH, 2008
It was attended by some 85 delegates from 12 of AI's 16 Member Countries around the world - from Europe to Japan, Canada and the USA, to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. (See Conference report).
CLINTON BC The newest Canadian Abbeyfield Society is in Clinton, BC. Some years ago I was labelled as "Geographically challenged". I think I have improved, but Clinton was not a familiar name ( for a town!) when Connie Achterberg became our latest "spark plug", ready to start an Abbeyfield on the Gold Rush road running along the Fraser River between Hope and Quesnel.
SELF-INFLICTED AGEISM Ageism is bad enough without any help from Seniors themselves. How many have heard the apology, "I had a senior moment."? Moments of forgetfulness are universal - "teenage moments" when forgetting to put out the garbage. "Middle-aged moments" when times and dates are confused or forgotten. The very young shrug off these moments with "whatever."
CARP- 50 PLUS This is a thriving membership organisation originally called Canadian Alliance of Retired Persons and then 50 Plus. Recently Moses Znaimer bought CARP and revamped the journal into a glossy magazine called ZOOMER (Zooming Boomers).. Pierre Berton has written glowingly about it in the latest issue. We had Vice President of Zoomermedia, David Cravit, speak at our conference. It is interesting that the Retired Persons referred to in the original title, changed to 50 Plus and now Zoomer Magazine is for those 45 and up. This extends the senior area both ways, younger one way and older the other as increased longevity takes effect. When Abbeyfield started over fifty years ago, 60 was old. Now the average age of our 9,000 residents world-wide is 86. One could say that 90 is the new 70.
A HUMAN AIRLINE Not an oxymoron! Please read about the Westjet employee who flew from Calgary, where she worked, to Vancouver to help decorate an Abbeyfield House for Christmas.
HELP WITH CONFERENCE The Conference was organised by Abbeyfield International, with Abbeyfield Canada as the host country.
As is often the case there was far more involved in planning than anticipated, and we are grateful to Poppy in the office who designed the literature, and to both Poppy and Moira Bacon, National Director and Canadian rep on the Abbeyfield International Board for overall execution. Overseeing the whole operation was Richard Seaman, Executive Director of AI, and his Chairman, Allan Snowie.
We were fortunate to have the support of the leading Advertising Agency of Toronto, Lowe Roche Advertising. Leslie Uy, Account Executive, was assigned to us to work with Jill Robins, recently of the largest PR Agency in the US, to produce Press Releases and other literature. We are most grateful to them. ANY LEFT OUT?
NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT
The location of Presidents of Abbeyfield Canada alternative between Eastern and Western Canada. Bill Statten, of Toronto, agreed to take on this role in addition to his service as National Treasurer. He has been a pleasure and privilege to work with. He has handed over to Elizabeth Seaton of Kelowna, BC. Her letter is inside.
Bill is also on the Board of Abbeyfield Caledon, an area in which he grew up. They have a site on which they will build soon, thanks to partnership with Peel Region.
We were saddened by the death of our Founder, Richard Carr-Gomm, shortly after our Tenth Global Conference held in Toronto in October, 2008.
He was a romantic, coupled with a need to help other people. Few organisations could have had such an inspirational figure with never a sign of arrogance or self-importance.(See obituary inside)
ABBEYFIELD INTERNATIONAL 10TH GLOBAL CONFERENCE IN TORONTO, OCTOBER 18-20TH, 2008
It was attended by some 85 delegates from 12 of AI's 16 Member Countries around the world - from Europe to Japan, Canada and the USA, to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. (See Conference report).
CLINTON BC The newest Canadian Abbeyfield Society is in Clinton, BC. Some years ago I was labelled as "Geographically challenged". I think I have improved, but Clinton was not a familiar name ( for a town!) when Connie Achterberg became our latest "spark plug", ready to start an Abbeyfield on the Gold Rush road running along the Fraser River between Hope and Quesnel.
SELF-INFLICTED AGEISM Ageism is bad enough without any help from Seniors themselves. How many have heard the apology, "I had a senior moment."? Moments of forgetfulness are universal - "teenage moments" when forgetting to put out the garbage. "Middle-aged moments" when times and dates are confused or forgotten. The very young shrug off these moments with "whatever."
CARP- 50 PLUS This is a thriving membership organisation originally called Canadian Alliance of Retired Persons and then 50 Plus. Recently Moses Znaimer bought CARP and revamped the journal into a glossy magazine called ZOOMER (Zooming Boomers).. Pierre Berton has written glowingly about it in the latest issue. We had Vice President of Zoomermedia, David Cravit, speak at our conference. It is interesting that the Retired Persons referred to in the original title, changed to 50 Plus and now Zoomer Magazine is for those 45 and up. This extends the senior area both ways, younger one way and older the other as increased longevity takes effect. When Abbeyfield started over fifty years ago, 60 was old. Now the average age of our 9,000 residents world-wide is 86. One could say that 90 is the new 70.
A HUMAN AIRLINE Not an oxymoron! Please read about the Westjet employee who flew from Calgary, where she worked, to Vancouver to help decorate an Abbeyfield House for Christmas.
HELP WITH CONFERENCE The Conference was organised by Abbeyfield International, with Abbeyfield Canada as the host country.
As is often the case there was far more involved in planning than anticipated, and we are grateful to Poppy in the office who designed the literature, and to both Poppy and Moira Bacon, National Director and Canadian rep on the Abbeyfield International Board for overall execution. Overseeing the whole operation was Richard Seaman, Executive Director of AI, and his Chairman, Allan Snowie.
We were fortunate to have the support of the leading Advertising Agency of Toronto, Lowe Roche Advertising. Leslie Uy, Account Executive, was assigned to us to work with Jill Robins, recently of the largest PR Agency in the US, to produce Press Releases and other literature. We are most grateful to them. ANY LEFT OUT?
NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT
The location of Presidents of Abbeyfield Canada alternative between Eastern and Western Canada. Bill Statten, of Toronto, agreed to take on this role in addition to his service as National Treasurer. He has been a pleasure and privilege to work with. He has handed over to Elizabeth Seaton of Kelowna, BC. Her letter is inside.
Bill is also on the Board of Abbeyfield Caledon, an area in which he grew up. They have a site on which they will build soon, thanks to partnership with Peel Region.
President's Remarks
News of Canadian Abbeyfield Societies
It has been a very exciting time for Abbeyfield. The Abbeyfield International Conference, held in Toronto in October, brought together delegates from member countries far and wide. We shared experiences, enjoyed interesting presentations, learned from each other, but most importantly we made lasting friendships. There is a wealth of resources, both material and human, in the Abbeyfield movement, and on these rare occasions when we can all meet face to face we are energized by a common vision of providing a comfortable and affordable home for seniors in a small family style environment.
We said our farewells to all our new friends with some sadness. How can we continue the momentum that was generated at the conference? Waiting for another
We said our farewells to all our new friends with some sadness. How can we continue the momentum that was generated at the conference? Waiting for another
Re. Port McNeill. Terry Whyte, the BC Chapter will be attending a meeting of the Elder's Better Living Committee of the Health Network for the North Island Region (Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice, Sointula, Alert Bay and rural and remote areas). At the moment this is just the next step in an interest they have been pursuing for some time.
Re. Logan Lake , BC . It is interesting to me that a consultant recommended specifically that they look into an Abbeyfield House.
Terry
NEW SOCIETY ON THE GOLD RUSH ROAD, BC
Connie Achterberg , our latest "spark plug", is starting an Abbeyfield at Clinton, a village of under 1,000, on the Gold Rush road running along the Fraser River between Hope and Quesnel. A townsite began in 1862 at the junction of the Douglas Trail and the Cariboo Wagon Road, the two earliest routes to the Interior gold fields. In 1863 it was named for the retiring British colonial secretary Henry Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle. One of the ealiest buildings was the Clinton Hotel, where the Clinton Ball was held annually from 1868 until the hotel burned in 1958. The tradition continues in another hall in the village. Since its inception Clinton has been the centre of a ranching district and it retains a frontier atmosphere, though many of the spreads became working guest ranches. Indeed, by the late 1990s Clinton could lay claim to being the Guest Ranch Capital of the world.
--
Something about Connie and Bill Achterberg: "It is never too early to attract residents so I am advertising as a private caretaker to attract the kind of people who could be Abbeyfield residents. Several years ago, when licencing was not an issue, I was a long - term caregiver to two elderly women, also in our home. Before we moved in our present house, my husband and I owned a Lodge, where we cooked meals and cleaned for our guests, mostly snow mobilers and loggers. We must have done something right, because they are still in contact with us. Connie
Re. Logan Lake , BC . It is interesting to me that a consultant recommended specifically that they look into an Abbeyfield House.
Terry
NEW SOCIETY ON THE GOLD RUSH ROAD, BC
Connie Achterberg , our latest "spark plug", is starting an Abbeyfield at Clinton, a village of under 1,000, on the Gold Rush road running along the Fraser River between Hope and Quesnel. A townsite began in 1862 at the junction of the Douglas Trail and the Cariboo Wagon Road, the two earliest routes to the Interior gold fields. In 1863 it was named for the retiring British colonial secretary Henry Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle. One of the ealiest buildings was the Clinton Hotel, where the Clinton Ball was held annually from 1868 until the hotel burned in 1958. The tradition continues in another hall in the village. Since its inception Clinton has been the centre of a ranching district and it retains a frontier atmosphere, though many of the spreads became working guest ranches. Indeed, by the late 1990s Clinton could lay claim to being the Guest Ranch Capital of the world.
--
Something about Connie and Bill Achterberg: "It is never too early to attract residents so I am advertising as a private caretaker to attract the kind of people who could be Abbeyfield residents. Several years ago, when licencing was not an issue, I was a long - term caregiver to two elderly women, also in our home. Before we moved in our present house, my husband and I owned a Lodge, where we cooked meals and cleaned for our guests, mostly snow mobilers and loggers. We must have done something right, because they are still in contact with us. Connie