Message from Connie Clement

Hello Toronto Partners,

You all received the media release about my arrival in mid-September so I won't bore you with my background. I will tell you that I am thrilled to be here. I've met many of you, but not yet everyone. I am very impressed by partners' commitment, energy, skill, expertise and values - what a great team to join. One of my priorities is meeting you and hearing your voice.

Building on the strong foundation that you created as volunteers, we're underway in developing a stronger recruitment strategy, setting a 2010 calendar, and linking partners to volunteer roles with our investees and SVPT improvement projects.  Our treasurer Sarah Abbasi and I are overhauling our financial systems. Jennie and I are catching up on renewals. I'm working with - but not joining - both Investment Committee and Education Committee. I'll be involved in refining our nominations process for Leadership Committee and our governance mechanisms. And, intend to streamline communications with you and develop mechanisms to evaluate our benefit to the community organizations to which we grant. My goal is to complement partners, helping us be more systematic and effective while retaining our high compassion and engagement.

You may not know that our friendly and able Jennie Tao drops to one day per week for SVPT. She's a real asset for us, and her part-time contributions will continue to be vital. For the time-being continue to contact Jennie about your charitable contributions, RSVPs, etc.
(FYI, Jennie continues to work full-time, with Tides Canada, our charitable host, keen to pick up the hours we're freeing up.)

Please pick up the phone or send me an email - about anything, at any time.

Regards,

Connie Clement
Executive Director, SVP Toronto
416 642 5468
cclement@svptoronto.org