This is the
VOICE OF SUNNYHILL
By Gabriela Orban on behalf of Sunnyhill Social Committee
The Social Committee continues to look for new members. Please contact Gabriela at gabrielasemail@shaw.ca if you are interested. Or maybe you’d like to organize a specific event but not be fully on the committee? Or perhaps you would be available as a setup/cleanup helper at events or a “runner” for shopping/picking up supplies? We want to know about that too!
We are in the process of planning some events, stay tuned for details!!!
By Yvonne Sabraw on behalf of Sunnyhill Grounds
We are experiencing a great deal of melting and freezing this month!
Grounds purchased several green bins that now have Ice Melt in them. There are 3 along the pathway from 4th street to 3rd street that goes past the office. There is another one on the pathway in front of the 1-bedroom units, and two along sunnyhill lane next to the dumpsters. We would like to get feedback from members about where more might be needed. Another green bin is in the shed waiting to be placed once we know where it is most needed.
We suggest that when members are going to be walking around the co-op that they bring a disposable cup with them and scoop ice melt or gravel from one of the bins which they can sprinkle in front of them as they walk to provide a bit more traction and to aid in ice management generally. And if there are any big problem areas on common pathways and sidewalks please have members email Grounds so we can give those spots some attention,.
By Yvonne Sabraw on behalf of the grounds committee
Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention! And it can certainly be an inspiration. On that note, the sudden departure of our snow removal contractor has prompted a bunch of Sunnyhill members to come together to create the Snow Clearing Crew as a subsection of the Grounds Committee. At minimum we hope to manage snow clearing over the short term when we do not have a contractor, and if things work out this could become our norm.
If you have ever wondered, “why do we pay so much for snow clearing every year when we could do it ourselves?” now is the time to step forward.
We have a core of people willing to organize this, but we need shovelers. Once we know how many hands we have on deck, we will organize sections to be cleared.
We are still working out how to clear the larger parking lot areas and the north section of Sunnyhill Lane, but if we have enough people pitching in all of this could be done by hand.
Get outside! Get some exercise! Meet your fellow members at the time of year when it can be hard to connect with neighbours. Be part of something bigger than yourself! (Okay - maybe too much inspiration there)
If you think you can help out, please send a quick email to shcgrounds@shaw.ca and indicate your interest. We’ll be in touch from there.
Submitted by Chris Taylor on behalf of the Education Committee
The Education Committee is currently looking for new members to supplement our great group! Please contact Chris Taylor at tommythecat19@hotmail.ca.
Submitted by Bob Bott
The City seems to have improved its web page What goes where--Residential recycling and disposal search tool. It’s full of useful tips anytime you want to get rid of odd stuff like coffee pods or plastic cutlery.
Another quick reminder to make sure the INSIDE valve for your OUTSIDE water faucet is closed for the winter and the outside faucet is left open. These basement pipes can freeze and burst in the winter if this is not done.
Yardworx will again be clearing our snow this winter. Any issues with their service that need immediate action should go to the Office Coordinator Monday - Friday. On weekends please email the Grounds Committee (shcgrounds@shaw.ca)
We welcome any feedback members have regarding our contractors, as this helps us when considering contracts, so please send your concerns and kudos regarding Yardworx to Grounds email through the winter as well.
Both sessions were really informative and The Education Committee would like to share the video with Coop members who were not able to attend. Click on Roberts Rules to view!
Submitted Jaime Muneoka on behalf of the member selection committee
We would love to welcome new members Rikia Novotny and family (sons, Henry and Adrian) to unit 849 as of October 1. We wish our outgoing members, Mark Terrell and Ann-Marie L'Arrivee, all the best!
Submitted by Yvonne Sabraw on behalf of the grounds committee
We are all enjoying the extended summer, but preparations for fall and winter are well underway.
You'll notice that the picnic tables and the immovable bench in the common space have been repaired and spruced up. Thanks to those who took on these tasks! We ask members to please take care of these items as they are so useful to our membership and would be very expensive to replace outright.
Thanks also to everyone who came out to weed and then move mulch into the Food Forest and then move mulch under common space trees. Some of the trees along the 7th avenue sidewalk now have more mulch than they need and members are welcome to scoop some of that up for their own use.
Please continue to deep-root water the trees around your unit while the ground is not frozen. It has been a long, dry summer and our trees need that moisture. Let a sprinkler run over the roots (not right up against the tree trunk) for 1-2 hours, once per week.
When the temperature does drop to consistently below zero, please make sure your outdoor tap has been turned off from WITHIN your unit and the tap on the outside left open so that water does not freeze and expand in the pipes. Basement flooding occurs from such frozen pipes! If you have any questions about how to do this, please contact a Grounds member or a Buildings member who can come and help you.
We are going to try a new approach to the management of our Snow Removal contract this winter, and then the lawn care contract next summer. These contracts will now be handled by our Office Coordinator who is in a better position to respond to members' immediate concerns and communicate efficiently with the contractor because he is on site weekdays. If you have information you want to relay Monday-to-Friday about snow removal, such as areas that have been missed, checking when the crew is expected on site, commendations for work well done, etc. please call or email the office (sunnyhill@shaw.ca). On weekends, please continue to address concerns to the SHCgrounds@shaw.ca email address as we check our email daily to be able to respond in a timely manner to members. At the time this is being written, we still do not know which contractor will be hired for snow clearing. We are waiting for the Board to review the bids then finalize and sign that contract. Watch for an update in the November Newsletter.
When you are planning for spring flowers, please be very mindful about using "wildflower" seed packets that don't explicitly name the seeds that are contained within. The City Website on invasive plant species warns about the packets containing seeds for such species as Himalayan Balsam and Creeping Bell Flower which are NOT native and can be bad for the native species we want to encourage.
The Grounds Committee always welcomes new members to our crew. Winter is our period of planning for the busier seasons, so it's a great time to start on Grounds and contribute to the planning process, learn about how things work, and get to know the other Grounds Committee members. Just email us for the next meeting date - we set the dates to work for our committee members!
Submitted by Phil Cox
Join us on the lane for a celebratory pancake breakfast next Sunday, October 2, at 11am!
Submitted by Belle Auld, Education Committee
We recently had an incident of what could have been someone using drugs in the Coop. They left behind the remains of a small fire, broken glass, empty prescription bottles and a white powder.
The Needle Response Team came and cleaned everything up for us. It turned out that the white powder was probably not drugs, according to the team, but best to be safe.
So, if anything like this happens again, please phone: the Needle Response Team at 403.796.5334. They are open 7 days a week from 7 am –3 pm.
If you need them outside those hours, please leave a voicemail. Often DOAP Team will cover the Needle Response line after 3pm. Jose in the office has their business cards.
If you see someone who is very intoxicated or high and you are concerned for them or yourself, please phone: The DOAP (Downtown Outreach Addictions Program) Team at 403.998.7388. Open 24/7.
Also for your information, from the Safe Needle Disposal Information Guide, “if you get poked by a needle:
Let the wound bleed as much as possible
Flush the area with flowing water
Wash the wound well with soap and warm water
Call Health Link – 811 – or seek medical attention for an assessment.”
Thanks to Helen Wirrell for reporting the incident.
Join Zoom Meeting on September 25, 2022
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88988637157?pwd=cG5IdmhiNTZDcGQyd0pJRkJmQlJuZz09
Meeting ID: 889 8863 7157
Passcode: 572619
One tap mobile
+12042727920,,88988637157# Canada
+14388097799,,88988637157# Canada
Motion for Special General Meeting:
Whereas CMHC has confirmed that Sunnyhill is eligible for funding under the Federal Community Housing Initiative to assist members with housings costs greater than 30% of household income
It is resolved that Sunnyhill accept this offer as a supplement to our existing internal subsidy program.
Background:
This would be a Special Resolution, requiring a two-thirds vote of members present for a general meeting. The motion could be amended or withdrawn depending on which of three possible scenarios (outlined below) receives majority support from members attending the special general meeting.
In August, Sunnyhill received confirmation that we were eligible to receive funding from CMHC under the Federal Community Housing Initiative. The funding is to be used to assist low-income households with their housing costs to ensure that no household pays more than 30% of its income on housing charges plus heating (natural gas).
To receive the funding, Sunnyhill will have to make an annual income report to CMHC including individual income declarations from the households receiving funding. Sunnyhill would have to show how we distributed the funding to the eligible members.
Sunnyhill has until September 30th to accept the funding for the current year. Accepting could provide significant additional revenue to Sunnyhill--tens of thousands of dollars annually.
As a result, members need to consider the following three scenarios.
Sunnyhill accepts the funding and suspends its internal subsidy program until the funding is no longer available. (Note that this option might complicate and negatively affect our current redevelopment negotiations with the City and funders.)
Sunnyhill accepts the funding but maintains its internal subsidy program and uses the funding to increase the subsidy for households that would still be paying more than 30% of their income on housing and heating. (Planning and Development Committee recommends this option because it would not further complicate our redevelopment plans.)
Sunnyhill refuses the funding and maintains its current subsidy program. (This option would negatively affect those members currently spending more than 30% of income on housing and heating.)
We advise members to study the attached documents outlining how the program works and what assistance is being offered. The pros and cons of the program will be discussed at the general meeting prior to voting.
Submitted by Yvonne Sabraw
If you haven’t had a reason to come check out the finished construction along Sunnyhill Lane, you really owe it to yourself to swing by and take a look. This is the culmination of the City realizing it had to extend the sewer system to go further than just a few metres north of 7th Street. Those of us on the Lane got to watch some serious construction since early June, alll very exciting if you like big machines digging deep holes.
And now, in keeping with “if you build it, they will come” - the newly paved Lane is teeming with kids.
If you’re a kid, what’s not to love about an expansive flat surface where there used to be holes and gravel? You can bounce a ball, You can run barefoot. Your wheels can roll so fast you can glide like the wind.
The chorus of voices suddenly crying out in unison, “CAR!” Is music to our ears - a spontaneous moment of harmony. Where once fierce opponents battled each other in two-on-three ball hockey, or raced down the lane - scooter versus rollerblades - there is suddenly cooperation, the priority now to keep each other safe. And as that car passes, neighbourly interaction: the driver rolling down her window and asking incredulously “Have you kids seriously been at this since I last saw you three hours ago?!” And being reassured by laughing faces “oh no, we did go in for lunch!”
The timing couldn’t have been better for the reopening of a paved Sunnyhill Lane that now has a full-length sewer system to drain the puddles (some would say small lakes) that plagued us. Well before the onset of blustery fall weather, with plenty of summer days left for our community to make the Lane our own, we’ve been throwing around ideas of basket ball hoops and painting the pavement to encourage interactive activities and discourage vehicles speeding. We are hoping to host a gathering very soon to celebrate our new space - perhaps an afternoon tea with scones. Stay tuned for the date.
Submitted by Yvonne Sabraw on behalf of Sunnyhill Grounds
Thanks to everyone who came on short notice to the Food Forest Weeding and Mulching weekend! We got the job done and still have mulch to spare, so members who want some for their yards are welcome to help make the pile disappear.
A small Gardening Club crew has been monitoring the common spaces for Creeping Belleflower and carrying out search-and-destroy missions for that and for thistle, but we are still expecting members to dig out these weeds from their own yards and along their fence lines.
With a little luck, this month we will have a local artist creating a mural for us on one of the garbage enclosures on Sunnyhill Lane OR 4th Street (the artist is still determining that). Details will be sent to the membership by email from the Office.
Grounds welcomes new members to our committee - get in touch with us at SHCgrounds@shaw.ca and we'll let you know when we meet.
Yvonne on behalf of Sunnyhill Grounds
Submitted by Debbie Willis
We got our mulch and we’re ready to take care of our food forest!
Please join us on Saturday, August 20th at 10am at the food forest to do some weeding and mulching.
Shouldn’t take long if we get a few helping hands!
Thank you!
The Grounds Committee
Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee
Want to know about applying Robert’s Rules to our Coop meetings?
Got questions about Robert’s Rules? Bring them to the Zoom workshops August 28 th and/or August 29 th or submit them in advance.
By request of the Sunnyhill membership, the Education Committee is hosting two workshops based on Robert’s Rules of Order and Team norms for better meetings.
Carmen Wyton* of Ripple Enterprises will present two 30 minute workshops:
Part 1 Sunday August 28 at 2 pm – Overview of Robert’s Rules and practical application in the coop business proceedings.
Part 2 Monday August 29 at 7 pm – Meeting norms and practices. Based on outcomes from the Robert’s Rules discussion, a collaborative workshop will be facilitated to establish meeting norms that all members are comfortable with. The intent is to establish expectations for meetings, and to have a known plan of action when meetings go off track.
Each presentation will be followed by a 15 – 20 minute question and answer period. Carmen is inviting us to collect questions in advance that she will answer during the workshops. Please submit questions to the Education Committee at shceducation@shaw.ca
Please plan to attend.
Zoom links (copy and paste to your browser’s address bar):
2:00 pm Aug 28,
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81937914128?pwd=OUtPK042cUNURDJIRTd3ZEZKWnZwdz09
7:00 pm Aug 29,
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81806381303?pwd=WVVvNGRkZlROVmRhZUFleTJIY3Y1UT09
These workshops will be presented on Zoom and recorded so members can view them later.
* CARMEN WYTON, is the principle of Ripple Enterprises, founder and current Chair of the Women’s Health Coalition of Alberta. Carmen has more than 25 years experience working with non-profit organizations, government advisory councils, charities, and industry associations in multiple areas of the private and public sector. Carmen is also on the Executive of Public Affairs Association of Canada.
Submitted by Yvonne Sabraw on behalf of the Grounds Committee
The Grounds Committee regretfully accepted the resignation of our chairperson, Mahlah, at our July meeting. Mahlah has done a tremendous job over the past 2 years bringing her organizational skills and “let’s get this done!” approach to the Grounds Committee’s responsibilities. She deftly managed the Snow Removal and Lawn Care contracts as well the Arborist work. The bridge at the south end of the Food Forest was one of several projects she made happen. She gave more to Sunnyhill over the past 2 years than many members give in a decade, and did it as a relatively new member herself.
So, our committee would love to have some new recruits to help replenish our ranks as we figure out how to fill these big shoes.
Quick update on Grounds Projects:
- Black knot blight was pruned from a few of our trees, and we lost one entirely to this blight. Thanks to the members who alerted Grounds to problems with trees in our co-op. We keep a running list of things to bring up when our arborist visits, so feel free to email us if you have any concerns. Shcgrounds@shaw.ca
- Liam did a fantastic reorganization of the shed space. Thanks to everyone for signing out items you borrow, and alerting Grounds to any concerns with equipment
- A few common space gardens are managed by members, but we are still looking for someone to give some TLC to the flower bed on the south side of the Garage. It was an area that was beautifully managed by Herta until she moved in the spring.There are funds for purchasing plants, ideally perennials, if anyone feels so inspired.
- We have been asked to consider how we could provide space for the Sunnyside Bike Lane project being proposed to the City by Sunnyside community members. This may be a topic for discussion at an upcoming General Meeting.
- Thanks to everyone who is ripping out invasive species such as creeping bell flower! Keep up the good work.
- Last, but not least: mark Sunday July 7th on your calendars! It’s the next Co-op Grounds working bee.
This time we will be focussing our attention on the Food Forest.- doing some much needed weeding and spreading of mulch. Come join us from 10:00am-12:00pm or part thereof. Meet your neighbours, learn about our Food Forest, and enjoy some refreshments!
Submitted by Debbie Willis on behalf of the Grounds Committee
Please meet your fellow members at the food forest at 10am on Sunday, August 7th to do some weeding and mulching! Our wonderful food forest is thriving but needs a bit of TLC and a new layer of mulch. Many hands make light work! :)
Submitted by Brenda Willman
Thank you to all who came to serenade me on the big birthday this year (65 years !!!) I really appreciated the choir, and the ice cream cake was delicious too. A special thank you to Yvonne for throwing it all together.
