Thursday 23 May, 2013

PAL Canada® is looking for a new Executive Director and welcomes potential candidates to apply.


Please click here to obtain a copy of the job description.


CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO PAL CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PAL CANADA is looking for several persons who want to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors who work (or have worked) in the professional performing arts. At our Annual General Meeting on June 24th, 2013 we shall be electing our new Board of Directors.  We strive to build a strong and effective board by ensuring that it is comprised of a broad and diversified base of talented and skilled people. Our Board will be made up of 10 persons elected at-large from across Canada as well as representatives from the 8 PAL Chapters in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Stratford, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and ex-officio representation from the professional associations and performing arts unions who founded PAL Canada® in the 1990’s.

This year there will be at least 6 vacant seats to be filled.  We have a particular need right now for candidates with backgrounds in the legal and communications professions and, as always, candidates with a knowledge of fund raising and accessing governments.  As well, we are most interested in hearing from potential candidates in Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador

The Board meets 6 times a year in Toronto, with members from other parts of Canada connected by conference call.  Meetings last approximately 2 hours.  Each member of the Board is expected to be actively involved with the activities of at least one of the Board committees.  All Board members need to become current members of PAL Canada® if they are not already.

Our Board members are passionate about the performing arts—the people who devote their lives to creating Canadian live performance, and to our mission:  Taking Care of Our Own.  Previous experience as a board member for a non-profit organization is an asset, as is experience in business or other professions.

If you are interested in being considered by the Nominations Committee, please contact  Allan Macmillan, Secretary at macmillan22@gmail.com at your earliest convenience.  Note also the final date of May 10, 2013 for receipt of formal submissions of nomination for election to the Board in the Notice of Elections below, as well as the mailing address.

 

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PAL CANADA FOUNDATION

The By-laws of PAL Canada® Foundation currently make provision for 10 Members-at-Large to be elected to its Board of Directors by the membership. The term of office is for two years from the date of the Annual General Meeting which, this year, will be held on June 24. The terms of all current members of the Board who are Members-at-Large will expire at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.  Four of the incumbents have indicated their willingness to stand for a further term.

There are, therefore, at least six seats to be filled.  If, by the deadline for nominations there are more nominations received than seats available, there will be an election and nominees will be advised as to the election procedures.

We encourage any member in good standing who would like to become a candidate for a seat on the Board of Directors to submit a nomination. If you are not currently a member in good standing and would like to be eligible for nomination, please contact the PAL Canada® office to make the necessary membership arrangements. The nomination will bear the signatures of two other paid up members of PAL Canada®, as well as that of the nominee indicating a willingness to serve. The inclusion of a brief biography of the nominee would be helpful, but it is not an absolute requirement at this point.

Nominations should be directed to the Secretary, PAL Canada® Foundation Inc., 110 The Esplanade. Suite 333, Toronto, ON, M5E 1X9 and must be received no later than May 10, 2013.

 

 

History of PAL Canada®

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CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF PAL

1983   PAL idea Germinates - Members of Toronto’s Smile Theatre Company discuss concerns, long expressed in the acting community, regarding the lack of social support for older performers. (More…)

1985     Ad Hoc Committee formed - Following a meeting at the home of Patty Gail, then President of the Smile Theatre Company’s Board of Directors, a Steering Committee was established. (More…)

1985     Questionnaire Circulated - First approach to industry regarding interest in establishing a performers lodge. (More…)

1986     Founding Organizations - The PAL concept is endorsed by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), American Federation of Musicians in the United States and Canada, Local 149 (AFofM) and Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA) endorse the PAL concept. (More…)

1986     Performing Arts Lodges of Canada founded  - as national charitable organization.(More…)

1986     Supporting Cast formally established  - as “a volunteer outreach programme dedicated to those in the Performing Arts who would welcome assistance in the areas of companionship, errands, appointments, light housekeeping and correspondence.”

1991     Sod is turned for PAL’s first lodge  - The fulfillment of the dream takes shape as work on Pal Place begins in Toronto.

1993     First tenants move into PAL lodge - Pal Place, opens in Toronto in January.

1997     Grumblings heard from Founding Organizations - ACTRA Representative raises questions regarding Mandate fulfillment and financial records availability. Board meetings get testy.

1998     Raucous mid-May meeting results in acrimony and resignations  - Substantially new Board meets. Roy Wordsworth is inveigled into stepping into the Presidency to help right the ship. Norman Griesdorf, QC, PAL’s ab initio lawyer attempts to defuse the situation.

1998     Expansion Plans -Strategy put in place to fulfill the national aspect of PAL’s Mandate by establishing a national presence across Canada.

1999     Developers threaten Pal Place - PAL challenges intrusive development plans for property adjoining Pal Place (The Old Fish Market). Developers bring plans before Toronto City Council and, eventually, to the Ontario Municipal Board. PAL prevails.

1999     First Board Retreat - PAL Canada® Directors get a handle on what PAL is meant to be, is, and should be in the future.

1999    Tom Patterson works to establish a PAL Chapter in Stratford. Steering Committee established. (More…)

2000     Web presence created - Pal Canada.org launched.

2000     First fundraising drive launched - tentative fundraiser, along with membership drive, is launched.

2001     Glitter Palace filmed at Pal Place - Documentary looking at residents in Pal Place and Los Angeles’ SAG home, Woodlawn, is filmed for presentation on BRAVO! Produced by Melbar Entertainment Group by Barry Averich and Nat Brescia.

2001   Vice-Regal Patronage Granted - Governor General Adrienne Clarkson accepts PAL Canada®'s request for patronage.

2001     Chapter Agreement Drafted.  - Board of Directors accept wording of a new Agreement defining the relationship between PAL Canada® and future Chapters.

2001    PAL Stratford initiates its annual Expect the Extraordinary fundraising event. With the support of the Stratford Festival, facilities, acting and musical talent are donated to produce a wonderful “Cabaret” evening in the Avon Theatre.

2002     PAL Stratford signs Chapter Agreement. PAL Stratford becomes first signatory to PAL Canada®’s Chapter Agreement making them the first official Chapter in PAL’s expansion plans.

2002     PAL Vancouver Mere Hours Later - Following Stratford’s action, a second Chapter is formally created in Vancouver.

2002     Long-term Care Facilities.  - The national body answers a call to address problems for our aging members. It incorporates PAL Retirement/Extended Care Corp. The name is later changed to PAL TWO. (More…)

2003     PAL Halifax Steering Committee - Halifax, under David Renton’s leadership, moves ahead with ‘needs survey’ and works to full Chapter status.

2003     ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society assists PAL Vancouver.  -Sizable donation ($50,000) made to help Vancouver’s funding campaign for a PAL lodge.

2003     PAL  structurally reorganized.  - PAL Toronto created as separate Chapter by the national organization. In the process, PAL Canada® accepts legal advice to relinquish the formal name of Performing Arts Lodges, along with its charitable number to the new Chapter. The national organization immediately initiates its incorporation as PAL Canada® Foundation and applies for charitable status.

2003     Anniversary Celebrations.  - Our first lodge, Toronto’s Pal Place, celebrates its 10th Anniversary. PAL gives party.

2004     PAL Calgary organized.

2005     Toronto Initiates Scrabble® With the Stars. What develops into a highly successful fundraising event for PAL Toronto’s Supporting Cast is created by Vivienne Muhling.

2006    Pal Winnipeg formally incorporated.

2006   New Governor General Grants Patronage - PAL Canada® remains under the distinguished patronage of Canada's Governor General: Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean agrees to continue as patron.

2006     PAL Vancouver lodge opens.

2007     PAL Winnipeg Chapter - Major step taken to found a Winnipeg Chapter.

2007     Website Relaunched - All that seems to be left is the URL.

2007     PAL Toronto Stars Again -The Limelighters, a documentary zeroing in on activities at Pal Place, airs on the Global Network, in four half-hour segments.

2008     Edmonton Forms Steering Committee.

2009     Charitable Status Regained After a 6-year struggle, the original organization regains its charitable status.

2009     Website Updated - A major update of the PAL website is undertaken.

2009     Senor Artists’ Research Project(SARP) - PAL Canada® endorses and supports  the broad-based research into senior artists’ needs and problems.

2009     Second Board of Directors’ Retreat - PAL Canada® hosts the 2nd ever Board Retreat November 2009 in Toronto.

UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF
HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA