S2T Newsletters / Corporate History
Street to Trail Association
Report from the Board of Directors
to the Annual General Meeting /
April 27, 20
At
the same time as we are inundated with daily bulletins of the recession’s
impact, the Street to Trail Association is pleased to report on another
successful year of reaching out to many of Toronto’s neediest.
We made good use of the equipment we bought two years ago, we made
frequent and fruitful visits to our island property and we continued to
bring hope, light and dignity into the lives of this city’s homeless.
We initiated a major fundraising event, the 5km Hike-a-Thon, which
we expect will become an annual fixture.
But ultimately, we fell short of our fundraising targets for 2008
and had to cut back on planned expenditures accordingly.
Highlights of the year include:
-
A
record number of participants on S2T outings.
Total participation on 19 day hikes, 8 overnight camping and
canoe trips, and several other activities involving S2T voyageurs, was
207, up 16% from our 2007 numbers.
Executive Director Paul Mackle reports that our numbers would
have been higher with better weather.
At times, we reached transportation capacity, an indication of
the demand for our program.
-
Trip destinations were varied according to weather conditions and the
hiking skills of the participants.
Building on our success with winter outings in 2007, we held two winter
camping trips and repeated the successful overnight New Year’s Eve
excursion. S2T visits to The
Island involved maintenance and stewardship of the property by all
participants.
-
Inaugural Street to Trail 5km Hike-a-Thon in
Toronto’s
Taylor Creek Park
held on May 31. We
expect this will become our principal annual fundraising event.
More details are attached to this letter.
-
No new camping or canoeing equipment purchases in 2008, due to a
shortfall in fundraising. Nevertheless, our good
friends at Mountain Equipment Co-op donated new hiking gear.
I would also like to recognize board member Ross Colquhoun, who
donated a gently used van, which has since seen much use on trips and
running S2T errands around the city.
-
Continued partnership with organizations that complement S2T’s core
services to our constituency.
I would like to particularly mention the Canadian
College
of Naturopathic Medicine.
This group recognizes the holistic benefits of S2T: CCNW
students have joined us on hikes, manned the water station at the
Hike-a-Thon and have now placed an observer on the Board.
In a similar vein, Paul is working with a dental hygiene school
to provide services to the homeless.
-
Changes to S2T Board of Directors. Brian Grebow stepped down from the Board in
2008 but continues to provide skilled assistance with our publications.
On behalf of the Board and all friends of S2T, I would like to
thank Brian for his contribution.
In November, Don Robertson was appointed to the Board and
immediately undertook a revival of our web site.
Don has a background in education and communication.
I would also like to mention the arrival of a very important
member of the Street to Trail team.
Paul’s wife Diana moved to Canada
last spring and has worked hand-in-hand with Paul ever since.
We are especially pleased to see an increase in female
participation on outings since Diana’s arrival.
Unfortunately, our fundraising in 2008 fell well short of our
budgeted target. We had planned
to raise $62,000 but only managed $35,000.
Accordingly, we cut back or postponed some spending and continue to
watch our costs carefully. You
will notice that we have included the Hike-a-Thon flyer in this package to
save postage costs and that we have used black and white photocopies for
this letter to save printing costs.
Our Treasurer, Dorothy Browne, will present detailed financials at
the Annual Meeting as well as our 2009 budget.
Finally, I would like to recognize another former Board member.
Past Chair Ann Abraham has been a force of nature active in every
facet of Street to Trail’s operations,
Ann has enthusiastically written letters, stuffed envelopes and
acted as Board secretary since she stepped down as Chair.
Ann’s family and friends have been among the most generous
supporters of the program. We
have not lost Ann to the S2T team, as she chairs the fundraising committee
which organizes the Hike-a-Thon.
Nevertheless, I and the rest of the Board very much miss her wise
counsel and perceptive questions at our monthly meetings.
Thank you very much, Ann.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Executive Director Paul
Mackle, I wish to thank you for your continued support.
Please consider a donation to Street to Trail at this time, and help
ensure that we don’t have to cut back on planned activities this summer. We
look forward to seeing you on the trail!
Sincerely, Denton Creighton, Chair of the Board
[To Table of Contents]
Dear friends of Street to Trail,
Enclosed with this letter is a flyer
announcing Street to Trail’s second annual
Hike-a-thon for the Homeless.
This 5 km event will take place on Saturday, May 30th at the
same location as last year, the eastern entrance to Taylor Creek Park. A
pledge form is on the flip side.
Our inaugural hike-a-thon was a solid
financial success, raising $5,000 for our program through the efforts of
approximately forty participants and many volunteers. This year, given the
challenging economy, our target is $10,000. 50 hikers, averaging $200 in
pledges, would get us to our goal. Needless to say, the more hikers, the
higher the pledges, the better!
Our year-end fund-raising appeal did not meet
our objectives, which doesn’t surprise me, given the state of the economy.
But as we worry about cutting back our own discretionary spending,
Toronto’s ranks of the homeless and those relying on social assistance
grows even faster than in good economic times. For this reason, I urge you
to join us in this healthy and fun event. Take the time to see first hand
how Street to Trail helps Toronto’s most vulnerable. If you can’t
participate in person, pleaser sponsor someone who will hike with us, or
simply send us a donation citing the Hike-a-thon.
We are also looking for your advice on how to
broaden the appeal of this event and make it an even more effective
fundraiser. Some of the ideas proposed include:
- adding a more challenging 10 km hike;
- having a team competition;
- timing the hike;
- broadening the list of awards with prizes for achieving certain
pledge levels
- involving more corporate support
As with last year, we look forward to generous
support from Mountain Equipment Co-op, and volunteers from the Canadian
College of Naturopathic Medicine. I’ll see you on the trail on May 30th.
Yours faithfully,
Denny Creighton,Chair, Street to Trail
Association
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Table of Contents]
Dear Friends of Street to Trail,
As the days get shorter and the nights colder, I would like
to report on Street to Trail's activities over the summer and
consider the outlook for this winter. Our program continues to
grow in terms of outreach supporter relationships with social
agencies and fundraising options. But as the economy is turning
into recession, our most vulnerable clients become increasingly
at risk, making the need for services such Street to Trail much
more acute.
Paul Mackle, Street to Trail's founder and Executive
Director, reports that participation in hikes, camping and
canoeing trips has risen in 2008 over 2007 levels, despite a
summer of record rain fall in Toronto. For Street to Trail
voyageurs, the first step toward assistance is often the
toughest: an unexpected impediment, like rain, despite Paul's
encouragement, keeps many from taking that first step. We have
seen one significant change among the voyageurs this summer.
Many more women are coming out to S2T activities. I think the
presence of Diana Mackle, alongside Paul, at the drop-ins and on
the trail, encourages their engagement.
The threat of rain did not dampen our new fund-raising event that
launched Street to Trail's Summer Season. On Saturday, May 31, we held a
five kilometre Hike-a-thon in Taylor Creek Park. More than forty friends of
the program turned out for a gentle hike along the creek in East York,
followed by a tent raising and and canoe portage demonstration. Paul
and his voyageur volunteers then hosted a bar-b-q in the park.
Approximately $5000 was raised by he event. I would like to especially
thank Ann Abraham and Paul Coutanche for organizing the hike, our many
volunteers, especially the students from the Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine and Mountain Co-op, generous donors of prizes to our
fundraising champions. Mark your calendar for May 30th, 2009.
In my notes to friends of Street to Trail at last April's Annual
Meeting, I mentioned our acquisition of a new canoe and other camping
equipment last winter. We intend to continue adding to and replacing
equipment each year. Paul reports that ownership of the canoe has reduced
our rental costs over the summer. In June, a gently used van was donated to
Street to Trail by board member Ross Colquhoun. Paul has used this for
outings and more frequently for program-related errands in the city, saving
both time and rental charges. The van also facilitates regular visits to
our Black River island property north of Orillia. Paul has made
several stewardship visits to the island with small groups this autumn. By
preparing a site for winter camping, our voyageurs feel a greater sense of
pride and ownership in the island site.
It is so important for those of us, who know what Street to Trail can
achieve, to share this information and enthusiasm with friends. Let us know
if you would like copies of our descriptive program flyer, or if you would
consider volunteering to help with our outings. Contact Paul by e-mail
(paulmackle@yahoo.com) or phone
(416) 532-0893 and visit our website
www.street-to-trail.org for
more details on our program.
I encourage you to do what you can to further the important
work undertaken by Street to Trail. Please consider becoming an
S2T member and mailing a donation to the address on the enclosed
form. As you can see, various support levels will fund specific
program activities. Charitable receipts will be issued according
to CRA guidelines. And, beginning this year, we can accept a
gift of securities. This may well be a tough winter for all of
us. Thank you again for your support
Yours sincerely,
(signed) Denton Creighton
[Editor's Note: This newsletter was accompanied by the S2T
Brochure. For your information, the following amplifies the
intention of the second-last paragraph.
Take one person on a day
hike $50
Purchase gas for one outing $100
Take
one person on a weekend canoe / camping trip $200
Buy a
tent $500
Buy a canoe $2000
Tax
receipts are issued for for donations of $20 or more / Ed.]
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Our Cause /
2004
God has blessed Ontario with over 250,000 lakes, endless rivers and creeks,
and year-round trails. Psalm 29:3 says, “The voice of the lord is
upon the water: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.”
Street to Trail reflects this strong sense of God’s calling revealed
in nature, coupled with a desire to care for the poor who are so close
to God’s heart; we take people from the streets of Toronto to the
wilderness, and let the silence of God’s voice help people in ways
only that He can offer.
Street to Trail organizes and provides day hiking trips of graduating lengths
and difficulty levels. Members who have received appropriate Street to
Trail training are also able to go on overnight back-packing trip, bike
trips, canoe trips, cross-country ski and snowshoe trips. Not only does
this variety of experience offer lots of fun, but it also improves the
individual’s level of fitness as well as his or her mental, emotional
and spiritual health.
It will take ongoing
funding
to offer these trips to those who have few resources. Your membership and
your support of Street to Trail will provide a low cost trip for yourself,
and it will make trips and membership available to those who cannot afford
it and would most greatly benefit. Then God's silent voice will be heard
/ Paul Mackle, Executive Director
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Table of Contents]
November 27th, 2003
When we pulled into the marina from our four-day canoe trip at Anstruther
Lake, and we came ashore, we heard and saw a father and two kids start
up their snowmobile. "I think it is too early to start that up,"
voiced one. "No," a reply came, "I think we will need it
soon."
Soon is right! October 3 to 6 was the coldest weekend we had seen in years.
We started out on Friday and by Sunday night it went down to -4°C.
Nevertheless, it was that cold; the feeling of not going back to the city
was coming out and warmed us up by the fire that night. We pronounced our
feelings as being in harmony with the wilderness and wanted this to last.
Before long, after the trip is over, the pressures of the city come in
to play; the memories of the trip make the burden more bearable and easier
to withstand. Thoughts of the trip and memories of how one can work with
others, are the ultimate power that continues to make life more tolerable
and knowing others will support the one that has fallen on the trail (the
path of physical existence). Our coldest trip ever with others makes it
the warmest journey to travel! / Paul Mackle
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Table of Contents]
Three One-Day
Hikes: April 6,
27 and May 11, 2003
There were three day-hikes and they admirably helped people in ways
that are too many to count. There was one couple who came on a hike. In
drop-ins she is very quiet, while he usually does most of the talking.
Two weeks before the hike their bedrolls were taken. They were sleeping
at the side of the City Hall and their stuff was just thrown out. The two
of them came on a hike two weeks later and what a change! After the hike
she jumped out of the truck, shouting to the world what a good time she
had, and he was hushed by her enthusiasm. After a couple of hikes and a
promise of a canoe trip, another two people got a job because of their
new confidence. There are further trips coming up two or more a month.
Once a month there will be extended trips of 4 to 5 days. Each trip can
help more people as described above. Contact Paul Mackle for further information.
/ Paul Mackle, Executive Director
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Table of Contents]
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