Bylaws to be discussed in the CCE AGM on 8th October at 7PM

Dear Ottawa Comhaltas members,

This note is to inform you of the branch Annual General Meeting, coming up on Wednesday, October 8th. Full details are below, but first I wanted to highlight why it's especially important this year that as many members as possible attend. In a nutshell: we need you to help us approve a new set of bylaws in order to continue to exist as a not-for-profit organization. It's not exactly the most exciting draw to a meeting, perhaps, but our existence depends on it!

This year, Industry Canada is requiring that all not-for-profit (NFP) organizations essentially re-apply to be incorporated. This is because Canada has a new NFP Act, and all existing NFPs must fall under these new rules. In order to do this, we must re-file our updated bylaws with Industry Canada by October 17th.

How does this apply to you? Well, in order to submit bylaws to Industry Canada, the membership must first vote to approve them. Specifically, we must vote on a special resolution at our AGM, and it requires the approval of a majority of members. So we need you there to cast your vote. If you can't make it but would still like to cast a proxy vote, please contact me for more information on this procedure.

And what are you voting on, exactly? Our bylaws set out how Ottawa Comhaltas is run. Our old bylaws, from 1985, refer to outdated procedures and methods of communication. So we're updating them to make sense for how we do things now.

These new bylaws will be ready for your perusal shortly, and I will send them in a separate email. In the meantime, here are the details of the meeting:

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at 7pm

University of Ottawa, Arts Building, 70 Laurier (corner of Laurier and Waller), Room 509

Link to campus map, which shows parking areas:
http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html

Or consider taking public transit: the Laurier station on the Transitway is right by the Arts Building


Two other quick notes: first, you need to be a paid-up member in order to vote at this meeting. Remember that you can now renew your membership online! Here is the link:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/membership-and-class-registration.php


You can also pay your membership in person at the AGM.

Finally, at our AGM we will be electing a new executive, and there are currently no candidates for the following positions: Irish Officer, Public Relations Officer, Youth Officer, and Auditor. If you or anyone you know would be interested in serving on the executive (it's fun, we promise!), please contact Maureen Maher.


Hope to see you all on Oct 8! (And, of course, at the ceili this Saturday 27 October, too.)


Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, on behalf of the CCE Ottawa executive

................................
Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, Ottawa Branch
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
ottawacomhaltas.com 

2014 Ottawa Branch AGM

When: Wednesday 8 October at 7:00 PM

Where: University of Ottawa Arts Building, 70 Laurier St. Rm. ARTS 509. (corner of Laurier and Waller St, by the transit way).

During the upcoming Ottawa Branch AGM in early October we will be electing or re-electing CCÉ members to become part of the Ottawa Branch Executive. At the moment there are several positions that are immediately open for nominations. These positions are: Irish Officer, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Youth Officer, and possibly Auditor (TBD).

If a member is interested in any of the CCÉ Ottawa Branch Executive positions, regardless if they are vacant or not, and wants to know what the duties and responsibilities for the positions are, it is suggested that they check the CCÉ Ideal Branch document: http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/resources/Comhaltas%20-%20Ideal%20Branch%202012.pdf

If a member wishes to put his or her name for any Executive position, you should send a written message to the Elections Officer, Maureen Maher  indicating your intention to run for office.


Please note that this year the Branch AGM will be held at the University of Ottawa, in Rm: ARTS 509. The ARTS building is on the corner of Laurier with Waller St. (by the transit way), the entrance to the building is on 70 Laurier St. On this link: http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html, you can download the campus map, which also shows the parking lot areas that you can use.

We hope to see you all at the AGM!!

Irish Language Weekend - September 26th - 28th

Caint is Comhrá and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa Branch Irish Language Weekend
When: Friday, 26 September 2014 to Sunday 28 September 2014
Where: Galilee Mission Centre 398 John Street Arnprior, Ontario (45 minutes northwest of Ottawa off Highway 417)

Caint is Comhrá and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa Branch cordially invite you to our Irish Language immersion weekend, which is open to all levels from beginner to fluent speakers.


The only requirement is a desire to learn and a willingness to speak Irish at all times to the best to one’s ability.

Language classes are mandatory. Workshops (céili/set dancing, stained glass, sean-nós singing and introduction to Celtic traditional music) are optional.

Bring your musical instruments, stories, and songs for the siamsa on Friday night and the céili on Saturday night.



Information:
Cost $220 per person (includes all activities, meals and accommodation)

Meals included: 

Welcome supper – FridayBreakfast, snacks and lunch – Saturday and Sunday
Banquet – Saturday night

Accommodations included: single rooms/ shared bathroom
Check-in time: 5:30-7:00 pm Friday
Welcome supper: 6:00 pm Friday


For more information contact Toni Forsythe (613-233-9927)

____________________________

Gaeltacht Deireadh Seachtaine

Dé hAoine 26ú Meán Fómhair, 2014 Go Dé Domhanaigh 28ú Meán Fómhair
Galilee Mission Centre 398 John Street Arnprior, Ontario

Ba mhaith le Caint is Comhrá agus Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ottawa
Cuireadh a thabhairt chuig ár Deireadh Seachtaine. Glacfar le hierratas ó gach duine idir thosaitheoirí agus cainteoirí líofa.

Riachtanas fonn foghlama, agus toil chun do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid (cibé leibhéal ar bith atá agat) í rith an deireadh seachtaine ar fad.

Beidh na ranganna teanga sainordaitheach. Tá na ceardlanna (amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós, damhsa céili/seieanna, gloine dhaite, agus ceol traidsiúnta) roghnach.

Tabhair bhur gcuid uirlisíceoil, bhur gcuid amhráin libh don chéilí mór oíche Dé Sathairn.


Eolas
Costas: $220 an duine
imeachtaí uile, béilí agus lóistín san áireamh


Béilí san áireamh:
Suipéar fáilte – Dé hAoine
Bricfeasta, scroideanna agus lón – Dé Sathairn agus Dé Domhnaigh

Féasta – Dé Sathairn



Lóistín san áireamh:
Seomraí singil
Seomraí folctha I gcomhroinn

Am Clárú: 5:30 – 7:00 pm Dé hAoine

Suipéar fáilte: 6:00 – 7:00 pm Dé hAoine



Tuilleodh eolais, agus cuidiú le taisteal: Toni Forshyte (613-233-9927)

We hope to see you there!

Membership changes - Online renewal and Online registration for classes

Our intrepid Rúnaí (Secretary), in conjunction with the indefatigable Pat Cassidy, have decided that the management of the CCE Ottawa Branch membership should once again fall under the responsibilities of the office of the Rúnaí. We do want to give heartfelt thanks to Pat for all the work she has done over the years in managing the membership at the request of previous Rúnaí. Mile buíochas Pat!

Pat Cassidy receiving a token of appreciation from CCE Chair

Pat Cassidy receiving a token of appreciation from CCE Chair

Now that Caitlin, our current Rúnaí, will manage the branch membership, some changes were implemented. To come to par with the membership service that many other CCE branches provide, we have implemented online memberships, and all memberships now will be due in September.


For those members that would prefer not to use online payments, they can continue to use the PDF form that is available on the website and should be mailed with payment to the address that appears on the form. For those members who do not have internet access, their membership forms will be sent to them (or they can request it from the Rúnaí). Please note that the mailing address has been changed in the form to accommodate the new implementation.


Also we now are offering online registration for Irish language and dance classes!

We do know that implementing changes take time; we hope you help us to work out the kinks to ensure that our new venture succeeds!

All the best! 

NEW! Brand-new online membership for CCÉ Ottawa!

www.ottawacomhaltas.com

Hello CCÉ Ottawa members,

We hope you've been enjoying your summer, and we also hope that you're gearing up to enjoy Comhaltas activities again beginning in September. Special events to look forward to include, a night to honour local musician Don Kavanagh in October, and the region's annual general meeting and workshops on October 25th. More details on all of these exciting events to come soon. And don't forget about our lively monthly ceilis and weekly dance and language classes!

**NEW THIS YEAR: ONLINE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL**

We hope you'll renew your membership this year to enjoy all these activities and more. Remember, your membership supports Irish culture locally and gets you discounted classes and ceili admission, plus your copy of the CCÉ magazine Treoir. And this year we've made it even easier to renew.

Instead of worrying about mailing in a cheque or hunting down a Comhaltas executive officer to hand over cash, you can now renew online! In fact, if you're also planning to take dance or language classes, you can renew your membership and pay for your classes all in one go!

Give it a try -- the link for online renewal is here http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/membership-and-class-registration.php

If you'd rather still mail in a cheque, no problem. A renewal form can be downloaded here -- just print and mail it in with your payment.


And don't forget to keep up to date on branch activities through our online media:

Website: http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com
Blog: http://ottawacomhaltas.blogspot.ca
Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/193752260177/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCEOttawa/videos
Twitter account: @OttawaCCEEnjoy the rest of August, and see you in September,

Caitlin Crockard, Secretary / Rúnaí

On behalf of the CCÉ Ottawa executive