NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR COUNCIL
Provincial Office
Bldg. 566 St. John's Place (Pleasantville)
St. John's, Newfoundland A1A 1S3
Ph (709) 726-1116 Fax (709) 726-4045

Sharron Callahan Member Assistance Fund
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Council

Identification of Fund:
This Fund was established at the end of the term of office (April 2007) of Provincial Commissioner Sharron Callahan to recognize her contribution to Guiding in Newfoundland and Labrador, especially her recognition that all girls and women who wished to be Members of Guiding should be welcomed, without concern of affordability.

Purpose of Fund:
Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Council, is committed to ensuring that every girl and woman who chooses to be a Member has the opportunity to participate fully in the Guiding program, without concern that membership will be compromised due to affordability. To this end, the Provincial Council of Newfoundland and Labrador has established the Sharron Callahan Member Assistance Fund to ensure that Guiding is affordable to all who wish to be Members. The Fund will be administered by the Provincial Finance Committee.

Fund Revenue:
The Sharron Callahan Member Assistance Fund will initially be started with a transfer of funds from the Provincial Council investment portfolio. Additional revenue is invited from donations, bequests, corporate giving, fundraising, and Councils' contributions.

Eligibility for Assistance:
This fund is to provide a source of assistance to Newfoundland and Labrador Members of Girl Guides of Canada who experience financial barriers to participation in Guiding activities. Applicants for assistance to this Fund have the assurance of Provincial Council that their request will be kept in confidential within Guiding. The reviewing committee may need to contact the relevant commissioner(s) for additional information.

Possible Eligible Expenses Include:

• Membership/registration fees
• Camp fees
• Conference fees
• Workshop fees, including fees to attend trainings
• Uniform costs
• Program books
• Other costs as determined appropriate by the Provincial Finance Committee

Ineligible Expenses:

• Expenses related to sponsored and independent travel, as defined by the Provincial Travel Fund, are ineligible for application to the Sharron Callahan Member Assistance Fund.

Application Process:
The Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Committee will consider all applications for assistance and will determine the amount of assistance that can be offered based on factors including, but not limited to, the following:

• Financial situation of the (adult) applicant, or in the case of a girl Member, her family's situation
• Contribution of the Member to Guiding through cookie sales and other approved fundraising activities, or in the case of a girl Member, the contribution of her family through cookie sales, fundraising, or non-financial contribution of time or service to Guiding
• Number of the applicant's children, siblings, registered in Guiding
• Level of the adult applicant's involvement in Guiding activities
• Total number of applications received and the balance of the Fund
• Costs incurred within Guiding
• Assistance given from other Guiding councils.

Award Process:

• Applications will be considered at any time
• When all are members of Guiding, more than one person in a family can be considered on the same application
• The application form includes a section which the appropriate Council Commissioner must complete supporting the application and recommending the amount of assistance to be awarded (see application form)
• The fully completed and signed application should be sent to:
  
  Chairperson of the Provincial Finance Committee
  C/o Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada
  Newfoundland and Labrador Council
  Building 566, St. John's Place
  St. John's NL A1A 1S3
  
  Any assistance awarded will be sent to the Council/Committee for which the assistance is required, with notification to the applicant.

Except under extenuating circumstances, the deadline for receipt of applications will be the last day of each month. Notification of funding will be given by the 15th of the following month.


Recommended Provincial Finance Committee May 30, 2007
Approved by Provincial Council Sept 10,2007 (by e-mail vote)

Girl Application

Adult Application