Activities

Just Singin Round Showcase

Synergy offers a unique monthly showcase at the Vancouver Rowing Club, called the Just Singin’ Round Singer/Songwriter Showcase, on the first Tuesday of every month. Prominent West Coast singer/songwriters are showcased and a different charity is featured each month. Charities work in collaboration with artisans and Synergy to host the event while further developing skills in the areas of communication, partnership, team building, marketing and community networking. The evening, which includes a full course dinner, also serves as an avenue for patrons to connect and engage in the development of community awareness with all proceeds being distributed to the charities associated with Synergy

A monthly evening of magic that: 

• Generally occurs first Tuesday of the month 2012 season includes - Feb 7, March 6, April 3 (Wednesday Show), May 1, June 5, July 3, September 11 (Second Tuesday of the Month Show), October 2, November 6, December 4
• Showcases prominent West Coast artisans,
• Incorporates volunteer mentorship
• Allows charity participants the opportunity to cultivate partnership skills and build confidence,
• Blends the art of song with the spirit of collective cooperation,
• Encourages artisans, charity participants, volunteers, and patrons to connect, engage and enhance social /community capacity.   

Surrogate Santa Project

Partnering with local community agencies serving seniors, youth, single mothers and low-income families, Synergy supplements basic living needs during the holiday season by providing Christmas hampers to families in need. We also support the Foster Parents Association Annual Toy Drive. Synergy recruits support and Surrogate Santa’s through our vast membership. Surrogate Santa's are matched with families or individuals who have agreed to participate in the program and completed a profile form list identifying items they need and education toys/games. Participants are requested to put as much information as they can on the profile forms to help the Surrogate Santa's secure items. Santa's are not expected to get everything listed on the form. Information provided is given to act as a guide so Santa's have a choice in items they can look for incase some requests are not able to be found. Hampers are then picked up by a Synergy representative and handed over to the associated agency workers for final delivery. When identified, we will connect Santa's with families or individuals wishing to do so, otherwise the exchange is held confidential.

We ask that Santa's participating in the hamper drive purchase new items including batteries when appropriate and stick to purchasing items listed on the profile form. Synergy volunteers are available to answer any enquires to ensure the process is as easy as possible. To date, the Surrogate Santa Project has supported over 100 families and individuals in the lower mainland. Agency's Synergy has worked with includes but is not limited to: Hollyburn Family Services, St Leonard's Youth and Family Services, Pacific Community Resource Society, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Watari Association, The Kettle Friendship Society etc...

Synergy begins its call out for Santa's in early October to ensure enough time is provided to appropriately match Santa's with participants. Synergy volunteers work with interested Santa's to ensure price points identified by Santa's i.e. I would like to spend $300 on a single parent family, correspond with incoming profile forms.

If you are interested in becoming a Surrogate Santa or are with a Federally registered charity who has families or individuals who could benefit from this program, please contact Yvonne at yvonne@synergycollective.ca

Since hampers are personalized and designed to be practical, every effort is made to ensure the Surrogate Santa and participating family or individual has an optimal experience.

Santa’s are:

• Anonymous
• Individuals or businesses associated with Synergy
• Matched with appropriate family/individual i.e. Santa identifies they would like to assist a single father with two children -
• Build hamper based on profile provided by recipient family/individual

Recipient Families/Individuals:

• Complete a profile form indicating what they need and like
• Are matched according to the size of family, cultural needs and identified requests
• Are connected to a registered Lower Mainland charity

Training & Education

Partnership Retreats

Training is conducting at working retreats and during the monthly Just Singin Round Showcase. Charity members are taught skills during working retreats and provided the opportunity to apply these skills in a safe and supported environment during the monthly showcase. This approach places meaning between the action of partnership and the teaching of partnership, encouraging members to not only take ownership in what they have learned but also to identify specific goals. Training allows members to find value in what they are learning and incorporate learning to broader organizational development, supporting system management, measurement, and quality improvement efforts.

Capacity building workshops designed to:

• Increase skill,
• Increase understanding and confidence re: systems management,
• Promote effective communication,
• Mentorship,
• Build community practice,
• Collaborative projects,
• Volunteer/leader motivation,
• Understand and support transition,
• Creating sustainable funding sources.

Mentorship

Charities

Senior charity members are partnered with new charity members: 

• Take a leadership role at partnership retreats and monthly showcases,
• Provide orientation and transition support,
• Assist in addressing and meeting identified needs of new charity member,
• Assist in skills development and implementation,
• Assist new charity members identify learning moment, opportunities of ongoing connection, information sharing and social capital building,
• Assist in service evaluation, quality assurance and outcome measurement.

Volunteers

Adult/Youth (11 to 19yrs)

Adult volunteers are recruited from our charity and showcase membership. Interested volunteers identify their level and area of interest to the Synergy Volunteer Coordinator who then maps out a training plan and orientation as part of the volunteer’s induction into Synergy. Volunteers are encouraged to take an active role in service evaluation and quality assurance efforts. Feedback, committee work, direct service support and creative program planning are areas of involvement in which volunteers take a lead role in evaluating and shaping what we do at Synergy. 

Volunteers determine their own training and contribution plan by outlining how they want to contribute, for what length of time, what they want to learn and how Synergy can support learning and goals associated with volunteering.

The volunteer coordinator works closely with volunteers to follow up and review all planning efforts.

On a bi-annual base, all Synergy Volunteers are recognized for their contribution, commitment and involvement with Synergy. Birthday’s and special occasions are also recognized and celebrated at each monthly showcase.