In March 2016, ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton turned seven!

The AAGE Mission Statement is:  To offer information and support to those living with ADHD in the Greater Edmonton Area, through awareness, education and resources. We can only achieve this mission with the aid and assistance of our many valued Volunteers! Many thanks to our past and present Executive and Board Members, Group Facilitators and Volunteers – all of whom have made valuable contributions to AAGE’s growth. To help us grow through the end of our first decade and beyond, we’re looking for enthusiastic people to join our board.

We are currently in need of Volunteers for the following positions. In addition to the time requirements noted for each, those noted as “Board” also require attendance at the monthly executive meetings. The meetings usually last about two hours on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Help us support the ADHD community in Edmonton!

Fundraiser (Board)

Responsibilities:

• Attend monthly executive meetings
• Research fund-raising avenues
• Draft grant proposals for board review and approval
• Manage and communicate the proposal process to conclusion

Skills: Knowledge of AAGE goals and objects; effective writing skills (experience in writing proposals an asset).
Time Commitment:  5-6 hours per month, as necessary.

Treasurer (Board)

Responsibilities:

• Access and maintain bank account online and report monthly to executive.
• Prepare basic annual financial statements (audited by the Board).
• Maintain and file AAGE’s Society Annual Return and report at the Annual General Meeting.
• Maintain accordion file system, prepare cheques and make bank deposit.

Skills: 

• Understanding of basic bookkeeping and modest computer skills.
• Organizational skills to ensure annual duties are completed.

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per month; 2 to 4 hours annually for statements, AGM and Society Return

Event Planner (Board)

Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute special events for AAGE members.
• Skills: Enthusiasm and organizational skills. Experience in event planning an asset.
• Time Commitment: Depending on the number of events per year (2-3), about 2-4 hours per event.

Members-At-Large (Board)

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Board in managing various outreach events and other tasks as able.
• Skills: An enthusiastic interest in advancing the awareness of ADHD in the community.
• Time Commitment: Depending on the time of year, 2 hours every 2-3 months.

All board members are expected to attend a 2-hour monthly board meeting, which is an additional time commitment.

Co-Facilitators (Non-Board)

Responsibilities:

• Attend monthly support groups and assist in maintaining the flow of the meetings. Most facilitators work with one support group: Parent, Adult or Partner Support.
• Skills: Excellent people and communication skills; tact and patience. General knowledge and understanding of ADHD and related issues. Co-Facilitators are a part of the group and are not considered to be “experts”.
• Time Commitment: 3 hours per month

The ADHD ASSOCIATION OF GREATER EDMONTON is a very important asset to our community but it takes dedicated volunteers to make it work. Consider joining our team for a fulfilling experience

Guest speakers coming up!

At the ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton, we are VERY EXCITED to be lining up a slate of special guest speakers for our upcoming meetings.

Below is a rundown of some of the speakers we have lined up, as well as selected topics if there is no speaker.

Upcoming Parent Support Group meetings:

Dec. 7: Rachel Rogers, our past president, will discuss ADHD and executive function. Members of the Adult Support Group are also welcome to attend.

Jan. 4: Ric Gibbons, our president, will discuss ADHD and nutrition. Members of the Adult Support Group are also welcome to attend.

*All of our Parent Support Group meetings are held at the Misericordia hospital unless a separate facility is arranged. Further details will go out in our monthly meeting reminders*

Upcoming Adult Support Group meetings:

Dec. 21: A roundtable discussion based around ADD Stole My Car Keys, by Rick Green and Umesh Jain.

Jan. 18: A follow-up talk on meditation. Members of the Parent Support Group are also welcome to attend.

Feb. 15: Join us for our AGM, followed by a roundtable discussion.

March 15: Doug Stacey, Part 1 — Issues around notifying an employer of your disability, accommodations, and legalities

April 19: Doug Stacey, Part 2 — Taking advantage of ADHD at work

*All of our Adult Support Group meetings are held at the U of A hospital, in Classroom A unless a separate facility is arranged. Further details will go out in our monthly meeting reminders*

Connections:

AAGE works closely with other groups in the area that offer information to our members about speakers, workshops and activities that they are sponsoring. Please check our website for links to:

• Learning Disabilities of Edmonton www.ldedmonton.com
  Please check their events page for upcoming information sessions and details on The Life Project, a program to help teens overcome barriers and succeed in school.
• Tourette's Syndrome Foundation of Canada Edmonton Chapter www.tsedmonton.com
• BILY, Because I Love You bilyedmonton.com
• Foothills Academy (Calgary) www.foothillsacademy.org

 

Education:

Educating ourselves about ADHD or Executive Function Disorder is one of the most important tools we can use to assist with coping strategies. Following are some sources of information.

• ADDitude Magazine Artciles: (www.additudemag.com) has excellent articles about childhood, adolescent and adult ADHD and is free to sign up for their weekly newsletters.
• ADDitude Magazine Webcast:(www.additudemag.com/webinars) ADDitude Magazine's ADHD Expert Podcasts and Live Webinars address topics that will help you better manage symptoms, your family, and your life. They are hosted by top experts in the field, all of whom are contributors to ADDitude Magazine.
• Totally ADD: www.totallyadd.com Rick Green is a comedian and writer who, along with his wife Ava, have produced this website that addresses the issues of ADHD. Rick shares his own journey through Adult ADHD with a comedic approach toward his challenges. This website offers many resources and webinars addressing childhood and adult ADHD.

 

AAGE Executive News:

• Please follow us on Twitter: @ADHDEdmonton
• Be sure to like our Facebook page.
• We would like the names of general practitioners, psychologists, and psychiatrists who are able to treat ADHD children and adults. Please email them to info@adhdedmonton.com.
• If you have a book or an article that you think would be interesting to parents, children, teens or adults, please nominate it for a review so that it could be published in our newsletter at info@adhdedmonton.com

 

AAGE Executive:

Ric Gibbons, President
Rachel Rogers, Past President
Anne Pratt, Secretary
Jody Draganiuk, Member
Dave Breakenridge, Publications & Outreach
Fred Sawka, Tech Committee Chair

Email: info@adhdedmonton.com
Website: adhdedmonton.com