About Us

Operating jointly with the Vancouver Park Board

The Joint Operating Agreement is intended to define the working partnership between the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and each of 20 Community Associations developed to provide recreation and leisure opportunities and to facilitate provision of community services to the residents of each community.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Community Associations are seeking to renew and revitalize our partnership and update the master Joint Operating Agreement.

History

The Strathcona Community Centre is situated in one of Vancouvers oldest residential neighborhoods. The Strathcona community is defined to include the area bounded by Burrard Inlet to the North, Clark Drive to the East, Terminal to the South and Main Street to the West. The community centre is located one and a half blocks east of the central business district of Chinatown, and is physically linked to the Lord Strathcona Elementary School. The centre was constructed in 1972 through the efforts of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the local residents.

Since its inception, the community centre is jointly operated by the Strathcona Community Centre Association (SCCA) and the Vancouver Parks Board. With the local recreation field staff, the SCCA Board of Directors, of whom are elected volunteers from both professional and non-professional backgrounds, strive to provide recreational and social services to the community. Together, decisions are made in the delivery of recreation and social programs to the neighborhood, as well as the development of the community.

The Strathcona Community Centre provides a place where the community can meet, share thoughts, explore new and different avenues of recreation, socialize and become involved. Being located in the midst of a unique, warm, and friendly multi-cultural community, the centre attempts to fulfill the many different needs. The centre is a place which can be drawn upon by all groups and persons for information, ideas and resources. Its doors are always open to all those wishing to use it.

Mission Statement

The Mission Statement, a general statement of principle describing the overall purpose of the Association, guides the Association in its decision-making. It states that the mission of the SCC Association is
To sustain, promote and develop a resource that supports the changing social and recreational needs and aspirations of the Strathcona community.

Vision for the Future and Goals
Strathcona Community Centre is a community resource centre fostering the development of a sense of community and belonging. It will provide recreational, educational, cultural, social and physical activity programs and services contributing to building a healthy, liveable community. The centre will demonstrate leadership within the community and advocate for the community. The Centre will continue to shape itself to provide quality service to the community.

We are committed to achieving this vision by:

• recognizing the diverse communities living in this neighborhood

• demonstrating leadership in establishing partnerships with other community agencies/groups and developing initiatives around common goals

• providing innovative blending of our educational, cultural, social and physical activity programming and endeavors

• providing a gathering place for the community

• providing and developing administrative functions to support our expanding role

• reaching out to those with diverse needs with an emphasis on children and youth

• being a good employer implementing fair labour practices

Board of Directors

Membership
The Board of Directors consists of a maximum of eighteen (18) Directors plus the Immediate Past-President, who has voting status at meetings but is not included in quorum. Board officers are elected by each new Board, and include the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

How to Join The Board and Meeting Days

The annual general meeting is held each year in May. It is at this time that new Board members are elected. New Board members may also be elected throughout the year if there are less than 18 directors on the current Board. If you wish more information please contact the Recreation Supervisor at 604 713-1838.

Importance of Board Members
Community input is critical to the operation of the Centre. As representatives of the Strathcona community, Directors support the Centre by

• Caring about their community

• Having innovative ideas for improving the Centre

• Coming with a diverse spectrum of talents and perspectives

• Being in touch with community needs

• Providing a system of checks and balances

• Being objective about Centre operations

• Assisting in developing relevant programs

• Being accountable to the community and the membership
  
  

Role of the Board of Directors
The Board is elected to represent and promote the interests of the residents of the Strathcona Community and is accountable to the members of the Strathcona Community Centre Association.

The Boards role is to:

• Develop policies, procedures, and goals for operating the Centre

• Direct the operations and activities of the Association in conformity with its Constitution and By-laws

• Support the staff in determining needs and achieving the goals of the Association

• Take responsibility for financial planning and budget control

• Reflect community make-up, interests, and concerns

• Act as liaison between the community and the Centre, and the Park Board and the Association

• Be responsible for public relations

• Participate in fund raising

  
  

Responsibilities of the Directors
As a member of the Board, a Director should be familiar with the Associations by-laws, since these form the basis of the Boards authority. The Joint Operating Agreement also contains important information about the Associations responsibility vis--vis the Park Board.

A well informed, responsible Director will.

• Participate in special events

• Get to know staff and become familiar with programs

• Accept complaints, suggestions, and requests from the membership and pass them on to the appropriate individual or committee for resolution

• Bring to the Board and staff suggestions to better enhance services and programs

• Serve on a committee or task group

• Attend meetings of the Board and appropriate committees or task groups

• Attend workshops designed to increase Directors knowledge/abilities

• Recruit new Board and committee members

• Elect the Officers of the Association each year at the Annual General Meeting

Regular attendance at Board meetings is essential. A director who misses three consecutive meetings without an acceptable excuse can be removed from the Board. Board meetings can be effective only if there is full participation from all members.

If a majority of Board members are not present for a meeting, there is no quorum (minimum 6 required for a quorum) and the business that needs to be conducted will have to be postponed. Also, Directors who are not present for a meeting lose the opportunity to participate in the decisions that are made in their absence