Gabriola Commons Teams

Teams of Volunteers The Gabriola Commons relies on many dedicated volunteers. Some volunteers are very active as members of a variety of teams and many volunteers come out when needed for work bees or for helping with special events. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Gabriola Commons. For information about how to volunteer for occasional events & activities, send an email to volunteers[at]gabriolacommons.ca.

If you are interested in joining a team or just want to know something about various teams, click on the team name in the following table to see its mandate and other information.

Team	Coordinator	Email
Communications	Doug McKnight	communications[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Farm Management	Susan Yeend	farming[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Finance	Christine Purfield	finance[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Fundraising	TBA	fundraising[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Grant Writing	George Szanto	grants[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Infrastructure	Aidan Simmons	infrastructure[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Learning Opportunities	Sharon Pattison	learning[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Property Management	TBA	property[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Share the Commons	Linda St. Clair	sharing[at]gabriolacommons.ca
Trails & Green Spaces	Victor Anthony	trails[at]gabriolacommons.ca

Communications Team Join the Communications team if you like to write, take pictures or organize information for distribution.

To create awareness about the Commons by:
- enhancing and maintaining the Commons website and Calendar;
- editing and publishing the seasonal Newsletter; and
- functioning as the primary point of contact with the media.
To encourage the exchange of ideas, concerns and hopes for the Commons by:
- providing feedback opportunities through our website and at events;
- gathering feedback at periodic events and through surveys; and
- setting up and maintaining a Billboard outside the Commons main house.
To invite participation in the evolution of the life of the Commons by:
- inviting public attendance at Team and Council meetings;
- facilitating promotion of open houses and events at the Commons; and
- encouraging the involvement of community volunteers.

Return to top of page

Farm Management Team Join the Farm Management team if you enjoy working on the land.

To apply the Commons vision to protect the agricultural potential of the Commons by:
- enhancing the land to produce food for generations to come;
- engaging in organic food production, modeling sustainable community agriculture;
- modeling sustainable supported agriculture, using renewable energy practices; and
- engaging in horticultural research specific to Gabriola.
To coordinate the agricultural initiatives presented in our three-phase agricultural plan for the Agricultural Land Commission.

Return to top of page

Finance Team Join the Finance team if you like to work with numbers, accounts and budgets.

To maintain financial records of all income and expenses.
To prepare financial reports and issue tax receipts.
To propose policies and procedures to ensure financial well-being.

Return to top of page

Fundraising Team Join the Fundraising team if you like to help raise money, either directly or behind the scenes.

To raise funds to pay out the remaining mortgage.
To use a variety of regular and special events to collect funds for the renovation and development of the Commons.

Return to top of page

Grant Writing Team Join the Grant Writing team if you like to research, organize information and work with other teams to apply for grants. Commons Team Generated Grants

To solicit projects that need financing from the other teams of the Commons for which such teams have sought and found approval from the Sharing the Commons Team
To search out grants that would be appropriate to support such projects
To request from the teams the necessary information to make a credible application, so that the team creates the first draft of an application
To work with the team on subsequent drafts
To submit the application to the granting agency two weeks prior to due date
To ensure there is sufficient time for preparing the application; hence, any grant application process should ideally begin no later than three months before the due date

Grant Writing Team Grants

To search out grants that may be appropriate to certain teams, or to the Commons at large, which are consistent with the Commons' Strategic Plan
To present the possibility of such a grant to the appropriate team, or to a group that may come into existence for the purpose of this grant
To ensure that such team has finds approval from the Sharing the Commons Team
To follow the guidelines, as above, of team generated grants, including and especially the time lines in sections 5 and 6

Return to top of page

Infrastructure Team Join the Infrastructure team if you like planning projects and are interested in sustainability and alternative technologies.
Infrastructure means all permanent or temporary fixtures on the Commons grounds such as buildings, roads, parking lots, fences, and all aspects related to water, sewage and energy uses.
Our goal is to ensure that all infrastructure projects, whether new or renovations, serve whenever possible as a demonstration of sustainable living for the broader community.

Conduct applied research in alternative energies, building technologies, and water and waste management that will guide Commons projects.
Develop sustainable solutions to infrastructure needs on the Commons in cooperation with other Commons teams and using various resources.
- Click to download our Green Building Guidelines (pdf, 132 kB)
Analyze and consult (internal and/or external sources of expertise) for initial proposals and all projects as part of the review of any infrastructure application to the Share the Commons team.
Establish infrastructure priorities for the Commons in consultation with other teams and through the Coordinating Council.

Return to top of page

Learning Opportunities Team Join the Learning Opportunities Team if you are interested in promoting educational workshops and activities on the Commons. Mandate: To engage the community in learning through workshops and other opportunities for sharing knowledge and skills.

Objectives:

To identify and organize a calendar of workshops to be presented.
To contribute to the growth of the Commons.
To be financially self sustaining as much as possible.

Return to top of page

Property Management Team Join the Property Management team if you like to fix things or help coordinate community groups using the Commons.

To maintain the Commons buildings and grounds by:
- monitoring the facilities and grounds; and
- arranging for upgrades or repairs
To be responsible for short term uses of the Commons by:
- working with the volunteer booking coordinator;
- developing information sheets and policy for users of the Commons;
- ensuring rental fees are paid and submitted to the treasurer; and
- dealing with the issues and concerns of Commons or community groups using the facilities.
To participate in project task forces by providing advice for future management of renovations or new structures

Return to top of page

Share the Commons Team Join the Share the Commons team if you are interested in exploring and implementing how the Commons can collaborate with the community on potential projects. Mandate: Share the Commons Team acts as the entry point for potential projects which will involve the use of space and/or resources on the Commons. This team will guide/track the process and progress of all accepted projects until they are completed and make reports to the Commons Council and to the Foundation.
Click to download: Single Event Application, Project Application
Objectives:

To work with groups and individuals proposing projects on the Commons with the intention of achieving a peaceful and respectful co-existence of all land uses, guided by the key documents referred to below and any future relevant material.
To facilitate dialogues which reflect the overall vision and purpose of the Commons.
To act as a bridge to the Council or Foundation when appropriate during the development of a project and/or tenancy.
To ensure a fair process for full community participation in the sharing of the Commons.

Strategies:

Respond to inquiries for short or long term usage by forwarding the criteria and application forms for completion.
Assess the submitted application.
Meet and host conversations with interested groups and individuals to learn their key aims and objectives.
Provide a liaison person for each project to ensure that they have full representation and assist in developing a "team mandate" if it is appropriate that they become members of the Commons Council.
Refer projects involving any aspect of the physical facilities to the Infrastructure Team.
Refer projects to the Farm Management Team for agricultural uses.
For all non-agricultural land uses, refer projects to the Trails & Green Spaces Team.
Create a process that invites community members to participate in all land use proposals and that provides relevant information that is updated as needed through the Commons Council.

Return to top of page

Trails & Green Spaces Team Join the Trails & Green Spaces team if you interested in the identification and protection of ecosystems.

To identify and protect the undeveloped "green spaces" on the Gabriola Commons through mapping of the diverse ecosystems.
To recognize specific areas such as the marshland around the pond as ecological reserves and propose limited means of access.
To develop trails carefully, permitting access through selected areas in a way that respects the environment by restricting passage to the pathway.
To identify and take action against harmful invasive species and promote the planting of native over non-native species.

Return to top of page