President's Message

Over the past year it has become increasingly evident to me that ABC Ontario is at a crossroads. There is no question that there is a need for the organization. In responding to some of the queries that come in via our telephone line in Toronto and by email, it is clear that for some parents, we are their salvation. Many parents are at their wits end on how to deal with their child but once they have found what works— it is like night and day.

The challenge for us is our all-volunteer nature. At both the provincial and local levels we tend to have a relatively small core of very dedicated volunteers who make things happen. Organizing children’s and adult programming, publishing newsletters, answering queries, lobbying for the needs of gifted children as a member of your school board’s Special Education Advisory Committee, assisting a parent through the Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) process, maintaining the necessary financial and membership records, are all squeezed in along side everything else. Frequently work and family commitments make it impossible to carry out our ABC commitments within planned timeframes.

At the most recent Provincial Council meeting in February, there was general agreement that the current modus operandi is not sustainable. Over the coming months, we will be exploring potential sources of funding that could be used to transition ABC Ontario so that it would be positioned to generate sufficient funds on an ongoing basis to support at least one paid resource on a full or part-time basis. Concurrently, we will be looking at how technology can be used more effectively to communicate with you, our membership and to streamline routine processes. One change that is likely to occur by the fall is transmittal of the NewsMagazine by email. Most of our members have email addresses; transmittal of this type of publication by email is becoming more common; and we will be able to distribute information more quickly and at a lower cost. We will keep you posted as we explore different options.

The Annual General Meeting scheduled for May 7, 2005 is an excellent opportunity for the general membership to provide their input our planned direction. Hope to see you there.

Elizabeth Buckingham
President, ABC Ontario