Events during 2005 included the installation of a ramp access into the pool for handicapable youth and adults through a generous donation from The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918).  A new 34 car paved parking lot with 2 Handicap parking spots was completed in the fall.  Once again Friends for Atkinson received recognition but this time from KPMG for Accountability and Non-Profit Excellence.

 

2006 saw the installation of a lift added to the pool amenities and late 2007, with the assistance of Parks and Recreation, we saw the completion of an asphalted dual walkway around the perimeter of the park, especially for area seniors and those physically challenged to be able to enjoy the park environment more easily.  Benches have been added along the walkway and light standards are planned for the future.  Funding for the barrier-free playground base was secured and the spring of 2009 saw the installation of the base and primary playground equipment, completed.

 

2009 was a difficult year for our swimming programme due to the municipal strike closing the pool until August, which in turn resulted in the cancellation of any promised funding from earlier in the year.  Despite these difficulties, Friends For Atkinson managed to get thirty (30) children into swimming lessons during the final month of summer.  This however saw the depletion of our swimming reserves. 

 

In February of 2010, Friends for Atkinson acquired the small Skateboard Park equipment from Leamington and with the assistance of volunteers have moved the additional ramps, grinders and pyramids to the City Parks Department until warmer weather when volunteers and skilled tradesmen will reassemble the new pieces and reconfigure the skateboard park to allow greater flow.  The young men who form our Skateboard Committee have been working tirelessly raising funds and promoting safety to improve this section of the park.

2011 has brought new partnerships and magic to the park.  On Saturday, June 26 Wizards and Muggles alike appeared on the front lawn of Atkinson Park to help Friends for Atkinson create the City's first Harry Potter Garden.  While not entirely completed community members of all ages assisted with the planting of various strange and beautiful flowers and bushes: Larry Lauders Walking Stick, Shooting Stars, Bertie Botts Beans, Holly, Devil's Snare, Wands , Star Gazing and more. Joined by the Windsor Fire Department crew from Station 4, Kids Alliance members providing games and Friends for Atkinson providing a barbeque lunch, it was an enjoyable and productive day in the park.  Thanks to Councillor Ron Jones for providing the funding required for the plants and other supplies needed for this most unusual garden and to Denise and Parks and Recreation for the City of Windsor who went above and beyond to assist with the design, selection and implementation of the garden.

Members from all five of the Knights of Columbus rallied in the heat and under the sun on two consecutive Saturdays (July 9 & 16) to repaint the skateboard park ramps.  Hopefully before the end of the summer, unique murals will be painted on the outside walls of the ramps.   As well on Saturday, July 16 a large contingent of Union Gas employees descended on the park playground equipment giving the entire area a fresh coat of paint.  Supplies for the painting of the Skateboard Park were provided through a donation by the Mayor's Youth Committee and all the supplies and paint for the playground equipment cleaning, preparation and painting were generously provided through a $1,000 donation from Union Gas.

We are striving to continue to work with such partners as the Windsor-Essex Accessibility Committee, New Beginnings, Kids Alliance and many others.  Fundraising endeavours to complete all phases of the Skateboard Park, up-grading and expansion of the barrier-free playground equipment, walkway lighting and of course, continuation of the provision of swimming lessons for families of the working poor remain our goals for the coming months.

CONSTITUTION

  

 

Article C-1  -  Name

The name of this organization shall be the Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool, Inc. hereinafter called the "Organization".

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Article C-II  -  Purpose

To ensure the availability of Atkinson Park and Pool for the benefit of the children in West Windsor.

To help children learn an important life-skill that may save their life or someone else’s life.

To ensure that all may have the benefits of swimming lessons and opportunity for healthy physical activity.

To promote the creation of Atkinson Skateboard Park as an integral part of the Windsor Waterfront Parkway, combining family fun with the health benefits of active living.

Friends For Atkinson Park and Pool shall function without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used solely to promote the aforementioned objectives.

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Article C-III  -  Membership

Membership shall be open to all persons interested in the preservation of Atkinson Park and Pool as well as the expansion and addition of  amenities to said Park and Pool.

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Article C-IV  -  Organization

Section 1.     The officers of the Organization shall be Chairperson; Vice Chairperson; Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2.     Officers will be elected for a 3-year term

Section 3.     When the office of Chairperson becomes vacant, the Vice-Chairperson shall serve the remainder of the term.  If any other offices become vacant, a temporary officer will be appointed by the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson [see article C-V (2), subject to approval by the members, at the earliest meeting of the Board.

Section 4.     The officers shall carry such duties as are customarily connected with their offices and shall have such additional duties as may be assigned to them by the Executive.

Section 5.     There is no limit to the number of terms officers may succeed themselves, thus allowing for re-election of an officer to the same office.

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Article C-V  -  Organization  -  Duties

Section 1.     Chairperson:  Shall be responsible for satisfactory operation of the organization in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws.  This officer shall preside at regular and special meetings of the organization as well as the Executive meetings. 

Section 2.     Vice Chairperson:  Shall, in the absence of the Chairperson, perform the duties of the Chairperson.

Section 3.     Secretary:  Shall keep and publish the minutes of all meetings.  This officer shall perform such other duties as directed by the Chairperson.

Section 4.     Treasurer:  Shall receive all money taken in by the organization and shall deposit them to the credit of the organization in the authorized depository.  This officer shall pay all bills incurred by the organization and keep accurate up-to-date records of the transactions.  A Financial Report will be submitted at monthy meetings.  The Treasurer and a member, who is not a signing officer, will prepare an Annual Financial Report.  This report will be turned over to an auditor and a report to be presented to the members annually.

Section 5.    That the Chairs of the Swimming and Skateboarding Sub-committees be added as Directors-at-Large to the organization's executive.

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Article C-VI  -  Organization - Committees

Section 1.  Committees.  There shall be the following standing committees:

Standing Committees.  There may be standing committees for such purposes and with such members as the President may determine from time to time.

Ad Hoc Committees.  There may be such ad hoc committees for such purposes and with such members as the President may determine from time to time.

[Definitions:  A Standing Committee is a subunit of a political or deliberative body established in a permanent fashion to aid the parent assembly in accomplishing its duties.

                       An Ad Hoc committee is a temporary committee formed for a specific need.

                Skateboard - Standing                                                Volunteer - Ad Hoc
                Swimming   - Standing                                                Newspaper - Ad Hoc ]
                                                                                                       

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                                                    Article C-VI  -  Elections and Meetings

Section 1.     An election shall be held no later than January 15th.  Executive members shall be elected by a majority vote of the ballots cast.  All votes will be cast by secret ballot.  Votes will be collected and counted by at least two members not running for positions on the Executive.  All ballots shall be destroyed following confirmation of the vote. 

Section 2.     Installation of Officers shall occur no later than January 31 of each year.

Section 3.     Not less than one membership meeting per month shall be held at a time and place determined by the Executive during the period of January through December, inclusive.

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Article C-VIII  -  Amendments

Section 1.     Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by written petition of any member or by action of the Executive at any time throughout the year.

Section 2.     Copies of the proposed amendment shall be distributed to each member.

Section 3.     Proposed amendments must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at the meeting where the scheduled vote is to be taken.

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Article C-IX  -  Revisions

Section 1.     The Organization shall submit for approval any bylaws, amendments, or revisions to this Constitution which may be enacted from time to time.

Section 2.     Revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws affecting any part of the Organization’s Constitution and Bylaws shall be automatically incorporated in the next annual review.

Article C-X  -  Effective Date

Section 1.     This Constitution shall be effective upon ratification by a simple majority of the Organizational membership at an announced meeting.

Section 2.     Organizational  Members shall be defined as any member on the rolls of the Organization at the time the Constitution is submitted for the vote.

Article C-XI  -  Finance

Section 1.     The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

By-Laws

ARTICLE B-1  -  RULES	ARTICLE B-VII  -  RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
ARTICLE B-II  -  REPORTS	ARTICLE B-VIII -  TERM OF OFFICE
ARTICLE B-III -  RECORDS	ARTICLE B-IX    -  ORGANIZATION - DUTIES
ARTICLE B-IV -  MEMBERSHIP	ARTICLE B-X   -  MEETINGS
ARTICLE B -V -  CHANGES TO  BYLAWS	ARTICLE B-XI  -  VOTING
ARTICLE B-VI -  ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATION	ARTICLE B-XII  -  DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

 

Article B-1  -  Rules

 

All rules dealing with activities pertaining to Atkinson Park and Pool i.e. fundraising, parties, gifts, purchases, must be approved by the Board.

Article B-II  -  Reports

Reports shall be made by every officer of the Organization whenever required to do so by the Executive.  The Chairperson shall prepare a report for presentation to the Annual General Meeting.

Article B-III  -  Records

Section 1.     It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to maintain control of official records.

Section 2.     The actual records maintenance may be delegated to the respective officers with ultimate responsibility remaining with the Chairperson.

Section 3.     It is the responsibility of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson to assure a smooth transition of information and records for the outgoing officers to the incoming officers.

Article B-IV  -  Membership

Section 1.     Any person having an interest in supporting the objectives of Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool may become a member upon expression of interest to do so.

Section 2.     All members of Friends of Atkinson Park and Pool shall abide by the rules and by-laws of the Constitution.

Article B-V  -  Changes to Bylaws

Section 1.     The Organization, by a two-thirds affirmative vote, shall have the power to pass, repeal, or modify any bylaws pertaining to matters not expressly specified in the Constitution.

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Article B-VI  -  Organizational Representation

Section 1.     The Chairperson has the responsibility to represent the Organization.  This responsibility may be delegated as required.

Article B-VII  -  Rights of Members

Section 1.     The general membership shall be informed of General meeting dates, times, and location.

Section 2.     All members are invited to all General and Executive meetings.

Section 3.     Items to be brought to the attention of the Executive shall be in writing to any member of the Executive or verbally at a meeting.

Section 4.     The Secretary will publish minutes of Board meetings and decisions made by the Board, particularly pertaining to expenditures.

Article B-VIII  -  Term of Office

Section 1.     Term of office is for three years except as noted in the Constitution.  There is no restriction on successive terms in a specific office.  Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2.     All members of Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool shall abide by the rules and by-laws of the Constitution.

Article B-IX  -  Organization - Duties

Section 1.     The presiding officer may realign the Vice-Chairperson’s responsibilities with approval of a simple majority of the Executive.

 

Article B-X  -  Meetings

 

Section 1.     No fewer than three (3) Board members shall constitute a quorum at any regular or general meeting.

 

Section 2.     Executive Committee Meetings will be held monthly.  The Board may upon consensus, vote to forgo a monthly meeting.  The Chairperson may also call an emergency meeting and in the absence of the Chair, the Chair may designate someone to do so.

 

Section 3.     An Annual Meeting shall be held in January of each year.  A place, date and hour will be designated by the Board.  Notice will be given to members at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. 

 

 

Article B-XI  -  Voting

 

Section 1.     At the regular monthly meeting prior to the Annual Meeting, a Nomination Committee of three (3) members will be named to contact and present a slate of five (5) or more names to the General Meeting.  An election will be held by ballot to elect (7) Directors.

 

Section 2.     Nominations will also be received from the floor at the General Meeting.  An election will be held by ballot to elect seven (7) Directors.

Section 3.     Each member shall cast only one (1) vote.

 

 Article B-XII -  Disbursement of Funds

Section 1:  All cheques shall be signed by at least 2 signing officers.

Section 2.  All disbursements of greater than $50 must be approved by the membership.

Section 3:  Every effort will be made to use local/Canadian businesses for goods and services purchased by the organization.

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The attached Constitution and By-Laws of  the organization of the Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool, Inc. hereinafter called the "Organization", were unanimously passed at a duly called Annual General Meeting of Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool, Inc. January 10, 2010 as presented to a quorum of the membership.

Motion:

That the amended Constitution and By-laws be accepted and approved as of this date, January 10, 2010 as the Constitution and By-laws of the Friends for Atkinson Park and Pool, Inc.

Moved by:  Peggy McIntyre

Seconded by:  Lin Burns

Carried Unanimously

 

 

________________________ Marilyn Woodison, Chairperson	_____________________________ Eleanore Sedge, Vice-Chairperson
________________________ Jane Sparrow, Secretary	_____________________________ Peggy McIntrye, Treasurer
_______________________	_____________________________
Lin Burns, Director at Large

 

Gold Medal Swim Team - Atkinson 
At Swim Meet held at Riverside Pool amongst all city and county (indoor and outdoor) pools - Atkinson Gators brought home the Gold. [Sponsored by Circle of Seven]

Swimming Lessons:

A number of sponsors:  Royal Arcanum; Windsor Firefighters' Benefit Fund; RCL - Branch 143; CAW Local 444 & 200 amongst individual donors provide lessons for children whose families are unable to afford the cost.

Flying High 
2010 marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Atkinson Skateboard Park.  Phase 2 of 3 has been completed this year.  Thanks to SkateWindsor and Steve Stiller.  Activities are overseen by a Skateboarders Subcommittee of Friends4Atkinson.

Walking for Fitness:

A quarter mile walkway encompasses the park.  Benches dot the route.