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SECTION 1: ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ENDEAVOUR
1. Congratulations & Thank You to Fall 2008/Winter 2009 Volunteers & Clients
2. Introducing Interim Director of Volunteer Management: Tatjana Ljaskevic
3. Introducing New Marketing Team Members: Micheline Jeanfrancois, Hamza Khan & Alexandra Wong
4. Introducing Case Competition Co-Chairs: Wendy Dobson-Belaire & Lucy Shin
5. Recruiting Case Competition Committee Members – Application Deadline: September 24th
6. Back-to-School: Congratulations to Endeavour Executives Pursuing Graduate Studies
7. EVCN Rebrands as Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits
SECTION 2: THIS MONTH’S BLOG POST FROM ENDEAVOUR
In or out of school, Endeavour provides opportunities to give back to the community and develop professional skills
SECTION 3: WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY ABOUT JOINING ENDEAVOUR
Comments About Joining Endeavour from Matt Fullbrook, David Vuong, Rashid Abu-Ghazalah, and Linda Coltman
SECTION 4: NEWS FROM VOLUNTEERS, CLIENTS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
1. September 15, Toronto Net Tuesday Meetup—Mozilla Service week and CiviCRM
2. September 19, CHS-Simcoe/York—8th Annual Community Picnic
3. (Open for Registration for September 22nd–25th), PSR-RPS—2009 National Conference
4. CMC-Canada—Various Events
5. Call for Newsletter Submissions
| SECTION 1: ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ENDEAVOUR return to top |
1. Congratulations & Thank You to Fall 2008/Winter 2009 Volunteers & Clients
Congratulations and thank you to all our volunteers and non-profit clients from Round 3 for the successful completion of their consulting engagements. We look forward to staying in touch with all of you to evaluate and discuss the outcomes of the projects over the next several months.
Photos of Round 3 Consulting Teams & Clients
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Endeavour Consulting Team Presents to Meal Exchange Board of Directors What Meal Exchange had to say: “On June 1st, the Endeavour team presented their report, a pre-feasability study of cause-related marketing, to the Meal Exchange Board of Directors. Their hard work has already guided Meal Exchange’s approach to sponsorship and social media and we will continue to benefit from their research and recommendations as we continue to grow. Thank you for you hard work!” What Godfrey Edwards, Engagement Manager, had to say: “The Meal Exchange project was an exhilarating challenge in the mist of a difficult economic environment that required our team to look at the volunteer model of generating income. Working with an intelligent team from various backgrounds and experiences, we were successful in providing Meal Exchange with recommendations to be implemented.” |
Endeavour Consulting Team with Canadian Hearing Society Toronto Community Development Board Members |
Endeavour Consulting Team with Fly By Night Theatre Artistic Council Members |
Endeavour Consulting Team for The Hearing Foundation of Canada |
Endeavour Consulting Team with Dress Your Best Board of Directors |
2. Introducing Interim Director of Volunteer Management: Tatjana Ljaskevic
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We are excited to introduce Tatjana Ljaskevic as Interim Director of Volunteer Management, filling in for Katherine Choi who is in Africa. Tatjana joined Endeavour in Fall 2007 as a consultant for our pilot project and has since worked on three different projects. She is in her final year of civil engineering at the University of Toronto and recently completed a sixteen-month engineering internship at GENIVAR Consultants LP. Learn more about Tatjana at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/about/executive-team/?menu=abo#tatjanaljaskevic |
3. Introducing New Marketing Team Members: Micheline Jeanfrancois, Hamza Khan & Alexandra Wong
We are delighted to introduce our new Marketing Team members. Joining our Marketing Director, Sara Maki, and Market Research Advisor, Patrick Dunn, are Micheline Jeanfrancois, Hamza Khan, and Alexandra Wong. The team brings a mix of skills in market research and analysis, market development, and social media.
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Micheline Jeanfrancois Advisor, Marketing Micheline works in consumer relations with Procter & Gamble North America. Today, she is part of a global multidisciplinary team working around technology, marketing and innovation towards social media and customer relationship management.Micheline has more than 10 years of progressive and diverse experience within the field of retail, services, consumer goods industries and non-profit organizations. She is no stranger to new systems, processes deployments and business start-ups. She has been around the world developing, planning and executing technical and strategic projects within internationally oriented organizations, which taught her the importance of diversity in business environment. Learn more about Micheline at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/marketing-team/?menu=abo#michelinejeanfrancois |
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Hamza Khan Advisor, Social Media Hamza is a Marketing & Design Coordinator as well as a Graphic Designer with the University of Toronto. A former Marketing Intern with Sony Music Entertainment and a recent graduate of the Rotman School of Management’s Bridge to Business program, Hamza is a student and believer of “design thinking”—the ability to combine empathy, creativity, and rationality to drive business success. Deeply passionate about marketing, design and new media, Hamza aspires to evolve into a consummate marketing professional as he continues to invest hours of hard work in the field. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree in English and looks forward to pursuing an MBA in the near future. Learn more about Hamza at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/marketing-team/?menu=abo#hamzakhan |
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Alexandra Wong Associate, Marketing Alexandra is a student at the University of Toronto, having just completed her first year in business management studies. She currently works for Eluta, a Canadian job search engine, and is a tutor with the Learning Disabilities Association of York Region. She has wide interests in psychology, social sciences, and the arts, and hopes to contribute her abilities to delivering Endeavour’s marketing projects as a member of the team. . Learn more about Alexandra at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/marketing-team/?menu=abo#alexwong |
4. Introducing Case Competition Co-Chairs: Wendy Dobson-Belaire & Lucy Shin
We are excited to introduce Endeavour’s new case competition co-chairs Wendy Dobson-Belaire and Lucy Shin.
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Wendy Dobson-Belaire is in the final year of her doctoral studies in life science at the University of Toronto. She joined Endeavour in Fall 2008 as a consultant, and has done similar non-profit consulting work with the University of Toronto Volunteer Consulting Group. Together with Lucy Shin and others, she co-founded the University of Toronto Graduate Management Consulting Association (GMCA), focused on educating graduate students on a career in management consulting, and organized GMCA’s inaugural case competition in July 2009. She is very excited about her new role with Endeavour and dedicated to ensuring their inaugural case competition will be a success. |  |
Lucy Shin is currently working on her PhD at the University of Toronto specializing in clinical research on HIV and other infectious diseases, and holds an MSc in Medical Science from McMaster University. Since her teens, Lucy has been active in several non-profit organizations within her community. After completing her undergraduate degree, she took some time off to volunteer at a medical clinic in rural Kenya where she ran the weekly neo-natal immunization clinic, implemented drug dispensing programs, and delivered babies. Lucy joined Endeavour in Fall 2008 to expand her volunteer experience and to contribute to the non-profit community in a new way. Currently, she is the President and co-founder of the Graduate Management Consulting Association at the University of Toronto. |
5. Recruiting Case Competition Committee Members – Application Deadline: September 24th
Endeavour is planning its first case competition to be held next year in May/June 2010. Co-chairs Wendy Dobson-Belaire and Lucy Shin are currently recruiting enthusiastic individuals to join the Case Competition Planning Committee in a number of different areas, including marketing, sponsorship recruitment, and media management. If you are interested in getting involved in this exciting new event for Endeavour, please email a brief summary of your past experiences/qualifications and a resume to the Co-Chairs at casecomp@evcn.ca by Thursday, September 24th. Preference will be given to past Endeavour volunteers so here’s your chance to utilize those professional skills for another great activity!
6. Back-to-School: Congratulations to Endeavour Executives Pursuing Graduate Studies
It’s back to school month, and we’d like to congratulate three of Endeavour’s executives who start grad school this fall! With one-third of Endeavour’s executive team pursuing graduate studies, we thought it’d be interesting to find out their motivations for going back to school. Despite their different paths of studies, they all expressed a common desire to contribute to society’s well-being.
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Andrea Wong, President Andrea Wong, Endeavour’s President, returns to school part time this fall to pursue her Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) at York University. When asked why, she replied, “York’s MPPAL will help me develop the skills and knowledge to enhance my contributions at work and in the non-profit sector. I also look forward to learning with a diverse group of professionals that share similar values and goals.” Andrea currently works at the Ontario Hospital Association in Policy and Public Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto. |
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Ada Tsang, VP, Board Relations Ada Tsang, Endeavour’s VP of Board Relations, returns to school part time this fall to pursue her MHSc Health Administration at the University of Toronto. When asked why, she replied, “I decided to pursue the program due to my interest in furthering my career in the healthcare sector. I hope that I can apply the learnings from class to help create a lasting impact on health organizations in Canada.” Ada currently works at Deloitte Consulting in National Health Services. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science & Engineering (Engineering Science) from the University of Toronto. |
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Sara Maki, Director, Marketing Sara Maki, Endeavour’s Director of Marketing, returns to school full time this fall to pursue her International MBA at the Schulich School of Business. When asked why, she replied, “Coming from the non-profit sector, I wanted to develop strong professional, business management skills to transition to a leadership role with an international organization. Schulich’s International MBA program is designed to help launch international careers. I look forward to applying my business management skills and knowledge back to the non-profit sector.” Prior to her MBA studies, Sara worked at Right to Play Canada in Business Development. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from University of Sussex, UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Anthropology from Wilfrid Laurier University. |
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Diana Wong, VP, Client & Volunteer Relations Diana Wong, Endeavour’s VP of Client & Volunteer Relations, returned to school full time this spring to pursue her MBA in Health Sector Management at the Richard Ivey School of Business. When asked why, she replied, “I felt I could help my clients make more of an impact on society if I understood the intricate details of their businesses better. Attending business school will help me explore the underlying issues that my clients face daily from a cross-enterprise point of view.” Prior to her MBA studies, Diana worked at Deloitte Consulting in Corporate Strategy. She holds a Master of Science in diabetes research from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science (Honours, Biochemistry) from Queen’s University. |
7. EVCN Rebrands as Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits
The Executive Team and Board of Directors are pleased to announce that our organization’s name changes from Endeavour Volunteer Consulting Network (Endeavour) to Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits (Endeavour) effective today. Concurrent with the name change and the new brand, the organization also changes its domain name from www.evcn.ca to www.endeavourvolunteer.ca.
Andrea Wong, President of Endeavour, said, “Our remarkable growth over the last two years is due to an overwhelming need for our service, and to the tireless contribution and commitment of our volunteers to our organization and our clients. These changes better reflect our distinct focus on serving the non-profit sector in Canada and recognize the spirit of volunteerism that makes our service possible.” We are purposely moving away from the EVCN acronym to Endeavour for short to build a stronger, more recognizable brand. Endeavour, which means “a conscientious or concerted effort towards an end,” connotes our shared purpose.
We are excited to unveil a new visual identity to accompany our new name. This new visual identity illustrates how Endeavour brings together people from diverse backgrounds around a common goal, and conveys the professionalism and energy that we bring to our work and to our community.
”Working with the Executive Team and the Board of Directors, we have created a new identity to reflect the values of the organization and the people who become a part of Endeavour. The new brand will resonate, inspire, and endure over time and across communities as Endeavour grows”, according to Phillip Ferguson of Phillip Ferguson: Creative, (www.pfcreative.com), the marketing and communications firm responsible for the rebranding initiative.
Alex Gill, Endeavour’s Board Member, and Principal at Mendicant Group, said, “Endeavour has been really successful for such a new organization. We are committed to working with our volunteers and our community to fulfill our vision of ensuring that all non-profits can benefit from professional consulting, regardless of their size or resources.”
| SECTION 2: THIS MONTH’S BLOG POST FROM ENDEAVOUR return to top |
In or out of school, Endeavour provides opportunities to give back to the community and develop professional skills
“A career in architecture, business, design, or law may be a lot of things—intellectually challenging, personally invigorating, well-paying—but it is not the end-all, be-all. For those who feel drawn to high-powered jobs and to public service, pro bono work offers the opportunity to live richer, more fulfilling lives by putting their specialized professional skills to work for the greater good. Perhaps more importantly, pro bono work fundamentally changes the identity of the profession and brings a sense of nobility and purpose to the craft.” — Taproot Foundation, Pro Bono: An Emerging Trend in American Professional Schools
Some organizations call it pro bono, others call it volunteering. Some provide the service at no cost, while others charge a small fee. Regardless of these differences, the broader goal of serving the public good is an emerging trend among professional schools. This trend, according to a recent report by Taproot Foundation, is a result of the demand among students for socially conscious careers and the recognition among educators that student pro bono work is good pedagogy — it offers students practical, real-world experiences they simply can’t get inside the classroom.
The Not For Profit Consulting course at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management is an example of how business schools are integrating pro bono work into the curriculum. Taught by Dr. Ann Armstrong, an Endeavour board member, the non-profit consulting course provides MBA students with the opportunity to develop consulting skills through real engagements. Rotman NeXus, which provides consulting services to non-profit organizations and social enterprises at affordable rates, is also staffed entirely by MBA students. Similarly, the Richard Ivey School of Business integrates pro bono into its undergraduate program, allowing HBA students to serve as volunteer consultants to non-profits through the Community Impact Challenge.
Along with the demand for socially conscious careers, baby boomers are retiring from public service at growing rates. In response, a number of graduate programs in public policy and administration have emerged in recent years. In 2005, Ryerson University launched the Master of Public Policy and Administration. A year later, the University of Toronto and York University created their own schools in public policy and governance/administration. Policy students are also engaging in pro bono work, providing policy research and consulting to community organizations through programs such as the Public Good Initiative at the University of Toronto and the Policy Pro Bono course at Queen’s University. For those interested in returning to school for a career in the non-profit/social sector, Idealist.org is hosting the Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good across North America, coming to Toronto on September 17th.
But whether you’re in or out of school, Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits provides the opportunity to contribute to the community and develop professional skills through our volunteer consulting projects. Our non-profit consulting engagements, beginning in spring and fall each year, are staffed by teams of professionals and university students from many different backgrounds. Snapshots of our applicants and volunteers at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/volunteers/snapshot-of-volunteers/?menu=vol highlight the diversity of skills and knowledge that our consulting teams bring to our client projects. Each year, we welcome over 50 new consultants and some returning volunteers. We encourage you to learn more at www.endeavourvolunteer.ca.
—Andrea Wong, President
| SECTION 3: WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY ABOUT JOINING ENDEAVOUR return to top |
Comments About Joining Endeavour from Matt Fullbrook, David Vuong, Rashid Abu-Ghazalah, and Linda Coltman
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| SECTION 4: NEWS FROM VOLUNTEERS, CLIENTS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS return to top |
1. September 15, Toronto Net Tuesday Meetup—Mozilla Service Week and CiviCRM
Our partner, TechSoup Canada, invites you to the next Toronto Net Tuesday Meetup on September 15th which celebrates Mozilla Service Week. A discussion will be hosted by TechSoup on Open Web followed by a demo of CiviCRM, a Constituent/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto. To find out more about Mozilla Service Week and to sign up for this session, visit http://netsquared.meetup.com/20/calendar/11319409/. |
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2. September 19, CHS-Simcoe/York—8th Annual Community Picnic
Our client, The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS), will be holding their 8th Annual Community Picnic on September 19, at Fairy Lake, Newmarket, Ontario. Activities at the event include a 50/50 draw, Penny auction and draw, magic show by clown Cymbalina, and much more. For more information please visit http://www.chs.ca/en/chs-event-calendar/view_detail-7.html |
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3. (Open for Registration for September 22nd–25th), PSR-RPS—2009 National Conference
As a reminder, our client, Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Réadaptation Psychosociale (RPS) Canada, will be holding their Canada National Conference in Thunder Bay Ontario, September 22–25, 2009. The theme of the conference is “Recovery: Practicing in Partnership”. Registration is now open. Please visit http://www.psrrpscanada.ca/Events/2009_Conference/2009%20conference.htm for more details. |
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4. CMC-Canada—Various Events
Our partner, CMC-Canada, will be holding various events throughout the month of September. CMC-Canada members and non-members are welcomed to attend.
| September 15
Joint CMC-BC-Southern Interior Chapter – IRAP Webinar Event CMC-BC Southern Interior Chapter is holding a virtual (webinar) joint meeting the morning of 15 September to explore the joint agreement between CMC-Canada and NRC - IRAP. We have guest presenters from both CMC-Canada and IRAP on the services offered within the agreement, current status and an opportunity for all participating members of both programs to highlight their focus of practice and area of expertise. Maureen Hatanaka and Diana Nacer are the leads for IRAP and John Gelder will present on the agreement from a Certified Management Consultant’s (CMC) perspective. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=35&Event_ID=100 |
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| (Registration deadline: September 15) for September 30
Oral Assessor Training Session ATTENTION CMCs: Interested in becoming an Oral Assessor for the CMC certification process? Join us online for the Oral Assessor Training session. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=5&Event_ID=94 |
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| September 17
CMC-Ontario – GTA Chapter—Charity Golf Tournament The GTA Chapter of CMC-Ontario is hosting their Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, September 17, 2009. All proceeds made at the CMC-Ontario GTA Chapter—Charity Golf Tournament will be donated to Daily Bread Food Bank. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=15&Event_ID=72 |
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| September 21–23
ITIL V3 Foundations for IT Service Management (Exam and ½ day Consultants Academy Inlcuded) CMC Canada, CMC-Ontario-GTA Chapter Technology SIG and Integritas Solutions are proud to announce the first dedicated ITIL Version 3 Foundations class for Consultants in the Greater Toronto Area. ITIL Certification is the global standard for professionals engaged in assisting clients improve IT service quality, manage cost, and become valued business partners. The class is a three day, instructor led, high energy learning experience, complete with real-time simulations. Each student will have the opportunity to write the ITIL Foundations exam and receive their AMPG Certificate. As a special bonus for CMC-Canada members, the standard class will be expanded to include the exclusive ½ day Integritas Consultants Academy. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=54&Event_ID=76 |
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| September 23
3020 – Inside Track on Ontario Shared Services The Government Special Interest Group invites you to a stimulating session on the plans and future directions for Ontario’s consolidated back office operation that links employees and services across ministries. Ontario Shared Services (OSS) is a dynamic, modern organization that provides strategic advice, controllership and enterprise business services to ministries in four business areas: Enterprise Financial Services, Human Resources Transactional Services, Strategy and Enterprise Services and Supply Chain Management. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=15&Event_ID=97 |
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| September 25
CMC-Canada Information Session New to consulting or thinking about a move into consulting? Do you want to learn more about the Certified Management Consultant designation (CMC), and what it can mean for you and your business? The GTA Chapter of CMC-Ontario is holding an orientation and information session on September 25, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Bank of Montreal Room on the second floor at the Living Arts Centre, in Mississauga. Meet seasoned consultants and learn about the advantages of the designation, and the benefits of membership in CMC-Canada. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=15&Event_ID=95 |
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| September 25
Money Masters – Special Rates for CMC-Canada Members Top financial experts gather to share strategies on how to profit and protect your finances in an uncertain economic climate. If you are invested in the stock market, own a home, or plan to purchase a home, you should attend this one-day event. For more information visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=5&Event_ID=81 |
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| September 25 – 27
Fundamentals of Management Consulting Looking for a career in Management Consulting? Or perhaps you are already a consultant and looking to sharpen your skills. As you present yourself to potential employers will you be able to say that you’ve already completed training in an industry recognized program? This intensive 3 day course – taught by two of Canada’s leading consultants and trainers will give you the foundations of the process, the skills and the tools you need. It is also a key step towards your professional designation – Certified Management Consultant (CMC)*. Please see http://tinyurl.com/mfvpes for more details. |
5. Call for Newsletter Submissions
Endeavour volunteers, clients, partners and supporters are invited to submit items for the October 2009 newsletter. Please send your submission by September 30th to info@endeavourvolunteer.ca with the subject line “October 2009 Newsletter Submission”.