LETTER FROM THE CHAIR AND THE EXEC. DIR.

Letter

from the

Chair of

the Board

and the

Executive

Director

Julie White, Executive Director

Betty-Lou Souter, Chair

ur Annual Report started out with a standard format, but as we worked on it, it got bigger and bigger and bigger. We would be passing each other in the hall, or conferencing on the phone and someone would say, "Let's not forget to tell them ...", "Wouldn't it be interesting to ...", "Let's highlight ...". The Annual Report started to look a lot like, well, Trillium, actually - more ideas, opportunities, and activities than time, resources or space.

   We started to talk about what we really wanted from this report, and we concluded that we wanted to share ourselves with you. We wanted to capture the vitality, the resilience, the commitment, the joy, and the sheer hard work that is Trillium. We wanted to put faces to names, to show Trillium's 'family'. We wanted to tell you about some of the good things that happened this year, to us and to our grantees, and to reassure the many of you who expressed concern that we are not just alive, but well.

   We started joking that maybe we should make our Annual Report a cross between our refrigerator door ("information central") and one of those photocopied holiday letters that people write to catch up with friends and brag about their families. And then, as the report proceeded, we realized that that was pretty much what we did. We stopped calling it The Report, and started referring to it as The Newsletter. We decided to put the lengthy Annual Report features like full financial statements, a list of all grants, and the names of staff, Board members and volunteers on the Internet version, with hard copy available on request. We decided to focus the newsletter on what has happened in the past year or so.

   We hope you like it. Like all of you, we've had our stresses this year, but we know we have a lot to be grateful for. Most of all, we are grateful for the continued opportunity to support the many exciting initiatives that are lighting our collective way. And we are grateful for your feedback and your willingness to engage with us. We have worked hard to respond to your needs and your ideas for how we can be most effective. Throughout the newsletter you will see many new initiatives such as Get Up Stand Up, Community Connections, the Access Fund, and the Women and Economic Development Consortium. As well, we hit the highway running this year with our new Web site, and the Internet Access technical and financial assistance program for all grantees.

   As you will see, we've been really busy. We achieve all that we do not just by working hard, but by remembering, and acting on, what really matters. For that, we thank our many committed volunteers and advisors who give, not just their time, but their perspective and knowledge, and who keep us centred.

   We would also like to thank the Honourable Marilyn Mushinski, Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, for her unwavering support, and to acknowledge the warm and effective partnership we enjoy with the staff of the Ministry.

   And finally, on behalf of the Board and staff of Trillium, we wish the very best to all of you, our partners and friends, in the coming year.