1. Participation in the 50th International Conference on Fundraising of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – April 7th – 9th, 2013:
Venue: San Diego Convention Centre, San Diego, California, USA.
[Pre-Conference Activities – April 5th and 6th, 2013]
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP):
The Association of Fundraising Professionals is the professional association of individuals and organisations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions. Founded in 1960, the AFP advances philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The Association fosters growth and development of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. AFP has a membership of 30,000 in 233 Chapters world-wide.
Annual International Conference on Fundraising:
The AFP International Conference on Fundraising held
annually, attracts more that 4,000 persons from around the world and provides educational and networking opportunities through participatory workshops, leadership forums, round tables, plenary sessions and social events. The 2013 Annual International Conference on Fundraising marked the 50th Annual International Conference on Fundraising of the Association and was held in San Diego, California, USA in the sprawling San Diego Convention Centre. The Conference was held under the theme “Doing the right things…….right.”
AFP Conference Schedule:
• Friday April 5th: Pre-Conference Workshops
• Saturday April 6th: Pre-Conference Workshops
• Sunday April 7th: Opening General Session;
Affinity Networking Sessions; Opening of Marketplace; Book Fair; Social Event.
• Monday April 8th: General Session; Education Sessions; Marketplace Open; Book Fair; Social Event.
• Tuesday April 9th: General Session; Education Sessions; Book Fair; Closing Session.
AFP 2013 Conference Attendance/Participation:
Pre-Conference Workshop: Friday April 5th and Saturday April 6th, 2013: Fundamentals of Fundraising Course:
The Fundamentals of Fundraising Course, held on Friday and Saturday April 5th and 6th, comprised one of the Pre-Conference Workshops. The sessions had full attendance with participants drawn from its membership throughout the USA, principally, and overseas.
Among the areas covered in the Course were:
• Overview of Fundraising
• Developing an Integrated Fundraising Program
• Marketing on Ongoing Success
• Building and Sustaining Relationships
• Securing the Gift
• Volunteers – Partners in Fundraising
• Management and Accountability
The Course was delivered by a Faculty, which included: Sean D. Hammerle, Alice L Ferris, Amy Wolfe and Marcy Heim. The number of subject areas covered during the Course led to it being very intensive. At the conclusion, Certificates were awarded to all participants.
Conference Sessions: Sunday April 7th – Tuesday April 9th, 2013
• Opening (Sunday) General Session – which featured John Legend;
• Monday’s General Session – which featured four (4) young philanthropists – Bilaal Rajan, Emmanuel Jal, Barbara Pierce Bush, and Hugh Evans;
• Tuesday’s General Session – which featured Bert Jacobs, Co-founder and Chief Executive Optimist of Life is Good;
• Distinguished Speaker Session with Marcus Buckingham
• Education Sessions (concurrent)
• Affinity Networking Sessions
• Marketplace on Fundraising – featuring a variety of fundraising resources
• Social Event – Reception
Comments/Observations:
In addition to my participation in the “Fundamentals of Fundraising Course”, General Sessions, and several Education Sessions, I viewed some of the exhibits and resources in the Fundraising Marketplace and the Book Fair. I also attended a Reception for International Leaders and met international participants from: The Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, Hong Kong, and Brazil. During the event, a brief conversation was held with the Chief Executive of AFP, Andrew Watt. Among the Education Sessions attended, were:
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Top 10 Major Donor Trends for 2013
• Does Social Media make Cents?
• Accountability and Ethics
• What Major Donors want from Non-Profits today?
• Ethical Fundraising in Hard Times: Eight Critical Steps
Conclusion:
It must be borne in mind that since the Education Sessions were concurrent, it was necessary to select the sessions beforehand and get to the designated Room; some sessions attracted more participants than others. The sessions, which lasted for about one hour and fifteen minutes, were very informative and educational; and provided insights largely based on strategies that were applicable to the USA, and driven by individual giving and grant solicitation.
Recommendations:
• Where possible, Agencies should seek membership in AFP, since apart from the learning and networking opportunities afforded thorough participation in the International Conference on Fundraising, there are several useful and valuable members’ services and benefits.
• Opportunities for training, whether through On-line Courses or Webinars should be utilised by both CCB and Member Agencies, in an effort to develop a cadre of trained fundraisers.
• Useful and insightful articles and research findings available from AFP should be posted on CCB’s Website and shared with members and partners.
• In the long term, CCB should work towards the establishment of a Chapter to serve the English-speaking Countries of the Caribbean, since the only Chapter in the Region is in Puerto Rico.
Presentation of National Framework on Blindness Services in Jamaica to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Jamaica Society for the Blind:
In keeping with its mandate to provide technical support to Member Agencies, the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) received assistance for the development of its National Strategic Framework for Blindness Services, from the Secretariat.
The draft of the Framework was formally presented to the members of the Society during its Annual General Meeting on Saturday April 20th, 2013 in Kingston, Jamaica by CCB’s Project Development and Advocacy Services Manager. Prior to the AGM, the document was circulated to the membership for review and comments. Following the presentation and discussions, the Framework was approved by the membership, with the undertaking that the strategies would be implemented, over time.
Implementation of Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT) to Jamaica Society for the Blind:
In an effort to assess organisational capacity and identify priorities for the organisational development of Member Agencies, the Capacity Assessment Tool (CAT) was administered to the Jamaica Society for the Blind during June 3rd, 4th and 6th, 2013.
Among the officers and staff who participated in the exercise were: the Executive Director, the Director of Programmes, the Chairman, the Treasurer and the Adjustment to Blindness Instructor.
The CAT was facilitated by Philip Hand (Sightsavers Programme Manager – Caribbean) and CCB’s Project Development and Advocacy Services Manager.
The Facilitators have since compiled and forwarded their report to CCB’s CEO for review; following which the report and recommendations will be submitted to JSB.
It is anticipated that plans will be made to undertake organisational development activities, in keeping with the findings outlined in the report. It is anticipated that later this year CCB’s Accounts and IT Officer will implement the Financial Assessment Tool (FAT), which complements the CAT.
Development of Comprehensive Eye Care Services in Antigua and Barbuda:
The initiative to facilitate comprehensive Eye Care Services, in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, continued with the following actions:
– Refurbishment of facilities at Health Centres in Johnson’s Point, Grays’s Farm and Clare Hall, for the location of Vision Centres, has moved to the final stages of completion. The installation of furnishings and diagnostic equipment are expected to be completed soon, and it is anticipated that commissioning of the facilities will take place in the third quarter.
– The Entrance Examination for the selection of candidates to be trained as Dispensing Clerks was held on May 2nd and the results have since been forwarded to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. It is expected that the suitable candidates will be identified for training, to facilitate operations at the Centres, following their commissioning.
– The Refractionists, who will be assigned to the Vision Centres, have been advised that their letters of appointment will be issued soon. In the interim, in addition to conducting Clinics at the Fiennes Institute and Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital, they have been coopted to assist in the Programme in Guyana.
– This has not only allowed them to hone their skills, but also to reduce the level of frustration which has resulted from the delay in taking up their positions in the Vision Centres.
Mandeville Regional Hospital Development Programme
Work on the facility for the establishment of Operating Theatres and a Vision Centre at the Mandeville Regional Hospital is nearing completion. The installation of equipment has commenced, and it is anticipated that all of the remaining tasks should be concluded shortly, to allow for the commissioning of the facility during the third Quarter. In the meantime, arrangements are being finalised for a Nurse (from Mandeville) to attend a Training Course in Ophthalmic Theatre Procedures in Dominica, in preparation for the management of the new Theatre.
Implementation of Situational Analysis for Diabetic Retinopathy in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Belize
Dr. Michael Eckstein, who was contracted to undertake a situational analysis of the available services and referral systems for screening and treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy and awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy among Medical Officers and Diabetic Patients in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Belize, commenced his trip to the region. He visited Antigua and Barbuda, during June 13th to 14th and held discussions with the CEO of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, Sightsavers Programme Manager for the Caribbean, the Chief Medical Officer, Permanent Secretary and other Senior Officials of the Ministry of Health and Mt. St. John’s Medical Centre. He also met with several Medical Officers attached to Districts and Health Centres in an effort to gather information and obtain clarifications in relation to the completion of the Situational Analysis.
Additionally, Dr. Eckstein made conducted visits to the Health Centres identified for the establishment of Vision Centres to view the work in progress.
He subsequently, travelled to Jamaica and Belize, to undertake similar activities.
Implementation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Studies
Two meetings were held during the quarter to finalise plans for the implementation of the Regional Glaucoma KAP Study. The Study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of persons living with Glaucoma in: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and St. Lucia. During the previous quarter, proposal documents were submitted for approval to the UWI Cave Hill Campus IRB and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Ethics Committee, by the Principal Investigator, Dr. Dawn Grosvenor. She indicated that while approval was given in principle, the formal approval was being awaited.
Meanwhile, the Partners in Guyana, Jamaica and St. Lucia have initiated the process, with the relevant authorities in their respective countries, for securing approval for the research. Once the formal approval is received from Barbados, it will be presented with the application package to the Ethics Committees in those countries.
In the interim, nine Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tablets have been purchased for use by the Data Collectors to administer and capture the information while administering the Questionnaire. Each Agency will be assigned three tablets and the three Data Collectors will be responsible for collecting the information from glaucoma patients on Clinic Days. Three additional tablets will be purchased for use by the Data Collectors in Jamaica.
Project Management Committee (PMC) Meetings
The PMC charged with the Management of the Project (Delivering V20202 in the Caribbean EC Contract No. DC-NSA PVD/2009 /222-937) continued to meet quarterly to review and plan project activities and budget, discuss challenges and to ensure that the Project is managed in accordance with EC Guidelines. During the quarter, PMC Meetings, involving Project Partners – Sightsavers, CCB Secretariat, Eye Care Guyana, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Haitian Society for the Help of the Blind (SHAA) and St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) – were held on May 18th and 23rd, 2013.
Primary Eye Care (PEC) Questionnaire
A PEC Questionnaire was developed for administration by Project Partners to persons previously sensitised, in an effort to secure data in respect of persons seen, screened, treated and referred. The Questionnaire seeks to discover if the methods taught during the sensitisation training were being applied, as well as if there were any difficulties that PEC Workers encountered in utilising the acquired skills and techniques. This was in keeping with the strategy to find improved methods of tracking and collecting screening and referral data.
During the quarter, the Questionnaires were administered in St. Lucia (May 14th and 28th)and Jamaica (June 25th).
The exercise is scheduled for continuation in Jamaica, and will be introduced in Guyana, during the next quarter. Clinical Attachments for Students of the B.Sc. Degree in Optometry Programme Following the end of their third year in the Optometry Degree Programme at the University of Guyana, several of the students have returned home for vacation. In keeping with the conditions for the award of their Scholarships, they are now engaged in Clinical Attachment in Eye Clinics in their respective countries. The work in the Clinics provides them with hands-on experiences and allows them to hone their skills in a busy Clinic setting.
Clinic attachments were distributed as follows:
• Guyana: Port Mourant Hospital
• Haiti: Clinique Orlo – under the supervision of Drs. Bridgette Hudicourt and Francois Romaine;
• Jamaica: Mandeville regional Hospital – under the supervision of Drs. Gavin Henry and Marlene Smith-Day;
• St. Lucia: Eye Care St. Lucia – under the supervision of Optometrist Edem Jongue-Guitierrez
Low Vision Specialist Training Course
Plans for a Low Vision Specialist Training Course are moving apace. The Course, which is scheduled for August 5th – 17th in Guyana, will involve several Refractionists, who were trained previously. They will be engaged in advanced Low Vision Training, aimed at equipping them with the skills to perform comprehensive low vision examinations and prescribe low vision devices.
Guyana National Strategic Framework on Eye Health
Although work commenced on the preparation of this document sometime ago, the process of editing and finalisation has been ongoing.
On June 13th, the Team charged with this task met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to secure his approval for incorporation of the document in the National Health Plan. The Team was requested to organise a wider Stakeholders Workshop comprising representatives from all of the Health Regions to elicit their comments and recommendations.
Subsequent to a follow-up meeting, the Team was advised to submit an abridged version of the document for inclusion in the National Health Plan.
From all appearances, the Guyana National Strategic Framework on Eye Health will now become an integral part of the Guyana National Health Plan.
Technical Visits – Haiti
In keeping with the requirements of the EC Project, “Delivering V2020 in the Caribbean”, a technical visit was made to Haiti during the period April 6th – 13th, 2013. The team comprised, the CEO of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, Arvel Grant; V2020 Project Manager of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, Keva Richards; and Philip Hand, Sightsavers Caribbean Programme Manager.
• While in Haiti, the team met with officials of the Haitian Society for the Help of the Blind (SHAA), an Organisational Member of CCB and also a Project Partner of the EC Project; Ophthalmology Residents being sponsored at the HUEH, and candidates being considered for the Certificate in Refraction Techniques Training Course tenable at the University of Guyana.
• In an effort to find a suitable under-supported Health Facility in Haiti for the provision of ophthalmic and optometric equipment, the team also met with Dr. Darline Carre-Theodore, Director of Health Services, in the Ministry of Health. She was provided with an update of CCB’s activities in Haiti and requested to assist in identifying Eye Health Personnel for training as Bio-medical Technicians and suitable locations for the establishment of an Operating Theatre and Vision Centre.
• A meeting was also held with Dr. Cadet-Day at the Eliazar Germain Hospital to provide updates in relation to the importation of items to replace those originally purchased in 2010 for the Operating Theatre and Vision Centre earmarked for the Hospital. During the visit, a revised template for the collection of eye health data – Key Performance Indicators (KPI) – was introduced.
The team later met with Committee Members of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness (CNPC) in Haiti and an NGO Partner, Christoffel-Blinden Mission (CBM), to discuss areas of collaboration in relation to eye health services in Haiti.
Technical Visits – St. Lucia
A team comprising the CEO, Arvel Grant and Lab Services and Operations Manager, Carolyn Gopaul, visited St. Lucia during the period June 19th – 23rd, 2013. The visit was undertaken to view the designated site for the establishment of a Vision Centre and Operating Theatre at the Victoria Hospital.
The team also reviewed arrangements for the Clinical Attachment of the B.Sc. Degree in Optometry Students from that island. The students, who are now back home on vacation, will spend time gaining hands-on experience at Eye Clinics, under the supervision of the Eye Care Professional (Optometrist), attached to SLBWA.
Development of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean Website
The development of the main website as a tool for advocacy continues to advance, and efforts are ongoing to ensure that its content is regularly refreshed with new materials. The Website Development Team holds regular (weekly) planning meetings by Tele-conference or on the Ventrilo Platform and during the period under review met in approximately (10) sessions.
Content
The content includes articles, stories, photos, videos, reports and other features of our work around the region. Every effort is being made to ensure that materials from all of the countries in which we work are featured. During the period under review, the Quarterly Electronic Newsletter, “Eye on Sight”, was published, as scheduled. Additionally, Bulletins were posted to mark significant International Observances, such as Glaucoma Awareness Day, WorldBook and Copyright Day, World Health Day and World Environment Day.
Additionally, several Press Releases were issued to announce or highlight important national or international issues and events. Further, it is intended that publications (bulletins, articles, press releases, etc) to mark other significant events including: International Women’s Day, World Population Day, International Day of Older Persons, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, World Diabetes Day, and Regional Blindness Awareness Month/Day, will be undertaken. The website also includes some information, together with statistical data on several countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica and Haiti; and academic articles for two of the Consultant Ophthalmologists from the region, and Programme Highlights. View Publications at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/publications
Photo Gallery:
Photos relating to Council’s Programs, Events and from Member Agencies (around the region) have been uploaded to the Photo Gallery on the Website, to Face book and YouTube. There are currently 64 albums in the Gallery.
These may be viewed at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/photo-gallery
Human Interest Stories:
Several human interest stories from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, are currently available. Materials from other Members and Partners will be added over time.
Research Findings (Evidence):
Finding from various researches and studies have been added to the website, and others will be posted as they become available. Additionally, the findings of other studies pertinent to eye health, prevention of blindness, social inclusion and disability will also be included (with the permission of the authors).
See reports at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/research-andevidence
Governance:
Relevant extracts for CCB Constitution are now available on the site and efforts will continue to ensure that Members and Partners have access to information on governance. See extracts at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com/governance
Videos/Documentaries:
A variety of programme activities in several countries are now available in video. Currently, there are 59 videos/documentaries on the website and these may be viewed at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com
Configuration for Donation:
The configuration for donation has undergone as series of tests and is working satisfactorily. It is anticipated that members and supporters will be invited to make small donations in an effort to further assess the effectiveness of this feature.
View website at: www.eyecarecaribbean.com or www.ccb1967.com
Social Media:
The use of Social Media – Twitter, Face book and YouTube – in an effort to advance advocacy is ongoing and while the current following on Twitter (35), Face book (149) may be viewed as insignificant, they are expected to grow overtime.
Caribbean Council for the Blind Biennial General Meeting 2013
CCB’s Biennial General Meeting 2013 and Related Activities are scheduled to be held in Barbados during the period July 24th to 28th, 2013. The Meetings will be cohosted by the National Member Agencies – the Barbados Association for the Blind and Deaf (BABD) and the National United Society of the Blind (NUSB) – in collaboration with the CCB Secretariat.
The Secretariat, in collaboration with Member Agencies, is engaged in finalising the logistics for the main activities, which include:
• Meeting of the CCB Executive Committee
• Plenary Sessions
• Opening Ceremony and Presentation of the James Alves Awards
• Meeting of Zones of CCB and election of Zone Officers
• Meeting of the Caribbean Alliance of Women who are Blind or Visually Impaired
• Business Session of the BGM
• Elections of Officers of CCB
• Social Event/Closing Session.
It is anticipated the each Member Agency will be represented by at least two Delegates, including one female.