Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Lots of Relay For Life discussions at Captain's Meeting

Next Captain's Meeting is Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. at Fanshawe College

If you're new to Relay For Life -- plan on attending as it's never too late to registe

With the first of two Captain’s Meetings now completed, the countdown to Relay For Life in 2016 moves forward.
Relay For Life in support of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is Friday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at College Avenue Secondary School.
The second and final Captain’s Meeting is Thursday, May 5 at Fanshawe College on Finkle Street.
The organizing committee – along with Liz Wismer-VanMeer of the Oxford community office of the CCS – hosted the first Captain’s Meeting on April 6 and covered topics such as:
() Creating a personal web page to receive donations (pledges) at www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock.
() Social media was discussed including the use of hashtags such as #WhyIRelay, #AcceptTheBaton and #ReadySetRelay when following the Twitter accounts @rflwoodstock and @ccsoxfordcounty.
() Fundraising ideas were talked about among the teams including garage sales, bake sales and barbecues, and the importance of submitting details about your events to the CCS, so we can assist in promoting your events. By the way, if you’re planning a lawn sale, stop by the CCS office to pick up signs and posters. (For example, there is a giant garage sale planned for Kelsey’s on May 28)
() Theme laps were suggested, and other games and activities
() Teams could book a campsite, set up a time for bank night (June 7), and purchase luminaries.



GOALS
The goals continue to be 60 teams, 525 participants and $165,000. All three goals are possible as last year Woodstock’s Relay tabulated $179,000.
As Liz Wismer-VanMeer points out the emphasis at Relay is on the slogan: “It’s A Journey. Go The Distance.”
Participants are encouraged to create their own web page to assist in their ask for pledges and donations.
“Everyone has a unique story,” says Wismer-VanMeer, who talked about her grandmother and her additional reasons to join Relay For Life several years before she was employed by the Canadian Cancer Society.
Through www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock you can write a specific and personal email letter you can send to friends and family, and for those on Facebook you may design a unique message for a donation request through social media. You can track your progress in donations up to the current date and even change your goals.
“It’s a great way to mention why you Relay,” says Wismer-VanMeer.

To confirm a time for your Bank Night
appointment, contact Karen at: karenhume57@gmail.com

The CCS has pledge cards which can be incorporated into fundraising, such as receiving pledges based on the number of laps you plan on completing around the CASS track, and possibly who you might be dedicating your efforts for – someone who died from cancer or a family member who is a cancer survivor.
“You can also write your own blogs,” continued Wismer-VanMeer. “The blogs can be about the progress you’re making in fundraising, adding a thank you to those who have already donated, and to promote your team’s fundraising event.
“You can also invite people to join your team and upload photos. The cancer society also has many pre-written letters posted online which you can use.”
In this day of social media, it’s also easy to share your stories through Twitter and Facebook.
The next Captain’s Meeting is Thursday, May 5, 7 p.m. at Fanshawe College.
By the way, at Relay For Life this year it will easy to see who is on the organizing committee by the bright orange t-shirts.
  

LINKS:



Thursday, 31 March 2016

April 6 and May 5 are Captain's Meetings for Woodstock event

Fanshawe College on Finkle Street is the venue

Learn about fundraising and Canadian Cancer Society's goals for 2016

Relay For Life in Woodstock is June 10, but along the way there is a great volume of information participators can acquire by attending the two Captain’s Meetings.
It is suggested that your team captain attends, but all registrants for the Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser at CASS high school are may attend as discussion will take place about fundraising ideas, social media and where the important dollars raised are directed.
The Captain’s Meetings are Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, May 5 – both at 7 p.m. and both at Fanshawe College on Finkle Street.
“There’s always a lot of new information about Relay – great information to share with your team,” says Sandy Smith, who is co-chair along with Deb Moss this year.
“Our committee will present fundraising ideas, but we also would like to see the teams attending the meeting to share some of their ideas also,” Smith added.


Liz Wismer-VanMeer from the community office of the CCS at 65 Springbank Ave North, says there are several ways Relay participants can promote their team fundraising efforts.
“Let us know about your events such as lawn sales and bake sales,” says Wismer-VanMeer, who added that the CCS office has plastic signs that can be borrowed for benefit garage sales and teams are encouraged to stop by the office for Relay posters or brochures as well. 
One of the agenda items is to assist teams create their own page on www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock, which in-turn encourages people to pledge a particular team online.
All registrants who are on Facebook are invited to join the ‘Group’ “Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life In Woodstock”. Lots of background info is also available through Facebook, along with the website blog: www.woodstockrelay.blogspot.com.
If you’re on Facebook, invite your ‘Friends’ to also join the ‘Group’.
If you’re on Twitter be sure to follow both @ccsoxfordcounty and @rflwoodstock, and when you submit items to social media consider adding one of the following hashtags: #WhyIRelay, #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay.


BUSY AGENDA
Between registering and supplying dinner for all registrants and volunteers, the Relay committee is also busy organizing an opening ceremony and the survivors’ lap, the logistics of ordering and setting up tents, booking live music, creating a list of theme laps, and creating the always-fun kids’ area.
Leading up to Relay, teams are encouraged to book a time for Bank Night (Tuesday, June 7), reserve a camp site area on the inside of the track, purchase luminaries, and invite friends, neighbours, co-workers and other pals to join their Relay team.
By the way, the committee always needs more volunteers in various capacities. Contact the CCS office today at 519 537-5592. Since this is April and Daffodil Month, the CCS office could use your volunteer time to sell daffodils.  
  


LINKS:
Canadian Cancer Society
17th Annual               Relay For Life
College Avenue Secondary School – Woodstock
Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Facebook ‘Group’: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock
Facebook ‘Event’: Relay For Life in Woodstock
Twitter Hashtags: #WhyIRelay #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay
CCS Oxford Community Office: 65 Springbank Ave North
(519) 537-5592
Tillsonburg Relay is Friday, June 3 at Annandale school
Ingersoll Relay is Friday, June 24 at IDCI


Ready? Set. Relay !

Thursday, 11 February 2016

Update on Relay for 2016, including dates for Captain's Nights

Goal for Woodstock event is $165,000 and 60 teams
Register your team online today and plan to attend Relay Rally on Feb. 24

In an anticipation of an important event, you sometimes receive a postcard saying: ‘Save The Date’.
For Woodstock’s Relay For Life, there are four dates to remember leading up to June 10 at CASS.
The annual largest fundraiser in Oxford County for the Canadian Cancer Society is happening for the 17th time in Woodstock and it all the lead-up is kicked off with the Relay Rally.
Relay Rally
Wednesday, Feb 24, 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Quality Hotel & Suites
Captain’s Meetings
Wednesday, April 6, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 5, 7 p.m.
Fanshawe College, Finkle St
Bank Night
Tuesday, June 7, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
CASS High School
Relay For Life
Friday, June 10, 7 p.m.
CASS High School
Read the link to the story in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review and the earlier entry in the blog site here, as Relay Rally is an open house format where you can talk to committee members about the event, register your team, pick a campsite (The campsite map idea is returning for 2016), select a time for Bank Night, purchase a luminary (or two or three or 10), pick up information packages to assist in fundraising, sign up as a volunteer on a sub-committee to help make 2016 Relay successful, and learn more about this year’s goals. If you are a cancer survivor, you can also commit to the Survivor’s Lap at Relay at 7 p.m. on June 10.
The Woodstock goals for 2016, by the way, are 60 teams (Teams can be as few as four and as many as 25), 525 participants, and $165,000.



Much of the event’s timetable has shifted somewhat with the change back to Friday for Relay For Life in Woodstock. At the same time, many of the same sponsors are onboard once again, including Boston Pizza and Scott’s No Frills in making the food tent and dinner time an important ingredient in the evening as there is always a lot of value in your $15 registration fee.
VOLUNTEERS
Do you have expertise in assisting running an event – big or small -- the Relay For Life committee needs people with a few hours to spare to assist in many ways. Contact Liz Wismer-VanMeer or Kelly Jorgensen at (519) 537-5592
Sentinel-Review picture (from left): 
Mark Schadenberg, Sandy Smith, Deb Moss. 
Co-chairs for 2016 event are Deb Moss and Sandy Smith. 


Canadian Cancer Society
Relay For Life
College Avenue Secondary School – Woodstock
Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Facebook ‘Group’: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock
Facebook ‘Event’: Relay For Life in Woodstock
Twitter Hashtags: #WhyIRelay #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay
CCS Oxford Community Office: 65 Springbank Ave North
(519) 537-5592

LINKS:
www.woodstockrelay.blogspot.com
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/02/08/woodstock-prepares-for-2016-relay-for-life-event-with-goal-of-raising-165000-for-the-canadian-cancer-society


Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Relay Rally is planned for February 24

Rally is all about registering, picking a campsite, and learning about fundraising ideas!  

Quality Hotel & Suites is location for information night; Relay is June 10

There will likely be no fireworks or even a marching band, but the annual Relay Rally to kickoff the Relay For Life fundraising efforts and team recruitment is set for Wednesday, Feb 24, 5 – 7:30 p.m. at the Quality Hotel & Suites on Bruin Blvd in Woodstock.
The Canadian Cancer Society and organizing committee are excited about this year’s Relay For Life at College Avenue Secondary School on Friday, June 10 (7 p.m. – 1 a.m.), and the Rally is the public promotion event to build awareness and to begin the countdown: Ready? Set. Relay!
Sandy Smith

Deb Moss

Committee co-chairs from last year have both returned in Sandy Smith and Deb Moss, and the organizing crew has many familiar faces, but we can always use more dedicated volunteers. Here’s a contact list of sub-committee representatives for you to contact if you would like to volunteer in a larger role yourself. For example, if you have a background in finance, you may want to volunteer for bank night on June 7 (also at CASS). If you have a background in hydro or carpentry, you may want to volunteer on the day of the event with the logistics team as they expertly deal with tents, a stage, generators and other set up tasks.
2016 COMMITTEE
Co-Chair - Sandy Smith   megzmom@hotmail.com
Co-Chair/Mission - Deb Moss    mmoss905@rogers.com 
Sponsorship/Media - Mark Schadenberg   mschadenberg@rogers.com 
Banking – Karen Hume   karenhume57@gmail.com
Logistics - Rick Moritz   rick.moritz@hotmail.com
Logistics - Ryan Noels    noelze@hotmail.com
Luminaries - Marie Bowerman   lbow6974@rogers.com
Luminaries - Tracy Van Vliet    pharmacytemp@hotmail.com
Children’s Activities - Tracey Thompson    traceyt@goodbeginningsday.com
Entertainment - Dan Henry    dan@1047.ca
Registration - Maartje van Wely    m_van_wely@hotmail.com
Survivors - Linda Torkelson     travlin66@gmail.com
CCS Staff - Janis Cunningham   JCunningham@ontario.cancer.ca
CCS Staff - Liz Wismer-Van Meer   lwismer-vanmeer@ontario.cancer.ca
CCS Volunteering – Kelly Jorgensen  kjorgensen@ontario.cancer.ca


RELAY RALLY
Save The Date
Wednesday, Feb 24, 5 – 7:30
Quality Hotel & Suites


The Rally is a terrific venue to register yourself or your entire team for Relay For Life, but also pick up information on fundraising. The registration fee for all participants is $15, but anyone signing up as a cancer survivor to join the Survivor’s Lap is free.
Brochures about cancer will be available – cancer prevention and advice following a diagnosis.
At the Rally, you can select your campsite as the idea of reserving one space on the inside of the track for your team returns in 2016.
Also at the Rally, you may purchase a luminary (The registration fee does not include one luminary this year) or two or five.
The evening is an informal open house format, so you may talk one-on-one to various committee members, sign up as a volunteer, learn about sponsorship or corporate donations, and enjoy the refreshments as supplied by Relay For Life sponsor the Quality Hotel & Suites.
If you are unable to attend the Relay Rally, watch this space for more details on the two scheduled Captain’s Nights.
Ready? Set. Relay.


Canadian Cancer Society

17th Annual
Relay For Life

College Avenue Secondary School – Woodstock
Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Facebook ‘Group’: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock
Facebook ‘Event’: Relay For Life in Woodstock
Twitter Hashtags: #WhyIRelay #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay
CCS Oxford Community Office: 65 Springbank Ave North
(519) 537-5592
Tillsonburg Relay is Friday, June 3 at Annandale school
Ingersoll Relay is Friday, June 24 at IDCI


Ready? Set. Relay !

Thursday, 14 January 2016

C&D Lanes event to raise money for Canadian Cancer Society

Relay For Life is June 10, but many other events raise money and awareness for CCS

Knockdown Cancer is January 23 at Woodstock bowling alley

By Mark Schadenberg
I'm proud of my seven years on the organizing committee for Relay For Life in Woodstock (June 10 at CASS). The event raises significant dollars for both the local community office of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) along with much-needed money for important cancer research projects which CCS supports.
Keep an eye on www.woodstockrelay.blogspot.com over the next few months for updates. If you're looking for even more details, join the Facebook Group called "Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock". I know, it's a long long name.
You can also register at: www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock


BOWLING FOR DOLLARS
I remember the old CKCO TV show called Bowling For Dollars, while Woodstock's C&D Lanes is hosting two CCS fundraisers in the month of January to collect dollars. 
Firstly, 25 cents from each shoe rental this month will be passed along as a donation to CCS.
On Saturday, Jan. 23 (See the poster), it's the annual Knockdown Cancer benefit from 3 - 6 p.m. Proceeds from bowling will go to CCS, but there's much more -- silent auction, penny sale and Country 104 radio on location. 
There is also a fun challenge planned as the Woodstock Navy Vets and Norwich Merchants hockey clubs will clash twice that day -- at the bowling alley and then on the ice in a scheduled Junior C game. Since accomplished bowler Mark Baxter is part of the Merchants organization, I would bet Norwich will win that wrestling match by a pin fall. 
I applaud bowling lanes owners Dave and Carol Skillings for their efforts in raising awareness and money for CCS projects.  
According to the The Woodstock Sentinel-Review story posted below, the national association Bowl Canada this year permitted each bowling establishment more freedom in where it would direct its donation.
“This is the first year that we get to make our own donation to wherever, so it will go right to our own (CCS Oxford community office) branch this year,” said C&D manager Julie Skillings.
 
LINKS:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2016/01/06/local-bowling-alley-is-getting-ready-to-host-a-fundraiser-for-the-oxford-branch-of-the-canadian-cancer-society
www.canddlanes.com
www.cancer.ca
www.relayforlife.ca/woodstock
Canadian Cancer Society -- Oxford County
Relay For Life details:

Wednesday, 6 January 2016

Relay For Life is set for Friday, June 10 in Woodstock

17th annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society to be held again at CASS track
Accept the baton

Accept the baton.
Ready? Set. Relay!
Relay For Life in Woodstock is getting ready for its 17th annual fundraiser.
It is noteworthy that the format has been modified from last year.
Relay For Life will continue as previous years at College Avenue Secondary School, but the date is now set for a Friday.
Relay For Life in Woodstock is Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. and both the local organizing committee and the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) Oxford County community office are truly excited about the 2016 event.


See the charts here which note the number of participants in 2014 and the dollars raised and where the financial contributions are directed to various cancer research projects across the country, along with integral funding to local initiatives such as patient transportation to appointments, peer support groups, and other forms of advocacy and education.
Over the 16 years, Woodstock’s event itself has collected more than $3 million in total.
As participants registered last year, there was less emphasis placed on teams. Good news for relaying fundraisers for 2016 Relay For Life -- as the focus on teamwork has returned. The CCS realizes that many participants are there as a group, perhaps a family raising money for a relative who died from cancer. Teams are also comprised of church groups, service clubs, co-workers, neighbours and even a collective effort from smaller villages such as Hickson, Innerkip and Norwich. Teams have also been prominent entries among youth, including schools and the always-successful efforts of the local 4H club. 




REGISTRATION FEE
This year, there will be one consistent registration fee of $15 per person. You can register online now.
However, if you are a cancer survivor and will be taking part in the survivor lap, there is no fee to attend and celebrate your success from treatments.
Relay For Life will again be featuring recognition for top individuals and teams, along with a honour for reaching a specific distance goal (number of laps) over the six hours. Accept the baton and stay on the track with your team for the entire six hours.
Theme laps will naturally return again, along with games, which are often organized by the various teams.
BUY A LUMINARY
Many other important agenda items continue, especially the purchase of a luminary to remember someone who passed away from cancer or to honour someone still battling the disease. Luminaries will be sold in public locations and through various churches leading up to Relay, and by the month of May at the Saturday morning fairgrounds farm market.
Musicians on the stage will entertain the walkers between the opening ceremony and the solemn luminary ceremony and then again until 11 p.m.
Participants can certainly register now online or by visiting the CCS office on Springbank Ave North in Woodstock. After you and your team have signed up, your friends and family can pledge you through online donations.


VOLUNTEERS
The Woodstock committee still seeks additional volunteers for important roles in the main steering committee, so if you can donate a few hours in this capacity, contact the office.
Watch this blog space for more details as the event approaches as there will be a kickoff rally coming up and other significant updates to promote.
Also, if your team has a Relay For Life fundraiser – euchre night, lawn sale, zumba fest, bake sale, car wash, golf tournament, t-shirt sales, barbecue, etc. – simply email your event-before-the event to Liz Wismer-VanMeer and it will be publicized on Facebook and this blog. Also, be sure to ‘Share’ anything you see in the Facebook ‘Group’ page which you feel is excellent information for your ‘FB Friends’ to know about because it could be a recruitment tool to attract even more participants.
Relay For Life. . . It’s A Journey. Go The Distance.
Accept the baton.


LINKS:




Canadian Cancer Society
17th Annual
Relay For Life
College Avenue Secondary School – Woodstock

Friday, June 10, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Facebook ‘Group’: Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life in Woodstock
Facebook 'Event': Relay For Life in Woodstock
Twitter Hashtags: #WhyIRelay #AcceptTheBaton or #ReadySetRelay

CCS Oxford Community Office: 65 Springbank Ave North

(519) 537-5592


Ready? Set. Relay !