This description was written by Janine Reid and Jean Way, the Regional Liaisons for the Greater Van Gogos.

The Greater Van Gogos’ Regional Team (RT) is a coordinating body for the 25+ groups in the regions of Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island. It is made up of representatives from local groups and regional committees. The RT supports grandmothers groups in their efforts to be effective and facilitates networking and cooperation between groups. Additionally, regional committees coordinate initiatives on behalf of the local groups in the following areas:

• The Speakers Bureau Committee offers content and technical training to members across the region who would like to improve their understanding of the work of the Foundation and the Grandmothers Campaign in order to speak to friends or make a presentation to a wider audience more effectively.
• The Youth Education Committee, comprised mainly of retired teachers, makes overtures to elementary and secondary schools to engage them in learning about the relevant issues and consequent fundraising on behalf of the Grandmothers Campaign.
• The New Groups Committee hosts information meetings in communities across the region and supports the development and growth of new groups that form as a result.
• The Communications Committee updates our website, social networks and flickr account, and it provides leadership on writing press releases.

The RT meets three times each year and subcommittees of the region take turns coordinating the two annual Grandmothers Gatherings in the spring and fall. The Gatherings, which are open to all members, offer inspiration, information and opportunities to connect with members around topics such as fundraising, merchandising, crafts, tech training and speaker training.

Leadership of the RT is shared by co-chairs on a two-year term. Every effort is made to ensure that there is an experienced co-chair working with a newer, incoming member.  The co-chairs inform the Foundation of trends in the region and offer information to the region from the Foundation.The relationship between the RT and local groups is non-hierarchical. Each local group maintains its own relationship with the Campaigns Officer at the Foundation office.

You can also visit our website to learn more about our region: www.greatervangogos.org.

• Click here to see if there is an upcoming gathering planned for this region.
• Click here to find a group in this region.