Introduction to Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter (EWS)

 

Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter (EWS) is an emergency shelter for women and their children fleeing from a life of violence and abuse.  The shelter was opened on August 22, 1983, and since that time have assisted over 2,800 families with critical immediate care services, and in rebuilding their lives by providing crisis intervention and a range of long-term holistic support services.  As well as giving necessary shelter, we encourage women to develop a sense of self-empowerment, the first step in escaping reoccurring patterns of abuse.

 

We offer:

·          24-hour emergency shelter for 22 women and children

·          a 24-hour crisis line that responds to approximately 1,500 calls a year

·          counseling, advocacy, and referral services

·          follow up and transitional support programs

·          children’s programs

·          life skills and education programs

·          housing support programs

·          a food bank for ex-residents, operated in cooperation with the North York Harvest Food Bank

 

We are funded by the Ministry of Community & Social Services (MCSS), the City of Toronto, The United Way, and through individual and corporate donations and fundraising activities.

 

MCSS has just approved funding (January 2002) to build a new, wheelchair accessible shelter.  The new shelter will increase our capacity from 22 to 32 beds, enabling us to provide shelter for more women.

 

We provide services to women from across the greater Toronto area.  However, women and families in our own neighborhood are required to seek shelter at agencies in other parts of Toronto due to the risk of the abusive partner finding their location here.

 

Our services reach women as young as teenagers (abused by parents or common‑law spouse) as well as seniors into their 70's and 80's who are only now able leave the violent situation. A majority of our service users are immigrant women and women from ethno‑racial communities. Although we tend to house women who are stricken by poverty, in recent years we have also aided middle class women unable to access resources elsewhere. We have provided service for physically disabled women however our shelter does not accommodate women who require wheelchair facilities. Our service to males includes residence to male children up to the age of 13. Older boys are often housed down the street at Youth Without Shelter and visit their mother here.

 

The shelter is named after Ernestine van Marle, a long time resident of Etobicoke, whose life and career exemplify all that is good in community involvement.  She acts as a spokesperson for the shelter and is very supportive of the organization.

 

Overview of Board of Directors

 

EWS Board of Directors (the board) and the staff of EWS are jointly responsible for the success of EWS.  The board sets broad policies; makes final decisions on programs, policies, planning, finances, etc.; regulates the organization’s policies and services; hires members of the collective who in turn are responsible for hiring and managing staff and volunteers.

 

In accordance with the by-laws, the board consists of between 5 and 15 elected members and 2 staff as non-voting members.  Board members are recruited throughout the year, and following a probationary period of three months, may be elected to the board. 

 

A minimum of nine board meetings are held throughout the year (typically there are no board meetings in July, August, and December).  The board meeting primarily serves as a means for sharing information and voting on decisions.  The board meetings are run by one of the Co-Chairs loosely based on Robert’s Rules of Order.  Quorum for board meetings is the majority of voting members.

 

The Executive committee consists of the Chair or Co-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Past or Vice-Chair (if there is only one Chair), and one staff representative as a non-voting participating member.  Executive Committee members are elected by the members of the board following the Annual General Meeting (AGM).    The role of the Executive Committee is to provide guidance for the organization between board meetings. The Executive Committee has the power to transact business of an emergency nature between board meetings.  All action must be reported and ratified, amended or negated at the next board meeting.  Quorum of the Executive Committee is the majority of the voting members.

 

There are standing committees that assist the board and staff with the work of the organization.  In other words, this is where the work by board members actually gets done.  All board members are expected to be an active member of at least one committee and attend monthly committees in addition to regular board meetings. . The standing committees are the Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Fundraising Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the Building/House Committee.

 

Additionally, ad hoc committees and/or task forces can be established to accomplish specific tasks and are disbanded once the task is complete.

 

Board Terms

 

Each board member is elected to the board of directors for a three-year term.  In accordance with the by-laws, no person may be a board member for more than two terms (six years).  With the exception of the Chair position, there is no maximum number of years that a board member can be an Executive Committee member (although they must be re-elected each year).   The Chair position can only be held by the same person for two consecutive years.

 

Roles and Responsibilities

 

General Board Member Responsibilities

 

The obligations of board members are considerable – they extend well beyond the basic expectations of attending meetings and participating in fund-raising initiatives.  The bullets below outline individual board member responsibilities.  The purpose is to clarify expectations for new and existing board members, as well as for prospective board candidates.

 

·          Regularly attend board meetings and important related meetings.

·          Arrive on time, and stay until the end of the majority of board meetings.

·          Prepare for board meetings by reading minutes, reviewing agenda, and reading any other material to be discussed at meetings.

·          Actively contribute and participate in discussions at board meetings.

·          Willingly express contrary opinions during discussions.

·          Keep discussion focused on ‘positions’ not on personalities.

·          Support the outcome of decisions, even when not in agreement with them.

·          Make a serious commitment to participate actively on at least one committee.

·          Regularly attend committee meetings and important related meetings.

·          Volunteer for and willingly accept assignments and complete them thoroughly and on time.

·          Stay informed about committee matters, prepare themselves well for meetings, and review and comment on minutes and reports.

·          Volunteer to participate on ad-hoc committees or task forces.

·          Read emails/communications between meetings, and respond in a timely fashion.

·          Share expertise with board members and staff.

·          Get to know other board members and staff; and build collegial working relationships that contribute to consensus building.

·          Become knowledgeable about EWS – the mission, major operational issues, the collective structure, the collective staff, etc.

·          Read and become familiar with the constating documents (Letters Patent and by-laws) and pertinent operating policies.

·          Make suggestions of how to improve the functioning of the board.

·          Acquire a basic working knowledge of the budget and financial statements and status of EWS and review the monthly statements.

·          Assume an advocacy role on behalf of EWS – enhancing the public image of the organization.

·          Attend/participate in the majority of fundraising events.

·          Actively recruit other volunteers for board or committees, as needed.

·          Maintain confidentiality of what is discussed in board meetings and board decisions.

·          Make a financial contribution of a minimum of $10/year (in order to be a member in good standing in accordance with the by-laws).

·          Make a serious commitment to a 3-year board term.

·          Review own performance and ability to be an active board member (by assessing against the above responsibilities) and resign from board when no longer able to maintain their commitment.

 

Board members must inform the Chair or a Co-Chair is they cannot attend a board meeting or will be late.  This is to ensure that Quorum can be reached and that no one attends a meeting to find out that it is cancelled.  If a member misses three meetings in a row, she may be asked to resign.
contact: Tara Cree at: tara.cree@aon.ca or (416) 542-5664