AOTS Central Region Spring Roundup 2014 (May 2, 3, 4)

Central Region 2014
(May 2, 3, 4)

WHERE
Jackon's Point Salvation Army Conference Centre, 
1890 Metro Road North, Jackson’s Point, ON. L0E 1L0.
(905) 722-3501
jpcc@sallynet.org

FAITH, DROP-FORGED
It seems as if the church today is in a fitful freefall. Through several engaging workshops that draw on story and music, Rev. Ted will challenge us to identify ways in which our faith is being refined and re-defined. We may yet discover that the church's freefall is a kind of drop-forging, into which God is inviting us to step with fear and with faith. Expect to laugh, expect to sing, expect to be challenged.

THEME SPEAKER

Ted Harrison was ordained in the year 2000, when he began serving churches in northern Ontario. He's since earned his Doctor of Ministry degree. He's a part of the ministry team at Trinity United Church in North Bay. Ted is deeply involved with Manitou Conference, serving as its President from 2011 through 2013. Ted has real passion for Christian worship, with a focus on relevant and dynamic preaching that draws on scripture, humour, and music. Ted is also a trained spiritual director. Ted reads a lot. He loves jogging, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and he plays cowbell in a rock band (No, really!). Unfortunately, Ted always misses meeting the varied superheroes who have led late-October worship services at Trinity. Ted has two daughters, Eve and Erin, who he thinks are exceptionally brilliant children! Ted is married to Caroline, who is a hospital physiotherapist and a part-time sermon critic.

CONFERENCE CHAPLAIN

Rev Ted Grady lives with Zaccheus who keeps him busy and offers wonderful companionship in his ministry. Zaccheus is a golden retriever pup.

Ted grew up in Islington United Church, where he worked for almost 17 years as a weekend Sexton and 9 of those years as building manager. He was ordained in May 2012 and answered a call to Knox United Church in Sutton.

He continues to pursue his passion for music playing bass guitar in a band he has been a part of for 22 years.


ENTERTAINMENT

Heavenly Host
Chris Mogan: Piano/V ocals
Brenda McLay: Piano/V ocalsfPercussion
Marcel MacDonald: Bass/Guitar/V ocals
Darlene Laferriere: Vocals
Ted Harrison: Vocals/Harmonica/More Cow Bell
Matthew Whitehead: DrumslPrecussion
Pat O'Kane: Rhythm GuitarN ocals
Bryan Moore: Lead GuitarN ocals
Jen Hedican: Violin


WORKSHOPS

Bill Clark on Drugs and Alcohol
Dave McKenney on 'Fire' Retrofitting a Church

Download the Registration Form

Why Support National AOTS Financially?

Why support National AOTS financially ?

Consider what a club or individual can do to help support these needs, not so much what do we get.

The United Church of Canada AOTS Men's Clubs National Council provides the following services: 

1) Help maintain National AOTS projects 

We  have made an initiative for 2013-2016, that 100% of the cub members dues ($15/member) goes to support the Camp Improvement Project. All of the other things below are funded by volonteers or through donations to the Second Mile Fund.

• "Observer on Tape" to visually impaired persons run by the Eastminster United Church in Belleville Ontarrio.

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• Music Bursary - encourage youth with bursaries
   
• Harry Colnett Award - Bursary to Agriculture students 
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Some of the very successful past National AOTS projects are:

Hospital project - assist with education or other for medical staff in needy and remote areas Eastern, Central, and Western regions receive separate funds annually 

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2) "The Handshake" magazine, postage and copying costs 

3) National Club's Member recognition

• DR Poole Award
• David Sherwood Award
• Don Williams Award
• Presidents Award
• Life Member Award

4) Support the National Office provides:

Spiritual Life Handbook (Devotionals) copying & distribution Club support materials, pins, decals, cards, etc Handbooks, Pamphlets, Forms, Bylaws Club and Individual member mailing lists Publicity of events such as Biennial Conventions, Awards Assistance in maintaining web site: www.aots.ca Staff support to all Council members, National, Conference, & Committee

5) Support travel costs:

Support travel costs of volunteer Council members to meetings, Conferences Roundups, & Clubs National representation to the United Church of Canada

Why be Affiliated With AOTS?

While any organized men’s group can be an effective instrument of the church, the AOTS club expands this definition. Just as a church would be incomplete in its ministry if it functioned solely for itself and by itself, an individual men’s group may not be rising to it’s true potential either. Through AOTS, clubs can join forces with other like-minded groups at the community, regional, and national level.

The National Association helps amplify the voice of the laity in the total life and work of the Church. It provides a regular exchange of information and ideas through it’s newsletter (The Handshake), website (www.aots.ca), and various other literature and resource materials. It encourages interaction between clubs through the “Travelling Gavel/Cross” programmes and through involvement in regional rallies and retreats. 

How Does a Club Get Started?

It begins with one man of faith recognizing the need, and then discussing his interests with others in his church. A group of like-minded individuals can gather in an informal way for dinner or breakfast, for spiritual fellowship, to work together on an outreach project, or conduct a lay ministry within the church. This is the foundation of an AOTS club.

Consider the benefits of becoming part of the National Association of AOTS Men’s Clubs. Talk to your minister about it. Invite an AOTS representative to come and describe his involvement in the national association and discuss the operation and activities of his local club.

Individuals can also join the National Association without having to belong to a club. This category of membership allows men who live far away from the nearest active club to become involved in many regional and national activities of the AOTS. 

Please think about being a part, or have your Churches Men's Club be affiliated to the National Association of AOTS Men's Clubs. For more information please contact us at info@aots.ca or go to the AOTS Membership page.

Central Region AOTS ROUND-UP 2014

Central Region AOTS ROUND-UP 2014 

(NEW DATES) May 2, 3 and 4 

Please mark your Calendar and Plan to attend 

we have a speaker and some entertainment and some workshops 

More in the new year............................. 

Manitou Conference Planning Committee 

Keeling Little kb.little@cogeco.ca (705) 476-1126 

The Salvation Army Jackson's Point Conference Centre, 

1890 Metro Road North, 

Jackson 's Point, Ontario L0E 1L0 

905-722-3501 

jpcc@sallynet.org 

The 2013 Biennial is History

We met in Newfoundland this year with small attendance but a great program. I thought I would review some of the changes that National has initiated at the biennial and previously this year.

1. The most significant change has been the creation of a Camp Improvement                  

    Project. This provides grants to any  camp providing youth programs for capital  

   projects. The first year grants totaled $15000 and have been awarded to four  

   camps. The details of these awards are on the aots.ca website.

   

    The new project is funded from current donations and funds donated to the 

    second mile  project in past.

2. Membership fees have been suspended for the next three years. Clubs are 

    encouraged to send donations to the new Camp Improvement Fund in lieu of 

    dues. We are hoping Clubs will recognize the value of the new program and

    donate at least as much as the past dues amount with the knowledge that the 

    money is all going direct to a great cause..

3. Camping is the main interest of AOTS members so we are taking steps to 

     concentrate our efforts in this area. We have been administering two bequest 

     funds-- Youth to Camp and Harry Colnett Scholarship fund. These will be 

     cancelled and the funds in the bequest applied to the Camp Improvement Fund

     or in other appropriate areas.

4. Constitution changes have been made to allow limited participation by Ladies in

    Clubs.

5.  The Executive elected or appointed for the 2013-2015 period is:

President                   Jim Upright, Victoria BC

Past President            David Morris,  Tillsonburg Ontario

President Elect           Gary Ross, Lewisporte Newfoundland

Treasurer                    Marvin Bildfell, Sarnia, Ontario

Eastern Vice Pres       Derek White, Lewisport Noefoundland

Central Vice Pres.       John Cooke, Sarnia, Ontario

Western Vice Pres.      Bill Love, Calgary, Alberta

Members at large:

      Eastern                 Ernie Paddock, Newfoundland

      Central                  Not named yet

      Western                David Adams, Newfoundland

We are continuing to use the website aots.ca as our prime means of communicating with Clubs and members and encourage you to make this known to you fellow members. 

Donations to the Camp Improvement project have been received from a number of Clubs, and I hope those who have not yet donated will consider a generous gift before year end. The camps serving our youth are an important resource and deserve our support!