by Lawrence Modin
A special public meeting was called on Tuesday, December 11,1973 for the purpose of discussing adult education in the Elk Point and surrounding communities. Mr. Dave Beckman, Assistant Director, Further Education, Dept. of Advanced Education was on hand to explain the function and purpose of his department.
His concern-to establish adequate adult education programs in every Alberta community, by means of organizing local Further Education Councils. He stated that the local council could be made up of any number of interested people from various walks of life; its role would be to facilitate and coordinate all adult education within the community, to set up courses and be responsible for all funding and money matters, to arrange for instructors, to clarify the needs of the community, and to provide a pool of information on the human talents as well as the physical resources within the communities. Mr. Beckman elaborated on the grant structure and nature of courses which are acceptable. He stated that the amount of tuition an hour could vary according to the course, as could the funding. All monies must be handled through the county, and approval to form. a council must also be secured through the county council.
Motion to form a council was made by Velma Andrishak and Vern Loeppke and this was carried. Name of the council was to be The Elk Point and District Further Education Local Council.
The first council consisted of the following members representing the various groups listed after their names:
S.A. Holthe, High School Principal, chairman; Margaret Modin, Chamber of Commerce, secretary-coordinator. These positions they still maintain at this time.
Mr. Dave Beckamn, Dept. of Advanced Education;Mr. M. Hoke, Supt. of County of St. Paul No. 19;Jeannette Boulet, St. Paul, Coordinator for Vermilion College, a position in which she was followed by (Mrs.) AnnaBelle Cameron of Vermilion, both of whom were invaluable in establishing a really viable council; Mr. Vern Loeppke, P.5.5. Director; (Mrs.) S. Landiak, Home Economist; Mr. Terry Holmgren, District Agriculturalist; (Mrs.) Erna Holliday, P.5.5. Board; (Mrs.) N.B. Sumpton, U.C.W.; (Mrs.) Anne Kates, Senior Citizens; Bill Pacholek, Windsor Club, Lindbergh; Elaine Easthope, I.A. teacher, Agriculture Society; (Mrs.) Irene Magnusson, County Recreation Board, Women of Unifarm; (Mrs.) Velma Andrishak, Town Council; Bob Hendriks, teacher, Heinsburg School, Heinsburg; Paul Stepa, Town of Elk Point Representative to the School Committee of the County of St. Paul; Bob Smith, Chairman, School Committee, County of St. Paul No. 19; Laverne Wilson, Vice-Principal, Heinsburg School, Heinsburg; Lawrence Modin, Lions Club and teacher; Axel Iverson, B.P:O.E.; Ronald Flanders, Parent's Committee; (Mrs.) Irene Miller, Recreation Board, (Mrs.) Louise Maas, teacher, Elementary School; (Mrs.) Sylvia Boothman, teacher, Elementary School. Others were added to this list and some were replaced for various reasons as the years passed. It is perhaps suffice to note that we have also had representation from the Fishing Lake Colony and have been able to maintain contact with the Frog Lake Reserve and to mount courses at both of these points.
Objectives and Functions of this Council:
A. (a) If the new guidelines are approved in proposed form:
i. To encourage other approved bodies and formal institutions to act in the capacity of Hosting Authorities and accordingly to sponsor courses.
ji. To fulfill our function of approving suitable courses, as specified in the guidelines.
iii. To direct to those Hosting Authorities the grants and funding to which they are entitled under the guidelines.
(b) Where the needs of the total community are not being met by other Hosting Authorities, to continue to seek sponsorship of courses by the County of St. Paul. When we are acting under their sponsorship, the policy items following point A will continue to be applicable.
B. That this council shall exhibit leadership by:
i. Providing information to the community concerning available grants and funding, courses, procedures, etc.
ii. Securing and receiving from all possible sources suggestions for desired courses.
iii. Seeking to identify community needs.
iv. Structuring non-credit courses of an exploratory, enrichment, or skill-enhancing nature at the lowest possible cost to adult students.
v. Compiling a list of resource persons possessing instructor talents or skills.
vi. Encouraging and enabling seminars on community social issues.
C. That this council expedite in every way possible the provision of courses by and through Vermilion (Lakeland) College, government departments and both public and private agencies.
D. That this council seek continuous improvement and development through regular evaluation and assessment of (i) procedures and (ii) courses.
E. That a Certificate of Attendance be provided at the end of each program for all students who have attended a minimum of three-quarters of the classes.
F. That this council encourage and enable persons possessing abilities and/or skills to share these talents with the community.
G. That this council encourage involvement of at least 1 out of4 community adults in Further Education.
H. That all members must be approved by this council.
I. That outreach be provided to communities without Further Education Local Councils by accepting applications for programs within their areas, and by encouraging their membership in this council.
J. That this council generally:
i. Seeks to enrich the quality of life of the community and of individuals specifically through Further Education Programs.
'1. Encourage cultural and social exchange through group activity.
In order that you may see some of the interests within these communities I have noted here a list of courses offered at different times, many of them three or four times at Elk Point, Heinsburg, Frog Lake and Fishing Lake. Ceramics (basic and advanced); Physical Fitness; Basic Wiring and Electricity; Beauty Culture; Hunter Training (for instructors); Crochet; Macrame'; Horticulture, Animal Health and First Aid; Agriculture Economics; Bishop Method of Sewing; Chinese Cookery, Defensive Driving; Yoga; Farm Accounting; Business Management-Bookkeeping; Handicrafts; Photography; Horsemanship; Basic Literacy and Public Speaking (basic and advanced); Painting; Metrication; Tube and Brush Painting; Quilting, Women's Rights Within the Law; East Indian Cooking; Cake Decorating; Meat Cutting; Ukrainian Dancing; Ukrainian Cooking; Art of Easter Egg Decorating; Indoor Gardening, Amateur Radio (A & B); Cross Country Skiing; Welding 1 and 2; Beadwork; Let's Make Music; Christmas Music; Creative Decorations; Basic Sewing; Stretch Sewing; Typing; Cree; Hockey Coaches Clinic; French; and Landscaping.
We feel that a need has been met in the various communities served, both education-wise and from the social aspect.
YOU + FURTHER EDUCATION. . .A BETTER COMMUNITY
Logo of the Further Education Council
