856 Squadron Sponsoring Committee

Mr. Phil Haynes - Sponsor Committee Chair
Mrs. Sue Passmore – Treasurer / Tagging Coordinator
Ms. Charlene Doak – Bingo Parent Volunteer Coordinator
Mrs. Edwina Haynes – Secretary and OPC Ticket Sales Coordinator
Mrs. Lata Mistry - Bingo Coordinator
Mrs. Theresa Vicioso - Assistant Bingo Coordinator
Mrs. Caroline Pascoe – Permit / Facilities Coordinator / Tagging
Mrs. Lisa Truscott – Canteen Coordinator
Mrs. Daisy Poyner - Member, Kinsmen/Kinettes Club of Pickering Liaison
Mr. Jann Sepp - Assistant Permits
Mrs. Corinna Sepp – Kit Coordinator/Assistant Annual
John Nolan – Regional OPC Director
Ray Howells - OPC Director

Did you Know? Whilst certain aspects of the annual training are funded by the Department of National Defence, there are many activities that are provided by the Squadron that are not. Fundraising pays for many of these activities and to effectively operate a unit of our size, the Squadron needs to raise $55,000-$65,000 each year. Our sponsor, the Pickering Kinsmen & Kinettes Club, provides annual funds to assist in the support of the administrative expenses incurred in running the Squadron. Some of these expenses include:

- Bussing to and from weekend events
- Sports equipment
- Year-end Trips
- Facilities and catering (not funded by DND)..... and the list goes on.

Our main sources of fundraising for the annual 856 budget are TAG DAYS which are held in the fall and the spring of each training year and Bingo. The Squadron also benefits from charitable donations. Did you know, United Way contributions can be assigned directly to 856 Pickering Squadron?

Who are We? We are cadet parents and ex-cadet parents, just like you, who know the value this organization gives to our children and who understand the importance of the programs and activities that are offered. We too want our children to have opportunities like the summer trips to Halifax in 2003, Washington in 2005, British Colombia in 2007, New York in 2009 and the trip to Juno Beach, France to represent Canada at the opening of the memorial centre.

What do We Do? We volunteer our time to organize specific activities that will enable the Squadron to continue to offer a wide variety of "extras". This cadet year, the Sponsoring Committee is supporting the Squadron with the following fundraising activities:

OPC (Ontario Provincial Committee) Annual Lottery ticket sales. This is an annual fund raising event. Funds from this lottery support the flying programs for all squadrons in Ontario.

Tag Days. As in years past, the Sponsoring Committee will be involved in supporting this major fundraising activity by arranging for permissions with local businesses, distributing tags and boxes to cadets, driving cadets to and from locations, and counting the change cadets receive.

Bingo. Regular sessions are held throughout the year at Delta Bingo, Pickering. It takes a team of 6 consisting of 2 Committee Members and 4 parent volunteers and each session lasts 2 hours. This is a huge source of fundraising for the squadron.

What We're NOT Asking

- We're NOT asking you to join the Sponsoring Committee (unless you'd like to of course).
- We're NOT asking for money (other than the administrative fee).

What Do We Really Need? We need more parents like you to participate on an "as needed" basis for:

- Driving cadets to functions
- Tag Days
- Sports Competitions
- Fund Raising events
- Bingo night - 2/3 times per year

REMEMBER... THE MORE HANDS, THE LIGHTER THE WORK.

Contact the Sponsoring Committee for more information.