There are a few small pieces of information to share this week that don’t necessarily warrant their own post. Here they are:
Heroes Behind the Heroes
This November 7th event organized by SCFP Spouse Courtney Pytyck was a great success. Our group thanks psychologists Brandi and Stephanie of Evolution Psychology for offering this informative workshop to us at such low cost. The event hosted almost thirty SCFP Spouses.
It should be noted that all our events have been self-initiated by members of our Spouse Association. If YOU have an idea for an event, please reach out to the group so we can help one another make it a reality.
Only hours before the event started, SCFPSA lost our booked rooms at Station Six due to the critical incident which took place at Strathcona County Library. While numerous members of our group immediately and generously offered their places of work as an alternate venue, we were welcomed into two rooms at Sherwood Park Alliance Church by lead pastor, and our Department Chaplain, Greg Hochalter. Despite being away at a conference in Lake Louise when our group contacted him, Chaplain Grey had our group set up in one meeting room and an adjacent childcare space within an hour. We can’t express our appreciation for Greg and SPAC’s gracious welcome enough – when this group was formed, it was in effort to locate those resources most of our families didn’t even know existed. On November 7th, our Chaplain proved not only the existence of our community supports, but their readiness and ability to assist.
In further discussion with Chaplain Greg, he expressed his deep support of our association and requested an introduction to our Outreach Members. As Chaplain Greg’s role within our community is to provide care to those in times of loss and/or crisis, he has offered to share insights on community building and crisis support with our Outreach Team and others interested.
Outreach Team
Speaking of which, our Outreach Team is in the last stages of coming together. The Outreach Team will simply serve as an “in wait” resource – the contact information of the Spouses making up the team will be available on our website, and all SCFPSA members are welcome to contact team members in order to have any concerns or gaps in resources anonymously reported to the group. No names of those using the resource will be shared within the team or elsewhere. Team members will also be available to offer morale support and counsel to those who seek it, and will welcome the spouses of new recruits to our community to help ease the transition and strengthen our friendships.
As of this posting, we have seven Outreach Team members:
0 Team Members from Platoon 1
2 Team Members from Platoon 2
3 Team Members from Platoon 3
2 Team Members from Platoon 4
As you can see, we are missing a representative from One Platoon and would prefer to have one. So, if you are reading this and would like to volunteer for the role, please contact us immediately. Originally, we tried to make up this team by nominations, but at this stage our group is rather reserved, so please feel free to volunteer yourself. Our goal is to have the Outreach Team web page ready by the end of next week and to meet as a group before that (though meeting is not mandatory).
If you have already volunteered for the Outreach Team but have not heard back from anyone, it may be because last week our website’s contact form malfunctioned. All are welcome. Please try again!
Thank You, SCFPSA
One of our department’s families was affected by the critical incident at Strathcona County Library – they lost access to their vehicle and their twins’ carseats as they were parked underground where the incident took place. IAFF Local 2461 asked SCFP Spouse Association to help locate carseats for the little ones and, within an hour of the call-out, that need was met. Thank you to all who offered help, and to Cyn Hoffos and Laura Mercier who provided the seats.
If any member of our department or association findsĀ themselves in need – either great or (seemingly) small – please let us know. We are all in this together, and it would be our pleasure to help.
Make Your Own Grinch Tree Event
Shelley Montemurro and Michelle Brady are organizing a fun Christmas event for all ages at The Little Sweatshop, details available here. During this event, SCFPSA would like to host a small market. If you are a business owner, crafter, salesperson, or artist, we welcome you to set up a table. Also, if you would like to share your information on our association’s business directory (so we can buy from and support you instead of strangers we might end up having to search for online), please send us a message!
Those uninterested in crafting a tree but who would like to shop SCFPSA are more than welcome to visit the event!
Website Password Reminder
Some of the information on this website is protected from the public, but we want all SCFP Spouses to have access. If you are new to this group, please send us a message requesting the password and we will send it to you ASAP.