Our sale is just over 2 months away. We are busy sorting, pricing, and generally getting ready and we are having fun doing it! Our next committee meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11th at 1:30 at the ATB in Westhills.

I wonder what amazing treasures we will receive this year?
If you have any pictures or interesting stories about what you purchased, or made from those purchases last year, please let us know. Publicity this year wants to share more of the stories that have come from the sale. I would love to know where the carousel horses were used! Please send your stories or pictures to message@ujamaagrandmas.com ATTN: Lindsay Pictures

 Dates

Saturday April 26th, 1:00 -to 4:00 PM – Donation drop off
Monday April 28 AM – Table set up  sorting PM
Monday April 28 PM – Sorting
Tuesday April 29, Wednesday April 30, 11:00am – 4:00pm – Donation drop off
Tuesday April 29, Wednesday April 30, Thursday May 1, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Set up
Friday May 2, Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4  – THE SALE

Volunteers:
Sign up will be through the UJAMAA GRANDMAS website starting April 1

Customers:
Timed Tickets required for Friday only – $5.00 through Eventbrite starting April 1.
Admission for Saturday and Sunday $2. Timed tickets not required for Saturday May 3 or Sunday May 4

Admission has gone up this year but prices for all items will remain the same as last year.

First Aid
If you plan to volunteer and you have current first aid training please let us know. We must have a trained first aid person at every shift. You would be a volunteer in your area of choice but would be available for any first aid required. We will give you a bright coloured vest to wear so everyone can see the first aid person.
Please send an email to message@ujamaagrandmas.com ATTN: Dawn First Aid to let me know what days you would be able to work.
Thank you in advance for volunteering for this.

We will still need both apple boxes and floral boxes. Last year someone told me that they had access to lots of floral boxes. Could that person please let us know how many floral boxes you might be able to get? We use floral boxes for a variety of different fabrics. Apple boxes are used for shelving at the sale. Storing the boxes for us until April 26 would be ideal. They could then be dropped off at Garrison Curling Rink between 12:00 and 4:00 on Saturday April 26.

The F&Y Sale is fun and a lot of work. Talk to anyone connected with the sale to find out more about it and ways that you can volunteer to help.

See you at pre-sort days or set up or the sale.
Thanks
Dawn Bolger
F&Y Sale Coordinator

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Location: ATB in Signal Hill
Time: 1:30 – 4:00 PM
Dates:
Tuesday March 11
Tuesday April 8

You will have been hearing much news lately about the multiple edicts from the new US government.  The pronouncement which is having enormous impacts on the programs and people we raise funds to support at Ujamaa Grandmas is that which has ceased funding to USAID (US Agency for International Development. PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS- provides 50% of global HIV response) and U.N. Global Fund to fight HIV, malaria and TB. The announcements were made suddenly, staff terminated and offices locked.

This has affected deeply all of the projects supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, begun in 2024 to send funds directly to grass roots organizations affected by HIVAIDS. Some organizations are directly connected to HIV treatment programs but all are connected to programs dealing with the effects of HIV in their communities and all have staff who have been directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS in their families and lives. The effects of this sudden funding cut are and will be enormous. As Meg French, the executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation has said: “There will be deaths”.

Each of the 98 SLF funded projects in 14 African countries has been contacted , told to use their funds as needed and will be surveyed further to determine their critical needs in view of ongoing developments. A message has gone out to donors about the situation and the response has been encouraging. Proceeds from our upcoming fabric sale are always welcomed by SLF but will be especially needed this year.

Submitted by the Education and Awareness Committee (Anne Taylor, Barb Spear, Susan Plesuk)

The Second Chance Art Sale
Apr 11 and Apr 12 2025
Acadia Recreation Complex
240 90 Ave SE, Calgary.

The Second Chance Art Sale is a fundraiser for the work of the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park.  These are the same Rotarians that help with moving supplies for the UG sales. This is a sale of donated art. Calgarians who are moving, decluttering or renovating are invited to donate the art that no longer suits their walls. All wall art is accepted. Paintings, prints, photographs, framed or unframed this sale will find them a new home…….and raise funds for many community projects, primarily focused on youth, women, and seniors.

This huge (1000+ pieces) art sale suits all budgets. There will be art priced at hundreds of dollars but most pieces sell for $60 or under.  It is a great opportunity for crafters.  Many buy a piece purely for the frame and/or matting.

How to Donate: Until Mar 30 drop off art at one of 10 participating Calgary Co-op stores i.e. Macleod Trail, Auburn Bay, Oakridge, West Springs, Crowfoot, Dalhousie, Brentwood Shawnessy, Richmond Road, Forest Lawn.
Look for our bins near customer service.
For more information or for pickup of large or hard to manage donations rotaryartsale@gmail.com         secondchanceartsale

Rotary
As you may know, Rotary is an international service club, with over 1 million members world-wide.  The Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park is one of 13 clubs in Calgary and has about 60 members.  Most of the funds that we raise go towards projects that help seniors, youth, and women.  A small portion goes to international development projects.  No funds raised benefit members, as we pay for all club meetings and events ourselves.

Our Board of Directors is one of Ujamaa Grandmas’ committees.  The work of the Board includes the business aspects of a non-profit organization as well as a support system for the committees that make Ujamaa a successful fundraising for SLF.

Each year we have members stepping down and essential roles need to be filled.  Last year, for example, one of those roles was our Communications Coordinator.  This is a vital position and we were very fortunate to have Margaret Anne Knowles step into that role.  And our outgoing coordinator, Janice Lambert, mentored her and continues to step in to help whenever needed.  This is just one example of how Ujamaa members work and are there to support one another. 

 Again, this year we have key positions to fill that are essential to our functioning as a non-profit.  We will need a new treasurer as well as a vice chair.  We are also hoping to have another general director.

We are reaching out to you to help us fill these vital roles.  We will contact members who indicated they have an interest and skills that would support our governance work.  And we are also hoping that hearing these needs, members will consider this and step up to help. 

Ujamaa Grandmas is a large organization full of talented, experienced, and skilled members.  We know how much being a part of this great organization means to all of us.  We are members because of our shared vision and mission. 

Please consider our needs that must be filled in order to maintain our status as an Alberta non-profit society.  You can contact us through message@ujamaagrandmas.com and we will be happy to have a conversation with you about this opportunity to be more involved with our amazing group.

All the best to all of you, with admiration and much to thank you for.
Carla Lorfing

We have been working on language for the Grandmother webpage. Those going to Africa have been chosen and presumably notified.

Locally Canmore is hosting an astrophysicist who is bringing telescopes from Calgary on March 8 at 6:00 pm. It was very popular last year and enjoyed by adults and children. Tickets will be available on Eventbrite shortly. The poster will be forwarded when available. The popular chilli supper in Canmore is April 25.

Medicine Hat is having their fabric sale on March 29th potentially their last as they find it too much work.

Cheers,
Judy Howe