Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is committed to serving the highest good of our spiritual community.

Trustees are elected by the congregation annually. The Board is committed to comprehensive, timely and open communication with the congregation. To contact any or all of the Board members, please e-mail admin@centreforspirit.com, phone (780) 469-1909, or send mail to Centre for Spiritual Living Edmonton 7621-101 Ave. Edmonton, Alberta T6A 0J6 .

Officers
President – Norm McLeod
Vice President - Ron LaJeunesse
Treasurer - Stacy Berger
Trustee - Pat Coursen
Trustee - Marilyn Sochatsky
Trustee - Lesley Paull

Adjunct Member

Non-voting Members
Dr. Patrick Cameron, Spiritual Director
Dolores Williams - Secretary
Rebecca Bisonnette
Laura Cameron - Administrative Director

Meet the 2011/2012 Board Members

Norm McLeod - President

Norm and his wife Catherine have been coming to the Centre for Spiritual Living since 1999. Norm has over 35 years of government experience, including responsibility for the design and implementation of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities community governance structure in Alberta and as the first CEO of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Provincial Board. On his retirement in 2001, Alberta Seniors and Community Development established an annual leadership award in Norm’s honour. He is currently on the board of the Canadian Association for Community Living and co-chairs a National Task Force on Deinstitutionalization.

Ron LaJeunesse - Vice President

Ron began his spiritual quest at the Centre for Spiritual Living three years ago following a tumultuous retirement. He is the former senior administrator of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Alberta, the Mental Health Branch of Alberta Health and the Provincial Mental Health Board of Alberta. He is also a former Mt. Royal College Instructor, Edmonton Police Commissioner, St. Albert School Board Chair, Executive Member of the Alberta School Board's Association and President & CEO, Human Sector Resources.
Ron is the recipient of numerous awards including a Governor General's medal for community service. He has published three books, receiving Alberta's top literary award for Political Asylums. Ron and Wendy have four adult sons and seven grandchildren-six boys and one girl.

Stacey Berger– Treasurer

New to the Board of Trustees, Stacey and her husband Jeff have two beautiful children and have been coming to the Centre for Spiritual Living since 2008. Stacey works for Value Invest - The Value Drug Mart Investment Company Ltd. in a General Manager role assisting independent business owners with their succession plans and mentoring young entrepreneurs on business ownership. She has a Business Management degree and over 14 years of business experience.

Lesley Paull - Trustee

Lesley first attended the Centre in January of 2010. She has worked in the travel business since the age of 17. Lesley opened her own agency , Paull Travel, in March of 1985 with 2 people and has grown her business to 16 employees . Lesley has worked on many boards within her industry. She has also served on the WIN House and the Hope Mission boards. Paull Travel has been awarded The Circle of Excellence Award for the past 12 consecutive years. Lesley has been on the Board of Trustees for one year.

Marilyn Sochatsky - Trustee

Marilyn was introduced to the Center for Spirit in the early 1990’s and this is her spiritual center of choice. Marilyn’s career was with Air Canada for 30 years and is now semi-retired and building her Awake Cereal business. Studying the teachings of Ernest Holmes has demonstrated events ‘magically’ and keeping this teaching alive and growing in the community is the reason she committed to volunteering on the board and is a new board of trustee member. Marilyn raised two wonderful children now young adults building their own field of dreams.

Pat Coursen - Trustee

Pat began her love affair with The Centre For Spiritual Living in 2008. She immediately began taking classes and volunteering wherever possible. Her career background includes five years as an office manager for Investors Group Financial, and since 2000 the owner and operator of 'The Wig Boutique'. Pat served on two school boards while living in Venezuela and currently is serving on her condo board. Pat has two married children and one grandchild.

Dolores Williams - Secretary

Dolores began attending the Centre for Spiritual Living in the spring of 2009. She graduated from the NAIT Court Reporting program in 1986 and has been a self-employed freelance court reporter for the last 13 years. She has been a long-time resident of Strathcona County where she raised her two children. Dolores enjoys taking classes at the Centre and was a member of the Spiritual Living Toastmasters Club from 2011 to 2012.

Serving on the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Spiritual Living

The following questions and answers are taken from a dialogue on leadership with Centre for Spiritual Living members on January 16, 2011. The dialogue was facilitated by Board of Trustees’ Chair Norm McLeod.

What do Board of Trustee members do?

The Board of Trustees assists the Executive Director (Rev. Patrick Cameron) manage the affairs of the Centre. Board members are fully informed on organizational issues, and participate in policy, finance, program, personnel and advocacy discussions and decisions.

How are Board of Trustee members selected?

To ensure effective succession planning, there are two new Board positions open each year. In January and February, the Centre advertises vacancies and calls for expressions of interest. Interested applicants complete a form and are interviewed by a Nominating Committee. In addition, the Committee may approach individuals to determine interest in a Board position. The Nominating Committee selects the two candidates and makes a recommendation to the Board at the March Annual General Meeting. The Nominating Committee includes at least two Centre members, one Board member and the Executive Director.

Who is eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees?

A nominee must have attended the Centre for at least one year, completed at least four units of Science of Mind classes, be enrolled in the Intentional Giving Program, be willing and able to contribute 15 – 20 hours per month and be willing to serve a three-year term. No one can serve more than two consecutive three-year terms.

Will there be a call for nominations at the Annual General Meeting?

No, there is no call for nominations at the AGM. In 2005, the Centre revised this practice, in consultation with the Volunteer Management Program of Grant MacEwan University. This ensures nominees have adequate time to learn about the responsibilities of being on the Board. It also gives the Nominating Committee adequate time to recruit and select the most appropriate candidates.

Are there other ways to participate in the leadership of the Centre?

Yes! Members are welcome to serve on a range of committees that provide expertise and leadership in key areas, such as Membership, Sacred Service and Communications. This is an excellent way to learn more about the business of the Centre. There may also be Adjunct Board of Trustee members who participate in meetings but do not have a formal vote on the Board. This is also an excellent way to learn more about the workings of the Board before making a commitment to a three-year term.