RECEPTIONIST/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Application Closing Date: December 12, 2011

Position Title: Administrative Assistant, Human Resources and Volunteer Development

Location: Vancouver

Job Summary:

Take lead accountability for being the first point of contact for all clients, visitors and volunteers arriving and calling into Heart and Stroke Foundation – Provincial Office (BC and Yukon). Support Human Resources and Volunteer Development team by providing assistance on project basis.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reception:

• Warmly and professionally handle telephone inquiries in a prompt and efficient manner.
• Welcome and guide clients, visitors and volunteers to appropriate contacts within the office
• Maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality around telephone calls and scheduled guest appointments
• Efficiently operate the switchboard as well as trains relief receptionist (including staff)
• Ensure seasonal greetings are recorded on office voice mail system to reflect Foundation days and hours of operation.
• Work with Office Systems Assistant to trouble shoot Provincial Office phone system problems
• Perform daily AED Battery Check

Security:

• Ensure all visitors remain at reception until greeted by the staff member they are meeting
• Maintain the sign in/out volunteer log. Assist Volunteers with general office protocol including any general questions
• Keep the staff in/out board up-dated to reflect current information on employee availability
• Monitor and oversee the parking lot log book for use of staff, volunteer and visitor parking requirements
• Prepare necessary paperwork for ordering & deleting Security Cards as needed
• Responsible for the signing in and out of general office Keys to the employees

Administration

• Work efficiently and cooperatively with other foundation departments providing administrative support around seasonal special projects and initiatives as required.
• Update provincial staff list & phone numbers and ensure the most up to date list is up-loaded to shared drive by IT department
• Prepare, post, and advise staff of monthly kitchen duty schedule
• Maintain and account for petty cash box transactions
• Process cash, cheques, & credit card transactions for the selling of HSF cookbooks to the general public
• Liaise with property manager when required to do so

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 – 3 years previous reception and administrative work experience
• Post secondary diploma/degree in business or related field
• Positive, friendly attitude is a must in this position along with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude
• Pleasant and professional customer service skills
• Organized with attention to detail
• Proficient MS Office Suite skills and the ability to multitask
• Punctual with time and attendance

If you wish to work for a trusted organization of committed volunteers and staff to increase heart health and reduce the burden of Heart Disease and Stroke for the people of BC & Yukon, we would love to have you on our team

HOW TO APPLY:

Human Resources Department by FAX: (604) 736-8732 or Email: HumanResources@hsf.bc.ca, or by visiting http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca

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Baker’s Market

Who: Foodies, Cupcakes lovers, and Cookie Monsters

What: If you have a “sweet tooth”, this is the place for you. Inspired by traditional farmers markets in Vancouver, this market is even better since it is indoors with lots of free parking too.

You’ll find talented budding, professional or home bakers selling fresh artisanal breads, soft German pretzels, butter croissants, chocolate croissants, cupcakes, yummy cookies, handmade chocolates, brownies, Belgian Liege waffles, vegan cupcakes, mini bundt cakes, muffins, gluten-free baked goods and much more!

Where: Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert Street, (2 blocks east of Fraser St. at East 60th), Vancouver, BC V5X 3Z4. The Baker’s Market takes place indoors with lots of free parking too.

When: Saturdays, October 1 – December 10, 2011 from 11 am – 3 pm

Cost: Free

See you at the next Baker’s Market!

For more information, please go to: www.bakersmarket.com

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Application Closing Date: October 28, 2011

Position Title: Administrator

Location: Vancouver

Job Scope

Who They Are After :

The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit, educational, community organization whose mission is to provide accessible, high caliber orchestral training to youth aged 8-22 through rehearsals, workshops and concerts. Entering its 82^nd year, the VYSO is comprised of four orchestras including Debut, Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Our mandate is to provide the highest possible standard of orchestral training to beginning ensemble players through to the most advanced students.

The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra is currently accepting applications for a full-time Administrator. The Administrator works with the Orchestra Manager, String Programs Coordinator and artistic staff for the day-to-day administration of the office and the planning and development of orchestra events.

Core Responsibilities:

• Day-to-day administration of the office, including ordering supplies, receiving and processing mail, donations, preparation of tax receipts, correspondence, acknowledgement & thank you letters.
• Manage bank accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable/receivable and maintain financial and administrative records including membership database and distribution lists. Collaborate with Treasurer in preparation of annual budget
• Administrative duties for the orchestras, including assisting in liaising with artistic staff, orchestra members, volunteers and the Greater Vancouver area music community, media and general public
•  Support and coordination of volunteers including members of the boar
•  Assisting in implementing orchestras’ rehearsals, auditions, workshops, performances and other public engagements
• Support, prepare for and facilitate board meetings, Annual General Meetings and General Meetings including preparation of Agendas, Minutes and Reports
• Preparation of general budgets and financial reports in consultation with the Treasurer, including monthly financial statement by the third week of each month for presentation at the next board of directors meeting
• Assisting in fundraising, preparation of grant applications and submissions for financial support and donations from foundations, governments and other bodies
• Develop and distribute monthly newsletter
• Schedule bookings for meetings and events
• Some evening and weekend work required

Job Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organizational Skills
• Experience in non-profit organization an asset
• High skill level of Microsoft office suite including Outlook, Excel and Word.  Experience with Publisher an asset
• Book keeping Experience
• Knowledge of Quickbooks an asset
• Project coordination experience

Remuneration: 

• $34,000-36,500 based on skills and experience.

How to Apply: 

The VYSO is accepting applications immediately.  Send a cover letter and resume demonstrating your experience with the responsibilities and qualifications listed above to vyso@telus.net  by Friday, October 28, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. Quote Job Posting number, job title Administrator- Job Posting #2316 and your name in the subject line.

For more information, please visit: http://www.vyso.com/

Photo from www.gethatched.ca

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 The Neanderthal Arts Festival at The Cultch on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, was a 12 day festival taking place from July 21- July 31, 2011 featuring six summer productions. The theatre performances were experimental works that were meant to jolt audiences with it savvy pop-culture references.

Before the show, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the co-producers of the festival, who casually mentioned that The Gas Heart was like “having a fist shoved up your ass”. I was completely puzzled and baffled by what he meant by this. I thought to myself: did he just describe the production using the words ‘fist’ and ‘ass’ in the same sentence? I was so stunned by his choice of words that I started to ponder exactly what kind of show I would be watching.

It turns out that what he said was TRUE! It wasn’t until the second act, that I realized that this was not your typical or, average play because there was no blunt storyline for the audience to follow. At first, I was slightly confused because I had no idea what was going on. After sudden musical outbreaks, which featured notorious songs from Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga, I came to the realization that this type of theatre was intentionally meant to be momentarily awkward! The script was meant to be witty and random, so that I could be stripped from my original theatrical comfort zone. At one point I couldn’t even control my laughter, as the main cast mates improved a fight scene, killing each other off, with their improvised lightsabers and chainsaws. I guess you could say this act really was “to die for” (yes, pun intended!).

One of my favourite moments in the production, happened when I witnessed a marriage proposal, when one of the cast members proposed to his long-term girlfriend. My mouth gasped in excitement when he pulled out a ring and knelled down on one knee. From being the stereotypical girl next door, I was about to cry, because it seemed like such a happy ending…until I found out that it was all a hoax, and actually part of the production. Only an awfully talented team of theatre artists can have the guts to meddle with my emotions in the most vulnerable of ways. The team responsible for putting on the Neanderthal Arts Festival gets a pat on the back for creativity, originality and awkward moments.

Photo credit: www.thal.ca

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Photo Credit http://www.publicsphereproject.org/drupal/node/822

Sex. It’s nothing to start squirming about, or getting weird about. If it’s important to learn theories you will never see again in your life like, Einstein’s e=mc2, why shouldn’t it be important to learn practical knowledge on your sexual well-being and health?

School is meant to be a place that promotes empowerment through education. I can most likely speak for many of you, but I’m sure most of you would have been shocked, if you learned that you caught a sexually transmitted infection last night, just because you didn’t know that latex condoms prevented sexually transmitted infections (STI). Personally, I would be mortified, not to mention really embarrassed that I could have easily prevented this from happening.

In Canada, youth between the ages of 15-25 have the highest rate of catching a sexually transmitted disease. It’s important that schools have sexual education programs like Planet Ahead-Condomania, because it educates teenagers using factual information on why it’s important to learn to about safe sex practices. Some may argue that teaching kids about sex in school, only encourages them to try it for themselves. It’s true that sexual education programs hand out condoms to those who participate in their workshops and seminars.

But, with sixteen being the average age that teens lose their virginity at, sexual education programs are not encouraging teens to engage in this kind of behaviour, but are simply reacting to it. Sexual education programs like Condomania, educate teens on the realistic outcomes of teen pregnancy and STIs. So thanks, Condomania for teaching teens about the true facts about sex. Let’s just say, I’m sure we’re just glad it wasn’t our parents who gave us “the birds and the bees talk”. Boy that would have been gruelling!

Here are some great resources you can use to learn about your sexual health.

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