Developing seniors as leaders : final report of a leadership and organizational development program for the Dogwood Pavilion Association, City of Coquitlam

During recent years, the Dogwood Pavilion Association, like many other seniors centres, has experienced a shortage of trained leaders willing to assist in the delivery of over 100 activities the centre provides to everyone over 50 in the community of Coquitlam (a district which became a city in December of 1993). In consultation with two leadership training consultants, the Coordinator in charge of the centre (Jill Rowledge), Past President (Crosby Johnston), and President (E.T. Cross) brought together a New Horizons Board to secure funding for a project, The Seniors Leadership Initiative, to develop more effective senior leadership at Dogwood Pavilion, the Town Centre Seniors Group, and throughout the City of Coquitlam. The project included two equally important aspects of leadership development: (1) a close examination of leadership in Dogwood Pavilion; and (2) a leadership and personal development program for members. This report includes: (1) Plan and time-frame of the project; (2) Ethnographic study of culture of Dogwood Pavilion; (3) Survey of membership regarding leadership training needs; (4) Description of the leadership and personal development training program for members; (5) Formal evaluation of the leadership training program; (6) Press release to inform the community about the training program and future opportunities for senior leadership; (7) Consultant's recommendations for leadership development; and (8) Final recommendations arising from the Focus Group discussion with members of the New Horizons' Board, the Advisory Board, training program participants, and staff.