Meet our staff: Executive Director, Margaret Ayres

Here is the first of our "Meet our Staff" series, because we want you to know us on a more personal level! 

Meet Margie! 

Name: Margaret Wanless-Ayres
Age: Unknown
Horoscope sign:  Aries
Kids: 4
Husband: Mike
Pets: a 4-year old mix, Kasey

I asked her a few questions so that we could get to know her better...here they are:

Favourite movie: Wizard of Oz
Favourite artist/band: Johnny Reid, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw
Favourite book: Green Eggs & Ham
Favourite vacation you've ever been on: Hawaii
Favourite food: surf & turf
Favourite colour: Red
Dream car: DeLorean
Dream vacation: Back to Hawaii!

If you live in Port Perry, you've definitely seen our very own Margie Ayres in the papers 1 million times (pretty much on a weekly basis). It's a big joke with everyone she knows...and when she's not in the paper (rarely) people always ask where has she been?!

Margie has been at Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham for 17 years!! She started out as part-time, and worked her way up to a full-time Executive Director position 6 years ago.

In Margie's "spare time" (quotes because she doesn't have spare time) Margie volunteers for other local organizations and always always helps out families in our community. If you need something, you can ALWAYS could on Margie to help you out. We swear, her heart is made of pure gold.

Margie is very very involved in so many different aspects of our community. She is a member of the 100 Women of Uxbridge, she is a founding member of 100 Women of Scugog, she's on the Chamber of Commerce, and she has a Little Brother with us!

Margie got matched with her Little, Matthew, 2 years ago in the In-School Program. Margie and Matthew are now registered in both the ISM Program, and Traditional Program, meaning that she mostly sees him at the school, but she's allowed to see him outside of school, and just recently she started driving him to his first job!

So there you have it folks, Margie in a nutshell! We'd also like to add that she's a GREAT boss and such a kind, loving person! What a great person to have as ED of our organization! If you do not know Margie (doubtful, she knows everyone) stop in, she'd love to meet you!

Photos were taken by the amazing Daniel Cullen.

Meet a Mentor: Gord Humphrey

Mentor Profile: Gord Humphrey

If you live in Port Perry, or went to Port Perry High School, you probably know (the now retired teacher) Gord Humphrey.  Gord has been a  BBBS mentor since retiring 5 years ago, and as of 2013  an active Board Member.

In the 5 years he’s been with us, Gord has been an In-School mentor to 5 boys. In-School Mentoring is a program sponsored  by BBBS in which mentor and mentees meet for 1 hour a week in school.  There is no formal contact in the  summers but, in continuing relationships, things pick up again as soon as school starts in September.

At present Gord has 3 mentees all of whom go to RH Cornish, with one in grade 6 and 2 in grade 8.  Each of Gord’s boys have different interests so Gord gets to participate in a wide range of activities in the 3 hours a week he’s mentoring. Ryan really likes sports, so he and Gord play volleyball, football, and basketball, and compete with each other throwing the javelin, something that Ryan is exceptionally good at.  Ethan is really into the card game Magic, so much of the time with Ethan is  spent playing Magic with Ethan being patient while teaching Gord how to play and the complex strategies found in the game. Bryan is up for anything; often sports, baseball, basketball and wallball being favourites  but Brian also enjoys indoor activities including building with Lego and Kinect.

Gord says that he has a pretty good bond with all 3 boys. Each of his mentees is unique but the time together has allowed Gord to know  them as individuals and so learn how to talk and interact with each of them.  Not only does he think that the impact on the kids is profound, but mentoring is fulfilling for him, as well. “Most of my extra-curricular activities are volunteer-based, you know, doing something that I think is worthwhile, and in school mentoring certainly seems to be worthwhile” says Gord.

Gord says that being a mentor is very similar to being a teacher, but has an even closer parallel in  being a sports coach. Gord has been a coach all of his adult life, and being a coach he feels is all about mentoring with sport as the vehicle to influence kids in positive ways. Gord feels that being involved in the community is important, and he says “In school mentoring with BBBS is one way I can feel good about myself and have a positive impact on someone else.”

Gord is looking forward to the fall so he can see the boys again  and hear what they have been up to. He is looking forward to seeing what this next  year brings!

If you're interested in learning more information about our mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Holmes at 905-985-3733 ext 2. 

Guest Blogger: Big Brother Dave Stell

 

Written by Dave Stell

Hey, I know what you are thinking. "I don't have time." or "I don't have anything to offer as a 'Big'".

You are only fooling yourself, my friend.

As a Big Brother/Sister, or a mentor, you have the time and believe me, as far as these kids are concerned, you definitely will make a difference in their lives.

I have a crazy schedule most weeks. Two teen kids of my own with activities, my own sports and other volunteer work. So when I signed up years ago, I was concerned about the time. But the mentor program made it easy. One hour a week. I started out just visiting my little brother during my lunch hour. It didn't take much time and my employer supported it 100 per cent. It looks good on the company if the staff volunteer! So what's a little longer lunch once a week to them?

There, that's settled. Now what do you have to offer? Just show up and be a friend. Listen. Play. That's all. And they will love it. Having another adult to care enough about them to show up and care is HUGE.

Big Brothers/Sisters does a great job of matching you up with a 'little' with the same interests. I'm a sports nut, and through many school years now, I've played so much one-on-one dodgeball and floor hockey. And I've enjoyed every minute. It's fun, not work.

Come on. Step up and help out. There's a child out there waiting for your friendship.

I love being a Big Brother mentor.

-Dave Stell 

If you're interested in learning more information about our mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Holmes at 905-985-3733 ext 2.  

Meet a Board Member: Chairman Bill Swan

 Bill Swan

When I sat down to interview the Chair of our Board of Directors, I'll be honest with you, I learned far more about him than I anticipated! The things I knew about Bill before I sat down with him were basic: he was a generous, easy-going retiree who lives in Port Perry with his English wife Rosemary. However, after our chat, I learned that Bill is a well-traveled, experienced businessman who's headed multiple non-profit endeavours in multiple countries.

Bill's professional background includes many years of successful leadership experience as VP of Sales and Marketing then President and CEO, from start-up companies to multinational organizations in the IT, Financial Services and Audio Visual industries.  He has lived Canada, the US, and England and conducted business in over 16 countries throughout his career. 

In the midst of his careers, Bill explained that he first started working with children/youth charities when he and two other local gentlemen started the East Sussex Motor Project in the south of England. The organization helped young offenders in trouble with the law through building and racing stock cars-- a positive outlet in which they could focus their attention, while being mentored by the volunteers involved. 

In 2007, after first living in Indianapolis, Indiana, then 17 years in South East England, Bill and Rosemary moved back to Canada and landed in Port Perry where Bill officially retired. Instead of slowing down, Bill joined several local organizations, and utilized his skills to help charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham, the Port Perry United Church, and the 1st Port Perry Scouts. 

Bill also started up and Chaired the Port Perry House Tour, which is going into its 7th year, and has raised over $60,000 for the YWCA, Joanne's House, Community Care Durham Scugog, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham. Bill is also VP of the choir at the church. 

When I asked Bill why he joined our Board of Directors in 2007, he said when he moved to Port Perry he was looking in the community for local organizations he could help out with, and Big Brothers Big Sisters just happened to be looking for people to join our Board. It was a win-win! After a few years as a Director, Bill was asked to be Vice Chair, and has held the position of Board Chair since 2013.

When he's not busy with local charities or the church, Bill and Rose like to golf, sing in Port Perry United Church choir, go to the movies, travel and spend time with their 3 children and 2 grandchildren.  

If you're interested in learning more information about our mentoring programs, please call Cheryl Holmes at 905-985-3733 ext 2.