Benefits of Membership
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SPORT4ONTARIO (formerly PSO Council) has been setting the tone for accountability within the non-profit sport sector as well as accountability to the sector since 1998. As a function of building capacity, SPORT4ONTARIO remains a strong voice to both funding partners and government.
Our growing network of members reaches all aspects of the non-profit sport sector and our ability to respond to and engage with the sport sector as a collective makes membership with SPORT4ONTARIO a valuable and essential part of effective sport management and advocacy.
We champion
Understanding the complexities of the non-profit sport sector is not easy unless you are fully immersed in it. SPORT4ONTARIO assists government in understanding the concerns of the sport sector with respect to policy, programming, capacity and funding. We speak as the collective voice of the sport sector and act as an agent for change.
We mobilize knowledge
SPORT4ONTARIO works with members to educate, and share information at monthly forums, through professional development workshops, and regular email communication. On your behalf, we are members and subscribers of various outside resources and groups and compile data, articles, books and journals at our Resource Library in Toronto. We are the only organization to conduct on-going research across the sport sector in Ontario through surveys, focus groups and interviews to understand the sector’s position on issues and trends that directly impact the sport sector. All research is shared with members to help develop a better sense of the relevant issues and our collective positions.
We engage
To better facilitate our mission, SPORT4ONTARIO seeks out opportunities to engage within the sport sector and outside of it. We participate on committees to develop cross-sector programs and resources. On your behalf, we communicate with funding partners, members, sponsors, government, non-profit groups and other key stakeholders as a method of enhancing the profile of sport beyond our sector. We bring our members together to share information, generate ideas and collectively develop positions on various topics.
Your challenges
The SPORT4ONTARIO Board of Directors is comprised of staff and volunteers from Ontario sport organizations. As such, every action of the organization is driven by the perspective of sport leaders and for the purpose of building the collective capacity within our sector. We recognize the challenges you face in day-to-day operations because we face them as well.
Together we are stronger
In Ontario the sport sector is the second-largest of the non-profit sector. However, despite having the largest number of volunteers the sport sector receives the least amount of government funding. Sport relies most heavily on funding from participants. Challenges become obstacles when we feel unable to address them because of our limited resources. As a collective sector, we can address any challenge together and when we work as one, our voice is stronger.
Our goal is to serve you
Where your goal is to serve your membership and deliver sport programming, our goal is to serve you the sport leader, and your sport organization. SPORT4ONTARIO exists to enhance capacity within the sport sector and that means increasing awareness, enhancing skills and knowledge, developing cooperative solutions, and promoting the good work you do within the sector as a whole.
Interact
Join us for monthly forums held in Toronto for lunch, sport sector updates, an opportunity to liaise with colleagues, and to stay informed through Ministry and funding partner updates, discuss the issues and trends, formulate collective responses and mobilize our sector. We also host informal networking events to encourage communication between members and other stakeholders. Our plans include the development of on-line interactive forums that give members outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) an opportunity to participate.
Access Information
Members of SPORT4ONTARIO have authorized access to sections and functions of www.sport4ontario.ca that the general public does not. Access includes on-line facilitated discussions, community portals and Forum notes.
Resources
SPORT4ONTARIO has developed and continues to update one of the largest sport management libraries in Canada outside of the universities. In our Library you will find current and historical information on sport management, sponsorship, marketing, governance, and risk management just to name a few. As of January 10, 2009, SPORT4ONTARIO will officially open this library for member access and the general public in the new location at 3 Concorde Gate, Suite 102 in Toronto.
Save money
Members will receive discounts on SPORT4ONTARIO hosted professional development workshops. When we can make a connection with groups outside ours that offer great learning opportunities we will endeavour to secure a discounted rate on your behalf. Additionally, SPORT4ONTARIO will make every effort to develop programs that are financially advantageous to members by soliciting group discounts where available.
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