The Board President Says …
As I write this message the snow has disappeared and the students are now on their March Break.
The Board of the London Scottish Rite Learning Centre and the Centre Director are embarking on an expansion of our Learning Centre to better accommodate the growing need for the tutoring we provide. We are in the process of applying for a Building Permit and lining up contractors to do the needed work. The plan is to add four more tutoring rooms. This will allow us to take on more children in need of tutoring for dyslexia. It is projected that once all the necessary permits are in place, we will start construction of the 4 new tutor rooms in the summer while the Learning Centre is closed.
I look forward to providing you with further updates as this project progresses.
Enjoy the sun and warmth of the coming Spring.
James Sutherland
Board President
The Word From the Centre Director
The Centre continues to be a hub of activity. So far, the families have completed two jigsaw puzzles and it is great to see everyone interacting with each other. Presently, there are 12 tutors and 14 children being tutored. There is a long waitlist of students who would benefit from the Orton-Gillingham tutoring approach. Luckily, several people are interested in participating in the training and volunteering their time to tutor. It is our hope that we can begin training a new group of tutors in the spring and then they could be ready to start tutoring in the fall.
With all the interest in the Centre, the Board has been able to approve the expansion of the Centre at our present location. This would include the addition of a training materials room along with four more tutor rooms so that would make a total of 12 tutor rooms. There would still be a parent reception area, and an area for meetings and training sessions.
The Centre will be closed during March break which is March 16th to 20th but tutoring will resume on Tuesday March 24th. The year seems to be flying by and we are excited by the commitment of families and the continued development of each child’s reading ability. We are looking forward to the continued growth of the students and the Centre itself.
Helen Griffin
Centre Director
National Learning Centres Committees
In a recent issue of The Bear Facts, you were told about the National Conference that took place in Hamilton in June 2025. As a result of the discussions that occurred there, our National Executive Director, Bill Cave, has formed four committees to address the questions and issues raised. They will be addressing these four areas: National Branding and Fundraising; Information Technology and WEB Presence; Compensation and Centre Director Evaluation; and, Training and Development.
Three members of the London Board of Directors are involved with these committees. President Jim Sutherland is a member of the Compensation and Centre Director Evaluation Committee while Vice-President Ron Findlater is on the National Branding and Fundraising Committee. Meanwhile Brent Patroch is on the Information Technology Committee while also working on a sub-task looking at a national Learning Centres website as part of the National Branding Committee.
Clearly, there is much work to be done to have the nine independent Learning Centres work collaboratively under a National umbrella. But all parties are actively working towards seeing this accomplished. Perhaps there will be significant changes to be reported by the time the next National Conference takes place, tentatively scheduled for 2027.
Did You know …
Signing over an investment fund to a charity, such as London Scottish Rite Learning Centre, before death, often referred to as a charitable bequest, offers several potential benefits.
- Leaving a legacy and supporting a cause can give personal satisfaction by ensuring your assets are used to further a cause that aligns with your values. It allows you to make a significant contribution, potentially supporting their ongoing operations and future initiatives. Even after your death, your investment can continue to benefit the charity.
- It provides tax benefits for your estate since charitable donations can be claimed on the final tax return. Charitable tax credits can reduce the amount of tax owed by the estate.
- It can provide flexibility as well as a measure of control. You can specify a particular amount (or percentage but this tends to become more cumbersome as the exact total value of the estate is calculated in order to ensure the correct percentage is assigned). A charity may be named as a contingent beneficiary meaning if the primary beneficiary is unable to inherit, then the charity may be named to receive the remaining asset. Conditions may be placed on the gift, ensuring the funds are used for a specific purpose.
To pursue this further, or to get more information consult with your financial planner/tax advisor and your lawyer.
The above information is, in part, gathered from BDO
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.
Will Rogers (1879 – 1935)