4.1 POCOMO TEEN CENTRES SOCIETY Proposal - July, 1993

THE VISION

The preferred model for a PoCoMo Teen Centre will be a Teen Centre managed by its own society. The PoCoMo Teen Centres Society was formally incorporated as a society on January 5, 1993, under the Sociery Act of British Columbia (Incorporation Number S-29948). Incorporation as a non profit society entails certain lega! and financial obligations, but allows the Society to do such things as apply for grants, receive and manage money and property, etc.

Operation of the PoCoMo Teen Centre will be a joint operation of PoCoMo Teen Centres Society and the PoCuMo Teen Council. The PoCoMo Teen Council is an informal group, with membership open to all those in District 43 between the ages of 13 and 18 years. Its primary objectives will be to promote the PoCoMo Teen Centre to all the teens of District 43, to raise funds for the Centre and to assist in the provision of programming.

The PoCoMo Teen Centres Society will encourage membership in the Society by representatives appointed by various community-based agencies in the Tri-Cities Area, these will include but not be limited to:

- Parks and Recreation Departments of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody - School District 43

- Ministry of Social Services

- Simon Fraser Health Unit

~R.C.M.P.

- Community Libraries

The principal element of the Teen Centre is that it be organized and run by teens and that teens take primary responsibility for planning, organization and maintaining the Centre. The client group for the Teen Centre would be al! teens aged thirteen to eighteen years and resident in School District 43. To use the centre, individuals will be required to join the PoCoMo Teen Centre. This will involve a minimal cost and the signing of a membership agreement which states the rules and regulations of the Teen Centre.

In order for the teens to feel a sense of ownership, the most appropriate type of facility would be a house or portable building, although some other buildings could be renovated to create this feeling, for instance, a store or commercial building. The Teen Centre should be wheelchair accessible. In order for this facility to be readily accessible to the teen population in our community, it should be located on, or close to, a major bus route.