Bring Your Community Together with CFMWS Remote Outreach Funding

By Brier Bouchard

Did you know? CFMWS can help fund events in your community for OUTCAN members and their families through Remote Outreach Funding. 

Connecting with other OUTCAN members and their families is a great way to build friendships, strengthen your community, and share experiences with fellow Canadians. While each geographic location has an assigned sub-unit and sub-unit representative, any member of the community can organize a CFMWS-funded event including CAF members and spouses. 

Remote Outreach Funding supports two types of events: 

☕ Monthly Coffee Socials 

Monthly Coffee Socials give community members an opportunity to meet informally, enjoy a coffee together, and connect with one another. Events can take place at a local café or even in a member's home. 

🎉 Quarterly Community Events 

Quarterly Community Events provide an opportunity to bring the community together for a unique group activity. Popular ideas include: 

• Restaurant or pub gatherings  

• Museum visits 

• Cathedral or historical tours 

• Boat tours 

• Pumpkin patches or farm parks 

• BBQs at a member's home 

• Holiday celebrations 

Please note: Alcohol is not reimbursable, and only one restaurant-style meal event may be funded per community each year. 

Interested in organizing an event? 

Getting started is easy: 

1. Review the Monthly Coffee and Quarterly Event guidelines to understand approved activities and procedures. 

2. Talk with members of your local CAF community to decide on an activity, location, date, and time. If you do not have contact information for community members, CFMWS can assist with distributing invitations. 

3. Submit your event proposal to MFSE.UK@cfmws.com. 

1. Monthly Coffee Socials require a short form with the location, date, time, and estimated attendance. 

2. Quarterly Community Events require the same information plus a simple Risk Assessment. Much of the information can be saved and reused for future events. 

4. Once approved, make any necessary reservations or deposits. The organizer initially pays the costs and will be reimbursed promptly following the event. 

5. During the event, the organizer should make all purchases and retain receipts for reimbursement. 

6. After the event, submit an After Action Report and reimbursement request, along with receipts, to MFSE.UK@cfmws.com. 

We are here to help! 

The best events are shaped by the interests of the community. Many organizers find that once they have hosted their first event, the process becomes quick and easy. Whether you're planning a simple coffee meet-up or a larger community gathering, we are happy to support you every step of the way. 

Have questions or an idea for an event? Contact Brier or Brandy at MFSE.UK@cfmws.com. We'd love to help make it happen!