Network News - Winter 2009/2010 (PDF 3.7Mb - Canadian Breast ...

Profile of a Director
I
became a Director on the National
Board of CBCN, representing
Labrador, in 2006. Looking back, am
I glad I did! It has been one of the best
experiences of my life. I did not know
much about CBCN or its mandate.
Having joined it, I had a lot to learn
and learn fast I did. What helped me
the most were the very caring friendly
Board members. The Executive Director,
the President, the past President and
every other Member representing a
province or a territory had so much to
offer. At the very first AGM I felt like I
was part of a group of dedicated friends.
Our regular monthly teleconferences
have been a place for me to learn
about what was going on in the breast
cancer world and how I could be of
help. CBCN’s October online yearly
auction has taken me to various
organizations in my area to request
them to donate items for the auction.
These organizations, through my
approach, learned what CBCN has
been doing for the breast cancer world
in every province and territory. When
they understood CBCN’s mission, they
gladly supported the on-line auction.
On my part, I got a lot of pleasure
spreading the word.
I had the opportunity to go to San
Diego, California and graduate
from the Project LEAD Program in
2007. This program taught me about
leadership, education, advocacy and
development. There were fifty students
in the session I attended. Forty-seven
came from all parts of the US, one from
the UK, one from Australia and I was
the only Canadian. Everyone in that
group worked very hard for almost 12
hours a day for a complete week that
we spent together. We were taught by
excellent scientists who imparted the
science of breast cancer to us. We were
also fortunate to be able to go to the
lab and see firsthand how breast cancer
cells were dissected and tested.
After my return home to Canada,
I had the privilege of working as a
Scientific Peer Review Community
Representative on two of our national
research organizations, where I
have been able to learn more and
to share my views on behalf of the
breast cancer community. As you can
imagine, this involves a lot of reading,
studying and research in order to be
able to participate on a panel with
Research Scientists.
Last June I was a peer reviewer with
the Breast Cancer Research Project of
the US Department of Defence Reston,
Virginia. That in itself was a very
positive learning experience where I
was able to play an important role in
decision making. Even though it was
a very demanding task, I learned how
to prepare comments on the impact of
the research on issues such as disease,
prevention, screening, diagnosis,
treatment and quality of life after
treatment.
I was also a volunteer with the World
Conference on Breast Cancer that was
held in Winnipeg, MB in June 2008.
I have committed to work with the
Executive of the World Conference
on Breast Cancer 2011, which is being
held in Hamilton, ON.
Being a Director on the CBCN Board
has taught me a lot, and I strongly
advise breast cancer survivors to get
involved in one way or another. It
is a real enrichment therapy. If not
for CBCN, I would not have done
or learned all that I have, and I can
proudly say has given me a lot of
pleasure to be a part of. •
Nina Burford is passionate in learning all
she can about breast cancer. Soon after
her retirement as a school teacher came
her diagnosis in 1997. It was a total shock
and a blow as she had never smoked in
her life and eaten healthily. Born in Goa,
Nina Burford
Member of CBCN’s Board of Directors
representing Labrador
she migrated to Manitoba 39 years ago.
Her major is English but she also speaks
Portuguese and some French. She is
well travelled on every continent. Her
second marriage in 1981 brought her to
Labrador City, NL where she now lives.
She can be contacted at nina.burford@
nf.sympatico.ca
Board of Directors
Cathy Ammendolea, President, Quebec
Alwyn Anderson, Alberta
Nina Burford, Labrador,
Member-at-Large
Linda Dias, Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Diana Ermel, Past President,
Saskatchewan
Dianne Hartling, Treasurer,
Ottawa-Gatineau
Suzanne LeBlanc, New Brunswick
Lorna Marshall, British Columbia
Meeka Mearns, Nunavut
Dianne Moore, Ontario
Janis Murray, Secretary,
British Columbia
Pam Patten, Northwest Territories
Mercedes Sellars, Newfoundland
Pam Smith, Prince Edward Island
Diane Spencer, Vice-President,
Nova Scotia
Sharon Young, Manitoba
10 Network News Winter 2009-10