Tough times are predicted for the local Community Services Society, but its executive director is confident the organization’s strengths will help it endure the economic storm.

“We’ve got a difficult year coming up,” Rob Grant said during the society’s AGM on Thursday evening. “We are now going to feel the recession as there is some indication that this is our year to weather the economic downturn.”

Most notable among the obstacles are the society’s loss of a $24,000 provincial gaming grant and a 40 per cent decline in public donations over the course of 2009.

“We’ve had four years of growth and this is going to be a different kind of year,” Grant said.

Grant told participants at last week’s AGM that he is open to entrepreneurial initiatives and “fee-for-service work” in order to increase revenue. Investigating creative methods to raise revenue, he said, is always preferred to program cuts.

The society’s 2008 revenue was nearly $2.6 million. Donations and fundraising combined with gaming grant funding represent less than six per cent of the organization’s total revenue.

Grant said the group is fortunate that none of its core funding sources will be impacted by the series of recently announced provincial cuts.

“On a positive note, the largest funding blocks are very solid,” he said.

Other strategic advantages are the society’s openness to change, program diversity and future-looking orientation, Grant added.

The Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society provides islanders with health, social assistance, housing, education, transportation, recreational and cultural services.

The society is responsible for the Murakami Gardens affordable housing project, the Core Inn youth drop-in centre, the Yellow Sub drop-in centre, the In From The Cold shelter, food bank, recycling depot, and many other health and family services.

In her annual message published in the group’s 2008-09 annual report, chair Jacquie Stevulak said the society’s current challenges include providing islanders with affordable housing options and responding to a growing need for mental health services.

Boodie Arnott, Phyllis Coleman, Cathy MacDonald, Carolyn Mouat and Shawn Walton were elected to the board by acclamation.

More information about the Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society is available online at www.saltspringcommunityservices.ca.