The Saturday afternoon Panel Sessions offered NGO leaders an opportunity to make presentations on their own organizations and the activities that they are engaged in, or on any issue of particular interest. Presentations were made on such topics as Strengthening the roles of NGOs in healing trauma and conflict resolution (Gina Ross); Standards of excellence in response to needs assessment (Flordeliz Serpa); The paradox of terrorism: Starting form discrimination, acting without discrimination (Aurora Martin); Human rights violations and implications of foreign occupation in Somalia (Ali Said Ibrahim); TakingIT Global: The power of ICTs and youth (Kirsten Jordan); and Values and ethical guidelines in times of disaster and scarcity (Dr. Jay Sweifach).

WANGO’s General Assembly, the business meeting of the Association, was held on the Saturday of the conference. The WANGO members in attendance, which included both voting and non-voting representatives, were presented with a detailed overview by Secretary General Taj Hamad of the work of the organization since the last conference, including information on the Domes Project, whereby an entire village was rebuilt, the Play Football Make Peace! Project, and plans for the future. Dr. Frederick Swarts presented on the new NGO Handbook, an online Wiki resource that has just been completed by volunteers with WANGO (www.ngohandbook.org), which includes entrees on NGO organization, financing, strategic planning, an overview of the NGO sector, the state of the NGO sector in various nations around the world, and so forth.

Two committees meet throughout the conference: the Code of Ethics Committee and the Declaration Committee. Other events include a special roundtable discussion lead by Professor Ron Sereg on Media Relations, a roundtable conducted by Dr. Kathy Winings on Governance, and various mixers, exhibitor displays, and so forth. The field trips offered an opportunity for NGO leaders to visit Niagara Falls or sites in Toronto. Prior to the official start of the conference, Anne Smart, the Local Arrangements Chair, conducted tours to the office of Free the Children, the world’s largest organization of children helping children, headquartered in Toronto. (As Local Arrangements Chair, Ms. Smart also oversaw most of the arrangements in Toronto, including securing the hotel and arranging the local volunteer staff with David Stewart, a local NGO leader). Debbie Gray, the Communications Director for Free The Children, who had received the 2006 Human Rights Award from WANGO, addressed not only the opening plenary session, but also the Awards Banquet. Saturday evening featured a banquet with one of the teams competing in a Play Football, Make Peace! tournament held in Toronto during the Congress. A project of WANGO, this tournament featured girls youth teams from Canada competing.

The Opening Banquet and Closing Banquet were particularly memorable. The Opening Banquet commenced with a fire-alarm that led to the evacuation of the attendees to the lobby – an impromptu mixer. The wait for dinner was worth it, as the participants were treated to remarks from Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, former Governor General of Canada and Former Premier of Manitoba. His deep passion for the work of the leaders of NGOs, and recognition of the important role of WANGO, set the right tone, as he welcomed the participants to Canada. His comments on the environment and international politics were equally insightful. Taj Hamad also offered welcoming remarks at this event, which was chaired by Dr. Kathy Winings, Vice President of the Board for the International Relief Friendship Foundation and Secretary of the Association for WANGO. The official dessert mixer followed the dinner.

The Congress culminated with the Closing Banquet on Sunday. Guest presenter Jean-Guy Bigeau, Executive Director of Katimavik, addressed the importance of volunteer service. Katimavik is Canada’s leading national volunteer service program for youth. Founded in 1977, Katimavik’s mission is to foster the personal, professional and social development of Canadian youth through volunteer involvement in communities from coast to coast. For nine months, young people from the ages of 17 to 21 live in groups of 11 in three different communities throughout the country, working 35 hours a week on volunteer community projects. Today, nearly 1,200 youth take part each year in more than 100 communities across Canada. As Mr. Bigeau explained the work of the volunteers, one could not but be moved by the hope provided by the youth volunteering for the sake of others. Jean Rondon, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the Banquet offered heart-felt remarks, as she reflected on the work of the NGO leaders. Taj Hamad offered off-the-cuff, comments of heart for the participants and encouragement for their invaluable work.

During the Closing Banquet, William D. Lay, head of WANGO’s Code of Ethics Initiative, unveiled the Toronto Declaration of NGO Core Values, a list of 12 core values that were developed by the Declaration Committee, with recommendations and advice from the attendees of the General Assembly (membership meeting), WANGO’s International Council, and other attendees of the Congress. The Declaration was accepted by acclamation of the attendees, and also many had the opportunity to sign the declaration.