Therese Quigley, Director of Sports & Recreation made an appeal to the Alumni Association on Feb. 16 for help financing an annual Coaches Recognition Dinner.
About 70 per cent of coaches at Western are volunteers, Quigley told the board.
“These are individuals who have full-time occupations and give of their free time to us.”
A dinner has already been planned for June 21.
“In one case, there is a national league coach, who receives a stipend that he donates back to the program. We have really an outstanding number of coaches. Three are involved in the Olympic Games: two in Beijing and one in Vancouver – Jim Waite, coaching our men’s curling team.”
Another coach with an Olympic connection Quigley named is Alma Moir, mother of ice dancer Scott Moir, competing in Vancouver. “She has been coaching our figure skating for 30 years.”
She explained to the Alumni Association she was looking for a years-of-service award and awards for coaches recognized as a ‘coach of the year’ and appointments to international associations.
The perpetual funding needed was about $3,000 a year but to start retroactively, the inaugural awards would likely need $5,000.
The board asked Quigley to submit a detailed proposal for budget deliberations in March and April.
Regardless of the board of directors’ final decision, the event planned for June 21 will go ahead.
Affinity Association urged to recognize coaches
The Alumni Association’s board of directors has found itself with a pleasant dilemma – a substantial surplus from an affinity partnership with TD Insurance, Meloche Monnex, that offers discount group home and auto insurance to Western alumni.
“We have our first set of year-end results in from TD Insurance, Meloche Monnex – our oldest affinity partner and our largest, most successful program. Our growth in this program this year was unprecedented at 14 per cent,” said Gary Blazak, Executive Director, Alumni Relations.
“We were hoping for growth in the 9 to 10 per cent range. What that means is the revenue going forth from this program will increase dramatically for our next fiscal year.”
The increased revenue, in the range of $100,000 per year, will be discussed at executive committee meetings in March and April. “All the revenue from affinity partners is growing but none are growing so swiftly and dramatically as that one has.”
Blazak said one area for possible reinvestment with new funds is alumni outreach activities.
“That is an area that has not seen any new investment, in fact has seen some budget cuts in the last two years.”
Other areas Blazak said could be up for funding consideration are endowed funds at Foundation Western and physical legacy projects (e.g. 125th anniversary of Western in 2003, the Alumni River Walk was funded by the Alumni Association).
Nominations for Alumni Awards needed
Alumni Association President Carol-Lynn Chambers encouraged board members to submit names for the annual Alumni Awards of Merit presented at Homecoming.
“This would be our pitch for demonstrating the kind of strategic leadership that Western produces. The Alumni Awards of Merit is an excellent opportunity to showcase that leadership,” said Chambers.
There are four categories for the awards: Dr. Ivan Smith Award, Professional Achievement Award, Community Service Award and Young Alumni Award. The deadline for nominations is March 31.
For more information, visit: www.alumni.uwo.ca/connect/awards/merit.html
Founder’s Day March 7
Alumni Outreach Committee chair Robert Collins reminded the board about upcoming Founder’s Day activities. The event is now in its second year. “We’re really trying to install this but in a gradual way,” said Collins.
Staff partner Natalie Devereux, Alumni Outreach Officer, reported that a web page has been developed to highlight Founder’s Day; signage will be put up across campus, messages on TV screens at University Community Centre — all “different ways to raise awareness.”
She reported that Food Services will offer a special menu that day.
For more information visit: www.alumni.uwo.ca/connect/foundersday.html.
The writer is editor of the Western Alumni Gazette magazine.