March 2006 ISSUE
FOUNDATIOn update
A Vision Found Within a Somewhat Hazy Crystal Ball
BY DENNIS BROOKS, P.ENG., P.GEOPH.
Education Foundation Columnist
I had been wondering how to go about producing a vision for the APEGGA Education Foundation when it occurred to me that this was obvious — get out my crystal ball! I found it at the back of the closet and dusted it off. That didn’t get it clear enough so I washed it carefully.
As I gazed in, through a considerable haze I could see myself entering a building in search of the foundation office. The floor directory showed that it shared office space with APEGGA — not surprising since the two organizations have one objective very much in common: to attract talented young people into our professions.
After getting off the elevator, I proceeded past APEGGA offices until I came to a separate office for the foundation, made obvious since it had its name boldly on the door. I knocked and went in and was surprised to find an older gentleman behind the desk, surprised because my phone call to make the appointment had been answered by a woman.
He explained that he and the woman were two volunteers filling the one position of Executive Director/Office Manager. This was made possible, he said, since this was virtually an electronic office. Either one could access foundation records and systems on site or from a distance.
Other stakeholders could view data or exchange messages after appropriate security clearances. “This new position puts responsibility for operating the foundation right where it belongs,” he said, “with the foundation itself.”
I told him I had come to check whether I had actually made out and sent a cheque for my donation or whether my record was in error.
“No problem,” he said. “Just give me some ID such as your APEGGA
member number and photo ID.”
He quickly called up a screen which showed not only my latest donation but all
past ones since this system had been installed. He explained: “It’s
vital that we know who our contributors are and their donation history. Then
we can acknowledge our steady supporters — one contributing $25 every year
for 10 years is more valuable than a one-time $100 giver.
“Also we need to know who our major donors are to thank them.”
Just then a door opened to the inner office and five other volunteers filed out. “They are members of our finance committee, and they’re on their way to make a presentation to the board of directors, using APEGGA’s conference room and video conferencing equipment.
“We have several such committees including member liaison, fundraising
and awards. Having a number of committees allows foundation members to play a
meaningful role in our operation.
“We added the Member Liaison committee just a couple of years ago. We did
this because we are a membership — based charitable organization; that
is, nearly all our donations come from APEGGA members or the APEGGA organization
itself. We wouldn’t exist without this source of revenue.
“Would you like to go and sit in on their presentation to the board
of directors?”
“Is that allowed?” I asked.
“Not only is it allowed,” the volunteer replied, “but it is encouraged. We want be as transparent an operation as possible.”
The board had video screens showing colleagues in Calgary and also in several of APEGGA’s branches. Branch representation puts the foundation in close touch with our sources of transfer scholarship applicants and the colleges they attend.
The board was about to debate appointment of an investment counsellor because the assets had grown so much.
It was tricky to see the screen clearly in my crystal ball, but it looked like projected assets five years down the road in 2020 were going to exceed $12 million. With that much money, it was a good idea, I thought, to have professional management.
The board was also going to discuss the need for a committee on major donors, now that we were getting to be credible enough to attract such people. Their funds would likely go to endowments for specially named, or special purpose scholarships.
“We would like to have a scholarship for about $25,000 as a prestigious award. It would help draw the public’s eye to the valuable contribution our member professions make to society,” said the foundation president.
After we left them to continue their debate, I asked the executive director/office manager where all this money was going to go.
He said: “We will continue our policy of granting and even expanding our
scholarships that allow the winner to use it at any Alberta University and in
some special cases, ones outside Alberta or Canada.
“We don’t want to be in competition with a university’s own
scholarship program; each university has its own legitimate agenda and purposes.
“We like the idea of need-based scholarships, but these are difficult to administer. So our transfer scholarships fill this need. These go to students who take their first two years of study in colleges throughout the province before going to finish their studies at one of our major universities.
“They benefit by being able to live at home those two years and enjoy the lower fee structure of a college. Without our scholarships, these students might not be able to afford the high cost of living away from home, together with higher fees — not at least without incurring a huge debt.
“Our basic philosophy is simple,” said my new friend. “No good student should be denied education in one of our professions for lack of funds.”
As I was leaving the office, I could see them in my crystal ball, all waving and saying, “Come back in 2015 in real-time.”
Author’s Note: This is my own personal vision of the foundation, and is available only through my crystal ball. While this is being prepared for publication, the board of directors was set to meet with Council to outline the APEGGA Education Foundation’s Business Plan.
In the years ahead, the board will continue to develop and adapt the official vision of your foundation.