September 2005 ISSUE
FOUNDATIOn update
Thoughts Turn to School Issues
BY DENNIS BROOKS, P.ENG., P.GEOPH.
Education Foundation Columnist
For the past month, we have been getting flyers full of back-to-school fashions and supplies. Then in our mail came lists of course offerings from academic and non-academic institutions; and finally came appeals to register.
It must be the start of another school season!
This brings back memories for all our members. For some of us, it will be a call to sign up for courses in professional and personal development. But I think there would be some sense of obligation to en-courage and promote higher education.
Some will put this into action by participating in APEGGA programs such as mentoring (contact Nancy Toth, MA, APEGGA Manager, Professional Development) or the Outreach Program (contact Jeanne Keaschuk, APEGGA Senior Outreach Coordinator).
And I hope some of our members will also be motivated to contact elected representatives and impress on them the need for adequate and sus-
tained funding for our universities and colleges — so they not only survive but flourish. They can’t do this with on-again off-again funding.
For others of us, school season will be a call for action
on a more personal level. We have children and grandchildren and their friends who would benefit from our knowledge of educational programs and from our knowledge of the workplace. I remember to this day my own quandary about what programs to take and whether there would be a job opening when I finished. (Answer: “There’s always room for one more practitioner in a field if he or she is good.”)
You can always tell young people about scholarships that are available, such as APEGGA’s, and how to prepare a good application. And you can tell extended family members about our Millennium Scholarships, which they could be eligible for regardless of whether they intend to enter engineering, geology or geophysics.
You have valuable knowledge and experience you can pass on. Do it!
Supporting the Summit
The biggest fundraising event the foundation has is the annual Summit Awards. We get a donation of $50 per ticket for each paying guest who comes. There is currently a call for nominations, which closes Sept. 30.
Ferreting out capable and deserving candidates is what leads to an exciting and enjoyable event, which keeps the crowds coming (and our donations continuing). Please contact Ross Plecash, P.Eng., APEGGA Director, Corporate & Member Affairs, with your suggestions.
New Fundraiser
The work of your foundation directors to launch a new fundraising initiative has come to fruition. As an insert to this issue you will find a letter from Foundation President Connie Parenteau, P.Eng., with information about our Bank of Montreal Affinity Card program.
Included with the letter is an application form. This program is also described in the APEGGA website, which also includes an application form.
Board Meeting
Your board of directors held a meeting June 21, which covered a number of nitty-gritty items that don’t make exciting news but are essential to maintaining a smooth running foundation. These included:
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Getting a new financial committee on track to establish a viable budget process
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Reviewing foundation bylaws for adequacy (found to be OK)
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Refining scholarship terms of reference to satisfy university needs
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Naming of scholarships
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Researching availability of government matching grants.