|
BY DENNIS BROOKS, P.ENG., P.GEOPH.
Past-President
The APEGGA Education Foundation
Members of the new board of The APEGGA Education Foundation
are now installed, so I have joined the ranks of the past
presidents as I write this. However, the Board doesn't have
an official position of past president, so I'm in fact writing
this as a "guest columnist."
In previous PEGG articles, and the last president's annual
report, I told you about the new goal set for the Foundation:
to double the amount paid out in scholarships by the close
of applications in May of the year 2003. That is now only
a year away! Further, the monies would be paid only from voluntary
donations by members after campaign expenses are covered.
The stipulation "voluntary donations" simply means
donations other than from APEGGA and revenues from the annual
Summit AwardsÒ. (Those other monies are needed to cover
the base amounts of a scholarship). This goal recognizes the
very large increase in costs beyond simple inflation to students.
Our scholarships have not kept pace with the increase.
The Goal
We currently offer 36 scholarships for one year at $2,000,
plus six in second year for students in certain education
programs. (This doesn't include the Millenium Scholarship
of $1,500 endowed by APEGGA, but which also needs to be increased).
Our goal translates to $84,000 after expenses, assuming all
scholarships are applied for and awarded. For purposes of
measuring our progress, I've assumed campaign expenses of
$5,000.
The Progress
Voluntary donations (unaudited) to the end of April 2002 total
$11,300. So we have achieved what works out to a 7.5 per cent
increase! I know we will do much better over the year, but
we will need a lot of support to make it 100 per cent.
The Campaign
The campaign is still being formulated but is expected to
consist of creating an increased presence at member events
together with selected mail-outs. We have already had a presence
at the Summit AwardsÒ and the Annual General Meeting.
Now the board is looking at a mail-out to members who graduated
in 1967, on their 35th anniversary, and to those life members
who are grandfathered and do not receive an invoice from APEGGA
with the voluntary donation check-off.
Our campaign expense must necessarily be small because it
is the board's wish to maximize the amounts going towards
the scholarships. As well, the Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency has very strict guidelines on how funds raised can
be used. This is to protect the interests of donors and the
legitimacy of the tax deductions.
In future articles, we will be keeping you posted on our continuing
progress.
|
