The Buzz - June 1st, 2015

 
This week we hear from University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, Dean Alan Berger with his annual update to our club.
 
 
The Buzz – June 1, 2015
By Ray Hook
 
1.         President David called the meeting to order at 11:45 am.
 
2.        Guests today were Dean Allan Burger (U of A Augustana Campus) and Bree Urkow (Alumni and Development Office).
 
3.         Health of the Club – we are well, but Darcy was asked to give us a brief summary of his heart “issue” during the canoe trip with the PACE students. Darcy suffered an angina attack while loading up his canoe on the second last day, and with quick reaction from the Augustana staff, he was picked up by shopper and flown to Red Deer hospital for a 6 day stay and lots of tests. He is recovering and today was his first day back at work. All members wish Darcy a speedy recovery!
4.         Announcements
            a.         Carman reported a successful Butterfly Park clean-up last week and Phase 2 will happen this Wednesday, starting about 5 pm.
            b.         Dan M reminded all interested members of the wrap-up meeting for our Gala at his place on Thursday (bar-b-que provided!).
            c.         Al R was asking for BVJ parade judges for Jul 30th – volunteers are: Kim, Jim R, Tony, Paul P, Ray and Dawn.  More details will follow  - other than 0830 am on the 30th and golf carts provided, plus a ticket to the Kick-Off party for judges.
            d.         Morris reported that our Casino back in January netted the Club $18,961.24 – he was a bit disappointed in the amount, but still, it is more than we had before the Casino!!!
 
5.         Business  
            a.         President Dave brought forth last week’s Notice of Motion re the Bailey Theatre Historical Artifacts Display case as follows MOTION 1 – It was moved by David T, seconded by Tony that the Club support the Bailey Theatre Historical Society Display Cabinet project with a grant of $9000, with the vote to be called at the June 1st meeting.  (Editor’s note – the amount quoted in last week’s Buzz was incorrect and should have reads $9,000.)
Both the motion’s mover and seconder were invited to speak to the motion, and spoke of their support for the cause. A secret ballot was held and the motion CARRIED (15 Ayes, 5 Nays).
Al R then offered some comment about the Club’s handling of the grant money from our 90th and suggested that we could do a better job of letting the Community know what we have done. He said that he was himself not fully aware of where all of our support did go. Food for thought for our Executive….
 
6.         Greeter David S suggested that, as he was very happy today and feeling so munificent, he would not proffer any fines. The Happy Buck response was good – Dawn, Dan Macp, David T, Tony, Kim, Jim, Paul, Randall, Bonnie and David S were all happy! 
 
7.         Guest Speaker
Bonnie was then invited to introduce Dean Burger for his annual “Report to Rotary”. The Dean is now in his fifth year at Augustana Campus, and having recently hosted their annual Spring Soiree, he had lots to report, both old and some new.
Dean Burger expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to address Rotary again this year – something that he always looked forward to. We are in an interesting period of change right now, with a newly elected Provincial government and possibly new or different policies, to getting to know our new MLA Bruce Hinkley, especially after such a great relationship with the very supportive Verlyn Olson, to a new U of A President David Turpin from Victoria, and a new Provost – huge changes this year, and much to look forward to. As well, Augustana will experience several retirements within their faculty and staff – again with exciting possibilities for change – with the faculty’s first ever aboriginal historian to the new science chair/professor (from Norway) – and a leading researcher in his field combining Religion and Ecology, to new buildings..!
Dr. Burger did add his thanks to all Rotarians who helped support the new Performing Arts Centre. He enthusiastically mentioned the opening of a new Research Station at Miquelon Provincial Park later this summer. The research station will host a wide range of activities to engage local, regional and national communities. And there was more – including the construction of Augustana’s aboriginal gathering place – “Wahkohtowin Lodge” on the lower level of the Augustana Forum. This space, when complete, will give our aboriginal students and all students, a place to gather, share, learn frm each other and conduct educational programing. Despite this being such an exciting project, Augustana finds itself faced with about a $250,000 budget shortfall. The Dean would be pleased if any Rotarians could help identify any major corporations or contacts with deep pockets who may be of future assistance in this venture!
The next major development on campus is the rebuild of Founder’s Hall. After briefly reviewing the long and storied history of the use of Founder’s Hall, Dean Burger then spoke to the status of the modernizing and re-design of the space. As part of the “re-design”, the Dean outlined his vision of re-designing the whole process of student academic advising, with the aim to address and support the students’ longer term view – in that he felt it was the university campus’s duty or responsibility to provide more than advice on what classes to take, or what courses a student might need for a particular degree – such as to help students prepare for their longer term dream or vision – all this to happen within the confines of the new Founder’s Hall..
As to where Augustana Campus is going in the near future, Dean Burger said that enrolment growth is still their biggest issue. Ensuring that they maintain the quality of the education offered, which is mostly dependent upon quality facilities (i.e. science labs), they expect to grow by about 200 students over the next few years, and reach the1600 to 2000 level as a steady state. Augustana’s vision is clear.
 
During the Q & A session, the need for new science labs, classrooms and office space was reinforced by the Dean. On the positive side, this project is the highest priority in all of the U of A’s infrastructure list, but with a price tag of from $90 - $110 million, they will definitely need Government support. In either case, this project will need to be done in phases, as teaching must go on simultaneously with construction.
The Dean was thanked by President David.
 
8.         The weekly 50/50 draw was won by Lou, and David S drew her card in her absence – no luck this week!
 
9.         At next week’s meeting we will be joined by the Rotary Exchange Students after their canoe trip. The meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m.