United Way Estevan had a successful year, accomplishing many of the goals they set out for in 2014.
During the United Way’s annual general meeting on March 27, outgoing president Doug McDavid said that it was an honour to be the president.
He also reflected that, throughout the past year, he accomplished the goals that he set out to do.
One of the goals included getting more board members. There were 17 when he first became president and that number grew to 25, although, recently, that number dropped to 22.
“Unfortunately, a few of our long term members wanted to go on to something else, as they put in 10, 20, 30 years’ worth of work for the United Way,” McDavid said.
McDavid also wanted to raise the United Way’s profile within the Estevan area, and let the community know the kind of work their member agencies do within the city.
This year, the United Way is teaming up with Access Communications to do a series of television broadcasts for their 17 member agencies.
Once a week, two membership agencies will be featured in a half-hour program. There will be ten shows.
“We’ll interview them about what they do and they’ll talk about how the United Way supports their program, and we’ll actually show out there in the community where the money (from the United Way Telethon) is going,” McDavid said.
He also added, that just before the telethon on October 16 and 17, Access will air reruns of all the shows.
McDavid’s final objective was to exceed the goal they put in place for the United Way Telethon. The goal was $340,000 and by the end of 2014, McDavid said the total was up to $410,000.
Most of the funding each member agency requested they received, noted McDavid.
Incoming President Wendy Gustafson’s goals also include working together as a team to meet their financial goal at the telethon. She said their member agencies depend on that money to give back to the community.
During her speech, she put a lot of emphasis on “team.” She wants the organization to work together, especially when it comes to their three community impact projects; Annual Day of Caring, the Hillcrest Breakfast Club and the ECS Challenge Day.
Gustafson talked about encouraging one another throughout the next year, and to have the availability to accomplish the goals they set forth.
Another one of her goals as president is to be a good mentor.
“I want to make sure that everybody is included and (I) just (want to be) a good team leader,” she said.
She also mentioned the board members act as mentors to each other.
“We have to remember to take the time and be mentors to people in our group because these are the people that we are teaching to be our future leaders.”
The Day of Caring event is on June 10, and Gustafson said she is excited.
“That is just a really nice way for the community to get together and help those that can’t do some projects in their home.”
