The Talon meadowridge alumni newsletter
issue 1
December 3, 2002
What is the Talon? The Talon is the semi-annual newsletter of the Meadowridge Alumni. This year, the sixth class in the history of Meadowridge will be crossing the stage to receive their grade 12 diplomas. The six classes that preceded them have scattered across the lower mainland, the province, the country, and indeed the globe. We hope that this newsletter will keep you connected to the people who, like you, spent some of their most formative years at Meadowridge School. We will also keep you informed of the many ways that you can continue to share in the rich traditions that you helped to establish. This newsletter has been delivered to you via E-mail. Please forward it to any former students or friends of the school who might be interested in reading about the Meadowridge community. Inside each edition you will find a calendar of upcoming events, alumni updates, photos, and current events at Meadowridge. I invite you to submit individual news that you think may be of interest to other members of the Meadowridge community: births, deaths, marriages, degrees, awards, jobs, hobbies, interests, and travel. For questions or comments about the Alumni Association, please contact agraveson@meadowridge.bc.ca Alan Graveson, Director of Advancement
The Annual Holly Ball Gala fundraiser The Annual gala was held on November 23, 2002, and it was the most successful in the history of the school. For the first time, it was a sellout. For the first time, the costs of both the bar and the dinner were covered by parents in the school, which meant that the ticket prices were almost all profit for the school, and the alcohol sales were all profit. For the first time, the sale of our kids’ artwork (ceramics, quilts, scarves, and mosaics) raised over thirty thousand dollars, with, of course, the work of the two youngest classes (JK &K) garnering the most money! And for the first time, the profit from the gala raised more than $110,000.00 !
Hey, look at me! Wouldn’t you like my job?
The gala lived up to our high expectations in every way. The décor was, as always, quite stunning, with a ballroom ceiling hung in the gym, beautifully set tables, drapes over all our walls, a full wooden bar built in the corner, and tables laden with food waiting for us. The food, of course, was excellent, and the band kept the dance floor full all night. Thirty-eight staff members were there, keeping spirits lively, selling fifty-fifty tickets (nearly four thousand dollars worth), helping with the silent and live auctions, and ensuring that things ran smoothly. Mr. Olah kept things moving in his role as MC and Auctioneer, and managed to build the interest in the live auction well, which resulted in thirty-seven thousand dollars being raised in the bidding. The silent auction was lively, filling three walls of the gym with merchandise and services to bid on, as well as the much-coveted class baskets. Many items sold for more than their commercial value, as people were determined to support the school as fully as possible. More than anything, the tone of the evening was exceptional! This was an event which our community had organized; which was supported by donations from our community; which was enhanced by contributions from our kids; which was put together through our labour; and which was dedicated to building an even better school for our children! There was a sense that we all knew each other, and that we were here for a good cause...but also for fun. And we did have fun! All of this was possible because of the work of our Gala Committee, whose names appear on this page, and because of the work of a number of volunteers and contributors whose names we will be publishing in the next week. A special thanks must go to Ann Marie Orser, the Chair of the Gala, and to Anita Perler and Justine Marchand, the co-chairs. These three worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our Gala, and we owe them much thanks. And to everybody who participated in large ways and small, to our kids for their artwork and our parents for their hard work, our staff for their enthusiasm and our friends for their help - Thank you! You have made this a place of warmth and welcome, and you have helped us to build the library of which we dreamed. Hugh Burke, Headmaster
Left: Hollyball Committee members: Margot Olah, Joie Kotylak, Ann Marie Orser, Anita Perler, Al Graveson, Irena Shantz, Cheryl David, Patty Durrance, Dawn Arskey, Sarah Pegg, Eva Boyd, Justine Marchand, Cori Doering, Lee Weber Not present: Shelley Larsen, Marilyn Turner, Maureen Jeknavorian, Debbie Cloutier, Vicki Maksymetz, Rena Cross, Lyn Tyler, and Christine Bickle
Thank You Thanks to Teeara Rawjee for her donation to the Holly Ball. Thanks to Bianca Sprague, Dani Waters, and Kaila Klassen for volunteering at the Holly Ball. Way to go guys!