| Galion Alumni Association - 2009 Review |
| Friday, 01 January 2010 | |
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The Galion Alumni Association was a part of a transformation that brought together several civic organizations to seek the means of enhancing the support for the Galion City School System by those involved. In the early spring, a committee was formed with representatives from the Galion Alumni Association, the Galion Community Education Foundation, the Galion Tiger Alumni Band, the Galion Community Center/YMCA, the Galion Community Foundation, the Galion Booster Club, the Galion Parent Teacher Organizations and members of the Galion City School System. The efforts of this group in 2009 resulted in a Galion Connections Weekend that spanned three days, September 24th through September 26th. The events during this period included a welcome back reception for participants in the event, a career day for students featuring former Galion graduates from many different fields, Homecoming Game and halftime show, a golf outing, and the first class of inductees in to the Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame Banquet. The proceeds from this weekend event will be earmarked for the planning and construction of a Center for the Arts on the Galion City School Campus. Each of these different activities was sponsored primarily by different organizations within the group with assistance of the other groups. The Galion Alumni Association was the primary sponsor of the Hall of Fame ceremonies. The selection of the inductees was made by a committee comprised of individuals from the participating groups. The driving forces behind the Alumni Association efforts were Brian Treisch, President, Joe Kleinknecht, Vice President, and Doug Schilling, Board Member. Other members of the board were involved in the behind the scenes activities that helped make the inaugural Hall of Fame presentation a success. The Alumni Association hopes to continue and expand the role of the Hall of Fame in 2010.
During 2009, there were other efforts made to increase the membership of the Alumni Association. We saw the number of Life Memberships grow to forty four. Paid Annual memberships remained solid at around 100, with hopes of doing better in 2010. We extend our gratitude to those who have supported our mission. Membership in the Galion Alumni Association is an opportunity to provide needed support to the school the helped each and everyone us in years gone by. We will be starting our membership drive early in 2010. Please join us in these efforts, both financially and by being actively involved.
We have maintained an active website, where a lot of the questions that you may have can be found. We provide a method of announcing Class Reunions. All of our website services are free. We have successfully participated in reuniting lost family members and friends during 2009.
The Alumni Association provided funds to pay for breakfasts during testing week at the schools. We helped the Drama Department by purchasing space in their program. We purchased space in the Spy Yearbook and donated to a Special School Fund for school Supplies. Seed money was provided to help with the initial expenses involved with the Connections Weekend. In 2010, we will be looking at other projects within the school system where we can contribute to the education of all Galion students. In the near future we are planning on being actively involved in the raising of funds necessary to build the Center for the Arts, which will include an auditorium for the performing arts. This will be no small task.
Sources of income to provide for those activities included membership dues, selling raffle tickets in partnership of the Galion Tiger Alumni Band, ant the sales of historical school coins and old yearbooks. Other sources of income will be explored during 2010.
It is important to stress, that all of the members of this organization are unpaid volunteers, and that all funds are used to cover expenses or are distributed to projects that benefit the Galion City Schools, its students and the Galion Community. |