We have just closed out our fiscal year and are in the process of preparing for our Annual General Meeting in June of this year. If you want to help shape the future of the association and work to set direction for the community, please plan on attending on Saturday, June 18.
Given the challenges of the past two years, the Board of Directors has agreed to simplify our goals for this year and is recommending a very streamlined focus at the next AGM. There are three areas that require the community’s attention: the rink boards, fundraising, and a focus on community events.
There is a project to replace the rink boards before 2024. As described previously, the rink board material did not last its expected lifespan. The boards are prone to breakage, leaving holes and sharp edges that would prevent using the rink or its surface. We secured replacement boards from another rink, but they are the same material and won’t last when used. The greatest challenge we are facing is to fill the project fund so that it can be topped-up by a grant from the Flames Foundation. Due to the rules around the grant process and the fund administration, until the full project funds are in place, we cannot begin reconstruction.
That leads to our second focus area: fundraising. The Board recognizes that our main revenue activity – sports programming – was severely curtailed due to the restrictions of the past two years. As of February and March, we are moving out of the need for restrictions on outdoor activities and are looking forward to working with North Calgary Football Club to run soccer for members of HVCA. After a very successful ice hockey season, we plan on running a connected ball hockey program.
We do have a date for our AGLC casino, the weekend after our AGM in June, and we have more information in the newsletter and on our website. We need your help to volunteer for a shift or two. If we do not have enough volunteers to manage the casino that weekend, the Board will need to cut back or put on hold the rink and playground projects, sports, and other programming and events through 2023 and 2024.
We will be running at least one 50/50 raffle this year. Timing is an issue as many organizations are trying to run such raffles to raise funds, and we are trying to maximize our raffles’ effectiveness and avoiding direct competition with other associations in our area.
Our final focus area is to pick and choose the events we can provide to residents and to make sure that HVCA members are getting extra value out of the events we do put on. This year, we are not hosting a community clean up event with the City. Last year’s event was successful, but it created traffic and other problems that we do not have the resources to manage this year. Winterfest was delayed due to changes in Provincial Health guidelines and non-wintery weather, and the backup date of March was not achievable due to planning and execution constraints in February and March. We are committed to a public, fall event recognizing our 25th anniversary, with a members-only component. And with sports running again, we are also planning on a sports-wind up, as a celebration for members who participated in our sports programming.
With our budget prepared and our business plan laser-focused, we are planning for a great 2022-2023.
Neill C.
VP HVCA
