WHS Alumni Activities Committee

Monday - August 2: The WHS Alumni Activities Committee held a meeting this past Monday evening at the Alumni Center. Activities Committee President Kenny DeLauder presided.

Before reporting on the meeting we must point out a distinction that we failed to realize ourselves until recently. There are two separate distinct committees for Wellsville alumni. The difference was explained to us during the All-Class Reunion preparations and unless you're actively involved with either committee the difference is vague for many to realize. Like us, many are of the mind that Wellsville alumni are Wellsville alumni - same, same. Au contraire...

The two separate groups are the WHS Alumni Activity Committee and the WHS Alumni Committee. The Activity Committee is responsible for running and maintaining the Alumni Center on 3rd St. They also organize and put on the 5 Year reunions. They have their own slate of officers and financial accounts. All officers are strictly volunteer. They are non-profit and every bit of income goes right back into building maintenance or is socked away in savings for the next reunion. If we understand it correctly any profit realized from the reunion is kept in a separate account for seed money for the next reunion. Their sole source of income to pay the utilities and upkeep on the Center is rental fees taken in for the hall and their monthly spaghetti dinners. There's an occasional fund raiser event such as the Irish tenor they hosted last year. Membership is open to any WHS alumni.

The WHS Alumni Committee has a separate slate of officers and their main goal is to conduct the Scholarship fund raising and distribution. They are the committee with the big bucks. They are the ones that invest any money left to Wellsville to establish scholarships to graduating students. It was announced at their Scholarship Luncheon on July 3 that since they started in 1989 they have awarded 198 scholarships over the years totaling $364,250. With interest earned through money market accounts, annuities and Certificates of Deposit they manage over $1 million in investments. Each year they distribute 25% of the scholarship funds that are awarded at the annual Class Day ceremony. For the WHS Class of 2010 that amounted to 17 different students being awarded $45,000 in scholarships and book grants. The Alumni Committee is also a non-profit organization with a slate of volunteer officers.

As we said there is a distinct difference between the two groups that many fail to realize and that includes Village officials who recently sent a bill to the Alumni Committee. The bill was for $5,974.22 for security provided during four day All-Class Reunion. Dated July 20 the bill was delivered to the Activities Committee and came as quite a surprise. There was no prior arrangements or agreements, either verbal or in writing, between Village officials and the Activities Committee to provide any special security for the reunion. At Monday's meeting it was announced that it was previously agreed to make a generous donation to the Police Dept. Members of the Activities Committee met with Wellsville officials last week and were told they would have to take it up with Village Council, which they planned to do. We'll have more on that later but we did learn last evening that the bill was the total cost of salaries & benefits for all the officers that worked during the reunion. When benefits are included the cost nearly doubles the wages that are paid.

At Monday's meeting it was reported that bills for the reunion are still coming in and an exact accounting for the reunion won't be available until later. Also reported was the rental for the hall is doing very well this year with nearly every week-end booked. The Banquet Room rents for $225 per event. If both rooms are reserved the cost goes up to $275. The cost for the DeLauder Room is just $75 per event. There is also a $75 deposit required when making the reservation. Jo Ann Tipton is in charge of scheduling the rentals.

Tickets are available for the Steve Creaturo Benefit scheduled for Saturday, August 21. Tickets are $10 apiece and are available from any member of the Activities Committee or the Lip Sync All-Stars. The ticket includes a home made baked chicken dinner with all the trimmings.

Also announced was that the monthly spaghetti dinners will resume in September. The first is scheduled for September 15. The dinner includes spaghetti & homemade meatballs and sauce plus salad and drink. The dinners are scheduled the third Wednesday of every month.

Although not related to the Activities Committee it was announced that members of the WHS Lady Tigers Basketball boosters club raised enough funds selling pop and water during the All-Class Reunion to buy the team shoes for the 2010-2011 season. Thanks were expressed for all that volunteered their time and to all that supported their efforts.

Prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery were sent out to Jack Call & Theresa Morgan Betz.

Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 7 at 7:30 P.M. at the Alumni Center on 3rd St.

ole nib