Page 7 - GBC Spring 2017 eng

photos © gauthier photographe
Jeff Calderwood and Gilles Debut present Bill Brown with a cheque in the amount of his original contribution to the Association, plus interest, at the recent Conference.
Departing members of the National Board at Whistler (left to right) Bill Brown, Gavin Fitzpatrick, Don MacKay, Al Helmer, Alon Shatil, Andy Hedley, and Gilles Debut.
regulation, the NGCOA Canada has never been busier advocating on behalf of the best interests of golf courses throughout Canada.
Along the way, there have been many people who have contributed to the success of your Association, starting with all who have served on our boards or worked diligently on our staff team. Of particular note at this time, we recognized the following outgoing board members during our recent Conference in Whistler:
Gilles Debut completed his term as NGCOA Canada President after providing two years of exceptional leadership. His depar- ture speech was every bit as passionate as his acceptance speech at the beginning of his term, expressing his deep appre- ciation for the game of golf, the business we are in, and his love of the people we are so fortunate to work with. Gilles now continues on as Past-President.
Departing the board were Andy Hedley, Alon Shatil, Al Helmer, Ivan Alderice, Gavin Fitzpatrick, Don MacKay, and Bill Brown. Each of them had served as Chapter Presidents prior to their terms on the National Board, and both Don Mackay and Bill Brown had also served as NGCOA Canada Presidents.
Bill Brown was one of the original Founding Members and made a $1000 donation 25 years ago to provide some seed money for us to work with. So, as we thanked him for all that he had done over the years, we presented him with a cheque for his original contribution plus interest, $1511. The gentleman that he is, Bill promptly stepped up to the mic and donated the $1511 right back to the NGCOA Canada.
These individuals are great leaders! And, they are all volunteers. On behalf of the NGCOA Canada membership, we publicly thank each of them for their many years of dedicated service on our boards.
We are in good hands as we embark on the next 25 years! Steve Spratt was elected NGCOA Canada President, and you will read his introduction message in this issue of our Magazine.
Lesley McMahon was elected Vice-President, and Harry Brotchie was elected Secretary-Treasurer. All three of these Officers have served multiple terms on our National Board and were previously Chapter Presidents, so their governance experience combined with each being successful golf course owners will serve us all well.
All the best for a successful 2017 golf season ahead!
Jeff Calderwood, CEO NGCOA Canada jcalderwood@ngcoa.ca
Golf Business Canada
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