IT’S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY AND TAKE PART IN THIS GREAT WORKSHOP. PARTICULARLY WHEN MY INVOLVEMENT IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS HAS ALWAYS OCCUPIED SUCH A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY LIFE.
I’D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A MEANINGFUL WORKSHOP WITH SUCH EXCELLENT TOPICS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND JACK NEUMANN FOR THE DECISION OF BRINGING THIS CONFERENCE TO CALGARY.
IT IS VERY SPECIAL FOR ME TO SPEAK AT THIS LUNCHEON WHICH IS RECOGNIZING YOUR MEMBERS FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AND 25 YEAR AWARDS. THESE RECIPIENTS HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO SPORTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE KNOWN ONLY BY NAME IN THE PAST BY NAME.
NOW HAVING MET SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ORGANIZATION IS SO SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD ALSO SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO THANK JACK NEUMANN, WHO I KNOW HAS WORKED SO HARD NOT ONLY TO BRING THIS CONFERENCE TO CALGARY BUT HIS ASSISTANCE TO COSIDA IN MAKING IT SO SUCCESSFUL. JACK IS SO COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, AS JACK IS TO EVERY EVENT THAT HE BECOMES PART OF, AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES IN SPORTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE JACK ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF FAME WHICH, I BELIEVE, TAKES PLACE ON WEDNESDAY.
AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE ALBERTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, I MUST SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA FOR BRINGING THIS EVENT TO CALGARY AND TO THE PROVINCE. IT OBVIOUSLY HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE PROVINCE, AND MOST IMPORTANT, INTRODUCES YOUR FIVE HUNDRED DELEGATES TO OUR BEAUTIFUL PROVINCE INCLUDING BANFF AND LAKE LOUISE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF YOU WILL BE REMAINING FOR THAT GREAT OUTDOOR SHOW - THE CALGARY STAMPEDE… AND IT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE VISIT.
I WOULD BE REMISS AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN OF AEDA IF I DIDN’T GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, AND THE CITY OF CALGARY WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT I KNOW IN TALKING TO PEOPLE AT THE DINNER ON SATURDAY NIGHT THEY FOUND VERY INTERESTING.
ALBERTA IS A PROVINCE OF APPROXIMATELY 3.1 MILLION PEOPLE, WITH APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN EDMONTON, AND 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN CALGARY AND 1.1 MILLION IN THE REST OF THE PROVINCE.
AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR ALBERTA HAD A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE, AND CALGARY HAD A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 100,000 PEOPLE. SO, IN APPROXIMATELY 4O SOME YEARS THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF CALGARY HAS INCREASED 10 TIMES.
WE’VE HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY OF ANY PROVINCE IN CANADA OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, AND ALBERTA AGAIN IN 2004 IS EXPECTED TO LEAD THE NATION IN ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST INVESTMENT PER CAPITA OF ANY PROVINCE IN CANADA, AND WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN CANADA.
OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO OPERATING DEFICIT, AND SOMETIME IN THE LATER PART OF THIS YEAR, OR NEXT YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ELIMINATE ANY DEBT WHICH IT HAS. IT WILL BECOME THE ONLY PROVINCE IN CANADA OPERATING WITH NO DEFICIT AND HAVING NO SHORT OR LONG TERM DEBT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST EDUCATED WORK FORCE IN THE COUNTRY, AND MOST IMPORTANT ALBERTANS HAVE THE LOWEST PERSONAL TAXES IN CANADA AND ALBERTA BUSINESSES HAVE AMONG THE LOWEST BUSINESS TAXES IN CANADA.
OF INTEREST TO YOU I’M SURE, WOULD BE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 50,000 AMERICANS LIVING IN CALGARY.
TO A LARGE DEGREE THE IMMIGRATION INTO CANADA FROM THE UNITED STATES STARTED IN THE LATE 1940’S, WHEN OIL WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN TWO LOCATIONS IN THE PROVINCE.
IT WAS RATHER INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS THE FINANCING OF BUSINESS CAME OUT OF ONTARIO, PARTICULARLY TORONTO. HOWEVER, FINANCING FOR EXPLORATION WAS VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE EASTERN CANADA FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND, IN MANY INSTANCES REFUSED TO FINANCE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION. THUS THE FINANCING OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN ALBERTA CAME FROM THE UNITED STATES. THUS THE IMMIGRATION OF THE AMERICANS INTO ALBERTA STARTED IN THE EARLY 1950S.
TO SHOW YOU HOW PRO-AMERICAN ALBERTA IS, WHEN OUR PAST PRIME MINISTER DID NOT SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES IN IRAQ, OR SEND TROOPS TO IRAQ, OUR PREMIER RALPH KLEIN PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THE UNITED STATES IN IRAQ AS DID THE MAJORITY OF ALBERTANS.
PRESENTLY, THE OILSANDS, WHICH IS A BITUMEN OIL DEPOSIT, LOCATED IN NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA, CONTAIN GREATER OIL RESERVES THAN THE OIL RESERVES IN SAUDIA ARABIA.
PRODUCTION IN THE OILSANDS HAS ALREADY COMMENCED AND BECAUSE OF THE OILSANDS IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC FUTURE IN ALBERTA IS EXTREMELY POSITIVE. OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS 55 BILLON DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT IN DEVELOPING FUTURE PRODUCTION FROM THE OILSANDS, WITH THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SPENDING OVER THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS ESTIMATED TO BE 90 BILLION DOLLARS. THE OILSANDS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A SAFE, SECURE ENERGY SUPPLY, FOR ALL OF NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS OR MORE.
SO THE PEOPLE IN ALBERTA ARE FORTUNATE INDEED TO BE LIVING IN A PROVINCE WITH SUCH A GREAT FUTURE.
THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA ARE FIRST, OBVIOUSLY OIL AND GAS; SECONDLY, THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY; THIRD, THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY WHICH IS CONCENTRATED MOSTLY IN NORTHERN ALBERTA AND OUR FOURTH LARGEST INDUSTRY IS TOURISM.
ONCE AGAIN AS I MENTIONED THE DECISION TO BRING THE COSIDA CONFERENCE TO CALGARY AND ALBERTA IN 2004 PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT PART IN OUR FOURTH LARGEST INDUSTRY TOURISM. WE HOPE THAT YOUR VISIT TO CALGARY WILL LEAD TO MORE TOURISM OCCURRING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR VISIT AND WE HAVE TREATED YOU WELL AND THAT YOU MAY SPREAD THE GOOD WORD BACK HOME ABOUT ALBERTA.
BECAUSE SPORTS HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME, I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK A LITTLE BIT TODAY, ABOUT THE VALUE OF ATHLETICS AT POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, AND WHAT I FEEL IS THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND MOST IMPORTANT OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT COLORADO COLLEGE WAS AT FIRST A VERY FRIGHTENING ONE, BECAUSE I LEFT HOME AT THE AGE OF 17 NEVER HAVING BEEN AWAY FROM HOME, AND TOOK A 30 HOUR BUS TRIP FROM CALGARY TO COLORADO SPRINGS WHERE I WAS ON A HOCKEY SCHOLARSHIP. BUT I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT I RECEIVED WHILE I WAS AT COLORADO COLLEGE.
HOWEVER, WHAT MADE IT EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING WAS THAT AS I HAD A SENIOR MATRICULATION FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN CANADA, AND SKIPPED ONE YEAR IN GRADE SCHOOL, I WAS PUT INTO SECOND YEAR ENGINEERING.
WELL ANYBODY OF COURSE WHO HAS TAKEN AN ENGINEERING DEGREE, WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE PUT INTO SECOND YEAR ENGINEERING, WITHOUT FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING.
FORTUNATELY FOR ME ALTHOUGH, I AM SURE MY ACADEMIC PROWESS OR LACK THEREOF HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, THE ENGINEERING FACULTY WAS CLOSED AT THE END OF MY FIRST YEAR AT COLORADO COLLEGE. SO FORTUNATELY I HAD TO TRANSFER INTO ANOTHER FACULTY AND I SELECTED AS MY NEW MAJOR, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WHICH I EVENTUALLY GRADUATED IN.
MY EDUCATION OBVIOUSLY TOOK AN EVEN MORE ABRUPT TURN A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN I WAS ASKED IF I COULD BE A WALK ON AND TRY OUT FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM. DURING MY SECOND YEAR MY BODY SIZE CHANGED (WITHOUT ANY ADDITIVES) AND MY WEIGHT INCREASED FROM 180 POUNDS TO 220 DURING THAT ACADEMIC YEAR AND I AM SURE WAS THE INFLUENCING FACTOR FOR MY MIND SHIFT.
THROUGH MORE GOOD LUCK THAN ATHLETIC ABILITY, I MADE THE TEAM AND BECAME A REGULAR WHEN WE WON THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE. I STILL HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF OUR HEAD COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JERRY CARLE.
AT THAT TIME I WAS IN MY LAST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY AND I WAS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND FELT I WAS MUCH, MUCH TOO YOUNG TO GET OUT INTO THE WORK FORCE AND DECIDED I WOULD ATTEND LAW SCHOOL. MUCH TO MY PARENTS CHAGRIN.
I WAS ACCEPTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WHERE I PLAYED FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY. IN UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA, AT THAT TIME, YOU WERE STILL ELIGIBLE TO PLAY EVEN IF YOU HAD A DEGREE FROM THE U.S. AS LONG AS YOU HADN’T PLAYED FOUR YEARS OF THE SPORT.
AFTER MY FIRST YEAR AT UBC I PLAYED IN THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE WHILE COMPLETING LAW SCHOOL.
ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES AT COLORADO COLLEGE AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CONFIRMED TO ME WHAT AN IMPORTANT PART ATHLETICS WAS IN MY EDUCATION.
MY EXPERIENCES CONVINCES ME THAT PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS AT UNIVERSITY, PROVIDES THE FORMATIVE YEARS AND THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH ALL OUR ATHLETES LIVES DEVELOP.
AND I LOOK BACK ON MY YEARS OF PLAYING UNIVERSITY SPORTS WITH FOND MEMORIES.
SPORTS IS DEFINED IN WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY AS A SOURCE OF DIVERSION, OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN FOR PLEASURE. I FEEL THAT DEFINITION IS SO SHALLOW IT TOTALLY MISSES THE MARK.
I SEE THE DEFINITION OF SPORTS AS HAVING A FAR MORE PROFOUND IMPACT AND BENEFIT THAN JUST DIVERSION, AND PLEASURE.
UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS, MEETS A TREMENDOUS NEED BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG STUDENTS, TO DEVELOP THE NECESSARY QUALITIES THAT PREPARE THEM NOT ONLY FOR THE BUSINESS WORLD, BUT FOR LIFE ITSELF - QUALITIES THEY DO NOT AND CANNOT TEACH IN THE CLASSROOM.
IN OUR LAW FIRM WE ALWAYS REVIEW QUALIFICATIONS FOR STUDENTS BASED NOT ONLY ON GRADES, BUT EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, WITH PARTICIPATING IN UNIVERSITY SPORTS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION.
AND, I KNOW THAT MANY CORPORATIONS TAKE A SIMILAR VIEW.
I MIGHT ALSO MENTION THAT OUR LAW FIRM'S COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUATION OF THE BLG AWARDS, BLG IS THE ABBREVIATION FOR THE NAME OF OUR LAW FIRM BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS, WHICH AWARDS WILL CELEBRATE ITS 13TH ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT NEXT MAY, IS AN INDICATION OF HOW STRONGLY WE FEEL ABOUT ATHLETICS AT UNIVERSITY. WHEN THESE AWARDS WERE DEVELOPED I WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO UNIVERSITY SPORT AND AT THE SAME TIME, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, RECOGNIZE OUR GREAT UNIVERSITY ATHLETES AND PROGRAMS.
I STUDIED THE HEISMAN TROPHY CONCEPT, AND FROM THAT DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM THAT LEADS TO SELECTING THE TOP ATHLETE (MEN & WOMEN) IN EACH CANADIAN UNIVERSITY, WHO THEN COMPETE FOR THE HONOR IN THEIR CONFERENCE, AND FROM THERE WE BRING THE FINALIST TO CALGARY FOR A LIVE ONE-HOUR TELEVISION SHOW ON TSN. THE WINNERS RECEIVE GRADUATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS.
OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM TO DATE IS WELL OVER $1 MILLION AND WORTH EVERY PENNY, WHEN WE SEE THE WONDERFUL QUALITIES OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
I BELIEVE THAT SPORTS, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, TAUGHT ME WHAT I FEEL ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES IN MY LIFE, AND MY CAREER.
IT IS SIMPLE - SPORTS TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A TEAM PLAYER.
AND BEING A TEAM PLAYER TO ME MEANS:
CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.
GIVING OTHER PEOPLE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
LEARNING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND APPRECIATING THEIR VIEWS AND ABILITIES.
SPORTS ALSO TAUGHT ME HOW TO COMPETE, AND DEAL WITH COMPETITION, AND ISN’T BUSINESS AND LIFE ALL ABOUT COMPETITION.
SPORTS IS ALL ABOUT BEING FLEXIBLE AND ACCEPTING CHANGE - A BASIC NEED FOR SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND LIFE TODAY....
SPORTS DEVELOPS ENTHUSIASM. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN ATHLETE WHO SUCCEEDED WITHOUT BEING ENTHUSIASTIC?
I AGREE WITH THE 200 EXECUTIVES WHO WERE RECENTLY ASKED “WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY FOR A PERSON TO EXPRESS IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS, AND 80% RESPONDED “ENTHUSIASM”.
ATHLETICS IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH TEAM MATES, COACHES ADMINISTRATORS AND MEDIA.
YOU PEOPLE ARE IN THE COMMUNICATION BUSINESS, AND TO ME IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO SUCCEED. IF YOU CAN’T COMMUNICATE SUCCESS IN LIFE, BUSINESS OR FOR THAT MATTER MARRIAGE MAY BE FILLED WITH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
COMMUNICATION IN THE LAW BUSINESS NEVER USED TO BE IMPORTANT. DRIVEN MOSTLY BY COMPETITION IT IS A QUALITY NOW THAT LAWYERS DESPERATELY NEED TO SUCCEED.
SPORTS ALSO TAUGHT ME HOW TO OVERCOME WHAT SOMETIMES APPEARS TO BE INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS. SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES DON’T KNOW THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD QUIT.
TO A SUCCESSFUL ATHLETE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN IMPOSSIBLE OR A NO WIN SITUATION. JUST THINK OF WHAT THE CALGARY FLAMES LEARNED THIS YEAR FROM THEIR STANLEY CUP RUN. THEY MAY NOT BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, BUT THEY CERTAINLY DON’T ACCEPT INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS OR IMPOSSIBLE OBSTACLES.
BUT MOST OF ALL FOOTBALL TAUGHT ME HOW TO GET OFF MY BUTT, AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST TEMPORARY SETBACKS - TURNING OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY OWN DESTINY.
THE WORD QUIT IS NOT IN AN ATHLETE’S VOCABULARY!
AND ISN’T THAT WHAT LIFE AND BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT?
ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD AND STILL HAS A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON MY CAREER WAS MY FOOTBALL COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (THE LATE) FRANK GNUP.
HE TREATED EVERY ONE OF HIS PLAYERS LIKE FAMILY, BUT MOST OF ALL, FOR HIS "BOYS" AS HE REFERRED TO OF ALL OF US, HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP OR ASSIST US. HE ALSO, MUCH TO OUR CHAGRIN READ OUR TRANSCRIPTS LIKE A BIBLE.
AND YET, WHAT WAS MOST OBVIOUS TO ME WAS THAT HE PERSONALLY NEVER ASKED FOR, NOR WANTED, NOR EXPECTED, ANYTHING IN RETURN. ALL HE WANTED WAS FOR HIS BOYS TO GRADUATE.
BUT IN RETURN HE GOT AN UNEQUIVOCAL, UNWAVERING SENSE OF COMMITMENT, THE ULTIMATE PLAYER’S ATTITUDE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE COACH, AN ATTITUDE SO CRITICAL TO SUCCESS IN LIFE. HE WAS ABOUT COMMUNICATING WITH AND HELPING OTHERS.
HE WAS TO ME THE EPITOME OF A TEAM PLAYER AND LEADER BECAUSE HIS MORALS AND ETHICS WERE IMPECCABLE.
AND TO THIS DAY HE REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN MY LIFE AND BECAUSE OF MY APPRECIATION, ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR HIM HE DEVELOPED IN ME A GREAT SENSE OF LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT TO MY ALMA MATTER AND UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS.
I KNOW THE SPORTS INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS WRESTLE WITH THE ISSUE OF ATHLETICS AND PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF SOME TURBULENT TIMES WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST IN UNIVERSITY SPORTS SCANDALS, ETC.
BUT WHAT WE NEED IS MORE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO CONFIRM HOW IMPORTANT ATHLETICS IS TO A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
TOO OFTEN WHEN UNIVERSITY BUDGETS ARE REVIEWED OR REDUCED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS SEEM TO BE A FAVOURITE TARGET. OR WHEN A SCANDAL TAKES PLACE THE SOLUTION OF THE KNOW IT ALLS IS TO ELIMINATE ATHLETICS AT UNIVERSITIES COMPLETELY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
WHEN THE ENRON, GLOBAL CROSSING AND NORTEL CORPORATE SCANDALS ERUPTED WAS THE ANSWER TO START ABANDONING ALL CORPORATIONS. NO. THE SOLUTION WAS TO ENSURE THE REST OF THE CORPORATE WORLD PLAYED BY THE RULES.
AND THAT IS WHERE THE ROLE OF THE SIDS IS SO IMPORTANT. WE MUST CONTINUE TO GET ALL THE GREAT ATHLETIC SUCCESS STORIES IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. IT ISN’T EASY WHEN BAD NEWS SEEMS TO STEAL ALL THE HEADLINES.
I MENTIONED EARLIER HOW IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION IS NOT ONLY IN BUSINESS BUT IN LIFE AND EVEN MARRIAGE.
I AM ALSO ENCOURAGED BY HOW MUCH MORE FOCUSED UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA HAVE BECOME ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS INFORMATION PERSONNEL.
I KNOW SOME UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA IN THE PAST MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A PERSON IN THE DEPARTMENT BUT THAT HAS BEEN CHANGING.
MEDIA EXPOSURE IS A TOUGH COMPETITIVE BUSINESS, AND IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION FROM YOU PEOPLE TO HAVE THE MEDIA GET THE STORY RIGHT.
AND AS ROSA GATTI SAID ON SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN SHE SPOKE, THAT SPORT INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION MUST BE SEPARATED AND BE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
EVEN OUR LAW FIRM BELIEVE IT OR NOT KNOWS THE VALUE OF COMMUNICATION AS WE HAVE NOW SET UP A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT FROM OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT.
DESPITE THE EVOLUTION IN COMMUNICATION AS THE RESULT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING EMAIL THE INTERNET AND WHATEVER ELSE MAY BE INVENTED.
NOTHING EVER, EVER, WILL REPLACE PERSONAL CONTACT.
YOU CAN USE WHATEVER TECHNOLOGICAL METHOD YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME BUT PERSONAL CONTACT WILL ALWAYS WIN OUT, UNDER EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, A LIVE VOICE OR REAL LIVE FACE WILL NEVER BE REPLACED.
AND THAT IS WHY SPORTS INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS WILL NEVER BE REPLACED BY FACELESS TECHNOLOGY.
WITH ALL THE INCREASED TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITION YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK HARDER AND LONGER
BUT WHEN YOU STOP AND REFLECT AND SEE THE RESULTS OF YOUR LABOR OF LOVE, IN ALL OUR GREAT ATHLETIC GRADUATES AND FUTURE LEADERS, I AM SURE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FEEL IT IS ALL SO WORTH WHILE.
THANK YOU.