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Goodbye to Bill Gerecum
Sixty-three good friends turned out December 17 to say goodbye to Bill Gerecum, who is taking early retirement from his post as Project Coordinator in the Physical Resources Department.
Bill was involved with the construction of the Henry F. Hall Building, 32 years ago, and was then hired by Sir George Williams University.
"He's a charming person, always joking," said his colleague Michel Daigneault, who spent seven hours making a big composite photo of everyone at the party to give to Bill as a memento.
Honorary degree nominations are being sought for convocation ceremonies of the 1999-2000 academic year.
All members of the Concordia University community (faculty, students, staff and alumni) are invited to submit nominations. Please note that current members of the faculty, the administration or the Board of Governors are not eligible to receive honorary degrees. Every nomination must include a detailed curriculum vitae and a succinct statement explaining (i) why the nominator thinks the candidate is worthy of the honour, and (ii) what makes the candidate an appropriate honorand for Concordia University. The nomination deadline for convocation ceremonies to be held in the upcoming academic year is 31 March 1999.
Nomination forms, as well as the criteria used in selecting honorands, are available from Huguette Albert in the Office of the Registrar, S-LB-700 (phone 848-2622). Completed forms should be submitted to her attention as Secretary of the Graduation Ceremonies Committee. If the nominee is clearly Faculty-specific, please send a copy of the form to the Assistant of the Dean in the appropriate Faculty.
No, she didn't sign away our summer vacations. At last fall's EXTRAvaganza auction at the Molson Centre, Debra Vanasse's husband Paul, an active fundraiser and alumnus (L 77) bought her the right to be Rector for a day. With the indulgence of Rector Frederick Lowy (above) and his staff, she exercised her privilege last Thursday. A labour relations consultant working in a law office, Vanesse enjoyed her day at Concordia, meeting admin- istrators and asking questions. "I loved it," she said. "I didn't have any idea how much went into running a university."
Remember the contest we announced to dream up ideas for 25th anniversary projects? Fifty-five ideas were received, ranging from lectures and concerts to statues and walking tours. The committee is wading through them now, trying to decide on winners, and will make an announcement soon.
If you missed that deadline, the senior administration has issued another challenge. Departments are being asked to suggest 25th anniversary projects. Winning departments will receive a $2,000 bonus to spend as they wish.
This familiar scene was kindly sent to us by the artist, John Miller. He retired three years ago after 30 years at Concordia, including serving on the Board of Governors and several committees, and chairing the Department of Painting and Drawing. "I have been painting pretty consistently ever since my retirement, with people as my subject," professor Miller writes from his home in Stanstead. "This painting is from a series I hope to show eventually in Montreal."
