UNews - Pronghorn Athletics

Red Nose just one way U of L connects with southern Alberta

trevor.kenney — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:44:34 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is an indelible part of the southern Alberta community and there's no better time than the holiday season to celebrate that connection.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is connected to its community through a variety of programs, many of which are charitable in nature. One of its highest profile campaigns is the annual Operation Red Nose, which is a mutually beneficial program.

It's the 15th season for Operation Red Nose at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the demand for their services continues to be on the upswing. That's good news for Pronghorn Athletics, who both administers and then reaps the benefits of the annual designated driving program.

"All of the money we get in from tips goes directly back to our teams and there are a number of different ways they use that money," says Sandy Slavin, executive director, Sport and Recreation Services. "Whether it's going on a training camp, supplementing their meal allowances, used for an exhibition tournament or getting extra gear for their players, it's all very beneficial."

Other initiatives through which the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ supports the community include an annual United Way campaign; the recent MS Awareness Game Night that raised money for the local Multiple Sclerosis Society from ticket sales at a Pronghorn basketball game; the Chillin' for Charity event that raised more than $15,000 for the local United Way chapter; Faculty of Education students filling and donating backpacks to local area children in need; the annual YWCA Christmas hamper campaign that sees individual ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ units support local families in need with Christmas gifts and essentials; and the Sport and Recreation Services Sock and Mitten Drive for the local homeless shelter.

Operation Red Nose was created in 1984 in Quebec City, offering holiday revelers the opportunity to be driven home in their own vehicles, free of charge. It has become a holiday tradition, both for the volunteers who work the program and the many people in southern Alberta who use its services.

Operation Red Nose began Friday, Nov. 27 and runs each Thursday through Saturday night to Dec. 19. It then runs again on New Year's Eve. Volunteers wishing to take part in the program can e-mail Sandy Slavin at slavin@uleth.ca or call Pronghorn Athletics at 403-329-2681.

Red Nose Rides Again Dec. 3 - 5 This Week

trevor.kenney — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:01:09 +0000

More than 70 people got home safely last week thanks to Operation Red Nose.

"All of the money we get in from tips goes directly back to our teams and there are a number of different ways they use that money," says Sandy Slavin, executive director, Sport and Recreation Services. "Whether it's going on a training camp, supplementing their meal allowances, used for an exhibition tournament or getting extra gear for their players, it's all very beneficial."

Created in 1984 in Quebec City, the program offers holiday revelers the opportunity to be driven home in their own vehicles, free of charge. It has become a holiday tradition, both for the volunteers who work the program and the many people in southern Alberta who use its services. To get service call 403-320-4155.

Operation Red Nose runs each Thursday through Saturday night to Dec. 19. It then runs again on New Year's Eve. Volunteers wishing to take part in the program can e-mail Sandy Slavin at slavin@uleth.ca or call Pronghorn Athletics at 403-329-2681.

Operation Red Nose gears up for 15th season

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:48:07 +0000

It's the 15th season for Operation Red Nose at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the demand for their services continues to be on the upswing. That's good news for Pronghorn Athletics, who both administers and then reaps the benefits of the annual designated driving program.

"All of the money we get in from tips goes directly back to our teams and there are a number of different ways they use that money," says Sandy Slavin, executive director, Sport and Recreation Services. "Whether it's going on a training camp, supplementing their meal allowances, used for an exhibition tournament or getting extra gear for their players, it's all very beneficial."

Created in 1984 in Quebec City, the program offers holiday revelers the opportunity to be driven home in their own vehicles, free of charge. It has become a holiday tradition, both for the volunteers who work the program and the many people in southern Alberta who use its services.

With that recognition level comes logistical challenges, such as finding enough volunteers for especially heavy traffic weekends. One of those weekends is the final Friday before Christmas when many Pronghorn athletes have left for Christmas break.

"That was always a date we struggled with to get volunteers," says Slavin. "A couple years ago the suggestion was brought forward to come to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and try and fill a night with as many volunteers from faculty, staff and students. We encouraged as many of the different staff units on campus to come and help us out and had such a good response, we've stayed with it."

Now dubbed '��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Night', it has turned into a popular community-building activity.

"It certainly does build a community atmosphere and interestingly enough, that's the same feedback we get on all the regular nights when Pronghorn athletes are working," says Slavin. "Red Nose is one of the ways in which we develop that Pronghorn Athletics community."

The program has also seen a significant increase in bookings of Christmas parties, a sure indication that southern Albertans are buying into the program.

"It helps us because we know we have some secured business," Slavin says, admitting they may have to actually limit party bookings to 10 on any given night. "By people pre-registering their parties, it gives us a better idea of how many volunteers we need for a certain night."

Operation Red Nose begins Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, then runs each Thursday through Saturday night to Dec. 19. It then runs again on New Year's Eve. Volunteers wishing to take part in the program can e-mail Sandy Slavin at slavin@uleth.ca or call Pronghorn Athletics at 403-329-2681.

Operation Red Nose beats the cold

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:35:13 +0000

The weather outside was truly frightful but Operation Red Nose battled through the elements to help make the 2008 holiday season a safer one in Lethbridge.

The final volunteer and ride counts are in and once again, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Operation Red Nose (ORN) designated driving program is a shining example of the positive impact this community initiative can provide.

"I thought it was a very good year, anytime we can top 1,000 rides, it's a really good year," says ORN volunteer coordinator Debby Steacy. "If it wasn't for the cold snap that hit, really from Dec. 12 on, we would probably have seen even higher numbers."

As it was, U of L volunteers, led by Pronghorn Athletics, totaled 567 and provided 1,082 rides over the holiday season. While those numbers are down marginally from a year ago (600 volunteers and 1,131 rides), Steacy attributes much of that to the brutally cold temperatures and poor driving conditions, which discouraged some volunteers from taking part.

Putting the Lethbridge numbers into context with the rest of the province, it's apparent this community puts great value on the program. Lethbridge ride totals accounted for a whopping 62 per cent of the entire province's total (1,082 of 1,754 total rides), with four communities taking part this past holiday season.

"I just think we're the perfect size community for this program to succeed," says Sandy Slavin, executive director, Sport and Recreation Services. "You look at the number of volunteers we had (567) and it's not that much greater than Edmonton (513) and yet we had almost twice the number of rides. The size of our community allows us to do that, plus the media here has supported us so well, everybody knows what we're all about."

While the program could always use more volunteers, ORN only ran short on two or three nights, Slavin says.

"Another 60 to 100 volunteers would be ideal, but if we're only short on three nights, we've done well," she says.

What's encouraging is that the program is beginning to feed itself.

"Some of our first-time volunteers said they'd used the program before and from that experience, decided they'd like to be a part of it."

Look for Operation Red Nose in December 2009 as Pronghorn Athletics continues its campaign to help make Lethbridge roads safer.

UNews - Pronghorn Athletics

Red Nose just one way U of L connects with southern Alberta

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