For Immediate Release:  June 27, 2007

Western Fair Presents New Board of Governors and Fair Directors

The Carousel Room hosted a meeting last night to review the newly approved governance structure of the Western Fair Association and announce the slate of candidates that would fill the positions on the new Board of Governors and Fair Directors.  Elections took place and the Association is happy to announce to the public our new officers and members within the following governing bodies. 

Senate

Past Presidents and all future Past Chairs of the Board of Governors.

Chair:   G. Dennis Lang
Karl Nevin
Jan B. Delaney
John White
John Ferris
Bill Grieve
Gary Williams
Hugh Filson

Board of Governors

The authoritative governing body of the Association.

Chair: Ken Levy (South Western Ontario Simmental Club, Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency)
Chair Elect: Jack E. Davis (London Transit Commission, Kiwanis Club of Forest City)
Vice Chair: Alan Marr (Member At Large)

Michelle Campbell (Member At Large)
Ray Chowen (Western Ontario Aberdeen Angus Association)
Don McCallum (London Chamber of Commerce)
Councillor Cheryl Miller (City of London)
Fair President:     Gary Weese (UWO Board of Governors)
Chair of Senate:  G. Dennis Lang (Immediate Past President)

Fair Directors

Oversees the budgeting, planning and operation of the Association’s signature event, the annual Western Fair.

President: Gary Weese (UWO Board of Governors)
President Elect: Jean Johnson (Middlesex County Agricultural Hall of Fame)
1st Vice President: Hugh Fletcher (Middlesex County Federation of Agriculture)
2nd Vice President: Tim Kelly (Junior Achievement)

Warden Wes Hodgson (County of Middlesex)
R. A. (Bob) Earley (Rotary Club of London)
Al Edmondson (Member At Large)
Fred Evans (Member At Large)
Denise Hodgins (Member At Large)
Jim Hunter (Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario)
Councillor Bernie MacDonald (City of London)
Tom Prout (Western Branch Ontario Institute of Agroligists)
Bill Reath (Kinsmen Club of London)
Harold Usher (City of London)
Bill Zwambag (Member At Large)
Immediate Past President:  Ken Levy

Last year the Board of Directors approved an initiative as part of the Association’s Strategic Plan to review the governance structure of the Association to include membership, committees and Board of Directors.   The purpose of the review was to ensure that the governance model was appropriate to today’s organization as well as meeting the needs of the Association and its members.  The previous model was not as flexible as necessary and a model was required that would match the needs of an organization that is continuing to grow and flourish while still honouring its mandate and operating principles. To accommodate the new governance structure, the by-laws for the Association were also re-written.  These by-laws were approved by the Membership on June 26, 2007.

The new governance structure (Senate-Governors-Fair Directors) of the Western Fair Association, maintains Agriculture, Civic, At Large, City and County components as well as allowing for new participants from within the organization as well as from the community.  We will match the needs and interests of the Western Fair Association, with those of our membership. Gary McRae, General Manager stated, “I speak for all my colleagues at the Western Fair when I say that this monumental change is a historical highlight for all of us and we are extremely excited, not only by the recent achievements of the Association, but also by what the new model will mean for the future of our organization.  Every action we have taken over the last few years, on some chord, has vibrated throughout our organization and into the community in a positive way and this initiative is no different. The future looks bright.”  

For further information:  

Gary McRae
General Manager/CEO
(519) 438-7203 EX 220
gmcrae@westernfair.com