鈥淪he is the heart and soul of the 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 community in Montreal鈥 is used a lot when talking about Monica Dingle, Com鈥02. It鈥檚 more than that 鈥 there wouldn鈥檛 be much of a 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 community in Montreal today if it wasn鈥檛 for Ms. Dingle.
In 2010, the Ottawa native graduated from law school and started practising corporate law at the Montreal office of Fasken Martineau. She wanted to meet new people and network, so she reached out to 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 Alumni Relations department and asked to be put in touch with the Montreal Alumni Branch president. The position was vacant, so she decided to step up and help relaunch the Branch.
鈥淚 just thought, 鈥榃hy not?鈥 I have always volunteered in other capacities in my life and had experience with planning events. I thought that reviving the Montreal 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 Alumni Branch would be a great way to meet people,鈥 says Ms. Dingle, who spent six years as Branch president before stepping down in 2016. 鈥淚 feel fortunate that I went to 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 and I had an amazing experience there. I know many grads feel this way too. Giving my time is a natural way of contributing to my university.鈥
Her dedication to the Montreal Branch is the reason Ms. Dingle is receiving the Marsha Lampman Branch Volunteer Award from the 国产91尤物福利在线观看 Alumni Association. It is presented annually to the alumnus/alumna who best exemplifies outstanding dedication and service to a QUAA branch.
鈥淢onica revived and grew the alumni community in Montreal,鈥 says current Montreal Branch president Arlette Boghoskhan, MIR鈥14. 鈥淪he was able to reach out and connect with graduates who had never previously attended any 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 alumni functions.鈥
At first, Ms. Dingle hosted simple and free events such as after-work socials. She jokes about twisting arms of her old friends to make sure the events had a good number of attendees. Over the years, the Branch grew and more events were added 鈥 a tour of an art gallery (owned by an alumnus), networking events for older alumni, pub nights for younger alumni, and cheering on the Gaels when they came to town to play McGill University.
As attendance grew, the Branch became more organized. She established a Branch Executive Committee so there is now a team of people to plan and run events. Her efforts were reinforced by Roger Casgrain, Com鈥80, and Collette Charest, Sc鈥82, who provided significant support to the Branch by sponsoring events.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have to twist arms anymore to make sure we get enough people to come out to our events,鈥 says Ms. Dingle, who puts her 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 commerce and University of Montreal law degrees to use as an in-house legal counsel at Lumenpulse, a Montreal-based company that designs and manufactures LED lighting solutions. 鈥淭here is now once again a strong sense of community that draws people to the Branch events on their own.鈥
One of Ms. Dingle鈥檚 proudest accomplishments was relaunching the John Stirling Montreal Medal in 2013. The award was first given out in 1939 and honours outstanding alumni in the Montreal community.
The 2013 Stirling Award reception was the first time Ms. Dingle and the Branch hosted a large formal dinner. Principal Daniel Woolf and several other 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 representatives attended the event. Many of the school鈥檚 traditions were incorporated into the evening, such as singing the Oil Thigh and a piper welcoming attendees at the entrance.
鈥淭here was a really great turnout and the event was a strong display of the 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 spirit we have here in Montreal,鈥 says Ms. Dingle, a former member of the 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 sailing team.
Ms. Dingle will be officially honoured at the QUAA Gala Dinner on April 8.
If you know of a 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 alumna/us who is a tireless volunteer, consider nominating them for the Marsha Lampman Branch Volunteer Award. Nominations are now open.
