Rec board receives sponsorship update

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

As requested, Taber Recreation Board has received a more in-depth report from Sponsorship Connections, the firm hired back in November 2011 to acquire sponsorship deals on town-owned assets to help offset the rising costs of recreation for families.

“It is a little bit different with a little more information,” said Aline Holmen, recreation manager for the town of Taber at Taber Recreation board’s May 7 meeting, adding suggestions were made that reports could be made quarterly or every six months when in-camera sessions are required when specific businesses are mentioned in on-going discussions.

Taber Recreation Board chairman Luke Wijna stressed with the summer hiatus where the recreation board does not have meetings in July or August, unless something extremely pressing comes up, he would like to see another sponsorship report for the board’s meeting in June and then again in September.

The Sponsorship Connections report showed to recreation board members for May showed 39 suspects the company have identifed as candidates to initiate discussions with. Of those 39, 10 were contacted in the past month.

There are 34 prospects which Sponsorship Connections are in current discussions with and/or have a proposal submitted to. Of those 13 were in the last month.

There are 39 dead prospects which have declined the opportunity that was presented.

Of the contacts made, 13 were with entities whoce decision making is within the M.D. of Taber area, with the rest outside. There were 47 contacts made in the last calendar year according to the Sponsorship Connections report.

The report shows Sponsorship Connections has been able to secure in Farm Credit Canada (one time only), Taco Time (in third year of agreement) and ATB (currently in year one).

The three confirmed parterns has netted $21,200. Since signing on for Phase 1 of the agreement back for asset inventory and valuation in November 2011 up until current day with the sales component of the sponsorship program, the town investment has been nearly $100,00.

There still needs to be $122,800 in sponsorship sales required before Sposorship Connections is paid commission, according to the report.