2019-20 Annual Report(1)

apply that experience toward a renewal of the GWSA’s Advocacy project. He also helped draft
legislation to manage electronic commerce, and was elected to the American Law Institute
(ALI), a nonprofit that provides authoritative legal scholarship for the American judiciary. One
of the projects he worked on was the ALI’s Restatement of Employment Law. He also served as
a contract advisor and a grievance officer for the National Writers Union (part of the UAW). He
expects to serve on GWSA’s HR committee.
Athar Noman Khan has 40 years of experience in managing commercial and manufacturing
operations in the pharmaceutical industry. He moved to Guelph in 2014 from Mississauga.
Athar fell in love with the city and decided to give time to the community after retiring in 2017.
In July 2017, he joined GWSA and became a member of the Volunteer Advisory Committee. In
June 2018, he was elected to serve on the GWSA Board for a three-year term. In July 2018, he
also took on the role of Co-Chair of the Program Committee until the end of 2019. He also
serves on the Executive Committee. His aspirations for GWSA in the coming years are to
expand the organization and bring more of the seniors living on the fringes to enjoy and be
happy in retirement.
Ross Knechtel is active with the Computer Club as President, Computer Mentoring, the Into
Focus Photography Club, the Silvertones Choir, the Membership & Marketing Committee, and
the Program Committee. He is the current GWSA Webmaster. Ross is looking forward to a
supportive role with the Board, providing technical support for the Board itself, the programs,
committees, and events that the Board delivers, as well as providing mental health support. Ross
was elected to the GWSA Board of Directors in 2017 and he resigned in March of 2019 in order
to go public about the controversial “secret meeting” regarding the future of GWSA Community
Support Services. He was re-elected at the Special Members Meeting held on May 13, 2019, to
serve the balance of a three-year term. He is running for a second three-year term with the Board
of Directors.
Adam Rutherford is the City of Guelph’s Program Manager of Programming and Community
Development. For more than 20 years, Adam has been working with, advocating for, and
developing programs in partnership with community members of all ages. Adam’s work has
focused on engagement, innovative program development, and the needs of marginalized and
underserved populations. Middle-aged skateboarder, lover of film and music, big thinker that
prefers intimate environments, and always on the run. If his door’s open, come say hi!
Tonie Sacchetti is the Recreation Program Co-ordinator for Seniors Services with the City of
Guelph. She has worked in various roles within the Corporation of the City of Guelph over the
past seven years, but recently, all of her attention has been put into developing new and exciting
recreational programs for the senior community. Most recently, Tonie was appointed cosecretary
for the GWSA and looks forward to working alongside all GWSA members to support
their initiatives and goals.
Brian Smith brings broad experience from a career in educational administration. As principal
at several schools, he served on various committees, was a founding member of the local Ontario
Principals’ Council, and achieved supervisory officer qualifications from the Ministry of
Education. Aside from the GWSA, Brian is active on the board of directors for Shelldale Family
Gateway, which supports many of Guelph’s most vulnerable children, youth, and adults. Brian
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