Andrea, MPA, 2004 18 THE THIRD DEGREE Spring 2004 Invest in yourself. Innovative and creative graduate programs that <strong>of</strong>fer you the flexibility to further your career without interrupting it. MBA Become a shareholder in your future. Contact us about our continuous admission programs which include evening courses. 306.585.4011 Master <strong>of</strong> Business Administration MPA Master <strong>of</strong> Public Administration MHRM Master <strong>of</strong> Human Resource Management www.uregina.ca/admin admin.grad@uregina.ca FACULTY OF ADMINISTRATION
Two grads go flat-out for Grey Cup Take three years <strong>of</strong> planning, mix in more than 3,000 volunteers, throw in five days <strong>of</strong> flat-out fun and finish it <strong>of</strong>f with an exciting championship game and you have all the ingredients <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the best football bashes Canada has ever seen. Last November, Canadian Football League (CFL) fans and partygoers from across the country descended on <strong>Regina</strong> to join "Flat-Out in Saskatchewan" celebrations at the 2003 Grey Cup. And at the helm <strong>of</strong> the 94th Grey Cup were two U <strong>of</strong> R graduates: Marty Klyne BAdmin’86 and Mark Stefan BAdmin’84. "By all definitions this was the best Grey Cup in CFL history," says Klyne, who served as 2003 Grey Cup president. "What made it so successful was the volunteers. This community has the best volunteers, by far, in the country. The way they step forward and come together is truly unbelievable. They were so positive. It just The following U <strong>of</strong> R alumni also went flat-out as Grey Cup 2003 staff members or members <strong>of</strong> the Executive Organizing Committee: Randy Beattie BAdmin'82, Wayne Bernakevitch BAdmin'73, Denise Black BAdmin'84, Elaine Bourassa BAdmin'84, Tracy Fahlman CA'93, Sandra Fiffe BAdmin'84, Gerry Fischer BAdmin'88, Christa Grad BAdmin'99, Kevin Lang BAdmin'86, Laureen Larson BVTed'95, David Luterbach BAdmin'86, Jeff MacPherson BAdmin'91, Moe Martin BA'72, Corey Patrick BAdmin'95, Russ Peterson BAdmin'74, Dean Reeve BAdmin'84, Murray Skulmoski BAdmin'91, Jeff Torgrimson CCE'91, Cheryl Zankl DAA'84. made me so proud to be from this community." From the early stages <strong>of</strong> planning in January 2001 until the final seconds ticked <strong>of</strong>f the game clock on a cool mid-November evening, Klyne and Stefan and some 3,300 volunteers spent thousands <strong>of</strong> hours organizing, co-ordinating, checking and re-checking details to ensure the entire event went <strong>of</strong>f without a hitch. Working alongside <strong>of</strong> each other is nothing new for Klyne and Stefan who met while taking a strategic marketing class at the U <strong>of</strong> R in the early1980s. The duo served together on the Alumni Association board. Stefan, whose tenure with the board lasted from1995 until 2001 and included a one-year stint as president, recruited Klyne who served as a director from 1998 to 2001. "Our time together on the board was really a precursor to what happened with Grey Cup," says Stefan. "One <strong>of</strong> the big reasons for bringing Marty on to the Alumni Association board was his strategic viewpoint. He has an ability to see the big picture, to understand it, and to get people focused on what they have to do to get things done." Klyne says his selection <strong>of</strong> Stefan as vice-president came easy. It was prompted by the two-pronged approach he employed to accomplish the goal <strong>of</strong> mounting the finest Grey Cup in CFL history: First, he surrounded himself with the best people available and second, he created an environment where people could excel. "I knew I had to find someone who would complement my skills and the only guy who came to mind was Mark," explains Klyne. "He's very detailed, highly organized and results orientated. He's also an ambassador. That was exactly the kind <strong>of</strong> person I needed." For both Klyne and Stefan, one <strong>of</strong> the defining moments <strong>of</strong> their three-year labour <strong>of</strong> love came just prior to game time when, as the Grey Cup crowd <strong>of</strong> close to 50,000 was just settling into the seats, the Canadian Force's precision aerobatic team, the Snowbirds, thundered over <strong>Regina</strong>'s Taylor Field. "I got a little emotional," admits Klyne. "I had a little tear in my eye. I was just so proud <strong>of</strong> everybody and what we had done. It was that pinnacle moment where it all just came rushing home to me and I said 'Hey we did it.'" "Quite honestly I remember getting a little teary-eyed when they flew over," adds Stefan. I remember having to remove my glasses because <strong>of</strong> the rush it gave me. It was something that I was a part <strong>of</strong> that I'll never forget in my entire life." Another moment the pair will not soon forget came when they presented a $2.1 million cheque to Saskatchewan Roughriders president Tom Robinson BAdmin’75. The cheque represented Grey Cup pr<strong>of</strong>its and essentially wiped out the accumulated debt <strong>of</strong> the team. With <strong>Regina</strong>'s legacy <strong>of</strong> success hosting Grey Cups firmly established, both Klyne and Stefan think the CFL would do well to put the city on the top <strong>of</strong> the list for hosting the game's centenary in 2009. And while they might politely decline executive roles, they could certainly see themselves in some capacity should a future Grey Cup present itself. "The Grey Cup was my opportunity to give back to the community," says Klyne. "That's one <strong>of</strong> the reasons I enjoyed it." "Marty and I are very committed to <strong>Regina</strong> and Saskatchewan," adds Stefan. "We would certainly be there if they [organizers] need us in any way." Calling the plays behind the scenes at the 2003 Grey Cup were U <strong>of</strong> R alumni Marty Klyne (R) and Mark Stefan. Spring 2004 THE THIRD DEGREE 19
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