After six years on the Red Deer College board of governors, Herb Der has retired as chair, after serving for the maximum amount of time allowed.
He has been on the RDC board of governors since 2003, having spent one year as a board member before being appointed to two terms as chair. The board is appointed by the minister of advanced education and is responsible for setting college policy.
“It’s been just a real great ride,” Der said.
During his retirement, Der plans to take some more time to travel and enjoy some of his hobbies, which include flying, golfing and skiing. He is part of the Red Deer Flying Club and owns a Cessna 182.
He will continue to work on a provincial regulatory board for credit unions, known as the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation, where he was appointed by the provincial treasurer a little over a year ago. He also hopes to continue to help with campaign fundraising for the second phase of the Building Communities Through Learning project.
Der is a recipient of RDC’s G.H. Dawe Memorial Award, as well as a 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal and has been named by Alberta Venture magazine as one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people.
He is a past member of the Red Deer College Foundation, which is the financial arm of the post-secondary institution, has served as the chair of the capital campaign for the library and on the campaign cabinet for the first phase of the Building Communities Through Learning project, which saw the construction of the Four Centres.
“For me that was the crowning achievement, working on both capital campaigns and taking the college through the acquisition of a new president. That was a significant milestone,” Der said.
During the RDC board of governors Report to the Community breakfast held early Tuesday morning people spoke about the work Der has done for the college. New RDC president Joel Ward said Der’s contributions will have an enduring effect on students, staff and the community.
Der retired in December 2005 from his position as president and chief executive officer at Community Savings.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com