Site Map
Introductions
- My Life at the University of Windsor; Click here
- V.I.S.A. Executive Structure: Click here
- A Brief History of V.I.S.A.: Click here
- My CV: Updated Resume – May 2012
Achievements as Associate for Events of V.I.S.A., May 2007 – December 2007
Achievements as Executive for Events of V.I.S.A., January 2008 – December 2008
- Part I: Click here
- Part II: Click here
- Part III: Click here
- Part IV: Click here
Achievements as Executive for Events + Assistant Coordinator of V.I.S.A., January 2009 – August 2009
- Part I: Click here
- Part II: Click here
- Part III: Click here
- Part IV: Click here
- Part V: Click here
Achievements as Coordinator of V.I.S.A., September 2009 – March 2010
- Part I: Click here
- Part II: Click here
- Part III: Click here
- Part IV: Click here
- Part V: Click here
- Part VI: Click here
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Coordinator, September 2009 – March 2010, Part V
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/amazing-race-iso/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/cody-hall-flags/
Part III: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/training-09-10/
Part IV: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/fall-10-events/
Winter 2010 had many events organized by V.I.S.A. and the Events team. In addition to weekly events, V.I.S.A. also organized the annual Tubing trip to St. Marys as well.
Weekly events for winter 2010 included a bowling night, laser-tag and ice skating. Ice-skating was an event that had not been done by V.I.S.A. in more than four years, and it received many responses from students.
Winter '10 Bowling Night
Winter '10 Laser-tag
Winter '10 Ice-skating
Winter '10 Ice-skating
The winter Tubing trip to St. Marys took place on January 30th, 2010. We had 54 students sign up for the trip, and once again it was a successful event.
Winter '10 Tubing Trip
Winter '10 Tubing Trip
Part VI: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/publications-website/
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Coordinator, September 2009 – March 2010, Part IV
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/amazing-race-iso/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/cody-hall-flags/
Part III: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/training-09-10/
One way of getting students involved in activities in V.I.S.A. has been through bi-weekly events. These events can be indoor events such as Poker nights, Games nights or Movie nights. They can also be outdoor events such as Laser-tag & Go-karting, Bowling, Indoor Rock Climbing or Ice Skating. Traditionally, V.I.S.A. has a bowling night following the first meeting of the semester. All weekly events are held on Fridays.
Bi-weekly events for fall 2009 included a bowling night, game night, movie night and a poker night. The events were coordinated by the Executive for Events, Vanessa Sperduti and Associate for Events, Sheryl June Bennett.
Fall '09 Bowling Night
Fall '09 Game Night
Fall '09 Movie Night
Fall '09 Poker Night
Part V: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/winter-10-events/
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Coordinator, September 2009 – March 2010, Part III
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/amazing-race-iso/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/cody-hall-flags/
One part of V.I.S.A.’s mandate is to provide a chance for students to achieve trainings on skills, that can be used during and after their University life. As such, every winter and fall the Training & Operations (T&O) team conducts workshops that provide training in these skills to students. V.I.S.A. tries as much as possible to conduct these workshops at no charge for students. It is the duty of the Coordinator to oversee these aspects, together with the T&O team.
In fall 2009, the T&Os team led by the Executive Aya Komatsu, and Associate Marsha Pereira conducted two workshops. These workshops were focused on Microsoft Office applications. The workshops were conducted by Mrs. Mical Palombo of the University’s Information Technology Services. Each workshop focused on MS Office applications such as Word, Excel and Publisher.
MS Office Workshop, fall '09
MS Office Workshop, fall '09
In the winter of 2010, the T&O team planned and carried out a day-long workshop on diversity issues. It was attended by 83 students of the University of Windsor free of charge thanks to the sponsorship of the Office of the President, Dr. Alan Wildeman and the support Mr Enrique Chacon of the International Student Centre and Mrs. Brooke White at the Educational Development Centre.
The workshop was intended to raise students’ awareness of diversity issues, and took place at the Freed-Orman Centre at the University on March 27, 2010. The speakers discussed diversity issues related to Sexual Orientation, Gender, Disability and Cultural differences.
V.I.S.A. Diversity Workshop, winter '10
V.I.S.A. Diversity Workshop, winter '10
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Coordinator, September 2009 – March 2010, Part II
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/amazing-race-iso/
From its beginning, V.I.S.A. held our meetings, potlucks and all other events in the International Student Centre (I.S.C.). But as the group expanded, the I.S.C. offices could not provide enough space. A solution to this finally arrived in the summer of 2009 when the basement of Cody Hall was provided as a staging area for V.I.S.A. events at the behest of the International Student Advisor, Mr. Enrique Chacon.
The basement, while spacious was lacking in any colour or atmosphere. At that time, in a meeting with members of the University Community Church they suggested providing V.I.S.A. with paint and supplies to give a new look for the basement. In addition, Enrique and I suggested that we could paint a mural of flags in one side of the wall, as a mosaic to the diversity of the University of Windsor. The Church members enthusiastically supported the idea. After initially painting the entire basement (minus the wall reserved for the flags) in late September, we began painting the flags on October 04th, 2009. My aim was to have the wall completed by December 04, 2009. That would be the day of the V.I.S.A. potluck.
First few flags
A few more have been added
Mid-October
Mid-October
Undertaking this task was an enormous responsibility. As Coordinator, I personally directed completion of the project. We asked for volunteers through Facebook, and the through the International Student Listserve (WISEL) and we received a great response. We had many students coming in to paint not only the flag of their country, but the flags of other countries as well.
Late October
Mid-November
Despite most volunteers having full-time schedules, we had nearly 55 separate volunteers giving their time for this project. The wall was completed, bar a couple of spaces on December 03rd, 2009. In addition to painting the flags, we also put up rows of flags donated by the I.S.C., and also painted the University of Windsor logo and the V.I.S.A. logo on the basement as well.
Third week of November
Final day of painting
Final day of painting
Final view of the wall
Vanessa drew and painted the Welsh flag, among others
Lulua painting the Malaysia flag
Part III: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/training-09-10/
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Coordinator, September 2009 – March 2010, Part I
At the end of the summer semester of 2009, Laura Prada left the team after her graduation. In the wake of her departure, she promoted me to the Coordinator position. I officially assumes the Coordinator position on August 20, 2009. My first priority was to assist the new I.S.O. Coordinator Sheryl June Bennett with the upcoming International Students Orientation for fall 2009. However, a bigger concern was the carrying out of V.I.S.A.’s new project, the “UWindsor Amazing Race”, which was scheduled for September 11th, 2009 during Windsor Welcome Week.
The UWindsor Amazing Race was the first such event V.I.S.A. would host. It was also V.I.S.A’s stand-alone event at a Windsor Welcome Week since 2007. The event would be similar to the “Amazing Race” television show, but with the tasks being held within the campus. The purpose of the event was aimed at freshmen students. There were several purposes of the event;
- Provide freshmen students with an understanding of the diversity of the student body at the University of Windsor,
- Get freshmen students familiar with some important buildings and offices at the University of Windsor,
- Promote V.I.S.A. with new freshmen students, and
- Provide a volunteering opportunity for students in a unique event.
Planning for the event proceeded on three stages;
- Attracting volunteers who will help with the creation of the tasks, and display booths,
- Creating the display booths, finalizing the tasks and assigning volunteer duties,
- Acquiring sponsorship and prizes, and
- Promoting the event and attracting participants.
During the last couple of weeks of August, we began preparing the displays and tasks for each country. The selected countries for the inaugural UWindsor Amazing Race were Canada, Bangladesh, China, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy and Sri Lanka. Each task would be related to the one of the countries designated. We decided to have 12 teams of two each participate in the event, which would begin outside the Leddy Library and end at the International Student Centre (I.S.C.). At the end of the event, we would have a pizza party for the participants and volunteers of the event at the basement of ISC, which would be used for future V.I.S.A. events as well.
We acquired sponsorship from River Place Student Residences in Windsor, as well as Drunkin’ Burrito Restaurant in Down-town Windsor. In addition, the main prize was sponsored by the Educational Development Centre (E.D.C.). This was thanks to the initiative of the Executive Director of the EDC, Mrs. Brooke White. The main prize was two tickets to see comedian Russell Peters’ performance in Windsor on September 28th. The consolation prizes were sponsored by the I.S.C. at the initiative of the International Student Advisor, Mr. Enrique Chacon. They were gift certificates for the 2nd and 3rd placed teams from the University of Windsor Bookstore.
Volunteers at work on the Canada display board
Volunteers at work on the Bangladesh display
On the day of the event, we promoted the event through a table at the starting point, outside Leddy Library. However, due to the fact that it was a Friday, there was less students to reach out to than we expected. Therefore we only attracted 10 teams of two for the event. But the event went ahead as scheduled, and was completed without hindrances.
The Italy display at the UWindsor Amazing Race
Participants and volunteers relaxing after the event
The winners receiving the prizes from Mrs. Brooke White
Volunteers at the end of the event
The feedback from the participants was very positive, as was that of the volunteers. Everyone had a great time, and we felt the event should be a permanent fixture in the V.I.S.A. calendar for the future. We also managed to receive promotion for the event from the University of Windsor’s Public Affairs and Communications in the run-up to the event. It promoted our event in the UWindsor Daily News, which is an online publication which is sent to all faculty and staff and a large number of subscribers, including alumni. In addition, the Windsor Star newspaper ran a picture and small article on our event as well. The Windsor Star is Windsor’s largest circulation newspaper. The links for those articles are below;
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/cody-hall-flags/
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Assistant Coordinator, January 2009-August 2009, Part V
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/ast-exec-carrousel/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/visions-for-darfur/
Part III: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/aloha-pub-night/
Part IV: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/tubing-09/
One way of getting students involved in activities in V.I.S.A. has been through bi-weekly events. These events can be indoor events such as Poker nights, Games nights or Movie nights. They can also be outdoor events such as Laser-tag & Go-karting, Bowling, Indoor Rock Climbing or Ice Skating. Traditionally, V.I.S.A. has a bowling night following the first meeting of the semester. All weekly events are held on Fridays.
Bi-weekly events for winter and summer 2009 included a bowling night in each semester, a games night in each semester, a movie night in winter, laser-tag and go-karting as well as indoor rock climbing in the summer. All the events were quite successful, and continued to attract students to V.I.S.A. events.
Winter '09 Bowling Night
Summer '09 Bowling Night
Poker at the winter '09 Game Night
Monopoly at the winter '09 Game Night
Winter '09 Movie Night
Summer '09 Game Night
Summer '09: Attendees enjoying Air Hockey, in between Laser-tag and Go-karting
Summer '09: At Indoor Rock Climbing
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Assistant Coordinator, January 2009-August 2009, Part IV
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/ast-exec-carrousel/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/visions-for-darfur/
Part III: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/aloha-pub-night/
Field trips usually occur once each semester with V.I.S.A. They are intended to provide international students with a chance to explore interesting places in and Ontario. The Events team is in charge of planning all field trips for V.I.S.A.
Planning and executing a field trip successfully requires at least two months. The main requirements for a field trip is a destination that will interest students, acquiring transportation, and promoting the event to attract students. To cover the cost of the trip, V.I.S.A. charges students a reasonable fee. The fees are the same for all attendees and students sign-up for the trip on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In the winter of 2009, we decided to once again take students for Snow Tubing. This was due to the enthusiastic response we had from students in the previous year. We decided to take students for Tubing at the River Valley Golf and Tubing Club, in St. Marys, Ontario. Along the way to St. Marys, we would also make a stop at the White Oaks Mall in London, so that students can have refreshments. We booked a 55-seat bus from the Badder Bus Limited in Windsor.
The trip was scheduled to take place on January 31, 2009. We managed to get 52 students to sign-up for the trip, and the event was a great success, once again.
View of the slopes at St. Marys
View on the ski lift at St. Marys
Some of the attendees on the slopes
All the attendees at the end of the trip
Part V: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/weekly-events-ast-exec/
My Time With V.I.S.A.: Assistant Coordinator, January 2009-August 2009, Part III
Part I: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/ast-exec-carrousel/
Part II: https://pumudu.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/visions-for-darfur/
As a non-funded organization, V.I.S.A. has always relied on fund raisers to subsidize the costs for events, and to reduce how much students have to pay for events. The main way V.I.S.A. raises funds have been through themed pub nights at the Thirsty Scholar Pub at the University of Windsor.
While carrying out the position of Executive for Events and Assistant Coordinator, I took the lead in organizing V.I.S.A.’s winter 2009 pub night. We took the decision to have a “summer” themed pub night for the event. We settled on the event name as the “Aloha Beach Party“. As with other pub nights I organized as Executive for Events, my tasks included the marketing and promotion of the event, coordinate the creation of promotional materials including posters, fliers and arrange for the painting of promotional banners, coordinating volunteers to promote the event and securing sponsorship for the event.
The event was held on March 20th, 2009. Pub nights in winter always attract a lower than usual (compared to fall) attendance, and in that sense the pub night was a success. The even raised approximately $350.00 for V.I.S.A. and around 125 students attended.
Creating banners for the Pub night
Volunteers working on the main banner
Attendees at the Pub night
Some attendees at the "Aloha Beach Party"
Marketing Pumudu 