By Corey Fischer

Funtastic Drops Full-Time Position

Jan 15, 2018 | 1:40 PM

The Funtastic Society has decided to discontinue with its full time executive director’s position.

Diana Williamson and Akbal Mund have stepped down from their positions on the board of directors, and will act as the co-managers of the slo-pitch and music festival on the Canada Day long weekend.

Mund says it will save the society money — without impacting the event.

“We don’t think we need an ED for the entire year. It’s a four day event on a weekend. There is probably a week in advance for setting-up, and a couple days later for tear down, but it’s not an event that you have to plan for, and have an executive director all year round,” Mund tells Beach Radio News.

Mund, who is also Vernon’s mayor, says it won’t impact his mayoralty duties, saying he will take a week of holiday during the tournament.

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“Diana is doing all the administration, so that takes a lot of the time. If anything, it will help because I’m at events and will meet people doing sponsorships and all that kind of stuff.”

Tony Pallas was Funtastic’s executive director until he resigned last fall.

Mund preferred not to say how much the change would save the non profit society.

Rob Ellis has been chosen as Funtastic’s new president.

“He’s only been a (Funtastic) director for about a year, but Rob has been involved in the softball end for, basically his own life he’s been playing softball. He was president of the men’s league for a while,” says Mund.

Ryan McGivern is 1st Vice President, Darcy Sochan is 2nd VP, and Brad Steel remains as 3rd vice.

The executive is rounded out with Christine Bosworth as treasurer, newcomer Greg Wutzke as secretary, and directors Tim Reardon, Jamie Austin, Corrine Buller and Devin Drader.

“This is an exciting year with much potential to reach out too many sponsors and involve the community in a large way,” says Ellis. “It’s an opportunity for the ball teams that travel from all over the province and elsewhere to meet Vernon and its community. We have the ability to thank those teams that have been coming for
decades to years. We will be driven to introduce all businesses in Vernon to our guests. Its time to showcase Vernon for all it has to offer.”

The society is also moving the timeline for it’s community grants.

Eligible local non profit sports organizations will be encouraged to apply for the grants in late summer, a few months earlier than before.

“Then we’ll have a good idea of how much money we can give back to the community, because generally what we’ve been doing before is running the event, and then not knowing how the event went, already deciding we’re going to give away money. This way, we’ll know how much money we already have in the kitty,” adds Mund.

The 34th annual slo pitch and music festival will be held June 29 to July 2, 2018.

by Corey Fischer