20 August 1985 Vince Vaney, Union Manager at Lincoln College congratulated by the Association of College Unions International Conference

Vince Vaney, Union Manager at Lincoln College, couldn't make it to the annual conference of , held this year in Southern California, where they appointed him a regional representative, so the other representatives there each sent him an individual message on a specially-prepared card.

They held their conference in the century-old Hotel del Coronado, a National Historic Trust Landmark since 1977, so, appropriately, their card carried a drawing of the grand old building.

Each message congratulated Mr Vaney, who has been Union Manager at Lincoln College for 13 years, on his appointment as representative of Area 16 of the ACUI.

ACUI Area 16 takes in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan aswell as New Zealand .

ACUI is a network of about 900 colleges and universities, holding institutional membership, and about 800 union and student activities professionals.

Lincoln College became a member of ACUI in 1971 after agreeing to the ACUI statement of purpose.

The ACUI sees a college or university union as a community .centre for the institution, for students, staff, former students, and guests.

This is more than buildings ; the union is the living room for all those on campus, providing facilities, services and amenities .

Providing cultural, social and recreational programs, the union makes free time activities a co-operative factor with education.

And a union also serves as a unifying force in the life of a college or university.

At Lincoln College My Vaney oversees the refectory, the dining hall for students, the cafeterias, laundries and reception rooms.

He also has responsibilities for some 130 students who live in houses, flats and two residential halls on campus.

He actively encourages staff to use the union, and union facilities and services.

And when students move out of the halls of residence at vacations, Mr Vaney fills the 550 bedrooms with conference delegates, or those at schools or courses at the College.

This year 100 conferences with more than 7000 delegates are being held there.

Under his management Lincoln College can probably boast of the best use of accommodation and union facilities in New Zealand and Australia.

During the long vacation the beds in the halls may be used by groups from delegates to an international conference to pubescent ballet dancers.

Mr Vaney has had long experience in organising people and facilities after flying as a fighter pilot in the Second World War, he became a regular army officer.

He served in Singapore, Japan and Australia.

His organisation keeps people housed and fed at conferences, schools and workshops ; many come back again and again.

Catering for all residential students and staff is provided by the refectory.

Hundreds of students file through the servery in the lunch break between lectures, but the refectory can also turn on a candlelit dinner for 20, with red serviettes and flowers on white tablecloths.

Buffet meals in the refectory can be a farewell lunch for a secretary leaving for overseas, or a supper for 400 farmers at a conference.

All this is in the spirit of the statement of purpose of the ACUI.

ACUI was founded in 1914 by student and staff representatives from seven Midwestern universities in the United States.

Now ACUI is one of the oldest intercollegiate organisations.

The purpose of ACUI is to enhance campus life through the programs, services and facilities of campus community centres and activities.

ACUI maintains a central off ice near the Indiana University at Bloomington in the United States, with a fulltime director and staff.

Membership of the ACUI is strongest in the United States, but there are members in Canada and Britain, as well as in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

This year's San Diego conference was held from March 24-27, and here Mr Vaney was appointed regional representative.

Further information from Mr Vince Vaney , Union Manager, Lincoln College Union, Lincoln College 8150, Canterbury, New Zealand.