This past year's Communithon, held at a new location, was deemed a success during the Weyburn and District United Way annual general meeting Wednesday at the Legion Hall.

In the Communithon report, submitted by chairperson Arlene Geisler and read by emcee Jerry Ponto, highlighted the move over to the Weyburn Comprehensive School Cafetorium after 25 years at the Royal Canadian Legion.

"With our new location, we experimented in a new format of announcing and introduced a number of special new events. We cannot stress that, due to the assistance and hard work of our experienced and new committee chairs and workers, this truly did result in a tremendous success," Geisler said in her report.

The goal for the 2007 Communithon was increased to $122,007 and was exceeded while on the air. The grand total at the end of the Communithon came to $142,086.63.

In his president's report, Gary Erickson highlighted some of the many changes that took place, including the resignation of executive director Nick Coroluick, who rejoined the board of directors at this annual general meeting, at the beginning of the year and moving the Communithon over to the Cafetorium.

Although Erickson's submitted report focused on the past, he talked to those in attendance about the future and shared three thoughts he had about taking on roles and being involved with the United Way.

His first thought was to have a plan to give. He feels that every year the community has done a great job and giving and helping with the member agencies during the Communithon. They are also working to make donating easier with the debit transfer and pay cheque deduction programs.

"I believe we are living in a prosperous time, but living in a prosperous time doesn't take away the need, it raises the bar," Erickson said.

His second thought was to get involved. Erickson encouraged everyone to become volunteers, even if it means giving up a few hours a week, a month or for special events.

Erickson's final thought was to have a plan to build relationships. He feels that the more people know about the United Way and what they do, the better they can serve their member agencies.

"The more people know about what we do, our programs and projects, the more likely they are to get involved," Erickson said.

The financial report showed that the United Way had a revenue of $142,087 and $161,237 in expenses. Within those expenses, $134,200 were allocated to the United Way's 15 member agencies. This means that about 97 per cent of every dollar raised went to the member agencies.

The United Way was running a deficit of $19,150 from operation expenses. However, after $28,224 in other income, they had an excess of $9,074 of revenue over expenses.

The 2007 United Way member agencies include the Alzheimer Family Support Group, Canada Mental Health Association, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Canadian Red Cross, Saskatchewan Abilities Council, the South Saskatchewan Cystic Fibrosis Chapter, the Arthritis Society, the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Violence Intervention Program, the Weyburn and Area Supportive Employment Services, the Weyburn and Area Early Childhood Intervention Program, Weyburn Big Brothers Big Sisters, Weyburn Care-A-Van Society and the Weyburn Special Care Home Auxiliary.