Old Bexleians' Association
OBA Reorganisation Proposals Committee 15/8/2008 OLD BEXLEIANS’ ASSOCIATION
PROPOSALS FOR A RADICAL REORGANISATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
AIM : to maintain the OBA and its mission to act as a link between the past and the present school
PROPOSALS
* the ending of a subscription-based organisation
It is felt that, if these proposals are accepted and if the required conditions [as set out below] can be met - and here the Committee has cause for optimism - the Association can be organised on a ‘no-subscription’ basis, hopefully making it accessible to a larger number of former, current and future pupils and staff.
N.B.
The implication here is that if there are no subscriptions there can be no members - an important point to be considered. The current system of ‘Life’ and ‘Annual’ membership would end. The positions of President, Past-Presidents and Vice-Presidents would remain, as would the title of ‘Honorary member’ i.e. awarded to those, not always OBs, who have given exceptional service to the Association.
It will be proposed that, if accepted, these changes will be effective as from 1st January 2009. ‘Existing members’ [see below] are those whose subscriptions are valid to this date.
* a website-based Association
The aim will be to re-design the website, making it easier for OBs to contact one another, to update news about themselves, and to maintain links with the Association and with the School itself. [The Committee regrets having to take the decision to close parts of the website, but it was felt that some comments posted there were highly offensive.]
* the newsletter
to be available to all and to be distributed by e-mail where possible, the newsletter - and the aim will be to attempt to produce one edition each term - would be available to all OBs interested in receiving it and that it would be sent out by e-mail. Obviously, increased savings would thereby be forthcoming.
It will be expected that ‘existing members’ [see above] will avail themselves of this type of distribution where they do possess e-mail facilities.
For ‘existing members’ not in a position to accept newsletters in this way, a paper copy will be provided but the aim would be to keep such copies to a minimum and eventually, if at all possible, to phase them out completely.
[Such an arrangement would also make it easier to communicate other OBA news items directly to all concerned e.g. details of the Annual Dinner and the OB Sports Day.]
* the social calendar
To maintain the Annual Dinner and Sports Day,
other social events as the Committee may decide and assistance, if required, in organising Year reunions
To be effective, these proposals require the following conditions to be met
* the continued financial stability of the Association
As savings have been made recently in the costs of producing the newsletter the current financial situation gives no immediate cause for concern…
the proposals include the ending of subscriptions, leaving income from the “100 Club” as the sole source of income…
making it essential to maintain, better still increase, income from this source
* greater ex-pupil presence on the Committee
It remains a cause for concern that there are too few ex-pupils on the OBA Committee; the Association should be run by former pupils rather than ex-staff who, primarily, have agreed to act as members of the committee only to save the Association from folding altogether.
And, for some time, the Association has had no Chairman to lead and guide its activities; such an appointment is vital.
* increased assistance with the production of the newsletter
The ‘new’ series of newsletters was begun in January 1999. It cannot be expected that as many OBs will continue to forward news about themselves as for the early issues and means need to be found to build up a series of contacts who are able and willing to ferret out and supply news about friends and colleagues with whom they have kept in touch i.e. for the “Watneys” section of the newsletter - the most interesting part for most readers.
[If you are able to help in this way, the editor would be pleased to hear from you -even if your range of contacts is relatively small.]
The future viability of the newsletter also necessitates some delegation of editorial responsibilities : would you be interested in joining an editorial team?
If you have any thoughts or comments you would like to pass on to the Committee, please email news@oldbexleians.co.uk
|
