Results of hosted local discussion groups in 1999

Should the Executive Committee worry if attendance at the AGM continues to fall? Is it necessary for them to seek to make the AGM attractive?

CJR

Don't worry about low attendance. People keep in touch with friends and don't want the regimentation of the AGM.

Val T

No worry about small numbers at AGM ("2 or 3 gathered together")

GH

Have AGM in 2^nd/3^rd w/e in May; make it more attractive (gourmet lunch and cream tea). It is currently somewhat busy with itself and boring …. should have an interesting speaker, who ought automatically to be an Old Girl.

RH

VM

Usually come back if a "reunion" is organized, or speaker from own period - don't always go to AGM. Young mums often can't find time or funds to attend.

Are members interested in meeting each other at events organized by the Association, or are they happy that the Association puts its efforts into keeping the address list as accurate as possible and then groups meet as the urge takes them?

CJR

JG-R

Address list is the key. Reunions at school popular but "private" gatherings even more so.

Val T

Interested in Ass events now I live in Glos

HN

AGM at School - speaker, and plenty of time to meet, chat, look at old haunts, is good format

RH

Association should battle with Address List and leave groups to meet as urge takes them (?would it be easier to control if arranged section by section)

2

What sort of information should be held about members in addition to addresses?

CJR

Own occupation - not husband's

Voluntary work

Val T

Tel nos, ages, career info?

AG

NOT husband's occupation (see below)

RH

Expand, selectively and unobtrusively

VM

Tel. numbers and degree/jobs/research would be good - but a Herculean task to keep updated every 4/5 years

3

Would once a year mailing be as good as the current twice a year?

CJR

Once a year would be ok - "Eminently sensible" was an immediate comment.

The suggestion was made that the 'life' subscription should be changed to 10-15 years, with renewal, since it probably did not cover costs.

Val T

Don't cut mailings - important to keep contact

RH

Stick to twice a year

VM

Stick to twice a year

4.1

What age group should be approached to replace Committee members?

CJR

The consensus was that no-one should be elected (or renewed) onto the committee after the age of 70. (This does not apply to section representatives).

Val T

Cross section of ages best

HN

No strong views on ages, but younger are more energetic - could then pass on to a younger person.

RH

Age is immaterial

VM

All ages OK, spread would be good (including some at work, and some younger mums). Problem of time and funds for young mums

4.2

What is the youngest that it is reasonable to ask people if they will serve on the Committee?

CJR

If committee membership could be guaranteed to be 3+3 years, and then no danger of going on, then any age (young or old) could be asked.

Val T

Post-family ideally, but any age if there is willingness and ability

5

What else should the Executive Committee be proposing to the General Committee and the Association?

Val T

Hoped small groups would have worked. Would hope Association events would work, get too big and split into smaller groups.

HN

Association News is great - congratulations

GH

Association needs purpose, eg helping Old Girls on hard times, networking. Like Amaryllian, like News - though some felt half as often would be just as good (for each).

Suffolk group considering hiring a mini-bus for AGMs

VM

Prospective parents like being shown round school by knowledgeable member of Staff PLUS to have a chance to chat to pupils without staff.

Discussed mixed v. single-sex. Pros & Cons both ways.

Latin is a good basis for English and other languages.

Girls today are lucky. So were we.

General comments

J G-R

Not really interested in School or Association but each other. Old girls really appreciate chance to meet up.

Section reps have problems. Would it be worth grouping 6-7 sections and dividing geographically? Magazine could report general picture of sections in area, rather that "faithfully reporting everybody's tedious job promotions, holidays and children's achievements. Give address changes, deaths, marriages and filter a few fascinating bits of information.

What our lot wanted was names and addresses of contemporaries.

AG

We discussed the subject of the Database. We thought it was very helpful to have it, but that it needs co-ordinating centrally, in order to keep it up to date. Now that schools do the CLAIT exams (Computer Literacy and Information Technology) we wondered whether it might be a good idea for the school to keep it up to date. Then when people need printouts they could apply to the school who could send them by e-mail or post. This is something that the Old Girls' Committee might like to take up with the new Head. However it would give the girls an insight into the workings of the Old Girls' Association and hopefully they might therefore be encouraged to join at a later date. Also they would be using meaningful material, for a useful purpose. We stressed the importance of keeping a backup read-only file as a fall-back. They could learn how to do searches, such as a certain post-code area, and sorts by Section for chronological purposes, or by the Last Name field for alphabetical order. As an adult education teacher myself, I feel that this would be very useful all round, not only to the Old Girls, but also to the girls at the school.

With regard to being asked in the past about our husband's jobs, we felt that that might have put some people's backs up, and wasn't really necessary, so Karen explained why, for the purpose of giving talks to the girls at the school. I wonder just how many talks have resulted? We felt that the database was more important for networking, and as a support group. We would like the information in the telephone field completing for all members unless ex-directory, in which case it would be useful to know that.