THE QUADRANGLE From the President
hundreds of clusters of Old Boys across age groups, generations and professions all over the world. Right beside them will be other Old Boys, not connected because they are unaware, disinterested, or can’t imagine what might come of reconnecting. Andrew Springford (13478) has tested the appetite for recent Old Boys to stay connected by rejuvenating a nationwide series of Young Old Boys (YOBs) events first started by Jeremy Johnson (12355) in Dunedin in 2009. Over the last two years, these events have proved an outrageous success, at a small cost to the CCOBA. Nick Harvey (11731) is in the strategy game and will be helping flesh out the detail around a connecting for life theme. We think it is also time we asked the membership what you want and expect from the Association. Please don’t be shy when you are asked for your thoughts. Aligning with College – a strategic alliance Over 13–14 September, College hosted a strategic planning session with 24 participants, from the Executive, teaching staff, Old Boys and administration staff, to current parents and Fellows (with some people representing more than one of those categories). We reflected on College’s progress against its Strategy 2020 plan adopted three years ago, and started to look at setting a new strategy leading to 2025 and College’s 175th anniversary, as well as changes
that will occur in the educational sector between now and then. Hugh Lindo (9722), who will take over as Board Chair from Dr Ian Town in December, set out a palpable and inescapable reality – College must embrace the challenges and opportunities of the modern world, where disruption is being caused by smarter technology and climate change. The indicative 2025 strategy will see more investment in student personalisation and positive education, staff development, wellbeing and collaboration. A gradual change to an educational outcome more focused on the development of the core skills and competencies of each boy was discussed. I do not envy the Board and the Executive faced with adapting our 170-year-old campus and traditions to the needs of current students. They will need our help and support in every form over the next decade. Our role in this strategic alliance As an Association we have become increasingly connected with College’s admissions, marketing, communications and development teams (now known collectively as Advancement) – literally because the CCOBA office is located alongside these staff in the Tower Block, adjacent to Chris Sellars in the Careers office. CCOBA Secretary Justine Nicholl has spearheaded the excellent collaboration, sharing alumni news, database administration and event management between CCOBA and the school. In addition, our
CCOBA and College strengthen alliance
While engaging with Old Boys continues to be our priority, the CCOBA and College administration teams are aligning to provide seamless support for all boys – from pre-entry to Old Boy status. CCOBA strategy – “connecting for life” In April we held the biennial CCOBA strategy meeting and tested the 142-year-old CCOBA objectives to: “Further the objects for which Christ’s College (the School) was originally founded and to promote the interests of the School and its Old Boys in such manner as the Committee determines”. The lawyers thought that still looked pretty good, but some of us were hunting for those “objects”. The conversation headed towards what more the CCOBA could do to promote the interests of its Old Boys – and a theme that arose was that we are “connecting for life” once a boy leaves school. There are
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