Overview

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION

BACKGROUND
In the summer of 1987, whilst on a visit to England, the then President of the QC Old Students' Association Aubrey Bishop† spoke to a group of former pupils about the problems afflicting the school: lack of text books, laboratory equipment and materials, and sports gear; poor sanitary facilities; and general deterioration of the fabric of the building. A general meeting was called to which all contactable former pupils and members of staff were invited, and a Steering Committee was set up to prepare an action plan. This led to the establishment of the present Association which was formally inaugurated in June 1988 and became a Registered Charity in April 1989.

OFFICERS
A non-executive President‡, any number of (non-executive) Vice-Presidents†† and a Management Committee of seven all elected annually at the AGM. From among their number, the Committee choose a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

ACTIVITIES
The Association raises funds through subscriptions, donations, social events etc. to promote its ‘charitable object’ of assisting in the provision of facilities and equipment to the school for advancing the education of the pupils. It has donated laboratory equipment, library and text books, school ties and sports gear, and made donations for computer equipment, flood relief, chairs for the auditorium, classroom furniture and QCOSA's welfare programme: all amounting to over £120,000 in cash and kind.
Two regular fundraising events are held during the year: a Summer Reunion (garden party-cum-barbecue with dancing in the evening), and a pre-Christmas dinner. Other events are also held including the Annual General Meeting, in November at the Guyana High Commission, which ends in a social with good Guyanese food and drink—and cameraderie.
The Newsletter issued twice a year keeps members abreast of activities, news of former pupils and staff, and topics of common interest.
Strong links are maintained with the active QC associations in Guyana, New York, Toronto and Florida, and with other Guyanese schools' alumni associations in the UK. We also actively participate in the work done by the International Committee of the QC Alumni Associations (ICQC). Relevant websites are listed overleaf.

WHO CAN JOIN?
Ordinary membership is open to any former pupil or staff member by right; there is also a category of 'friend' member. Friends need to be sponsored by two members (at least one of whom must be a member 'by right'), and approved by the Management Committee, otherwise they have the same rights and obligations as other members. Membership forms are downloadable from the website.
Paid-up membership of the Association currently stands at around 110, including over 80 Life Members.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
£12 per annum payable on 1st October; full-time students £5 p.a. Life Membership is available for a single lump sum payment of £100. UK taxpayers can pay such subscriptions, and any donation, by Gift Aid. All you need to do is to complete and return the Declaration downloadable from the website—it's quite painless and un-bureaucratic! Life Membership may also be obtained by a minimum of four annual payments of £30 which must be by Gift Aid.
Cheques to be made payable to Queen's College Association (UK).

USEFUL WEBSITES (All preceded by “www.”)
This Association: www.qcoga.org.uk
Guyana Association: qcosa.org.gy
QC Board of Governors: queenscollege.org
Florida Association: qcalumnifl.org
New York Association: qcguyanaalumny.org
Toronto Association: qcalumnitoronto.com
ICQC: icqconline.com
QC magazines archive: geocities.com/qcmagazine/index/html
Guyana High Commission: guyanahc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Queens-College-Old-Students-Association/107462024045?ref=ts


† Later to become Chancellor of the Judiciary.
‡ The first President was old boy and former High Commissioner Cecil S Pilgrim, CCH.
†† Vice-Presidents include prominent old boys Sir Shridath Ramphal, GCMG, OE (former Commonwealth Secretary-General), Trevor Phillips, OBE (Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights).

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Links:
Constitution
Charitable Donations
Current Initiatives
AGM Archives
Officers 2008-2009
Officers 2009-2010
Management Committee

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