Secretary's Report 2009
SECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 10th AUGUST 2008-13th SEPTEMBER 2009 Mike Edwin Fellow Regentonians I was elected 12 months ago to the position of Secretary General of this esteemed organization.
I was quite taken aback at the result of the election as it was my very first meeting.
What I immediately felt as a burden of responsibility was eased by the professional hand over from the Former Secretary General Mr C Hotobah During and the help and advice of the Chairman Mr Magnus Cole Jr.
I must also thank the members for their collective votes to someone they knew nothing about, personally or within the organization in general, a mouthy maverick some will say thus giving me the opportunity to make my small contribution to the growth, wellbeing and further survival of this organization into the future .
I wish to note the following achievements of the organization over the past year.
1, The New constitution being formulated and voted for against noted opposition
2, The new Regentonian Calendar, which will hopefully be continued to members.
3, The Negotiations with the Hilton Group in the winter of 2008 and the eventual signing of the contracts.
4, The successful dinner and Dance Hilton Metropole.
5, The successful thanksgiving Service in London.
The contributions and pledges which were raised at this time have enabled this organization to be in a financially stable position giving us the opportunity to ring fence significant funds to the school and its development programmes.
6, Growth in membership and membership contributions
We as an organization like many have had our fair share of losses to our numbers, and I ask that the souls of all of our comrades who have fallen in the last year rest in perfect peace.
I will be a total hypocrite if I say that it’s all been a bed of roses in this organization as there seems to be forces at work with the deliberate intent of undermining what has been achieved by the old guard, and the work that has been done to date.
However the steadfastness of the old and new executive will I am sure ensures that this does not happen.
My burning contentions and hopes for redress Next year by the new executive are as follows
Attendance at meetings should be looked at significantly.
Membership fees which are the life blood of any organization needs to be improved.
The fees must be put up to generate more revenue for good causes, not just in the school but to other organizations within Sierra Leone with an educational remit.
The organization must look at creating a new charity owned by the members of the organization and entrusted to the members of the organization.
A concerted and effective fund raising event/s to encourage membership and raise money.
A non formal meeting structure to encourage new and younger members.
A new improved web site to ensure that many of the younger generation see the work that is being done by the organization and a membership payment structure online using PayPal or any other appropriate method.
A Market place system within the website to manage and encourage trade in the Sierra Leonean Community online in an e- Business format.
Finally a marketing and recruitment body set up with a Director of commercial affairs to market and sell this organization.
I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time though rough as Secretary General however I have to thank a number of individuals who individually and collectively have made this an easier journey than it could have been.
Magnus Cole
Carl Hotobah During
Katib Iscandri
Walton Shooter
Lindsay Benjamin
Dejan Mc Ewan
Ivor Nelson Williams
Rowland Awoonor Gordon
Kenneth Benjamin
These people individually in one way or the other helped and or encouraged me this year to make this a job worth doing.
I take my leave from this executive in the knowledge that most of what we wanted as a body and more have been achieved.
I am of the opinion that the foundation of this organization is firmly in place however I am in no doubt that the real work starts now to ensure that the correct building blocks are used to drive us forward with zeal and determination into the next few years.
We must ensure that we harness the skills of members even those not within the executive.
A final thank you to all the members of the executive for their zeal in dealing with all the issues over the year.
Finally my parting wish is to say thank you to the outgoing chair for his indefatigable energy over the past few years in molding this organization into what it has now become.
He has set our foundations and now we must be willing to drive collectively into the Promised Land.
May I wish all members of the SLGSOBA UK the best of luck and together we can work for the good of our beloved Alma Mater.
Good Bye, Thank you, and God bless you all
Floreat Regentonia
Mike Edwin
