OSCA
YOBS MAKE INROADS IN A TOUGH YEAR
MR SCOTT MONTGOMERY (' 85 ) OSCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We welcome the class of 2020
We all know that this year has been a tumultuous one which has challenged us all . Over the year OSCA Council ’ s strategy , and the direction for the OSCA team , has been to pursue a stronger connection with the Young Old Boys ( YOBs ). I sense that this year we have made some great inroads into engaging with our future alumni .
Lachie Strathmore (‘ 16 ), Chair of OSCA ’ s Young Old Boys Committee , made mention of the year in his report to the OSCA Council in October . I think it says a lot about a Young Old Boy who cares about his fellow young alumni and the direction he is leading the YOBs Committee :
This time in 2019 , the YOBs were still figuring out what the group was . We were relatively unknown , and struggled to connect with the community and establish ourselves as a relevant and useful resource . We didn ’ t really offer anything , and whilst we knew there was something that could eventuate from the group , we didn ’ t know what it was .
A year later , the YOBs is an established group with a wide following of over 650 boys . People know who we are , and our posts indicate what we stand for – promoting people from all industries , supporting mental health , and a platform to keep in touch . We have cracked into the Year 12 cohort with our Zoom seminars in September , which has laid the foundation for future years . We have established a logical progression from Year 12 to YOB , and this will only get stronger in future years .
It has been a hugely successful year for the YOBs despite the trying circumstances . It is important that we maintain this momentum through next year with the return to live events , and transition from a just a positive community to a positive and useful community . We need to provide resources for YOBs so they are keen to engage , but also continue to promote and shout-out school leavers so that we do not become another spam page . I am incredibly happy with the development of the YOBs this year , and look forward to increasing both our live and social media presence in 2021 .
70 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020