the wellington college year book 2010/2011
the wellington college year book 2010/2011
98
99
the chairman’s
report
charles baker [bl 1962–1967]
O
ne result of the publication
of this Year Book some
three months earlier than
its predecessors is that this
report covers little more
than a six months period. The main events so
far in 2011 are set out in Chris Potter’s report.
I shall limit this report to a few comments
about progress on certain recent initiatives.
ow Society Charitable Trust—This is
now the principal charitable trust run by the
Society for the benefit of ows identified as
being in particular need of support. I make
no apology for listing this first, since any
organisation, even as outward-looking and
diverse as ours, must have an eye for its
own members who are deserving of help.
Those intended to benefit are at present
confined to (i) ows seeking bursaries to
enable exceptionally talented children or
grandchildren to go to Wellington; (ii) ows in
distressed circumstances, and (iii) young ows
wishing to participate in worthwhile projects
abroad (particularly those enhancing the
qualities of leadership and service) or in ow
arts or sports activities. The Campaign for
Wellington brochure issued to all ows in the
summer was aimed at raising funds not only
for Wellington, but also (or alternatively) for
this particular Trust.
ow website and it—The acquisition
of NetCommunity was delayed for some
months, but has now taken place and the
ow Office has been involved in how best to
use this software, which is designed to make
it easy for members to keep in touch and
interact with one another via a newly designed
website. The aim is to launch this new facility
and website early in the New Year.
Careers Scheme — NetCommunity has
an important role to play in this scheme
to which we are devoting considerable
effort, recognising the currently tight
employment market and the need of pupils
and young ows for a web based tool to
research career information from ows
and gain a realistic ‘feel’ for a possible
career based on the personal experiences
of ows and their responses to enquiries.
A separate development by the Society
on the careers front was its decision this
summer to pay £2,000 to wexo, a web
based organisation that matches students
and graduates seeking work experience,
internships or jobs with companies. wexo,
whose co-founder and ceo is Robin Kennedy
[M 1989 –1994], will provide membership for
200 or more Wellington Sixth Formers and
leavers at any one time.
Reunions of ows in common or related
professions (e.g. medicine, law, accountancy,
ship broking, insurance, engineering,
banking) have either taken place already or
are being actively planned. Any ow who
would be interested in participating in or
helping to arrange such a gathering should
contact the Secret ary.
The changed role of the General
Committee —The sub-committees mentioned in the Secretary’s Report were formed
last December and are tackling their new
responsibilities with gusto and expertise.
Members are invited to contact the e&f
Committee member whose name appears at
the head of any sub-committee if they have
a question falling within that sub-committee’s
remit. The relevant names and e-mails appear
under the About Us tab on the Society website.
As many members will know from
contacting the ow Office, the unstinting
work put in over the last year by Chris
Potter and Kay Mitchell has been of
enormous benefit to all of us, not least
in preserving the Chairman’s sanity !