Chairman’s Report for Ying Wa College Old Boys’ Association Annual General Meeting
Date: 29 November 2024
Venue : Noble Hall
Time: 7:30 PM
Dear Members,
I am delighted to welcome you all to the Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys’ Association. It is an honour and a privilege to be with you tonight as we reflect on another year of stellar achievements and growth within our community.
1. Overview of the Year
The past year has been remarkable for the Old Boys’ Association. We have successfully navigated out of the pandemic challenges presented by the ongoing recovery situation and emerged stronger and more connected than ever before. Our commitment to fostering relationships among our members and supporting our alma mater has been at the forefront of all our initiatives.
2. Membership Growth
I am pleased to report steady growth in our membership this year. We welcomed 85 new members from the classes of 1964 to 2023. This surge in membership is a testament to the enduring legacy of our school and the strong bonds we share as alumni. I encourage each of you to continue reaching out to old boys and inviting them to join us as we expand our network and enhance the experiences we offer.
3. Events and Activities
This year, we hosted a variety of activities that were designed to engage our members, foster networking opportunities, and give back to our alma mater. Key highlights include:
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- Monthly Happy Friday Networking Drinks:
Held on the first Friday of every month is an informal gathering attracting old boys and friends, presenting numerous collaboration and mentorship opportunities.
- Monthly Happy Friday Networking Drinks:
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- New Professional Chapter:
The Legal Chapter was launched in February and has been active with various events, including Chapter Networking Drinks in June and a Networking Lunch in Central in July. In October, the chapter organized a Continuing Professional Development course approved by the Law Society, with over 30 participants. I am pleased to inform you all that the Chapter is also actively involved in establishing a legal corner within the library on campus.
- New Professional Chapter:
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- TV Advertisement:
In March, the YWC football team reached the Division 1 Championship Final. The OBA
showed support by swiftly launching an advertisement on live TV for the first time. The project received overwhelming sponsorship from the old boys, generating a surplus of HK$20,000 which was then passed to the sports team for development purposes.
- TV Advertisement:
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- Visit to Ying Wa Girls’ School:
Our heritage group visited the Ying Wa Girls’ School campus and its state-of- the-art archive room in April. Special thanks to Principal Mr. Francis Kwan for personally guiding us around.
- Visit to Ying Wa Girls’ School:
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- Heritage and Archives Working Group:
In July, 20 YWC students took part in a history walk led by key heritage members. The tour explored the original locations of Ying Wa College between 1844 and 1924 in Hong Kong. This tour not only provided valuable historical insights but also fostered interaction between old boys and students. We received positive feedback and plan to extend this initiative to other Ying Wa communities, including YWPS and PTA.
- Heritage and Archives Working Group:
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- Swimming Pool Access:
During the summer vacation period, the school swimming pool was made available to old boys and their families on Sundays. This initiative attracted over 30 participants, and we intend to continue this arrangement towards the summer of 2025.
- Swimming Pool Access:
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- Mentorship Programme:
Launched in September, the Mentorship Program has enrolment from over 100 mentors and mentees from diverse backgrounds, including finance, law, healthcare, and engineering. A formal kickoff ceremony was held on November 2nd. The program fosters meaningful interactions between mentors and mentees spanning various age groups.
- Mentorship Programme:
4. Financial Overview
In this brief section, I would like to address our financial stability. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our Treasurer, our Association has maintained a secure financial position. The full audited financial accounts are available on our website, and our Treasurer will present them later in the meeting.
5. School Admission
As we continue to support our alma mater, we are committed to enhancing the school admissions process for our old boys while promoting the values of Ying Wa. Despite the competitive nature of the admissions process, approximately one-third of applications from old boys were successfully admitted to P1 of YWPS and S1 of YWC last year.
6. Future New Initiatives
As we look ahead, we are excited to propose several new initiatives on top of the current to further enhance our members’ experiences:
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- Enhance Financial Health:
We will explore opportunities to enhance the Association’s financial sustainability and encourage each activity to aim for a minimum 10% surplus.
- Enhance Financial Health:
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- Explore new souvenir sale:
We will explore new souvenir items for sale by launching another round of member surveys.
- Explore new souvenir sale:
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- Introduction of new membership cards:
We will explore the possibility of new membership card options.
- Introduction of new membership cards:
7. Acknowledgments
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the committee members for their unwavering dedication and hard work throughout the year. Your commitment to our Association has had a profound impact. I also extend my gratitude to all of our members for their continued support and engagement. Together, we are building a vibrant community that upholds our school’s values and traditions.
8. Conclusion
To conclude, we have much to be proud of as an Association, and I am enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead. Let us continue to foster connections, provide mutual support, and enhance our community. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with all of you in the forthcoming year.
Warm regards,
LIU Lik Hang, Rex
Chairman, Ying Wa College Old Boys’ Association