Chairman’s Report Periodically the committee does a bit of soul searching and asks itself some fundamental questions. Ever conscious that the membership is getting older, our numbers are gradually dropping. Whilst it is not an issue now, it will be one day, and we need to head off the problem of falling membership before it comes upon us. How can we recruit new members from today’s students? Are the students leaving today any different from that which we were years ago? Looking back to the time when I left Shutts to go out into that Brave New World I was actually looking forwards, to my new life ahead. I have never forgotten my time at Shutts and I made some lifelong friends but looking back I wasn’t ready for reunions or nostalgia. It was not until I was in my thirties and I had seen a bit more of that Brave New World that I realised what a wonderful time I had enjoyed at Shutts. I do not think that my experience was any different to many others of our generation and indeed to those who are leaving today. So we, as a committee, are going to concentrate our efforts to embrace Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to help those who may be looking to reconnect with the Shuttleworth ‘family’ some years after leaving. Our website is looking tired and is in need of a massive rebuild. This is something that we hope to do over the coming months. We have included within these pages, a questionnaire asking for your views on the magazine content; what articles you look forward to reading, you do not read in full or perhaps ignore completely. This magazine takes a lot to put together and it would make a huge difference if articles or sections that are not well read are moved out perhaps to be replaced by others. Please take a few moments and help us to produce the magazine that you want and not one that we think you want. I would, as always, like to thank the other members of the committee for their input into the SCA as it is a team effort. We used to meet at the College for all our meetings but have since decided that every other scheduled meeting could be via conference call. This has proved very successful and has saved many miles for committee members as we come from many different parts of the country. I would also like to remind you that we always have room for more people on the SCA committee, and the more we have the more chance we will have new ideas and suggestions for keeping the SCA going and helping the college and current students. Sarah Perrett (77/80) Chairman
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