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The Rose & Portcullis Emanuel School Alumni Magazine 2020
A NEW ERA
for the
OEA
The Old Emanuel Association (OEA) is for everyone who attended Emanuel School. Membership is a great way to stay connected to the school, the sports you loved and the friends you made here.The Association hosts a number of sports clubs which are open to all levels. It also runs social events such as the Old Emanuel Luncheon Club and supports the school and its charitable mission under the Battersea Rise Trust. In his first 100 days, Chair Bob Barlow (OE1965-72) has set out a pathway based on a new vision, mission and values, involving better and more frequent communication, managing the exit from Blagdons, rationalising finances and, most importantly, revitalising the relationship between the OEA and the School.
Vision •
•
To operate an efficient and vibrant alumni association designed to celebrate Emanuel School, members’ time at the school and the sports clubs carrying its name. To enable greater camaraderie, relationships and connection with like-minded people whilst benefiting society in a manner relevant to its values.
Mission •
•
To attract a healthy number of former pupils of Emanuel School to join a reinvigorated Association, ensuring relevance of the membership offer. To help provide charitable assistance for children and youth who are vulnerable and the less well-off in society, reflecting the aspirations of the school’s founder, Lady Anne Dacre.
Values 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Empathy & kindness Honesty & openness Positivity Family Fun
Much remains to be done but those now involved in the governance of the Association are providing renewed enthusiasm, energy and commitment to drive this forward.
“
We appreciate this opportunity to set out what is happening at the OEA, our plans for the future and why we wish to encourage a much larger cross-section of Emanuel School alumni to join us in refreshing the OEA and forging a new way forward.
”
What can we expect of the OEA in the new era? Perhaps the clearest illustration of the new era was that, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we held our 2020 AGM online. In the past, a handful of regulars turned out for a meeting at Blagdons. This year, over 140 members took part, voting online on the way forward. This was a valuable learning experience for the OEA in terms of engagement. All our Executive Committee meetings since then have been held online and we plan to extend our use of video-conferencing and social media to engage with members wherever they are in the world.
How does the OEA fit within the Emanuel Society? Both the OEA and the school recognise the value of maintaining a connection between Emanuel and its former pupils as they go about their future lives. School leavers automatically become Old Emanuels and receive communications, networking opportunities and invitations to events from the Development team at Emanuel. The former OEA model, rooted in a deep affection and respect for the values of the school from days past, has almost certainly lacked attraction for our younger alumni contingent and it is this that we are focused on adapting in order to blend the best of old and new. For many decades, the Association has given significant financial support to its Blagdonsbased sports clubs. We recognise that in supporting the sports clubs so enthusiastically over the years, the OEA lost its focus on other areas of interest to a wider membership of the Association. We plan to place much more emphasis on camaraderie, communication, connectivity and charitable activities. We already support the school through its Primary Ambitions programme but would like to do much more in line with the ethos that underlies the Battersea Rise Trust. These activities will have a cost and that is why membership of the OEA comes with a small annual subscription, whereas access to the Old Emanuels network comes free of charge.
