A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION

I bring you greetings from the Sierra Leone Grammar School Alumni Association of North America Washington D.C. Metro Branch,. the recently formed SLGSAANA South-East and West Branches,. the SLGS Old Boys Union in Freetown,. the Principal of the SLGS Mr. Akiwande Lasite,. and the Proprietor of the School,. Bishop Julius O. P. Lynch.

Since the dawn of the organization twenty-four years ago (1984) by eight great Regentonians,. we have seen a slow but steady growth in our membership. Today, we can boast of over 200 registered members; but we can do better. I would implore all Regentonians to not only register but to make a conscious effort to move up into the category of active membership which comes with a $60 annual subscription. This will better empower the organization to meet its primary objective of providing financial support to the school and fostering the spirit of camaraderie among Regentonians in the diaspora.

Since the founding of the SlGS by the CMS in 1845 through the change to a Government-assisted school in 1942 and subsequently to an Independent Institution on September 1st 2007, we have seen two to three generations of Regentonians with fundamentally similar experiences. Unfortunately, the present generation of Regentonians has significant challenges in their path to acquiring education. This could change the Regontonian experience for the worse. How effectively the administration of the school handles these challenges will shape our legacy and the Regentonian experience in the future. The SlGSAANA will continue to serve as a conduit for communication between Regentonians in Sierra leone and in the diaspora so as to provide you with information on successes and failure, new and old challenges, and the vision of the school as we move forward in our second year of autonomy and ahead in the 21st century. Your sensitivity and commitment is needed more than ever before.

Since the present executive took over from Mr. George Nicol about a year and a half ago, we have followed the tradition of building on the foundation laid by prior executives. I wou.ld like to thank all Regentonians who have worked hard and continue to work hard to ensure success in our initiatives. Our 2007-2012 'Paying Back the Gift'Long Term Endowment Investment Initiative, with a goal of $250,000 by year 2012, is far from our target but we raised $13,560 in the first 15 months. We will intensify our efforts to ensure that we give it our best shot. I encourage those who have not yet pledged {or pledged but have not fulfilled their pledge} to do so now and ask for your understanding and tolerance as we make periodic phone calls, send electronic mails, ground mails, and personal appeals in public and private functions.

My sincere thanks go to all alumni and supporters for their support in scholarship donations to the school. Over the past two years, there has been an upswing in the number of scholarships but much more scholarships are needed. To sponsor a child for a year, we are asking for only $300. This covers about 90% of the cost of the current 2007-2008 year tuition. (At an exchange rate of Le 2,900 to $1, it translates to about Le 930,000 for Junior SS and Le 1,080,000 for Senior SS). Remember that by sponsoring a child, you not only guarantee that child an education but you also help make available the necessary funds to enable the school to run effectively and enrich its programs.

We are also indebted to all alumni and supporters who made donations to the tune of$L100 towards the Six-classroom buiJding fund during our last annual fund-raising dance in 2007. The ongoing book drive for our library, the procurement this year of a supply of caps, ties and head band to the tune of $5,400, the annual Christmas staff incentive bonus of $5,000, the annual student scholarship of $4,500, the donation of $11,000 from our long standing teachers salary revolving account (redundant since privatization) into the six-classroom building fund, the private donation of vests and jerseys. to the schools' football team, and the current effort to establish a IIFriendship link" between pupils of the Sierra Leone Grammar School and a U. S. High school for mutual benefit are laudable efforts.

As the school ventures into this era of autonomy, more robust support by alumni and supporters is necessary to ensure sustainability. I am imploring bands of Regentonians to seriously consider redoubling their efforts and take pride in coming together in a focused fashion to adopt, refurbish, or upgrade segments of the school's infrastructure or academic program with the ultimate aim of complete sponsorship in the future. This could mean bands of Regentonians coming together to sponsor (or adopt) the Science lab, the Computer lab, the library, the Chapel, the Physical Education Department, the Drama Department, the Arts Department or any other area that is considered a priority by the administration of the school.

This could also mean that Regentonians who are adept at writing Grant Proposals make contact with the School or the alumni association to come up with grant proposals that, if funded, can help upgrade the school's physical facilities or educational programs. These, among others, are viable steps that will help ensure a high standard of education, better outcomes, decent physical facilities and stable administrative staff. I challenge Regentonians to put their shoulders to the task.

Finally, as true Regentonians, let us be hopeful that with concerted effort, the Sierra leone Grammar School will live forever, sunder never, and falter never. Floreat Regentonia! God bless our Grammar School!

Dr. Radcliffe M. Thomas, President, SLGSMNA
Washington D.C., Metro Area Branch