Building an Effective Alumni Association

There are several Ghanaians in very prominent and highly paid positions, both in Ghana and in the Diaspora, who graduated from Secondary Schools and Universities in Ghana. These individuals were educated at almost zero cost on the backs of our farmers and fishermen. However, most of them have not contributed much towards the advancement of their Alma Mater. A country like ours cannot let such potential source of development remain untapped. I know that alumni from a few Secondary Schools in Ghana have done quite well in the area of contributing towards the development of their Alma Mater. I believe, however, that the vast majority of the Schools haven’t done as well in tapping into this vast development resource.

There are many factors that have contributed to the lack of meaningful activity from past students of our institutions. Among these may be cultural inertia, lack of initiative from school administrators, real or apparent corruption, and weak alumni associations. St. Augustine’s Past Students Association of Southeast USA (APSU Southeast) is organizing an Alumni Building Workshop to discuss this very important topic. The Workshop is part of the events that will mark APSU North America Reunion taking place from September 2nd to 4th, 2011 in ATLANTA, Georgia, USA. At the end of this Reunion, we want to see a much stronger and very effective Global APSU association that will be instrumental in making St. Augustine’s College a World-Class High School befitting its history and the enviable caliber of its alumni.

All are invited (APSUNIANS and NON-APSUNIANS). The key events for the Reunion are as follows:

FRIDAY, September 2 – 8:00pm

Social mixer at Fox Sports Grill at Atlantic Station (261 19th St, Atlanta, GA 30363)

SATURDAY, September 3

10AM—1 PM: Alumni Building Workshop, Conference Room, Courtyard Marriott Executive Park, 1236 Executive Park Drive, Atlanta GA 30329

7PM—Midnight: Dinner Dance, Press Room A, Georgia Tech Student Success Center, 219 Uncle Heinie Way, Atlanta, GA, 30332

Key-note Speaker: Joe Irwin, (National President, Georgia Tech Alumni

Topic: “The Role of a Strong Alumni Association, and Steps to Building One”

SUNDAY, September 4 – 12 pm

Aponkye-K, Venue will be given

GROUP LODGING/REUNION HOTEL: Courtyard Marriott Executive Park for ($89/night), 1236 Executive Park Dr, Atlanta GA 30329 (404) 728 0708

Please pre-register now: $50 (Single) or $75 (Couple) and get Reunion Updates at www.apsugeorgia.org

Contact the following APSUNIANS for further information:

Apisco T, Class of ’77 (770 663-0719)

Lago, Class of ’84 (478 228-6422)

Sampah, Class of ’92 (678 852-3212)

SP (Tony Darko), Class of ’96 (770 826-2549)

Other Ghanaian High School and University Alumni Associations can benefit a great deal from the Alumni Building Workshop on Saturday. Representatives of such Associations are encouraged to attend the Workshop.

Dr. Charles E. Appeadu (Apisco T.) Class of 1977/1979