Highlighting the Accomplishments of Caribbean Organizations in Atlanta:
The KCOBA online newsletter has featured an Atlanta charitable Caribbean organization just about every month for the past four months. This month we have the spotlight on Queen’s Alumnae Atlanta Chapter (QAAC).
The question may be asked, quite legitimately, as to why Queen’s was selected so early in the game, relatively speaking. It was purely by coincidence. As it turned out, May 2006 the highly accomplished and affable QAAC executive Sarah Vaughan contacted me. She had wanted to update me on her recent “major accomplishment” in QAAC’s fund raiser walk-a-thon. Without hesitation, I agreed to make a contribution to the worthy cause.
In any event, I was so struck by the fact that, at a time when most organizations raise funds promoting dinners and other events, QAAC was raising funds in a way that promotes good health. As such, I wanted to learn more about QAAC: Who are they, and what motivates them?
The answer to every question that I asked about the organization could be found at their Web site at http://www.queensatlanta.org . The listed Pages were up-to-date and very well organized. That was truly refreshing. Too many of our Web sites are out of date.
History of The Queen’s School:
According to information available at the Web site, The Queen's School was founded in 1953 when the Synod of the Church of England passed a resolution that a new secondary school should be established. The school was formally opened in 1954 as a Diocesan High School for Girls, with a Preparatory Department for boys and girls.
The school started with fifty-one students, four forms and four teachers in the old Doric Hotel building. The High School was under the direction of Mrs. Anne Chambers, with Mrs. S. E. Clarke as second mistress. In 1955, Mrs. Clarke took over as headmistress. Following that, in 1959, the Junior School for children between the ages of 9 and 11 was established, as well as the building which housed the High School's laboratories for chemistry and biology, and the rooms for cookery, art and needlework.
By 1960 the school had 360 students. The number of students rose from 600 in 1973 to nearly 1000 in 1978, by which time the school had a swimming pool, netball courts, and a new administrative block in place of the old Doric Hotel Building.
Academic Performance at Queen’s Today:
Late 2005 Jamaica Observer staff writer Deanna McFarlane wrote an article on Queen’s. In that article the writer attested that Queen’s Principal Yvonne Keane-Dawes described the school as traditional, noting that, over the years, Queen's had grown “tremendously.” "We have 91% passes in CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations)," Keane-Dawes is reported to have said.
Introducing QAAC:
QAAC is a not-for-profit organization comprised of past students of the all-girls Queen's High School. It currently enjoys 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service.
QAAC’s beginnings date back to 2000 when a group of past students, reflecting on the strong foundation their alma mater had built for them, established the chapter as a way to give back to the school. The goal of QAAC is to create a sisterhood comprised of committed past students who are dedicated to making a contribution to Queen's through grants, scholarships and mentoring.
The chapter uses a series of fundraising events to provide scholarships to deserving students who meet certain criteria. In addition, the chapter is working towards the establishment of a mentorship program through which current students may seek guidance from participating alumnae mentors.
QAAC's programs and services provide alumnae meaningful opportunities to learn more about The Queen's School today; to maintain and grow friendships with other alumnae; and to serve the school, current students, and our communities.
QAAC - Recent and General Accomplishments:
Year 2005
Provided 2 merit based tuition scholarships to rising 4th formers
Donated over a $100 in supplies to the Art Department
Year 2004
Provided a $300 scholarship to a sixth former
Donated a laser printer for the students' use
General
Actively participated in planning and executing celebrations for Jamaica 's Independence
Manned entertainment and First Aid booths three years running at Family Fun Day for Jamaica 's Independence Celebrations
Applied for and received tax-exempt status from the IRS
Successfully incorporated the chapter in Georgia
Steady Growth in Membership to 55 members since starting in 2002
Continue to support the events of other sister chapters in Florida & Jamaica.
QAAC Leadership:
QAAC elections are held annually in December. The executive officers for 2006 are:
Heather Potter, president
Sarah Vaughan, vice president
Verna Cole, secretary
Debbie Thomas, treasurer
Francene Simmonds, social events coordinator, and
Leslyn Weekes, public relations coordinator.
Spotlight on one QAAC executive:
"Virtute et Sapientia Floreat" - May she flourish in virtue and wisdom. I must admit that I was not familiar with the Queen’s school motto prior to now. Now that I am familiar with it, I am firmly of the opinion that the Queen’s alumnae that I have known over the years truly personify the essence of their school motto.
Take Sarah Vaughan, for instance. My family has been very close to Sarah’s family for over 20 years. Many, many years ago, when the Atlanta Jamaican community was not as established as it is today, Sarah, as an associate TV producer at what is now WAGA, made sure that the Jamaican community received the positive exposure that we so badly needed at the time. That level of exposure was unquestionably one of the factors that was key to our making major strides as we built our community in the early days.
Not only that, though. Sarah has worked diligently over the years in dedicated service of the poor, whether the poor resided in our Island home, or whether the poor was an Atlanta resident of any nationality. In fact, Sarah had the same intense level of commitment regardless of whether she was working for her church, or for the Atlanta Jamaican Association, or for QAAC.
Suffice it to say that Queen’s alumnae have made many positive contributions to Atlanta and Jamaica. QAAC President Heather Potter and all her QAAC associates have certainly made their caring presence felt in a most constructive way.
How to Reach QAAC:
The QAAC may be contacted via e-mail at qaac@queensatlanta.org . You may also contact the organization via U.S. mail at:
The Queen's Alumnae Atlanta Chapter (QAAC)
P.O. Box 362172
Decatur, GA 30036.
Submitted by Derrick R. Wright, KCOBA, using information from the following sources:
McFarlane, Deanna. “Academic and extra-curricular activities go together at Queen's,” Jamaica Observer, November 1, 2005.
Prior Discussions with Sarah Vaughan, QAAC vice president
