Summit VI Pictorial
(click arrows to scroll pictures)
Photographs by Ronnie Chin
The 6th KCOBA Summit of Chapters was held on August 2-4, 2007 at the North Street campus of Kingston College in Kingston, Jamaica. A full report is being compiled and will be published at a later date.
The KCOBA chapters were represented as follows:
Atlanta – Glen Laman
Board of Governors – Grafton Miller, Pat McIntosh
Florida - Audley Hewitt, Everton Bailey
Jamaica – Ken DaCosta, Lloyd Bennett, Richard Bowen, Ronnie Chin, Victor Henry, Courtney Josephs,Roderick Reid, Clive Savage, Basil Waite
KCDTF – Woodburn Miller
Kingston College - Rupert Hemmings
New York - Robert Kelly
PTA – Anthony Allen
Toronto - Lance Seymour, Clive Golding
Also in attendance were old boys Carl Oxford, Richard Grant, Warren McCalla-a medical student studying in Cuba, Dr. Patrick Dallas, Franklyn Morant, Stratton Palmer and Earl Spencer.
Action Items
Dig well at North Street campus-Victor Henry to lead project
Pave driveway at Melbourne campus- Anthony Allen & PTA
Finish Social Services Building-Florida
Repair 6th form flooring-NY
Expand Student Assistance program-Richard Bowen to lead
Investigate hiring a plant manager for the school; Hemmings to check how other schools do it.
Develop a web site for the school-Atlanta
Restore Hardie House – possibility of government funding as historic site
Support school’s 5 year development plan
Issues
Ensuring financial commitments are used for intended purposes
Multiple donations to same cause due to lack coordination
Friction between Jamaica and overseas chapters
Overseas chapters lack confidence in Jamaica chapter
Direct requests to overseas chapters bypassing the Jamaica chapter
Perception that school board and church not pulling for school
Chapters support for board’s strategic plan for school needed to avoid conflict
Practice of chapters picking individual projects to support
Poor communication and lack of perseverance in many aspects
Is school board aware of the poor state of the physical plant at school?
Does the will exist to get things done?
Highlights of Presentations
Crafton Miller, chairman of board of Governors, addressed attendees on day 2.
He has not seen such attachment to a school anywhere else
The old boys keep the school afloat
We have not tapped the many foundations that give $$ to schools in JA
Ministry of Education procedures tend to slow action
Desires to see an auditorium that will house entire student body
Principal Hemmings gave a report on the school
KC ranks in top 10 of traditional high schools in JA
Best performing Boy’s school in science
Many teachers only do enough not to be seen as delinquent
Very little done to recognize the architects of success-teachers
Goal is to vie for #1 academic school title in 5 years
School will have uniformed security starting September
Woodburn Miller gave a report on the KC Development Trust fund (KCDTF)
Fund has set new target of J$50 million by 2010-currently J$27 million
Fund can respond to emergency needs at request of board of governors
Fund has disbursed over J$6 million to projects in last 10 years
Development fund amount determined at AGM each year
Capital fund is inviolate but can specify donation as development only
Pat McIntosh spoke on infrastructure section of school’s development plan
KCDTF requested a strategic plan and produced a draft to help school
Urgent need for a plant manager at school
There is national cultural problem regarding maintenance
St. Andrews is example of school doing maintenance right
Lack of urgency and planning a major problem
Audley Hewitt spoke about Florida chapter
Florida has no president but selects chairman for specific projects
Those not performing are relieved of duty tactfully
Provide a large free picnic annually to build goodwill in community
“Jamaica land we love, KC we love more”
KC has lost creative streak-e.g. was first to use weight training in sports
Other schools have now passed us
Glen Laman spoke on behalf of Atlanta
Fundraising environment in Atlanta –many groups target same people
Banquets have not been kind to us
Newsletter reaching a global audience including many non-Jamaicans
Goal to double paid up membership
Focus on donations
Help establish a teacher recognition program at KC
Establish committees that will do something
Lance Seymour spoke for Toronto chapter
Very competitive fund raising environment
Reliance on core members for support
Little or no progress on infrastructure projects at KC
Numerous ad hoc funding requests from school
Computer lab request sent to Toronto w/o principals knowledge
All infrastructure projects should be funded thru KCDTF
Need for transparency in KC budget process
Robert Kelly spoke on behalf of New York
Got involved in KCOBA because of Foggy Burroughs
40 paid up members in NY
Board members replaced when they feel they are doing group a favor
Fund 40 scholarships to needy students @ J$19,000 each
Sponsor 4 students at UWI
Support coaches at Penn Relays- athletes are fed by Royal Caribbean Bakery
Fund breakfast program for needy boys – joined by Toronto and Florida
Atlanta, Florida and Toronto chapters should be on Trust Fund Board
“We need to win Manning Cup”- it will energize the old boys
Ken DaCosta spoke for KCOBA Ltd
Jamaica incorporated as Limited liability company
Have both a chairman and a president
Need for improved communication between chapters
Fundraising challenge – many good ideas but difficulty implementing
Anniversary Ball – August 24 in Jamaica
Discipline problem at school
Anthony Allen spoke on behalf of the PTA
Boss impressed by KC old boys passion and wants to adopt it to workplace
The “T” is missing in PTA-asking principal for help with attendance
In past teachers felt under attack at meetings
Different breed of parents today…not way they used to be.
Need more support from chairman of the board
PTA fete for the teachers was a hit with the staff
The Summit began with a Jamaican breakfast hosted by chairman of KCOBA Jamaica’s Board of Directors, Victor Henry, at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites. The group then departed for the North Street campus where they had use of the school’s boardroom for the duration of the Summit.
Lance Seymour, president of the Toronto chapter and chairman of Summit V led things off with opening remarks. After all the delegates were introduced, Victor Henry was confirmed as the chairman of Summit VI.
Other than a power failure on the first morning that had the group in the dark and sweating-power returned in about an hour-the remainder of the summit proceeded smoothly. Day one featured a tour of both campuses. On day two, the group broke to attend the funeral of KCOB Jimmy Grant at St. Andrews Parish church. Day three was extended to make up for the time used for the funeral.
The next Summit will take place in Kingston, Jamaica on a date in July to be determined.
