31 January 2020

Dear Jeremy

At the AGM on 5 March, the Committee will be saying thank you and farewell to a number of OD Committee members, who have served the Union with distinction but have unfortunately reached the end of their permitted tenure or elected to step down. This provides an opportunity for other ODs who wish to contribute to the Union to put up their hands to volunteer their time, experience and skill.

Having regard to strategy that the Committee has adopted, we would like to ensure that the Committee is fit for purpose. To this end, we welcome nominations from any ODs, but particularly from ODs who have experience in the following areas which require specific expertise:

• finance, accounts and treasury;

• stakeholder engagement, social media and communications;

• IT and database management;

• governance and fiduciary relations; and

• general management.

In terms of the Constitution, the Committee meets at least four times a year. In practice, we meet up to 8 times a year, depending on matters and concerns arising. Our most active and important sub-committees, being the finance and the communications committee, meet four times and twice a year, respectively. The Chairman attends all Committee and sub-committee meetings, attends four Council meetings, four Bishops Trust meetings, and, along with the Honorary Treasurer, four scholarship and bursary committee meetings. The Treasurer attends all of the Committee and finance committee meetings, as well as scholarship and bursary committee meetings. Ideally, the nominee for the Honorary Treasurer position should be a chartered accountant. Other members of the Committee attend Committee meetings and other sub-committee meetings on an ad hoc basis.

Each of the nominees will be put forward by the Committee for election at the forthcoming AGM. Interested ODs are invited to forward their nomination with a brief CV to the Chairman, care of the Mitre: [email protected]

As always, you are welcome to contact any member of the Committee for insight or further information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Have an amazing weekend.

Kind regards,

The OD Office

Announcements

Annual OD Union Dinner

The Annual OD Union dinner will take place on 5 March at Kelvin Grove, with incoming principal Tony Reeler as the guest speaker. Drinks will be served between 18:00 and 18:45 on the lawns with the dinner starting at 19:00 sharp. For more information on how to buy your ticket please follow the link below.

OD Dinner

Last chance to advertise in The Old Diocesan

The magazine sub-committee would like to make a call for anyone interested in advertising in Issue 5 of The Old Diocesan. Please follow the link below to view the rate card as well as contact details. The cut-off date for material is February 6.

2020 Rate Card

UCT Vice Chancellor makes an appearance at the Mitre

Last week Friday Vice Chancellor of UCT, Mamokgethi Phakeng (Middle) was spotted sharing coffee at The Mitre with Sam Petersen (Member of Bishops Council), Nikki Matthews (Bishops Trust secretary) and Moshe Apleni (OD and Member of Bishops Council) and Brent Dyssell (OD Kidd and Member of College PA).

The Mitre is now bustling with parents, ODs and staff between 7 and 9:30 Monday to Friday, as a result of a new pop-up coffee shop - ‘Coffee at the Mitre’. This is a College Parents Association initiative to create more opportunities for parents to meet and engage over a fabulous cup of coffee or tea. It’s also one way of dealing with rush hour traffic. Many thanks to ODs who have popped in over the past 2 weeks. If you’re in the area or planning a catch up with a fellow OD, please consider supporting Coffee at the Mitre. Click below to read more.

Starlight Classics with Richard Cock

E-mail Dedry @ [email protected] should you wish to reserve seats in the selected OD area. Tickets can be booked via Computicket. Seating area will be open from 4pm.

Date: 29 February

Venue: Vergelegen

Time: 4pm

Book

OD Updates

Cameron Bellamy (2000B) completes The Impossible Row

In December 2019 Cameron Bellamy (2000B), along with 5 other rowers, navigated their way through Drake Passage. Never has this been done before in a solely human powered rowboat...until now.

Simon Grose steps down as Northern Province secretary

After serving the OD Union with distinction Simon Grose (1977) will be stepping down from his role as the Northern Provinces Secretary. Every role in the OD Union is a voluntary one and as such, often goes unnoticed or under-appreciated. We thank you for your service Simon.

It is at this time that the OD Union would like to call for applicants to this role in the Northern Provinces. Should you wish to apply, please contact Dedry at [email protected]

ODs go international with tech start up

The entertainment industry is tailored for agencies to thrive. Jaryd Hermann (2012K) and Stuart Miller (2013S) identified this as a gap in the market and have decided to fill it with WECAST.

Founders day sports

Should you wish to participate in any of the following sports on Founders day, please send Dedry a mail at [email protected]

Basketball, Debating, Tennis, Water polo, Touchies and Tug of war.

Milestone birthdays this month

We celebrated two 80th birthdays this month. Jeremy Ricketts (1958S) on the 6th of January 1940 and Neil McCarthy (1957O) on the 11th of January 1940.

ODs Around the World

Founders Day Commemoration with Francois Louw (2003W)

To commemorate Founders Day (which is on Friday March 6th) Francois Louw (2003W) will share his experiences of South Africa's triumphant 2019 Rugby World Cup at an informal evening on Wednesday 4th March in London (venue to be confirmed).

It is essential that you reserve your place. There will be a £20 charge for the evening, but all house wine,beer and soft drinks are complimentary.

RSVP

2019 UK ODU Year end party

Click here to view pictures of the festivities from the UK year end party.

UK pictures

UK Newsletter

The latest news from the UK branch of the ODU and a taste of what's to come for the rest of 2020

UK Newsletter

OD Office Updates

The Standing Committee made a recommendation to the Committee to the effect that the Constitution should be amended such that each year at the Annual General Meeting, the entire Committee step down, and put itself up for re-election.

In order to give effect to the Standing Committee's recommendation the Committee puts the recommendation to the Members for consideration.

Resolution

Calling OD authors

The OD union would like to make a call for any ODs who may have had a book published in the last 6 months. Should you know of anyone, please send a mail to [email protected]

Strategy 2020-2025: Consolidated Results

At the end of 2019 just under 500 ODs completed an online questionnaire, answering questions about the future strategy of the ODU. The responses were rich in information and we thank you all for taking the time and trouble. Your input was consolidated into a large document which can be accessed in the article below (click on the button).

Notice - Use of Sports Facilities

ODs are welcome to make use the sports facilities at the College. However, please contact Dedry to arrange this first – [email protected]

The college staff have asked for your cooperation as there are a lot of sporting activities and so facilities may only be used if it is not being used for school sport. Please be mindful of the boarders and residents that reside on the property as well. We therefore ask you not to use these facilities before 7am or after 8pm.

School Updates

News from Bishops cricket
The matrics of 2020 who will continue their journey as part of the Bishops First XI Cricket Team led by captain, Travis Norris. Congratulations to Ethan Kieffer, Seb (Leanne Allison), Keagan (Nicola Blanckenberg) and Travis (Jenny & Tim Norris) who received Full Colours for their commitment to the sport.