Minutes of St Nicholas Girls’ Alumnae Association
Annual General Meeting
13 March 2010
at 2.00 pm
AVA Room, St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary)
Present :
Chairperson : Chow Wan Cheng
Members:
Chan Wan Mui
Chng Woei
Chow Wan Yong
Fong Yoke San
Goh Joo Leng
Han Juat Jong
Ho Se Yunn
Ho Yuen San
Kang Mei Ling
Kho Sok Hui
Koh Chern Peng
Lai Kuan Ee, Elizabeth
Lau Yoke Lin
Lee Huay Leng
1
Lee Hui Feng
Lee Teen Yen
Lee Yuan Yu
Lee, Yvonne
Lim Shu Wei
Lim Sor Lin
Lin Chee Keen
Low Miow Tian
Loy Hsueh-Jiun
Neo Keh Hoon, Melissa
Ng Piak Hoon
Ng Wee Teng, Nichol
Ong Bee Chong
Sie Tho Yuen Fung,
Shirley
Tan Aik Mian, Celine
Tan Kah Eng, Patricia
Tan Man Sim
Tan Su Ling
Teo, Lisa
Chow Yoong Sien,
Yvonne
Woo Kwai Merng
Yang Serene
Yeng Chiah Ming
Yeong Wee Eng
Yip Phui Leng
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD ON 28 MARCH 2009
The minutes were passed without any amendment.
Proposer : Lee Huay Leng
Seconder : Chan Wan Mui
2
SUMMARY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES IN 2009AND
PLANS FOR 2010
President of the Alumnae Association (AA) Chow Wan
Cheng welcomed all to the AGM. She highlighted the
major events and achievements of the AA in 2009, and
mentioned in particular that in 2009, the AA EXCO
members had opportunities to meet up with the Principal
and some teachers, the IJ Board and the Parents Support
Groups (PSGs). The AAwould be working with the PSGs
to synergise efforts for common projects to support the
School for example, the holiday attachment programme for
Sec 3 students.
She then invited the Chairs of the various Sub-Committees
to review the programmes in 2009 and the plans for 2010.
2.1 Education Sub-Committee
Lee Huay Leng gave a brief on activities and events held in
2009, and the plan for 2010.
English-Chinese translation programme as enrichment for
Sec 1 and Sec 2 students started in 2008. Teachers were
trained, textbook for students were prepared and printed.
The classes for Sec 2 started in Jan 2009 with a Trainer/
Observer from Beijing to observe. Due to unforeseen
circumstances, the Observer left after a month, and the
School teachers carried on with the teaching themselves.
Monthly Fireside Chats were held for interested students to
chat with old girls on various professional and social
subjects. Chats in 2nd half of 2009 were stopped due to
H1N1.
The 4-monthly lecture series were held by inviting
prominent professionals to address the Sec 3 and 4
students.
A 3-day camp for Sec 2 students were held on 23-25 Oct
2009. With fewer students participating this year, there
were better interation and rapport. The School had
included this as a regular school programme for Sec 2s.
In 2010, besides the Sec 2 camp and the translation
programme which would continue, a Translation Camp is
being planned.
To strenghten support to the Primary School, a Chinese
Drama programme for Primary School was also being
planned. It would focus on Chinese drama, theatrical
knowledge, language training and include family bonding
activities. Training to teachers would be proveded.
2.3 Fund Raising Sub-Committee (FRC)
Woo Kwai Merng briefed the meeting on FRC.
In 2009, the main focus was still to raise funds for PRIME.
To-date, over $1million had been raised through pledging,
donations, naming of classrooms and other programmes
such as the 75th anniversary dinner, sales of wines and
calendars.
In 2010, the original plan was to raise another $1 million
for PRIME through naming 2 buildings under the 2 longserving ex-principals Sister St. Franciose and Mrs Hwang.
However the IJ Board had just informed the School and the
AA of its decision to allow naming of buildings only after
a person in memorial and for a sum of more than $1
million. FRC would therefore need to reconsider the
feasibility of the plan.
In 2009, many AA activities were organised with
unrecorded personal sponsorship from some EXCO and
alumnae members. From 2010, FRC would work on
raising funds to support programmes undertaken by the
AA such as Teachers' Day Celebration, Ad hoc "token"
treats for the School students and staff for motivation and
rewards for good performance, and the mid-Autum
Moonlight Party.
2.4 Membership and Member Welfare Sub-Committees
Chng Woei reported that the Membership Sub-Committees
had cleaned up most of the records and started issuing the
new membership cards with ties for benefits from some
retail outlets. The verification process would still need to
be continued as many contact data were out-dated.
Todate , there were about 2300 records in our database.
About 900 of them were Associate Members. About 300400 Associate Members were added from the Sec 4
students graduating yearly. Each year, about 100+ old girls
would join as Life members.
For P1 Registration, a formal procedure to pre-register
potential parents had been implemented, and that had
reduced registration time and effort.
Various programmes and events such as the Moonlight
party, the chilled-out event were held for members and
students. The Moonlight party was organised on 13 Oct
2009 as Mid-Autum celebration mainly for primary
students as well as Homecoming day for old girls. With
great effort and dedication from the organising committee,
the Party was put up in less than 2 months. The event was
attended by about 800 people (including retired teachers).
More programmes would be organised in 2010 to allow
more opportunities for members to meet up and network
2.5 Publication Sub-Committee
Chng Woei reported that the Sub-Committee had revised
the website with new features such as FAQs, search, and
had more friendly presentation and interaction with users.
More features would be added.
Koh Chern Peng reported on the new electronic ErYa
launched in 2009. She elaborated on the frequency and
features put up together with team members who were
stationed overseas. The electronic newsletter had reached
members overseas too. For 2010, the same format would
continue and Chern Peng requested alumnae to help
provide info or articles on the various topics. A new
"Down Memory Lane" section would be added.
3
FINANCIAL REPORT
The Assistant Treasurer Celine Tan Aik Mien went
through the report.
Based on last AGM's comments, The personal sponsorship
by members for some events had been reflected as
members' donations in order to reflect the actual cost of the
AA’s activities more accurately.
Celine Tan also showed the Internal Control Procedures
adopted by the AA on planning, budgeting and approval
for funds for projects.
Without further comments, the financial report was passed
with Woo Kwai Merng as Proposer and Yeong Wee Eng
the Seconder.
4
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION
Han Juat Jong reported that the proposed amendments as
approved at the last AGM were submitted to and approved
by the Registry of Societies (ROS) which reverted with
further changes. She highlighted the clauses counterproposed by ROS and explained their meaning and
implication to the AA. Most changes were in ROS's
standard clauses for sample constitution, and acceptance
by the AA would have not much implication. With some
clarifications, members present accepted the amendments
as approved and proposed by ROS.
In addition, Juat Jong informed that a further proposal had
been received by the EXCO on Clause 11 on "AUDIT" to
allow the 2 Auditors elected at AGM to hold office for two
instead of one year only. All present agreed with the
proposal and to seek approval from ROS for Auditors to
hold office for 2 years like the EXCO members. Chow
Wan Cheng proposed the move to make the change and
Elizabeth Lai Kuan Ee seconded the motion.
With no other comments, the acceptance of the proposed
amendments as approved by ROS, and the proposal to
allow the Auditors to hold office for 2 years were proposed
by Yeong Wee Eng and seconded by Celine Tan.
5
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF EXCO FOR
THE YEAR 2010/2011
The President declared the nomination for the EXCO for
2010/2011 opened. The persons nominated for the various
posts in the EXCO were as follows:
Post
President
1st Vice
President
Nominee
Chow Wan
Cheng
Han Juat
Jong
Proposer
Yeong Wee
Eng
Woo Kwai
Merng
Seconder
Han Juat
Jong
Chan Wan
Mui
2nd Vice
President
Secretary
Assistant
Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant
Treasurer
Lee Huay
Leng
Woo Kwai
Merng
Lisa Liew
Celine Tan
Aik Mian
Kok Moi Lre
Celine Tan
Aik Mian
Han Juat
Jong
Celine Tan
Aik Mian
Chow Wan
Cheng
Chow Wan
Cheng
Chng Woei
Celine Tan
Aik Mian
Chow Wan
Cheng
Lim Sor Lin
Celine Tan
Aik Mian
Nominations for 13 other EXCO members were as
follows:
Chng Woei
Chan Wan Mui
Chow Yoong Sien, Yvonne
Han Li Lin
Ho See Yuun
Kang Mei Ling
Lai Kuanee, Elizabeth
Lau Yoke Lin
Lee hui Feng
Low Miow Tian, Florence
Nichol Ng
Ong Bee Chong
Yeong Wee Eng
Proposer : Lee Yuan Yu
Seconder : Florence Low
The nominations for the EXCO members were accepted
and approved .
6
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF AUDITORS
2 nominations for the 2 auditors were received:
(a) Cheong Kum foong Proposer : Chow Wan Cheng
Seconder : Lin Chee Keen
(n) Loy Hsueh-Jiun
Proposer : Chow Wan Cheng
Seconder Lee Teen Yen
The 2 nominations were accepted and approved.
7
SHARING FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT ON
FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE AA
7.1 The new President Chow Wan Cheng shared her thought
on what the AA had been through and the challenges the
AA would face this year, and urged members to come
forward to help in the various programmes.
She felt that the greatest achievement in 2009 was to have
expanded the communication with the various related and
supporting groups of St. Nicks, namely the IJ Board, the
PSGs.. This would pave a long way for the years ahead.
2010 would be another challenging year for the AA. The
AA would continue with the successful programmes
established by the previous EXCO such as the Sec 2 camp,
the fireside talks, the lecture series, the Translation
Programme and the Moonlight/Homecoming party.
For Lee Poh See Foundations, the AA would review with
Mrs Hwang its objectives, selection and award
criteria/processes and the funding positions.
With more funding accounts being handled by the AA, the
AA had also set up governance procedures for good
practices and to ensure accountability.
For PRIME, the earlier plan to raise funds through the
naming of 2 buildings after the 2 long service exprincipals would need to be reconsidered. Kho Sok Hui
suggested that the building be named "St Nicks Alumnae"
regardless of the amount raised. Wan Cheng would need to
check with the IJ Board .
8
OTHER MATTERS
8.1 30th Anniversary Celebration of the AA
Wan Cheng announced that unless there were objections,
the AA would like to organise an event to celebrate the 30
anniversary. All responded positively.
A sub-committee consisting of Ho See Yunn and Elizabeth
Lai had work out the prelim concept of a concert featuring
the old school assembling scene, to be held end of this
year. During the “School Assembly”, alumnae members
would stage various performance. It could be staged at a
commercial venue such as the Arts House and/or the
School.
8.2 Sales of St Nicks Pre-School Uniform
Old girl Tan su Ling (Class of 1992) did a search of the
patterns and materials used for the pre-School Uniform and
made a limited number of pieces for sale to raise funds for
PRIME. All were urged to support the project.
8.3 Archival Project (SNGSAP)
With the School moving out from AMK site temporarily,
the project was set up to identify objects and furniture of
historical significance, some of which dated back to the
Victoria Street campus. The items were currently being
stored at a site provided by MOE. These items would
eventually be displayed at the new campus alongside
photos/momentoes/verbal history collected from old girls,
old teachers, friends of the school, Singapore Archive so as
to document the history of SNGS.
Chairperson of this project, Kang Mei Ling, said that over
the next 1-2 years, help and contributions from old girls
would be needed to collect and recover the relevant items,
and gather stories and memories of St. Nicks. The project
would be launched online in due course with the calling for
contributions of items and ideas.
9
END OF MEETING
The meeting ended at 6 pm.
Recorded by : Lim Sor Lin