About California Chapter

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The California Branch of the Prince of Wales Alumni Association had its first meeting on Saturday, August 12th, 2006 with seven members present: Winston Cole, Malcolm Finney, Hemmings Harding, Raymond Johnson, Bernard King, Reginald Samuels, and Raymond Strasser-King. We now have an active roster of fourteen members who attend meetings on a regular basis and a mailing list of twenty-nine, two of whom are in Northern California. Our goal is to have a pool of, at least, twenty active members who can be relied on to participate in functions the branch organizes. Hopefully, we will be able to attain that goal by the end of 2008.

The branch held its first public event in September, 2007 which served a dual purpose: its virtual launching and its first fund raising event. Participation from members, as well as the Sierra Leonean community, was very encouraging. This was our first annual thanksgiving service held at St. James Episcopal Church in Los Angeles..

The branch has tentatively identified possible projects it might undertake as its contribution to the welfare of the school. One major project that has been identified is the rehabilitation of the school’s toilet and water supply system, particularly at the science laboratories. Contact has been established with the school’s Board of Governors through its chairman, but communication has been painfully slow and we would like to use this medium to urge fellow alumni in Freetown to assist in providing us with reliable estimates from reputable firms to enable us take a decision on the award of the contract.

Proposals for establishing a link between the school and Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, California have been forwarded to the principal in Freetown and her reaction is eagerly awaited. It is hoped that the two principals will soon be able to communicate directly with each other. The school has already provided a consignment of discarded Biology, Economics, and Physical Science textbooks that now need to be shipped to Freetown.

We look forward, through this link, to establish contacts with fellow alumni throughout the world and we welcome this opportunity of participating in this unique and laudable venture.

FLOREAT POW! FORWARD ALWAYS!!!

Bernard King

President

Prince of Wales Alumni Association, California Chapter