1. Opening.
The meeting scheduled to start at 9:30am eventually started 2hours late. This was due to the late arrival of most of the invited guests. The 85ers were early to see to arrangements before the start. Mrs Celestine Amenuvor, the Assistant Headmistress - Administration said the opening prayer.
2. Attendance
At the start seven (7) 85ers and Three (3) SOSA comprising one each of '74, '92 and 2002 year groups were present. (Find attached the attendance list)
Also present were 5members of staff; Headmaster, Assistant - Administration and housemaster/mistresses representatives. Also, Mr. D. K. Eworyi was present. The current boys and girls prefects represented students.
Invitees from the District Assembly, corporate bodies, former Heads of the School, Board Members and the larger public did not show up. Mr. Fred Agbengu and J.A.K. Kaleku (heads in the early '80s and late '80s respectively) sent word that they were indisposed (85ers later visited Mr. JAK Kaleku).
3. Welcome
The headmaster welcomed all present and commended the bold initiative of the 85ers. He said Mother SOSA and some individuals have contributed enough to uplift the image of Sogasco, but in his observation the 85ers is the group that is most well-organised and committed to give back to their Alma Mater.
He recounted his immediate plans for the school, which included the organisation of a speech-and-prize-giving day. According to him he planned organising this as one of his last memorable services to the school since he will be retiring in 2007. Mobilising the resources for such an endeavour has been an onerous task, so the initiative by the 85ers could not have come at any other opportune time.
He therefore welcomed participants officially and commended the initiative. The Headmaster asked all to contribute their quota to make the programme a success but insisted he would still make sure another speech and prize day is organised before he retires in 2007.
4. Chairman's Comments
Mr. Danny Johnson (SOSA 74) the National Organiser of SOSA chaired the meeting. He stated his personal vision towards propelling his alma mater to the highest level. He conceded that the 85ers is arguably the best-organised year group of SOSA, and this drew a big applause from participants.
Mr. Johnson informed the meeting that the National Executive of SOSA support the 85ers initiative.
5. '85 Chairman's Remarks.
The Chairman outlined the reasons for organising the event, motivations and the chronology of preparations since the conception to the present stage.
The speech could be summarised as follows.
a. Commendation to Danny Johnson as a committed Old Student and inspirer of the 85-year group.
b. Speech and prize giving idea being triggered by the not-too-inspiring 150th and 195th positions obtained by the school in the two successive schools performance rankings out of about 300 schools countrywide by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
c. The 85ers mooted the idea to support their alma mater by organising series of meetings to share ideas/ views on what, when and how to contribute their widows mite to Sogasco; mobilising resources to this effect has been tough.
d. Draft Plan finalised at the May 85ers monthly meeting. This included the draft programme and list of invitees from business entities, traditional authorities, District Assembly, decentralised government departments and other stakeholders.
e. Programme discussed with some SOSA executives; the idea was lauded but advised it was too big to be handled by the 85-year group alone. That was where they pledged their support, invited everybody to put his/her shoulder to the wheel and promised to make it an entire SOSA programme.
6. Discussions and Review of Draft Programme.
6.1 Theme:
The two themes earlier proposed were discussed. Both were considered good but it was felt that the second Harnessing the old student-factor for alma mater development- appeared more catchy, simple and comprehensive. The former Giving something back: The old student factor in the development of the alma mater - could not be considered.
6.2 Date:
The headmaster agreed to the date proposed (18th - 20th November 2005) as very convenient. He explained that the pressure of new admissions would have subsided then and staff would have enough time to fully participate in the programme. Other staff present corroborated this assertion.
6.3 Venue
The venue (Sogakope Secondary School)
6.4 Activities and Time: Friday - Day 1:
6.4.1, Arrival:
The arrival time of 2:00 - 5:00pm was found convenient since it does not conflict with any school activity. The headmaster suggested the time to be used by students to do general cleaning on campus. In contrast, the Assistant Head-Administration said it may not be convenient because day-students would run away if the afternoon is declared for general cleaning and would not benefit from the programme.
The time issue got clarified when discussions opened on the topic "Career Counselling". 4:00 - 5:20pm was suggested. The day students issue still cropped up and the general feeling was their possible absence if the proposed groundwork delayed. Besides, the Interactive Session is equally important for the day students.
3:00 - 5:00pm was again suggested but eventually settled on 3:00 - 6:00pm to be divided in two sessions. The first part could start from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, take 30 minutes break and continue from 5:00 - 6:00pm where day students could benefit from part of the Interactive Session before going back to their homes.
6.5 Saturday - DAY 2
6.5.1 Dawn Trotting
The earlier suggestion to do Saturday dawn trotting on the campus oval was later changed to include Adidome Junction.
The earlier concern was on the security of the students. As part of giving publicity to the programme Old Students and P.E Masters were charged to control Students from abusing the opportunity and diverting into town.
6.5.2 Games, Speech and Social Mix.
Discussions endorsed the different types of games proposed. It was suggested that the games be shifted to the afternoon around 3:00pm to be done alongside the Social Mix until dinnertime at 6:00pm.
The speech and prize giving was to be maintained between 10:00am and 2:00pm.
6.5.3 Night Entertainment.
Series of activities were proposed for the evening between 7:00pm and 1:00am to include 'pick and act', cultural drumming & dancing etc. Students involvement would be up to 9:00pm after which they would be made to retire into their dormitories.
Old students and staff will continue in town till around 1:00am or later.
The school's entertainment committee was tasked to later furnish members with draft proposal for the entertainment night.
6.6 Sunday - DAY 3
The time for the thanksgiving church service was discussed. The senior prefect suggested the 9:00am be changed to coincide with the time they attend vespers. 9:00am was made to prevail to allow enough time for members who would be travelling back to their destinations after lunch around 1:00pm.
6.7 Suggestions on Invitations.
The list of invited guests was reviewed to include the following:
* The Regional Director of Education
* District Commander of police
* Mr. SBA Glover
* The Principal, Comboni Vocational/Technical Institute and
* The Headmaster, Dabala Secondary Technical.
A member raised reservations on the invitation of Togbe Avudzega Soga I as the host chief in reference to a publication in the dailies by the Fievie Traditional Council challenging his position. The matter was referred to Mr D.K. Eworyi who agreed that Togbe Avudzega is truly the host (chief of Sogakope) and that the Fievie Traditional Council acknowledges that. The issue had been that Sogakope is part of the Fievie Traditional Council whose paramount chief is Togbe Agama Amata IV who Togbe Avudzega is expected to swear allegiance.
This brought to the fore whether all paramount chiefs in the district needed to be invited to the occasion since another paramount chief is currently serving on the school's Board of Governors.
In conclusion the meeting agreed that all paramount chiefs in the five (5) traditional areas in the district would also be invited to the programme. In cases where there are factional disputes, all parties would be invited to minimise problems associated with 'recognition'.
6.8 Basis for Awards
Categories of award recipients were first looked at and generally agreed to include students and staff (both present and past).
This should be based on staff with dedicated services to the school. Students however were going to be selected on both academic (subject areas) and extracurricular activities.
6.8.1 Selection Criteria
The earlier discussions with the headmaster and some staff concluded on all three forms being awarded. Views however changed at this final meeting when some staff including the headmaster himself felt first years should be left out of the awards since there will not be any realistic basis for their assessment. They argued school management couldn't handle that pressure citing problems of logistics, readiness of timetable during the period and no serious teaching on which they could make any objective assessment.
When confronted over the change of mind they felt there was nothing wrong with anybody changing his/her mind if he/she finds something wrong with earlier positions.
They rejected using entrance examination results since experience had shown that most students who come with very good results are more often than not, not the good students. This resulted in a lengthy discussion with some sentiments of betrayal and levels of adrenalin raised for leaving out some students. Positions shifted and in the end staff's views prevailed.
It was agreed for terminal results of continuing students to be used for the assessment.
The issue of who selects best masters also dragged on when majority of SOAS 85ers felt the students themselves should do it while the masters and student representatives thought otherwise. In conclusion both the students and masters choices were to be collated for final selection with coincidences anticipated.
The selection of past staff became a preserve of the 85ers and much could not be argued on it.
6.9 Appeals for Funds
Strategies for appealing for funds were discussed. The chairman agreed to help make some personal contacts with some old students like the Dorku's. He also said the current DCE of Akatsi (Hon. Abledu - a SOSA member) should also be contacted.
The headmaster on his part said previous similar programmes Sogakope were done through sending envelopes out to organisations and individuals such as Goil, Mobil, Churches, Hotels, Banks, the Seglah's, As If Enterprise, etc. He also said appeal could be sent to Tongu Fruits Limited for pineapple juice during refreshments.
6.10 Anniversary Planning Committee
Sogasco 85 chairman explained there are various committees within Sogasco 85. These he said include Finance, Publicity and Protocol. He added that the general membership of SOSA is invited to be part of such or any additional committee.
It was also agreed that for operational purposes Sogasco staff should constitute themselves into similar committees in order to link up with the 85-year group.
7.0 Comments from SOSA President's Representative
He lamented that the Greater Accra President of the Association attended the School's board meeting earlier in the week but the headmaster failed to inform him of the impending programme for the weekend.
He promised briefing the National Executives of SOSA to embrace the whole programme. Contacts will be made with other active regional groups like the Ashanti, Ho and the University campuses and give the programme a national character.
8.0 Anniversary Launch.
Mr D. K. Eworyi was called upon to launch the anniversary after he sought clarification from the 85 Chairman on the premise for the launch. He started by identifying himself with the anniversary due to his 6years service to the school as a senior housemaster. Mr Eworyi said he was proud for 10 of his children to have successfully passed through the walls of Sogasco.
He was also happy that old students want to lift the school to higher heights especially when it's being spearheaded by one of his school prefects. He pledged to contribute his quota to making the anniversary a success. Finally he declared in the name of God that the programme has been successfully launched!
9.0 Optional Speeches
The headmaster opened the floor by referring to many big ideas and inventions used worldwide which originated from individuals. He intimated that he sees similar thin springing up with this novel idea initiated by the 85ers. He challenged other year groups to emulate similar examples to raise the image of the school.
He reiterated his wish that similar programme is organised for 2007 before he retires eventually. Mrs Amenuvor agreed with the headmaster by suggesting that it be institutionalised as a biennial programme for other year groups to take their turns.
The chairman for the occasion also advised the school management to take up the responsibility of stocking the school with the 40th anniversary cloth for supplying at request. He said SOSA took up the initial responsibility of placing order for the cloth but may not have to continue supplying orders.
10.0 Closing
Miss Grace Wotuh solemnly said the vote of thanks and Mrs Celestine Amenuvor said the closing prayer at 1:40pm.
Recorded by Sam Eworyi