Dear Fellow Lasallians,
“When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me”
The lyrics sang by Ben E. King echoes the strength I need in this presidency. There is a time that history and fate meet at a single place to shape a turning point.
I am standing at this very point of time.
During the first two weeks after the AGM, I went overseas to visit the old boys’ community and one of the topics discussed involved the LSC School Improvement Projects. SIP is on schedule and the two new annexes will open in May 2005. While the government is bearing the 50 million for upgrading the new education standard, our school needs several millions more for non-subvented items as LSC is more than a normal standardized secondary school in Hong Kong.
The La Salle Foundation is again summoned to action and the loyalty of the La Salle Family is being put to the test again. The target is 5 million dollars as estimated by the School Management Committee and the Foundation. You will learn a bit more about the history and function of La Salle Foundation in our coming October newsletter.
A kick off ceremony in the form of a Walkathon is proposed and this will take place earliest in November 2004. Our Association will take this up as the organizer and we are relying on our members to rise up to the occasion when called upon.
With the inception of Dr. Paul Lau (old boy of 68) as the new Principal of our school, OBA involvement in students’ activities remains intimate and intense. Old boys could be seen in major activities like the Newcomers’ Day, the Annual Swimming Gala, the F.6 O’Camp and many more to come. A total of 100 new members signed up during our visit to the F6 O Camp adding to the growing Association memberships.
Year after year, we have been counting on the Christian Brothers passing on the La Salle heritage through their dedication in education. I have mentioned the turning point and this year the Brothers are beginning to pass the torch of La Salle Spirit to the old boys’ community. We are expected to be the guardian of this heritage and our challenge is to translate what we know into a language that our younger brothers will understand. I hope that the fine tradition as laid down by all of our predecessors will find its way to the hands of our future successors. Our school is chosen as one of the top 20 elite schools in a pilot exchange program with top Beijing counterparts. This is not by chance that LSC is picked and we are here to ensure that our Alma Mater continues to offer a high standard of Christian education to the younger generation.
The De La Salle Alumni Association has invited our Association to their Alumni Day on the November 28, 2004. There will be a 7 A-side football match besides other exciting activities. You may have remembered the negative publicity the school received a few months back and they are asking our support to regain the esteem of this great school. The Association has no hesitation and we promise to fully support this meaningful event. I invite you all to join us in this coming event.
The committee has been working very hard in paving the way for the future. You will be notified shortly about the membership updates, the on-line registration, the e-mail forwarding service and the new heritage web page. The credit card project is gearing up its momentum and the Constitution Review will be done before this present term is over. The new sports season is up and coming and there are more functions on the way such as the BBQ night, the Christmas Ball, La Salle at the movies and the popular Spring Dinner.
This term, the alumni subcommittee will concentrate on forming the Young Members Section (YMS) and the University Old Boys (UOB) community. These younger members of the old boys will be great resources in years to come. We are liaising the Professional Networks with this group of young alumni and hope that they can offer a scheme for their development.
Give just as much to our Alma Mater as she has given to us.
Give your all as you have in your student days.
The boys of courage and daring.
Make this a giving age.
LSCOBA will no longer be perceived as a group of no more than a few hundred active members among the five thousands. We need the gift of your energy, your hopes, your ideas, your talents, your kindness, your love and most important your loyalty. Update your membership and join us if you think we are doing something good.
By the strength of our common endeavor, we achieve more together than we can alone.
“If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me”
Indivisa Manent – Let us all be united
Dr. Bernard Kong ’76
President, LSCOBA 2004/05