Restructuring and Revitalizing the Queen Sheba School Alumni Association

Asayehgn Desta, Ph,D.  July 13, 2010

           Sarlo Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Economic Development

 

Introduction

 

About two years ago I went to Adwa, Tigrai, Ethiopia, with my family. When I was escorted to visit the Metal and Work workshop which I financed and constructed in 2005, I had the pleasure of meeting and exchanging words with a few of the Queen Sheba School students. I found the students not only energetic and inquisitive but they had respect and admiration for their seniors and considered the alumni of the school as their role models.  However, they were quick enough to tell me openly that the school building lacked latrines.  Those who graduated from the vocational programs were either incapable of getting productive jobs in their areas of specialization or have not been able to start their own businesses because the vocational school lacked teaching materials and had failed to give them hands-on learning experiences.   

 

Carrying the impression I got from the Vocational school students, I gave up my previous engagements, and decided to be an honorary speaker at the 10th year anniversary of Seattle’s Chapter of Queen Sheba School Alumni Association Conference, held from July 2 – July 4, 2010, in order to articulate the view of the learners of Queen Sheba School.  

 

In the Seattle Conference, I found that all the alumni members had enjoyed their days at the Queen Sheba School and had the desire to remain connected with the school and their fellow alumni. What was more tantalizing as far I am concerned was the way the alumni described the Queen Sheba School of the good old days as very competitive, with students who were engaged in very creative work endeavors. For example, the alumni appreciated that the Queen Sheba School teachers encouraged them to be clean, thanks to River Asam, and to be involved in preventive personal care rather than absorb curative medicines which might have side effects.

 

Some of the alumni were quick to mention that if it were not for the lessons they got at the Queen Sheba School they may not have been conscious about environmental concerns and effects of climatic changes. They said that the Queen Sheba School allocated to them plots of land within the school compound so that they were able to grow organically-sensitive vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. The gardens also served as demonstration centers for the community. In addition, the alumni members remembered that it was at the Queen Sheba School that they were engaged in experiential learning. They pointed out that they were required to assist the farmers in the surrounding areas by being involved in terracing activities to counteract soil erosion that could degrade the environment. In retrospect, the Alumni Association members were very appreciative of the various tutorial classes and books given to them by the former graduates of their school. Some of the female Alumni also mentioned that they would not have gone to school had it not been for Woizero Alasavu Gebre Selassie and the two first female engineers from Ethiopia, Engineer Bernesh Asfaw and Engineer Almaz Fessha, formerly outstanding students at the Queen Sheba School. Given these vital experiences, they feel a need to give back to the school that gave them a solid foundation and to support the new generation of students. In fact they feel it was a blessing to attend one of the finest schools and that they have a responsibility to pay back in order to maintain its quality. After all, paying back to an alma mater is not a charity but a blessing (See Desta, 2010).

 

 In addition, they gave me the impression that they would like to reform the existing Alumni Association in such a way that the current students can form bonds with faculty administrators, and other key staff while they are attending the school and also begin building and planning an alumni relationship during the students’ educational experience. By doing so, it was felt they could develop programs together to transform current students into generous alumni after their graduation. To bear fruit, it was widely felt the existing alumni association needs to be restructured with a non-political representation of a broad range of interest and skills. The Alumni should be spirited groups of alumni who are dedicated to and knowledgeable about the Queen Sheba School. In addition, the restructured Alumni Association needs to build a sense of ownership among members in order to maintain their attachment to the Queen Sheba School in the future (See Desta).

 

Before discussing the formation of the Queen Sheba Alumni International (Global) Association, it needs to be mentioned in passing that had it not been because of time constraints, Aite  Gebreegabher Tesfahun, the former Chair of the Queen Sheba School Alumni Association, and the two honorary speakers,  Aite Iasu Gorfu and Professor Desta Asayehgn would have been  allowed to reveal their own views from their first hand experiences. Then the Conference could have discussed innovations for the future.  Using the phrase “let bygones be bygones,” the author of this article would like to commend and salute the organizers of the Seattle chapter for their gifts, hospitability and for creating a thought-provoking conference. I hope this conference will serve to be instructive for future Alumni conferences. Please allow me to say at this juncture to our brother, Aite Bisrat Kebede, “ We missed you. Get well soon and lead us forward. Mind you, you are the backbone of our Alumni Association.”

 

A tentative Strategic Analysis for the formation of the

Queen Sheba Alumni International (Global) Association

 

It is assumed that the Ad-hoc Committee had undertaken a strategic analysis i.e., analyzed the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of the existing Chapters before they decided to restructure and revitalize the existing chapters and launched the Queen Sheba School International (Global) Alumni Association.  Philosopher Iasu Gorfu stated  that the International (Global) Alumni Association was “created to organize and coordinate the work of each Chapter and unify their effort to make it more effective.”  Stated differently, I would prefer to call it a global association instead of an international Alumni Association because a global organization is based on existing autonomous chapters and can have world-wide responsibilities. Personally, I believe that the chapters were established by alumni who are interested in developing activities and programs that promote and enhance the image of the Queen Sheba School. Thus, the autonomous chapters need to be designed to serve the global organization based on a comprehensive and ongoing management planning process aimed at formulating and implementing strategies that enable the global organization to be competitive, in order to fulfill the core mission statements of the global Alumni Association.

 

To run the Alumni Association, twenty-one Board Members were elected to be ambassadors of the School. However, it was communicated that some of the Board Members would become Executive Members with the understanding that the Executive Members operate separately from the Board Members so that the Executive Members are held accountable to the Board and their activities are fully transparent to members of the association.  Though not stated at the conference and not included in the By-laws’ tentative document of July 31, 2009, it is my view that the Alumni’s strategic plans need to include the vision, mission, short-term and long term objectives, and rigorous measuring indicators.

 

Vision:    

The Queen Sheba School International (Global) Alumni Association will foster a strong and effective alumni relations program that connects alumni to Queen Sheba School through communications, events, and volunteer programs. The Alumni Association will build relationships with alumni and donors that facilitate giving to the school not as a charity but a blessing. The Alumni Association serves as a role model in educating the student body about their future role and the opportunities associated with being an alumna/us of the Queen Sheba School.

 

Mission:

The mission of the Queen Sheba International (Global) Association is to enhance long-lasting relationships among current and future alumni, the community, and the School through its membership and outreach programs, special events, and community involvement activities.

 

Objectives:

I.             Increase funding in support of student and alumni programs. The alumni association will increase revenue by creating and strengthening strategic relationships with businesses and donors.

 

II.           Build additional class rooms and foster quality educational services.  (See the Draft version of the By-laws, 2009).

 

III.         Inspire current students by donating new books and periodicals to encourage their future participation as alumni of Queen Sheba school. The Association will continue to identify student events in which it can participate, and strategically use Alumni Month to improve access to and communication between students and alumni.

 

IV.         Educate current students before graduation about the value and honor of being a Queen Sheba Alumna/us. The Association will continue to increase awards of annual scholarships to academically outstanding students (as is done by the Seattle Chapter).  

 

V.           Expand the alumni advocacy base of the Queen Sheba School by demonstrating its positive and unique attributes. For example, if some projects already started by an Alumna/us are made to bear fruit and result in productive graduates, then it is possible that these successful projects would stimulate other members to contribute. Eventually, the successful projects would multiply their beneficial effects in the community and further long-run sustainable development.

 

VI.         Expand the reach an influence of the Alumni Association. The Association will increase the number of active and engaged alumni through the addition of events, receptions and reunions. For example, the alumni Association will increase the number of paid memberships through retention of current members, and the acquisition of new ones, or those who may not have previously been contacted.

 

VII.       Recognize outstanding alumni for their service to the University and their communities, as well as herald their professional achievements.

 

VIII.     Serve as ambassadors of Queen Sheba School in furthering its interests within their current communities.

 

Measures:     

 The Queen Sheba International (global) Alumni Association will measure success in implementing the above stated strategic plans in accordance with following benchmarks:

 

1.                  An increase of funds to generate new alumni programs and/or events.

2.                  The establishment of a functioning and productive pre-Student Alumni advocacy group at the Queen Sheba School.

3.                  The establishment of a solid alumni reunion/events program that draws reasonably expected attendance and results in new alumni relationships.

4.                  An increase in membership in the alumni Association.

5.                  An increase in overall attendance at alumni events.

6.                  Lastly, the political base of the Alumni Association is eliminated or greatly removed.

 

References:

1)      Queen Sheba Schools Alumni and Friends Association-International Bylaws, July 31, 2009.

2)      Gorfu, I. “Queen Sheba Alumni Historic Conference in Seattle”. Released by the International Alumni of Queen Sheba.

3)      Desta, A. “Do Alumni Have Moral Obligations?”