Master Plan - What are Almoners trying to achieve?

spiderlegs · Post by **spiderlegs** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:02 pm

RE J.Taylor's comment -

All of the above are standard questions that you'd ask in business when a project isn't going to plan......can anyone answer any of these factually?

Welcome to the world of the Council of Almoners! A secretive and silent world where things only happen behind closed doors, and where information is always in short supply.
I noticed the Clerk has yet to respond to any of this dialogue - or am I flattering myself that he is even aware of the forum?

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:29 pm

Secret Squirrel is alive and well and living at...........

Post by **jtaylor** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:26 pm

Given it's a charity, run and funded by generous donations (past and present) it seems incredible that it's such a secretive society..........

J

PS:- The Clerk is certainly aware of the site. Whether he's aware of this thread, or visits the site, I really don't know.....

Claire · Post by **Claire** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:08 am

Whilst the Almoners are rather too secretive, is this suprising given the backlash that seems to accompany any decision that they make, not least of all on this site?
Could anyone here do any better?
And if so why sit back and comment only from the safety of your armchair?
How many people on here actually contribute actively to the school? Not just financially but also in terms of time and expertise?

What people seem to be suggesting on here is that they should be accountable to Old Blues as well. Not something that I really agree with as, fond memories of the place aside, I have little understanding of the current issues that the school faces, and I only left 3 years ago.

BTaylor · Post by **BTaylor** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:24 am

That's a bit like saying a publicly listed company should not be accountable to its shareholders...

If the almoners are confident that the decisions they make are the right ones, then they should be prepared to produce evidence as to how those decisions were reached.

Of course the almoners should be accountable to Old Blues, in the same way as they should be accountable to pupils, their parents, the employees of the school and the local community the school exists within.

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:52 am

Claire wrote:Whilst the Almoners are rather too secretive, is this suprising given the backlash that seems to accompany any decision that they make, not least of all on this site?
Could anyone here do any better?
And if so why sit back and comment only from the safety of your armchair?
How many people on here actually contribute actively to the school? Not just financially but also in terms of time and expertise?

What people seem to be suggesting on here is that they should be accountable to Old Blues as well. Not something that I really agree with as, fond memories of the place aside, I have little understanding of the current issues that the school faces, and I only left 3 years ago.

Claire, I don't think it's relevant whether or not anyone here could 'do any better'. Everyone has opinions about many subjects in which they are not 'expert'. For example, I'm sure a lot of us have opinions about Tony Blair, but this does not mean that we all feel we could be Prime Minister. We still have a right to express those opinions.

Also, through the discussions here I now feel that I have a better understanding of the current issues facing the school than at any time since I left (24 years before you!).

Re. contributing to the school, if you read some older threads you will see that many Old Blues would be willing to give their time and expertise, but have found that it is not always easy to find practical ways in which to do so.

Lastly, the Almoners are not, of course, directly accountable to Old Blues in the traditional sense. However, given the extent to which the Foundation has historically relied on financial support from Old Blues it is very desirable that we be kept informed about the school's affairs. After all, if someone is planning to make a donation or leave a sizeable legacy the least they should expect is that their gift would be used in an appropriate manner, and it would seem that the ultimate responsibility for this rests with the Almoners.

For this reason, people have a right to expect a little more accountability and transparency.

spiderlegs · Post by **spiderlegs** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:53 pm

Clare, there are plenty of people willing to do more than comment 'from the safety of their armchairs'.
As the above reply also mentions, many Old Blues are very well off but don't feel confident about signing over cash to the present Council of Almoners given the disastrous progress of their 'Masterplan', their inability to be open and their reluctance to be accountable.
There are also many constuctive opinions as to how the school could try and extricate itself from the present mess - which is why the Ridley Society is calling for a halt on the 'Masterplan' so that alternatives can at least be discussed.
The Society is hoping to put the Clerk's reply to their letter on the web site soon - then you too can see how entering into a meaningful dialogue with the Council of Almoners can be like trying to get through to a human being when you phone your bank!

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:42 pm

jtaylor wrote: PS:- The Clerk is certainly aware of the site. Whether he's aware of this thread, or visits the site, I really don't know.....

So an E-Mail with a link to this forum to the School Orifice, (Sorry! Should have spelt 'Office'), should do the trick, then !

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:48 am

STOP PRESS

After reading the Lousey update, I opened my post to discover the latest edition of Housey, INCLUDING a Trustee's report.

Should make interesting reading, though I fancy it'll have to wait until after the Easter break

Great Plum · Post by **Great Plum** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:23 pm

J.R. wrote: STOP PRESS

After reading the Lousey update, I opened my post to discover the latest edition of Housey, INCLUDING a Trustee's report.

Should make interesting reading, though I fancy it'll have to wait until after the Easter break

A trustee's report - is this where thay go - 'we've got no money'...

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:28 pm

The famous term, 'WATCH THIS SPACE' , comes to mind, Plum.

Whatcha doin on here today, 'sposed to be workin' ?

Great Plum · Post by **Great Plum** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:37 pm

J.R. wrote:The famous term, 'WATCH THIS SPACE' , comes to mind, Plum.

Whatcha doin on here today, 'sposed to be workin' ?

Yup, I have work today *sigh*

sejintenej · Post by **sejintenej** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:56 pm

J.R. wrote:
jtaylor wrote: PS:- The Clerk is certainly aware of the site. Whether he's aware of this thread, or visits the site, I really don't know.....
So an E-Mail with a link to this forum to the School Orifice, (Sorry! Should have spelt 'Office'), should do the trick, then !

I wonder if he cares; I wonder if the almoners have been made aware (officially) of its existance. As for the Lousey site (ta muchly someone) - do you honestly think they would take any notice?

OK only back for a mom - you don't get rid of me so easily (I expect to see a new heading "Collective tear"

in due course)

eloisec · Post by **eloisec** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:11 am

Unfortunately I agree with the sentiment, the Almoners seem quite happy in their ivory tower.

I'd like to know whether their inability to complete the Master Plan, and the apparent squandering of finances, etc etc could be linked to any of their 'interests' outside CH. Not that I'm implying anything!

Post by **jtaylor** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:09 pm

Is there some sort of "Register of Interests" (equivalent to the parliamentary register) for people who are running a charity? It would seem logical that this would be available, in these days of freedom of information.
This could then set people's mind at rest? (or not?!?)

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-of ... memi02.htm

J