Planned association for former Sussex staff

A reception was held in the Meeting House on Thursday 6 April to
inaugurate an association for former employees of the University,
faculty and non-faculty. Some 80 former University of Sussex staff, from
a good cross-section of departments and areas, came along, and the idea
was greeted with enthusiasm. The idea started as a grassroots
initiative, but the university has welcomed it and is providing valued
support.
 
Former V-C Professor Sir Gordon Conway chaired a short 'business'
interruption to the social activity. He explained the general idea,
current V-C Professor Alasdair Smith said a few words of welcome, and
Professor Jennifer Platt outlined some of the initial ideas raised in a
Steering Group meeting held earlier that afternoon. There was a short
general discussion, and more ideas were contributed before the party
continued. Those present expressed appreciation for the efforts of the
Alumni and Development team in funding and organising the reception. In
the chapel Professor Chris Darwin (violin) and Dr Peter Williams (piano)
gave an informal - but masterly - chamber music recital.

A quotation from the University of Exeter's similar group, which
declared a key purpose of its association to be "enjoying ourselves",
was greeted with applause, but ideas on ways in which those interested
might continue to help with university activities were mentioned, as
well as ways in which we might diffuse information about retirement and
clarify what kinds of continuing relation to the university were open to
us. It was known that names of many of those eligible to join the
association were not on the available list, and they might not yet have
heard about the proposal, so it was not felt appropriate to proceed much
farther before more had been given the chance to take part in discussion
of its form and activities.

There are three immediate points for everyone to consider and act upon.
A form that can optionally be used for responding to any or all of them,
and which you might pass on, is attached in both PDF and Word versions.

1. Please contact your former university colleagues and friends to check
whether they know of this initiative. People who left Sussex before
retirement are particularly likely to have been missed. Encourage them
to add their names to the mailing list of those interested, by
contacting the Alumni Office (r.e.walkinton@sussex.ac.uk) with their
name, department or area, postal address, and email address where
possible. (To save costs and labour we need to use email where we can.)

2. Please volunteer, or encourage your friends to volunteer, to join the
informal and highly undemocratic Steering Group if they come from parts
of the university not yet represented on it. The present members are:

Sir Gordon Conway (Chairman)
Bob Benewick (Politics/Soc),
David Betts (Physics),
Valerie Cromwell (History),
Mike English (Engineering),
Jackie Fuller (SPRU),
Christine Glasson (Maths),
Charles Goldie (Maths),
Willie Lamont (History),
Mike Land (Biols),
Adrian Peasgood (Library),
Jennifer Platt (Sociology), 
Ken Wheeler (Biols).

This group will meet again in June with the intention of making
proposals for how to continue on a slightly more formal basis, and for
some initial activities. In the autumn all those on the mailing list by
that time will probably be invited to attend another social/business
event.

3. Please let us know what activities and communications you would be
most interested in. Suggestions made so far include:

Receive Falmer (the alumni magazine, twice a year by post).
Receive Sussex lectures leaflet (three times a year by post).
Receive a former-staff newsletter by email.
Access to a special page on the Sussex website.
Access to alumni/staff benefits (www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/benefits)
A regular social hour in an agreed location.

Activities such as theatre (with group discount), (b) Glyndebourne (with
group discount), wine tasting, walking, sport, an annual dinner with
speaker.

University-related activities: participate in oral history of the
university, help with pre-retirement course, act as 'ambassador' for the
university, act as mentor to overseas students.

The question of an annual subscription was raised, and it was felt that
a small one would probably be needed. Figures in the range 5 to 10
pounds were mentioned.

Newsletter produced by Roger Walkinton, Charles Goldie and Jennifer
Platt, who should all be blamed for anything wrong with it.