Thursday 30 July 2009

What's the programme?

Here's the latest programme for the Day & Evening events on 4 August. Don't miss out on a fantastic show so please call Khim Goh (back2bbgs@gmail.com or 017-871 9357) for tickets now!

4th of August 2009

Bintang Circle, The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

11.00 AM

Launch of THE ELENA COOKE EDUCATION FUND

Arrival of Ms Elena Cooke

The BBGS Alumni Choir

The School Song

Speech by Ms Moey Yoke Lai

Presentation of the Donation to The Shelter Home For Children

Choral Speaking

Sounds of London Town

Do You Remember

Lunch with old friends at Pavilion Restaurants

Throughout the day

Sale of souvenirs – Fund raising

Timeless Traditions

A Photo Exhibition



6.30 PM

BACK2BBGS Gala Reunion Cocktail

Registration

Arrival of Guest of Honour Ms Yeap Gaik Khoon (7.30pm)

The BBGS Alumni Choir

The School Song

Welcome Remarks &

Video of Launch of Elena Cooke Education Fund

Speech by Ms Yeap Gaik Khoon

Choral Speaking

Sounds of London Town

Do You Remember

Celebrate the Memories
A multimedia presentation

The BBGS Alumni Choir

The Centenary Song

Our Song

Back to BBGS

The School Song

Lucky Draws & Auction

Cocktails & Chat

Wednesday 29 July 2009

What's happening? Who's coming?

Can you smell the excitement in the air? I can! Judging from the questions that have been pouring in regarding the 4 August event, we're on a roll. The Organising Committee have been kind enough to share some answers from behind the scenes:

What's the response so far?
It's hot, hot, hot! Since the press release, the event has been gaining momentum. Our hotline is running hot, tickets are being sold, cash donations are being pledged. We are expecting over 1000 teachers, students, friends and family. We're expecting you too!

Who's coming?

A sneak preview of BBGS teachers who have accepted the invitation to 4 August include:

Miss Yeap Gaik Khoon - Miss Moey Yoke Lai - Mrs Junie Simon - Miss Yeo Kim Eng - Mrs Laura Abraham - Mrs Thanen - Mrs Guru - Mrs Kylas - Mrs Betty Wong - Pn Sharifah - Mrs Tay Kong Hiap - Mrs Chia Phooi Lan - Mrs Choe Ling - Mrs Chew Ah Chuan - Mrs Helen Tan - Mrs Chong Cheong Yin - Miss Tham Mee Fong - Mrs Yeoh Shing Choo - Pn Che Su - Pn Rashimah and many more!

Even the drink stall Aunty and jaga's family have been found and are coming! What about you??


I live overseas. Could you please post photos and videos of the event?
Of course we will. Look out for the event photos/videos on our Facebook events page and this blog.


Can I buy tickets at the door?

We would appreciate it if people could confirm their attendance and make payment before the event so that we will know the actual numbers of people to cater for. However if people do turn up on the day of the event and want to get additional vouchers and they are still available, we will not turn them away.

Please call Khim
(back2bbgs@gmail.com or 017-871 9357) for tickets now!

Updates from the OGA Executive Committee

This statement is posted on behalf of the BBGS OGA Executive Committee 2009/2010

We are excited about how the event is coming along, we’re having good publicity, and almost 1000 students, teachers, family and friends are coming to the event! Thank you for all the enthusiasm and support!

As you know when this idea was mooted, Pavilion gave us 4th August, less than 8 weeks to mount the event which is a mega reunion and a massive publicity opportunity to gather all BBGSians to start the Elena Cooke Education Fund. We were indeed ambitious and went ahead in trust and faith that BBGS can do it! Because the intention was pure and good.

As the eventual Trust Fund is envisioned to come under the OGA, the new OGA exco needs first to be elected, which was done as soon as possible since the idea was first mooted. The new exco was properly nominated and elected at the AGM 11th July 2009. Since then we have already started a series of actions to establish a Trust and a separate Trust fund for this. The first action was to amend the existing OGA constitution to properly put an education fund as its objective, and to set this up as a Trust with a Board of Trustees. Thus the new OGA exco met recently to do all this. The proposal for amendments has been discussed and is being tabled for the coming EGM on 16 August 2009, the notice of which is being prepared by the Honorary Secretary. Then the actual scope of the Trust need to be legally set up and registered, the Board selected, all regulations and governance issues adhered to. We believe, as advised by relevant lawyers, that all this will take the OGA exco several months.

Until then, as the Fund under the auspices of the OGA, the OGA properly receives the moneys in its account. However, we hit a snag. The old OGA account which has been dormant for over 12 years is difficult to reactivate. Both the old and new OGAs committees have been chasing up with the ROS and the Bank to do this the last 2 weeks, needing to get 12 years worth of documents, minutes and audited accounts in order for the ROS who will then endorse the recent AGM and the new exco elected. Until then, the Bank will not reactivate or set up a new account as it cannot recognise the new committee members as its signatories.

Thus “Epitome Communications Sdn Bhd – E M Cooke Fund” account was set up quickly as the interim OGA working account for all the association’s purposes, including for the Back2BBGS event and the Education Fund. This working account needs at least 2 signatories for withdrawals, from 3 authorised signatories - the Event Treasurer/Honorary Auditor, the current OGA VP and the OGA Treasurer, all properly elected at the recent AGM. This account and its status was explained to the OGA at the AGM, who appreciates the time constraints, and the new exco approved this to be the legitimate and official OGA account at their inaugural meeting, until the original account is reactivated or a new account set up.

When the new or revived OGA account is set up, all moneys (from this current approved working OGA account) will indeed and properly go back to this account.

The entire new OGA exco are all involved in the event and we hope that all BBGS girls wholeheartedly support this good and noble cause, to honour our school, to honour Ms Cooke; and appreciate the fact that a few girls have given off their time, resources and energies to get this going. It is a huge undertaking in such a short time, and we thank Ms Cooke, Ms Moey and Ms Yeap and all others who’re supporting us with their prayers.

We hope to see everyone BACK2BBGS, coming for the Launch event in the morning, getting cocktail vouchers to attend the evening Gala Reunion, buying lots of wonderful souvenirs, contribute directly to the fund, and generally have a wonderful time sharing and caring.

The Elena Cooke Education Fund will define the BBGS alumni today, after the brick and mortar is gone - let us show our sisterhood, solidarity and service, as we’ve been taught.

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Back2BBGS on NTV7 : Wed 29 July

Hi everyone,

The Back2BBGS reunion and Elena Cooke Education Fund will be featured on the NTV7 Breakfast Show on Wednesday 29 July at 8:30am.

So tune in tomorrow to your feel-good channel to find out more!

Cheers, Joanna

P/S: If someone knows how to get a clip for me to attach on this blog, please let me know.

Thursday 16 July 2009

We're in Harian Metro

Harian Metro published information on the Elena Cooke Education Fund on 16 July 2009

http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/myMetro/Wednesday/Setempat/20090715065120/Article/index_html

We're on PopTV!


Watch BBGSians Cheong Wei Lee and Meera Samanther being interviewed on The Fairly Current Show.

Embed, forward, download!

http://popteevee.popfolio.net/default.aspx?e=96

Wednesday 15 July 2009

You are invited BACK2BBGS on 4 Aug 2009

The school building no longer stands but the spirit lives on. It will be a historic day for former students of the Bukit Bintang Girls’ School (BBGS) when they gather at the Bintang Circle (Centre Court), Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, to launch the Elena Cooke Education Fund on Tuesday, 4 August 2009.

The Fund has been established under the auspices of the BBGS Old Girls’ Association in honour of Miss Elena Maud Cooke who was their headmistress from 1958-1977.

Before becoming an educationist par excellence, Miss Cooke had nurtured the desire to be a doctor and to open an orphanage. Miss Cooke has therefore chosen Shelter Home as the first recipient of the Fund.

More than 1,000 former BBGS and SBU students will attend the launch of the Elena Cooke Education Fund. Since the closure of the school in 2001 and its subsequent relocation to SMK Seri Bintang Utara (SBU) in Cheras, the event will be the first time that the alumnae will be gathering at the very premises where their alma mater was once located.

The highlight of the event will be the launch of the fund at 11am with Miss Cooke as the guest of honour. Souvenirs and cupcakes will be sold to raise funds and there will be an exhibition featuring the early pioneers of BBGS, who were all women!

The OGA is delighted that Pavilion Kuala Lumpur has agreed to be the venue sponsor for this unique event.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAMME FOR BACK2BBGS – 4 August 2009

Launch of the Elena M. Cooke Fund

Time: 11am-12pm, 4 August

Guest of Honour: Miss Elena M Cooke (BBGS Headmistress, 1958-1977)

        Programme: Singing of the BBGS school song, performances of the legendary BBGS choral speaking, choir singing and other old school favourites.

Black-Tie Cocktail Gala

Time: 7.30pm-10pm, 4 August

Guest of Honour: Miss Yeap Gaik Khoon (BBGS Headmistress, 1980-1993)

Programme: Choral speaking, choir singing and a lucky draw.

For Luncheon or Cocktail Gala invitations, please contact Khim Goh (back2bbgs@gmail.com or 017-871 9357). Net proceeds from the sale of tickets and souvenirs will go towards charity. Kindly check http://www.back2bbgs.blogspot.com for updates.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Elena Cooke Education Fund

A press conference was held at Pavilion on 14 July 2009. This information was shared with the press and we are making it available to BBGSians.

As the BBGS alumni is being revived, it is time for the alumni to play a more significant role in society. BBGS, a pioneer of women’s education in Malaysia, was founded over a hundred years ago for the education of the women in the country and especially those who could not afford it. Today we follow that same ethos to provide education for those who cannot afford to do so.

The fund is being established in honour of Ms Elena Cooke, who today is the last of the pioneering headmistresses, who embodies all the values and spirit of BBGS and of all the headmistresses before. She made a lasting impact as a teacher, headmistress, mentor, advisor and role model to the teachers and all BBGS girls, from 1958 – 1977, and even after she retired. She has given her life to the school and its children. Today, the Alumni want to continue her legacy.

The Elena Cooke Education Fund will be established as a Trust under the auspices of the BBGS OGA to meet educational needs for Malaysian children facing economic adversity. Assistance will be given to those most in need, with priority to children and kin of ex-BBGS and Sri Bintang Utara, with no preference for race or religion.

The entire alumni will be brought together to help build this fund. In addition, various events and activities will be organized to raise a target or RM500,000 in the next two to three years.

How was the BBGS Revive idea mooted?
Former BBGS School Captain Phang Sow Yoong and current President of the Old Girls’ Association initiated the meeting with the Pavilion CEO who agreed to sponsor the venue for our “BACK2BBGS — Launch of The Elena Cooke Education Fund” Event on Tuesday 4 August 2009.

Scope of the Fund
The Fund will be used to provide for the education needs for children facing economic adversity, which may include but is not limited to:
• Tuition fees at the place of learning.
• Travel needs to go to the places of learning.
• Boarding and lodging needs at the place of learning.
• Any hardware needs like books, computers, tools, etc.
• Dire health and nutritional needs for children communities affecting their education
• Any other student needs affecting their education that is determined by the Sub-committee.

How was the Elena Cooke Fund initiated?
BBGS started as a pioneer of women’s education in Malaysia. As the BBGS alumni is being revived, we felt that it is time for the alumni to play a more significant role in society. BBGS was first founded over a hundred years ago for the education of the women in the country and especially those who could not afford it. Today we follow that same ethos to provide education for those who cannot afford to do so.

Why in tribute of Elena Cooke, and not other headmistresses of BBGS?
Ms Cooke is present today as the last of the pioneering headmistresses, and she is embodies all the values and spirit of BBGS and of all the headmistresses before. She made a lasting impact as teacher, headmistress, mentor, advisor and role model to the teachers and all BBGS girls, from 1958 – 1977 and even after she retired. She has given her life to the school and its children. Today, we want to continue her legacy.

Why only establish it now?
Better now than never, at this BACK2BBGS event.

How is it different from the other funds in Malaysia?
What is important is that there is now an opportunity for children who needs help to have an avenue to turn to. There is never enough to go around.
What’s different perhaps is the intention, this fund is established in honour and memory of our school and the headmistresses who have, in love and care, provided education to children for generations; we want to continue their legacy.
There is a priority to the children and kin of the alumni.

Will there be any post-event efforts/activities that will be carried through to raise funds?
Most certainly. And we hope the public will generously support our efforts to help provide educational resources to needy Malaysian children.

How can the public be involved in such efforts?
When there is an event organized for this purpose we hope that the public will give, and generously, Whether or not it is different is not relevant. What is important is that there is now an opportunity for children who needs help to have an avenue to turn to. There is never enough to go around.

Management of the fund
The fund at this time will be set up and managed by a Sub-committee elected by the OGA members, with the view to set it up as a Trust by 1 January 2010 (01/0/110) in accordance with the Trustees Incorporation Act.

When the funds are residing under the general umbrella of the OGA, it will be audited by the OGA Honorary Auditors, and filed as such with the ROS as required.

Trustees will be nominated by the OGA members, and would comprise OGA members, OGA committee members and such individuals or corporations deemed suitable and trustworthy to manage the fund. Thereafter the moneys and management will be audited as required by the laws regarding Trusts in Malaysia.

When at least 20% of the fund is achieved, this principal amount shall not be withdrawn from the fund but only the interest/dividend generated by the fund shall be available to meet the expenses of the educational need.


Disbursement of the funds
The disbursement will be given annually, with exceptions where there is an immediate urgent need. Annually, the BBGS OGA will give notice to the general public and the alumni of the availability of assistance via the alumni database (since there is a priority for kin, and they should be in the alumni database, if not, to get in there, possibly on the BBGS OGA website.) Families of children, community institutions and learning institutions with a need for education related assistance may then write to BBGS OGA to request funds. The amounts and number of beneficiaries will be subject to availability of funds at the time.

Thursday 9 July 2009

BBGSians in KL - please attend AGM


Hi BBGSians,

If you agree that BBGS should not be forgotten, then please join us to revive the BBGS Old Girls' Association so that we can continue to promote our values and traditions even though we don't have a building anymore. Whatever BBGS has taught us lives on within our minds and hearts—not in the bricks and mortar!

Please forward to all BBGSians on your mailing list. Right now, there are only 10 people who say they are coming. Now is the time to act! Please sacrifice a few hours of your Saturday for BBGS.

Date & Time:
Saturday 11th July at 11am

Venue: Meeting Room, 25th floor, Menara Multi Purpose, Capital Square, 8 Jalan Munshi Abdullah 50100 Kuala Lumpur

Agenda:
1. President's Address & Report
2. Election of Office Bearers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Members
3. Approve ammendments to the Consitution
4. To elect 2 honorary Auditors for 2009/2010
5. To approve setting up of Elena M Cooke Education Fund
6. Any other business


Nisi Dominus Frustra

Sow Yoong