The SASAA (South African School's Alumni Association) Conference held in October at St Stithians, Randburg, saw nearly 80 delegates from over 40 schools in attendance. As ODA, I was fortunate to be able to attended and what an incredible experience it was, providing much food for thought.

This year's theme, "Rands & Sense," offered a valuable learning opportunity for alumni associations and affiliated organizations to expand their knowledge in areas of advancement, fundraising, and alumni topics.

Presenters shared practical ideas on how associations can align their internal efforts and leverage external expertise to achieve better results. They used real-life examples from their experiences, making the discussions engaging and relatable.

The conference covered various challenges faced by alumni associations and provided opportunities for networking and socializing.  It took place from Thursday evening to Saturday mid-day, maintaining an energetic and fast pace. Attending the conference strengthened our position and showcased Bishops, a school with 175 years of history and a vast OD network, as one of the leading schools.

The event underscored the challenges of post-Covid recovery, including issues like distance, finances, member engagement, and maintaining connections. It also highlighted the common challenge of being an effective and meaningful association for members, from the most recent to the most senior ODs. In our case, we have over 50 "generations" of ODs spanning five continents and 50 countries, with diverse professions.

Digital copies of some presentations are available for sharing (courtesy of Alumnet).  Please contact me (Paul Murray) for more details.  Topics are listed below:

• Collaborating with and Advancement Mindset (St Davids' Marist Inanda).
• International Chapters Ideas & Reunions - what works & what doesn't (St Johns College).
• Empowering Generosity: The Giving Day Magic (Akiva Carr from Charidy.com).
• My School / Your School Debate: Prep Schools in competition with High Schools (Gordon Delaney from WPHS).
• Engagement with Alumni & Fundraising Initiatives (De La Salle Holy Cross College).

We left the conference feeling excited and motivated for our work, eagerly anticipating the next conference.

For more information, please feel free to get in touch at [email protected].