DLSAA (NSW) Inc.

January 10, 2011

Dear Alumni,

Yes, we are still around for all those who have been wondering. A new golden era is starting in 2011 that we hope will propel your organisation to new heights of achievement and satisfaction.

This year is an ELECTION YEAR for the De La Salle Alumni Association of NSW and I am extending this opportunity to all Alumni who are presently residing in the Sydney Metro area to get involved. It is your chance to make a difference and decide on the future direction of this association.

There are now four generations of Alumni living in Sydney who have roots in La Salle from as far back as the 1930s to as recent as this decade. We all have something in common. We were fortunate to share the education and the culture of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, yet we stand divided and show apathy towards one another and our alma mater. We may come from different cultural and social backgrounds and yes, there may also be the proverbial generational gap. But what we share are the principles, the virtues and the teachings that this great institution has bestowed on us and we should give back even if it’s in a small way by showing that we are a united group who can make a difference in this new place we now call home.

Our Alumni Association in the past has tried to bring all of you together but with great difficulty. However, most of you are active with your class groups. Why not share this activity and camaraderie with the other class groups.

We heard comments like “puro matanda ang mga miyembro” or “para sa mga tisoy lang ang association”. Well, why don’t you do something about it and start by getting more involved as a group.   I am challenging each and every one of you to make a difference and help steer the association to a more viable organisation wherein we all can benefit from each other. Let us stop this crap mentality and show a united front. Let us again be the envy of the other alumni associations who have used the success of our past achievements as a benchmark for their own revival.

A group of the old and the current board are getting together over the next few weeks to map out the structure of the new board and the plan of action for the next year and beyond. If you are interested in participating in any capacity, either in the board or in any of the committees, please advise us by return email or phone to:

        1. Edu Davila        0418-682-641 ecdavila@bigpond.com.au
        2. Dicky Schulze 0418-275-958 cabada_rs@yahoo.com
        3. Mario Matias    9450-276-602 mavm.archer@ymail.com
        4. Bert Rejante     0425-822-308 brejante@yahoo.com
        5. Ramon Franco 0419 751 915 remek-67@bigpond.net.au

All are invited to our first event for the year, which is the Annual General Meeting, where new board members will be elected by paid up members of the association. This will be held on Saturday, 29^th of January 2011, at 1:00 pm for lunch at the Basement Restaurant,   57-59 Main Street, Blacktown. Free parking available behind the restaurant. Lunch will also be free for paid up lifetime members. Partners, friends and non-paid up Alumni will be charged $20. The menu is Filipino cuisine. This letter is also your formal invitation to attend the AGM. Attached please also find the following:

PROXY VOTING AND NOMINATION form - If you are unable to attend the AGM please fill in the Proxy form for the member you wish to nominate to join the board. You may also nominate yourself. You may send your proxy forms to any of the above names. Please do so, no later than January 22, 2011 There 10 vacancies on the board. Only Paid up members are allowed to vote.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS - In order to assist us in updating our files to better assist you could you please fill in the attached form for your latest contact details and send to this email address: remek-67@bigpond.net.au or mail back to this postal address: De La Salle Alumni Association, P.O. Box 304, Kings Langley, NSW, 2147.

If you are attending the AGM would you kindly also RSVP us by returned email or phone to the above names no later than January 22, 2011 - in order to give us time to organise the venue and the menu.

If you know of anyone else, i.e. new arrivals or old alumni who are not aware, who may be interested in joining the alumni please pass on this letter to them and please encourage them to join and to attend the AGM so as to meet other members and the board and to sign up for their lifetime membership if they wish to do so.

Should you have any other enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the above members for further assistance.

Yours sincerely and many kind thanks in John Baptist de LaSalle and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all.

Ed Davila,
President