Page 13 - NJC Magazine Spring 2017

Message
of the CAC
from the Chair
Canadian Advisory Committee
What an exciting year it has been!
The lead up to our 60th celebrations—fêted in Neuchâtel in May and Toronto in October—was an extremely busy and optimistic time for the school. The increased engagement of our community over these many months led not only to fabulous events on both sides of the ocean, but also an undeniably positive buzz about NJC that extended well beyond the NJC Community.
On behalf of the Canadian Advisory Committee, I would like to thank our wonderful community of alumni, parents, families, staff and friends who all contributed to the success of the events. I also wish to thank our Honorary Gala Co-Chairs Toby Jenkins, NJC Parent ’16 and alumnus Anthony Lacavera ’93 for their belief in our signature event and our extraordinary school. Last but not least, I extend my profound thanks to our Gala Co-Chairs, Beth Weingarden ’80 and Max Thompson ’88 for their leadership and commitment in planning our 60th Anniversary “Après Neuch” gala.
While our community looked forward to reuniting in Toronto, planned pre-gala class events, participated in our Share Your NJC Story contest, and diligently read our many e-newsletters in anticipation of the reunion, NJC became top-of-mind again. You reflected on your NJC experience while we shared the school’s goals with you. Your belief in the school’s purpose, thanks to what it did for you, your children, or both, translated into volunteerism, event participation, positive word of mouth and a generous support of the school’s advancement initiatives. The dollars raised are so very important to the future of the school, and we thank all contributors. I am also happy to report that our community’s renewed engagement also positively affected admissions. A very healthy enrolment of bright and dynamic students—the largest class in seven years—is currently preparing for departure! Mentioning NJC in your circles matters. The positive impact of our celebration is extensive and enduring.
Over these months, the CAC has also been honing NJC’s Strategic Plan. We are all grateful for the sage input shared through private consultations, the donor and alumni surveys, our recent CAIS Membership Peer-School Review, and the school’s leadership. We look forward to sharing the results of our efforts with you this fall.
As most of you will have already heard, Head of School Bill Boyer is set to retire at the conclusion of this next 2017-18 academic year. Bill’s affection for NJC is profound, so it was a difficult decision for him to make, but with well over a year to find his successor, we are in a very good position. Early this year, the CAC’s Search Committee engaged the services of the executive search firm, Odgers Berndtson to guide us through the process and we are confident that we will attract a strong pool of applicants from which we
will hire a new visionary. Our goal is to hire by the Fall of 2017 so that the successful candidate will have nearly a year to become acquainted with our community—and to benefit from Bill’s mentorship—before becoming Head of NJC in the summer of 2018.
Yes, it was a busy year, but one that I think can be summed up this way. The past 60 years are something to be very proud of, and the next 60 look extremely bright. Thank you to everyone for your passion for NJC.
Sally Morris
Chair, Canadian Advisory Committee
news and souvenirs for alumni, families and friends 11
CAC Retirements
Neuchâtel Junior College benefits from the wisdom of its volunteer alumni and alumni parents who make up the Canadian Advisory Committee. Thank you to the following retiring members for their service to Neuchâtel Junior College. You have the heartfelt gratitude of the NJC Community.
David Brebner ’97
Served the CAC since 2008 and will continue on as Chair of The NJC Fund. Most recently (2016 - present) David sat on the CAC’s Finance Committee. David shares his alumni status with siblings Robin Brebner Ridesic ’98 and Katy Brebner Mulroney ’03.
Tina Debos
First served on the Swiss Conseil de fondation from 2007-2011 and continued contributing on this side of the ocean when she joined the CAC in 2013. Tina made contributions on several committees, including Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee since 2015, Strategic Planning, and on the 60th Anniversary Gala Planning Committee.
Colm Seviour ’76
Colm has served the CAC since 2009, and during his tenure he sat on the Finance Committee (2016-present). He comes from a proud NJC family. Colm attended, as did his wife Jill Tanner Seviour ’76 and their children Laura ’09 and Declan ’14. Several of Colm’s siblings are NJC alumni as well.