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ALUMNI DINNER & DANCE |
Memoirs of an attendee
As the reunion group was smaller than expected, the venue was changed to The Brewery, a popular restaurant and sports bar on the Hip Strip. We had the outdoor dining balcony all to ourselves so we were able to mingle, meet newcomers and have a good time. The atmosphere was cozy and casual but festive. We dined from a delicious dinner buffet of succulent roast beef, spicy shrimp scampi, jerk chicken, pasta salad, marinated garden salad, rice and peas, mashed potatoes, candied plantains and more. What a spread - the food was FABULOUS!!! We went back again and again for our favourites.
Our special guests that night were Mr. & Mrs. Trevor Brown from Belair and Karen Charcharos, past-student now school administrator. In his keynote address, Mr. Brown, Belair School's director, brought us up to date on Belair's development over the past 5 years - the school has continued to maintain its high academic achievements in standardized tests and has been able to add even more to the personal development of the students by providing new and challenging extra-curricular activities. He encouraged the alumni to share the stories of their achievements with the school. His wish is that the alumni and the BSAA will inspire the present students as we show our gratitude for opportunities given to us at Belair. In revealing the school's struggles to stay open in the present tight economic situation, he expressed the hope that the BSAA would be able to assist the school with its developmental plans to keep Belair viable and accessible to Jamaica's children.
The new BSAA president (2003-2008), Caroline (Cooke) Robinson also addressed the group. She welcomed the reunion attendees and thanked them for coming out to support the event. She reminded the alumni that the association was young but maturing, and recounted the achievements of its first 5 years: The formation of the association, our 'home base'- the BSAA website, Reunion 1998, having a BSAA representative on the school board and now Reunion 2003. She asked the attendees to continue to support the BSAA in its growth and development towards becoming a formidable organization. She spoke of the need for new executive board members for the 2003-2008 term and invited past-students to volunteer.
The speeches were now over, and the floor was cleared for line dancing. You'd think that the kids would rush forward but it was the alumni who took to the floor for the “Electric Slide”, “Macarena” and “Cha-cha Slide”. After these three hectic workouts, most of the alumni had to sit out "Dollar Wine" and "Who Let the Dogs Out?". As always the kids kept going, and going, and going . . . It was great fun.
