St Joseph`s PTA General Meeting: Form 4 and 5

Welcome Remarks to the General PTA meeting from the Current Outgoing PTA Executive Committee Chairperson

Kobe Kobson Motlhatlhedi

30^th March 2017

The College Chaplain, Father Alex

The College Manager

The Principal and all Staff of St Joseph`s College

Current Outgoing PTA Executive Committee members Parents and Guardians

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon

Here we are gathered on the occasion of the 1^st 2017 General PTA Meeting of St Joseph`s College, It is customary that we gather at this time, not only to give feedback to parents on the progress of the PTA and problems of our learners, but to meet with College Authorities, Staff and all those who are taking care of our learners studying in this prestigious Institution. I take this opportunity to welcome you to this meeting.

Let me first start by explaining the objectives and functions of PTA.

The objectives of the Association are to:

Ø Promote close contact and the widest co-operation between St Joseph`s College, parents, parish and friends for the good of, and advancing the education of the learners of the College;

Ø Raise funds to provide extra equipment and other benefits to the College which are in line with the College’s strategic plan;

Ø Promote wider community involvement in College life by offering social activities for parents, staff and friends of the College; and

Ø Support the role of pastoral care for families within the College as the need arises and other activities consistent with the charitable purpose of the Association.

I take this opportunity to announce to the House, that St Joseph's College has been constantly attaining position 1 nationally for the past 5 years and is a College well known for disciplined behaviour of its learners. I congratulate all stakeholders and pray for more successes in our quest for academic excellence and the drive towards attaining greater heights in nation building objectives.

No doubt, these are good results and I believe the parents can only be happy and thankful to the College authorities and staff for the hard work put in to achieve what you have before you.

The Association as a body has played a positive role in the scheme of things aimed at endorsing and promoting the image of the College and continues to strive in the objective of making our dear College a household name in and around its immediate environs. Nevertheless, I believe there is room for improvement on our activities as partners in progress.

As we all know, our children are our future. We therefore owe them good academic and moral education which is the reason why as parents, we partner and support St Joseph`s College in its unrelenting efforts in ensuring that its students rank among the best in the country and beyond.

Education is not about reading and writing alone, it is about building a generation of future leaders, good-mannered and trustworthy children who will contribute their quota in nation building and help uplift the name of our dear nation. This and more is what St Joseph`s College is all about and I testify to that in all sincerity.

It is this high level of commitment by the school that has gingered parents to give their full support to the College, thus making our work as the PTA Executive easy.

I will want to remind parents that the upbringing of learners starts from home not St Joseph`s College. St Joseph`s College is there to complement what we parents start at home. Parents, you have your children for approximately three months of the year. St Joseph`s College has them for approximately nine. So, if we want to make St Joseph`s College, a home away from home, you should emphasize on these learners the need to be in this College because the overriding goal is DISCIPLINE, inside which a lot has to be achieved if a child goes through a College like St Joseph`s. Parents, I urge you to help the Staff to make your learners better persons in society tomorrow.

At this juncture, on behalf of the PTA Executive, I would like to announce that St Joseph`s College will be having 90 years of existence next year, and the PTA Executive and College Management have agreed to immensely celebrate this 90^th Anniversary hallmark, through the assistance of all the parents, College alumni and other Old Associates of Kgale, commonly known as OAKS. The details of this 90^th Anniversary celebration would be explained during the course of this meeting.

I would also like to announce that the two year term for the current PTA Executive Committee members has come to an end, and one of the proceedings of this meeting is the election of the new PTA Executive Committee. I therefore like to inform you that I am currently welcoming you as the current outgoing Chairperson of the PTA Executive Committee.

Serving as member of the PTA Executive Committee is a voluntary initiative, however I urge parents to volunteer in this initiative. Parents are the backbone of our strong and supportive community in St Joseph`s College.  Parental involvement is a long tradition in our College and one of its greatest strengths.  The more you engage with the College community, the more rewarding your experience in St Joseph`s College will be.  I encourage you to look for opportunities to volunteer and share your experience and talents.  Small or big time commitment – there is a place for you!

Let me inform you that most if not all of us in the PTA Executive Committee were filled with reluctance when we were first elected into our respective offices 2 years ago. But now, all I can see amongst us is a spirit of teamwork. Therefore, allow me to express my utmost gratitude to all committee members who have never failed to serve our association with commendable endurance. I feel so proud and honored to have been able to lead this excellent team.

I understand that the committee and members have been through a lot of sweat and tears in order to secure our benefits and interests. I must admit that all of you have exhibited great loyalty and diligence towards your respective obligations. Truly, St Joseph`s College PTA is proud to have had such proactive members.

Throughout the past two years, several new initiatives have been introduced and implemented.  These include, but are not limited to; running of the College Tuck Shop by the PTA, commencement of other fundraising activities such as buy a block, shoe size, family fun day and so on, and the erection of a shade to accommodate all students during mass.

I sincerely hope that today a greater leader would make a bold move to step up and take over the new leadership. I believe that it is time for me to make way for new rising stars. Rome wasn’t built in a day. In order to raise St Joseph`s College PTA to greater heights, we need new ideas and fresh energy to run and improvise the Association.

As the outgoing Chairperson for this auspicious Association, allow me to welcome all of you with the warmest gesture, and may this gathering be another one that will bring us joy and happiness. It is my passionate hope that we will continue to forge stronger bonds of rapport and radiate our spirit of togetherness on all occasions.

The path towards success is full of obstacles. Should you fall, pick yourself up and continue your chosen path with refined vigour.

God Bless St Joseph`s College, God Bless Botswana.

Thank You!

A Wise Consultant and Google

As a Consultant, keep in mind that all you get from Google is knowledge - not skill - and rarely will you gain the wisdom that tells you what approach to take in a given situation. This does create a challenge for consultants to educate the client as to what skills their experience has developed. There's Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom.

Google drowns you in Data, and if you're lucky enough (or smart enough) to click the right links, Google can provide Information. But that is as far as Google can take you.

Knowledge comes from experience of putting Information into play and observing the results in different contexts. And with enough of this experience, one can develop the Wisdom to do the right things at the right times in the right ways -- and the Wisdom to walk away from the wrong things, the wrong times and the wrong ways.

A Consultant's job is to bring Knowledge and Wisdom to clients -- things that they cannot get from Google. When presented with the latest Google search results, a Wise consultant can put that Data or Information into context for the client and explain why it is or is not a good option for them.

A Wise consultant is constantly Googling too. Because with Wisdom comes the understanding that one does not know everything there is to know, especially because things constantly change. A Wise consultant is always adding Data and Information and adjusting his/her Knowledge to the new Information, because if one does not do this, Wisdom will fade into a distant and increasingly irrelevant memory.

Valentine - Kina Grannis (Official Music Video)

The Benefits of Utilizing and Retaining a Management System Consultant

All organizations are now able to implement standards regardless of company size or type. A Management System consultant can be an invaluable asset on the road to certification; providing a GAP Analysis, training and certification to an accredited Management System standard, as well as providing ongoing guidance and support to senior management, and offering cost-effective methods for achieving a standards scheme.

Each of the recognized standards requires a detailed, on site, third-party independent audit, carried out at least once per year. The purpose of this audit is to ensure that the proper systems are in place, monitored with accuracy and are effective in day-to-day operations or in times of crises. Some Management System consultants are able to offer auditing and certification services, but cannot offer both to an organization. It is considered a conflict of interest.

A Management System Consultant can:

a)    Provide a GAP Analysis and pre-assessment to determine a company’s     needs.

b)   Develop a written program, with input from all levels of the organization.

c)    Train staff in new policies and procedures, increasing their overall awareness.

d)   Improve upon existing Management System practices and procedures.

e)    Find solutions to challenges or barriers for implementing a standards scheme.

f)     Troubleshoot Management System or traceability issues within an organization’s operation.

g)    Set up documentation and proper record keeping procedures.

h)   Assist in the preparation for pre-audits and audits with a certified registrar.

i)     Provide ongoing support and new standards information as it evolves, specific to food categories and industry sectors.

j)     Source equipment, software and services such as lab testing.

What are the different kinds of Management System Consultants?

Consultants can be part of a consultancy firm or self-employed, working as an Independent. There are benefits and advantages to employing either; for example, by engaging a large company you may have access to a wider variety of consultants, able to offer a range of services to meet your overall business needs. An Independent Management System consultant is required to have experience in a specific food category or industry sector and may be able to provide greater insight into precise needs.

Choosing the right consultant, whether an Independent or part of a corporation, is an important decision because you will rely heavily on the expertise and recommendations provided to ensure your business is Management System compliant.

What is a GAP analysis and why is it important?

A GAP Analysis is a tool to determine Management System risks within an organization. Whether the organization is a primary food producer, a food processor, a transportation company or a retailer, a GAP Analysis is generally the first step in the certification process.

A Gap Analysis allows an organization to compare its current Management System practices against an accredited Management System management standard, and will identify areas of shortfall (the gaps). Once areas of improvement have been identified, changes can be made to improve not only Management System risks, but overall business performance; an important component for staying competitive in today’s marketplace, as well as reducing costly recalls, and ensuring consumer protection and confidence.

The GAP Analysis can be conducted by a series of questionnaires or an assessment using a sampling technique. The method employed will depend on a number of factors, including the Management System consultant’s area of specialization and the specific requirements for implementing a particular food standards scheme.

An Independent or corporate consultant can assess existing management systems and procedures against the full requirements or revised changes of an existing standard to create a unique compliance plan with the goal of certification. A compliance plan is a set of strategic steps that need to be taken for a business to be in “compliance” with a standard, or to fill in the “gaps” identified by a GAP Analysis.

A Gap Analysis can also quickly determine the size and scope of a certification project, allowing proper budgeting and time allotment for an organization’s management team and staff.

Your, Business Partner: A Management System Consultant

Before retaining a consultant, consideration should be given to a number of factors, including budget, experience and expertise of the consultant. A consultant can set appropriate expectations by managing the relationship with a communication plan, clearly identifying your business needs and determining the overall scope of the project.

A few additional items to consider:

     i.          A consultant should have a technical and practical knowledge of the specific industry sector that your organization is involved in.

   ii.          The consultant should provide relevant information, such as years of experience and related training. They should also be able to provide numerous samples that demonstrate their clear understanding of the standards that your organization wishes to implement.

  iii.          Ensure all organization management team members and staff understands that this project is a priority, and that they have a responsibility to work in cooperation with the consultant, making themselves available when operation reviews or testing is required.

  iv.          Be certain that your consultant has a complete list of resources and contacts within your organization so that he/she knows who to call when they require information.

    v.          Allow your consultant to be part of the team and do not leave him/her out of meetings or information exchanges. Set aside staff time to support the consultant.

  vi.          Stay in touch and ask questions. Encourage the consultant to do the same.

 vii.          Provide space in your facility for your consultant to work, at least one day a week, if possible. Some on-site visits will be required to conduct a GAP Analysis of your specific Management System needs and your staff will be able to offer valuable information on current practices.

viii.          Agree on the frequency of progress reports and status meetings. Provide samples of reports or files used by other consultants that you felt were particularly helpful.

  ix.          Don’t assume the consultant knows everything; be very clear about expectations, writing everything down and meeting with the consultant and their staff to be sure that all questions are answered before a project is started.

    x.          Ask the consultant about their problem-solving skills and about contingency planning. Remember, things rarely go as planned and you want to know that the consultant can handle issues and keep things moving.

  xi.          Get references before you sign the contract and ask the consultant’s previous clients about how they work, how effective their communication is and how well they interacted with staff.

xii.          Decide what level of service you want and what you are willing to pay for. For example, will you need the consultant to implement a compliance plan and not simply perform a GAP Analysis? Will you need follow-up support or staff training programs? It is important     to understand the full scope of needs now and into the future, so that the consultant you hire has a complete picture.

xiii.          While selecting the right consultant is important, supporting the project’s success by being clear about expectations, understanding the budget involved, and encouraging and maintaining senior management support is also vital.

What is the cost of a Management System Consultant Specialist?

Consultants charge for service in a number of ways; on a time basis, by the hour or day; or on a retainer, plus fees for time. In addition, consultants may charge for incurred expenses, including travel, phone calls, postage and etc. Fees and expense charges should be clearly stated on any contract or service agreement.

As a guide, consultant fees can range from BWP150 to BWP1,000 (Botswana Pula) per hour depending on their level of experience and expertise, and how many facilities they need to assess.

What should a Management System Consultant Specialist contract or service agreement include?

As with any business contract or service agreement, a Management System consultant specialist should define specific project goals and objectives, as well as deal with timelines and payment terms.

A Contract or Service Agreement should include:

1. A confidentiality agreement, used to protect trade secrets and sensitive information.
2. A detailed breakdown of specific tasks that the consultant will perform, using timelines, sometimes referred to as “milestones,” and specifying when the consultant’s progress can be reviewed and what procedures are in place if there are questions or concerns.
3. The total project amount and a mutually agreed payment schedule, which could be determined by project segments, such as providing a GAP Analysis, staff training, certifying to a specific standards scheme and ongoing support and guidance.
4. Form of payment. A consultant could require payment by company cheque, an e-transfer, or may permit credit card payments. In most cases, a retainer is required and in some instances, consulting fees can be financed through a government-funded bank.
5. A clause requiring the consultant to carry liability insurance against “errors and omissions”; a type of insurance designed to insure against providing “bad” advice.

In addition, a provision should be included to reserve the right to terminate the contract, at any time, by either party, with written notice or for non-performance.

This information is provided for those who are interested in engaging a management system consultant. Please feel free to give me feedback.