President OOMA
(Old Overseas Margaretian Association)
Story appeared in the 2017 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY SHELAGH BOGGS (RANDEL, ’56)
To begin, I want to congratulate the OOMA on its 90th anniversary.
Mrs. Shelagh Boggs was presented with the Community Link Award for 2016-2017 by Queen Margaret’s School in recognition for her tireless efforts in building positive connections between OOMA and current families, students and staff.
Our first event each new school year is Founders’ Day, which is held in October and is always well attended. Our guest speaker this year was Carol Newington (1955-1957/staff member 1970-2016).
The Christmas Bazaar is held on the last Saturday in November. This year we had a lovely small tree with decorations made by several of our board members and friends. We all work very hard to make this event special. It’s a two-day process with one of our best-selling items being the wonderful Christmas cakes made by OOMA board member Mrs. Chris Compton. They are always the first items to sell at our Bazaar table and we thank Chris for her wonderful effort. We also want to thank Bruce McPherson, QMS Facilities Manager, and his team who are always on hand to help.
A highlight this January was the visit to QMS by the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, as part of provincial celebrations for Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation. An intimate tea was held at the Head’s House before the morning ceremony, and it was a lovely opportunity to meet and talk with this very special guest.
Our main event of the year is Old Girls/Boys weekend in May. The Strawberry Tea was very well attended this year, with over a hundred guests enjoying a delicious lunch and coming together as a community. The OOMA board makes fabulous auction baskets and baked goodies to sell in order to raise funds for the OOMA scholarship fund.
The Sunday of Alumni Weekend is very special to Old Girls. We start the day with a chapel service, a distinctive part of our School tradition, which is followed by a luncheon for the graduating class. As OOMA President, I have the honour of pinning our OOMA pins on the lapels of members of the graduating class, making them official Old Girls. It’s always interesting to hear what they’re planning for the future.
This year the OOMA board had the privilege of making one of QMS’ staff members an Honourary Old Girl. Tracy Arden, former Director of Development & Alumni Relations, has been very supportive of the OOMA and the board felt she deserved recognition. Tracy has now left QMS, but she will be missed and we wish her every success in her new position.
I was pleased to be part of the Grade 7 graduation luncheon this June. During this family-focused event, each departing male student is presented with an alumni pin, a handsome QMS tie and a copy of Beyond All Dreams. This is their rite-of-passage to becoming Old Boys, and we wish them well as they continue their studies at new schools in September.
Speech Day 2017 was such a lovely day. This year’s guest speaker was Mrs. Susan Anton (’70) who provided our grad class with the advice, “find your passion”, and wished them all much success in their future endeavours. On behalf of OOMA, I would also like to congratulate the Class of 2017 on their successful years at QMS, and send them a message of positivity as they embark on the next exciting chapter in their lives.
