an active Alumni pAssociation for the Bermuda College. Currently headed up by Peter Sousa, there were attempts by Thad Hollis and Sean O'Connell back in the late eighties, to get something off the ground.

"The College simply was not the full service facility it is today,'' is the defence Mr. Sousa offers as to why the original attempts failed. "There was no access to resources.'' The Bermuda College of today however, recognises the benefits of having a strong active Alumni Association and is willing to channel some resources in that direction.

With the impressive fact that a whopping eight percent of the local population have taken courses at the Bermuda College, the positive impact of a Bermuda College Alumni Association becomes evident.

"Benefits to the College of an Alumni Association include not only the obvious fund raising, but also alumni can assist on committees at the College and act as mentors for students.'' Mr. Sousa pointed out.

"Bermuda College alumni are in politics, banking, international business, tourism, construction and every employment area in the country,'' Mr. Sousa noted, "so the benefits are easy to recognise.'' Head of a strategic planning committee for the Bermuda College Board back in the early nineties, Mr. Sousa has carried out a comprehensive and detailed look at the topic.

Efforts to get the Alumni Association up and running slowed for a while as time went into securing an accurate database. All is now in place and once the database is brought up to date, all alumni will be contacted.

"Once we get a list and can contact everyone then we can go about setting an event,'' Mr. Sousa explained, "and then we can really get the momentum going and act to mobilise to help the College meet its development goals.'' "There are advantages to alumni in joining such an association.'' Mr. Sousa insisted.

"There maybe financial benefits, commercial benefits, the ability to make input in the future development of the College, using the facilities and even possible discounts at the Stonington Beach Hotel.'' he suggested.