WHO?
Start with any contact you may already have. That friend may have some additional contact details too. If not, email WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com with a few possible names and dates at college. The Westminster Society database may be able to help, with the Society acting as a go-between for you. Or you could join one or more of the Westminster Facebook groups and post an enquiry there.
HOW?
Make your initial contact by phone or by email. If you feel cagey about making contact, relax. Most Ws have happy memories of Westminster and enjoy recalling a good time in their life. Once a positive relationship resumes, see if an online meeting might be possible using an app like Zoom so you can see and hear each other, especially if they live well away from you. Conversations reveal interests, hobbies, places visited on holidays which might even bring you within touching distance of each other once in a while.
WHERE?
Investigate possible venues for a get-together which don’t incur hire charges - outdoors with shelter? Indoors: gallery, museum, church, function room with access to buy drinks? The Society has just piloted inviting Ws to a concert and art exhibition organised by others, followed by a restaurant meal. A theatre or sports venue could be possibilities too. Meetings will involve Ws paying for travel, buying drinks and food, but with careful thought, an organiser can avoid venue costs.
WHEN?
If it’s just a few friends who are meeting, it should not be too difficult to find a convenient date and time. If it’s a larger number, we have to accept that not everyone can make it. It’s still worthwhile letting it happen, even if there are fewer than originally hoped. If timing can be flexible (drop in, as and when) for at least some of the time, that makes attendance much easier.
WHAT?
The secret here is to schedule as little as possible! The real joy is having time to chat, to catch up, to reminisce, to explore possibilities of further meets. The surprise of the Society’s annual reunion is how easy it is to find common threads with Ws from different years. Even differences become intriguing.
AFTER?
As you can see from the page opposite, friends post photos of their meetings on Facebook and some email their photos to WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com ready to feature in the following year’s issue of The Westminsterian. Your photos and stories are always welcome. There may be faces and names that you recognise in this issue. The Society should be able to help you make contact with anyone listed.
COVER?
If your link is larger than 5 or 6 people and you have arranged it in conjunction with The Westminster Society, it can be covered by our public liability insurance.
Start with any contact you may already have. That friend may have some additional contact details too. If not, email WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com with a few possible names and dates at college. The Westminster Society database may be able to help, with the Society acting as a go-between for you. Or you could join one or more of the Westminster Facebook groups and post an enquiry there.
HOW?
Make your initial contact by phone or by email. If you feel cagey about making contact, relax. Most Ws have happy memories of Westminster and enjoy recalling a good time in their life. Once a positive relationship resumes, see if an online meeting might be possible using an app like Zoom so you can see and hear each other, especially if they live well away from you. Conversations reveal interests, hobbies, places visited on holidays which might even bring you within touching distance of each other once in a while.
WHERE?
Investigate possible venues for a get-together which don’t incur hire charges - outdoors with shelter? Indoors: gallery, museum, church, function room with access to buy drinks? The Society has just piloted inviting Ws to a concert and art exhibition organised by others, followed by a restaurant meal. A theatre or sports venue could be possibilities too. Meetings will involve Ws paying for travel, buying drinks and food, but with careful thought, an organiser can avoid venue costs.
WHEN?
If it’s just a few friends who are meeting, it should not be too difficult to find a convenient date and time. If it’s a larger number, we have to accept that not everyone can make it. It’s still worthwhile letting it happen, even if there are fewer than originally hoped. If timing can be flexible (drop in, as and when) for at least some of the time, that makes attendance much easier.
WHAT?
The secret here is to schedule as little as possible! The real joy is having time to chat, to catch up, to reminisce, to explore possibilities of further meets. The surprise of the Society’s annual reunion is how easy it is to find common threads with Ws from different years. Even differences become intriguing.
AFTER?
As you can see from the page opposite, friends post photos of their meetings on Facebook and some email their photos to WestminsterOxfordAlumni@gmail.com ready to feature in the following year’s issue of The Westminsterian. Your photos and stories are always welcome. There may be faces and names that you recognise in this issue. The Society should be able to help you make contact with anyone listed.
COVER?
If your link is larger than 5 or 6 people and you have arranged it in conjunction with The Westminster Society, it can be covered by our public liability insurance.
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And to show that regional events are not such a new idea after all, here's a photo of an event a few years ago for the East Anglia region organised by Margaret Baldry (first left).