PC Grads & Membership in the Corporation

Dear Fellow Graduates and Other Members of the Pearson Community,

Because this web forum is now open to all, please let me introduce myself. My name is Juliet Guichon. I am a Year 2 Pearson graduate. I was elected by Pearson Graduates from Years 1 to 12 to represent them on the International Board from 1988 to 1991. I served also as a Pearson Trustee for six years, from 1988 to 1994. Last academic year, 1999 to 2000, I was one of five graduates who organized the Years 1, 2 and 3 reunion which took place in June 2000 at the College. I am a Calgary, Alberta native, a graduate of Yale and Oxford, where I studied history and law respectively. I became a lawyer in Ontario and earned a doctorate in law from the University of Toronto. I have taught law and ethics at the University of Toronto and the University of Brussels, and currently teach in the University of Calgary Medical School.

I am posting this message to give you some background information. When I was the Pearson graduate representative, the other trustees on the Pearson Board were anxious to know whether the College did any good. Most, if not all, supported the College with considerable donations of work, wealth and wisdom. In 1988, the College had been in operation 14 years; by then, trustees were focusing on the activities of graduates. Trustees' basic questions of me were: 1. are graduates doing good in their own communities? and 2. do they contribute to Pearson?

You can imagine that I worked hard to demonstrate that both questions could be answered positively. But I urged the other trustees to see that the graduates were, as a body, still a work in progress. Graduates were young (at the time, the oldest was about 32). Despite their relative youth, the graduates gave Pearson reason to be proud. Many were just starting out in their chosen fields often doing traditional things in a novel way. (For example, whilst many were becoming physicians, some Canadian physicians with whom I was in touch were welcoming immigrant communities into their practices, speaking to those patients in their own languages and dealing with unusual patient problems such as the consequences of torture.) And for the College itself, Pearson graduates were doing remarkable work with national committees, selection committees and so on, even though many were still busy in university and attempting to establish themselves. I told the other trustees that they could expect big things from graduates because of our deep affection for the College and the responsibility we felt was reposed in us to give back when we could. I reminded the trustees that in institutions of higher learning, large donations of time and money tend to come once people have chosen their partners and careers, and created families and some wealth. I cited my alma mater (Yale) as an example. That great university waits for its graduates' 25th reunion, when the reuniting group averages 47 years of age, to ask for big donations. The Yale alumni who contribute huge amounts of time and money tend to be over 50. In short, I asked the other trustees for patience.

Their patience has been rewarded. Graduate have been generous in their contributions to the College. Indeed, as you might know, one graduate from the reuniting group of years 1, 2 and 3 has given more than $15 million (Canadian) to Pearson. Similarly, Christian Hodeige, a Year 2 graduate, has been elected to, and has assumed the daunting responsibility of the position of Chairman of the UWC International Board. Many, many others are quietly working for Pearson and UWC in their own communities, visiting schools, selecting students, keeping in touch with fellow graduates and raising money - all so that the good work that Pearson and UWC do, can continue. Significantly, other graduates have not been able to help further UWC directly precisely because they are serving their wider communities. (For example, the graduates who are medical professionals might have little time to visit schools, but Pearson has affected the way they practice medicine - all to the better, I've no doubt.)

Now, twenty-five years after the first group graduated, the oldest of our number are about 44 years of age and at least one graduate is a grandparent. As each year passes, another 100 graduates celebrate their fortieth birthdays. We are starting to be in a position to assume leadership. The principle purpose of this letter is to direct that energy in an appropriate way.

If you are able to devote time and energy to the College, and are willing to uphold its goals (of furthering international understanding among youth and assisting Pearson and UWC), you are eligible for membership in the Corporation which governs Pearson College. If you become a member, you are entitled to attend the annual general meeting and to vote for the directors (known as the "trustees"), the vice-chair and the chair, and to stand for these positions yourself. I am a member. Members are known as "patrons".

To become a member, you may direct your application to the Secretary. Your membership must be approved by the board of directors (the trustees). Given how proud the board is of the education it provides its students and given its resulting pride in its graduates, I cannot imagine that your application for membership would be refused.

The rules which govern the Corporation (known as the "by-laws") are essentially democratic in nature. They stipulate that the annual membership fee is $1.00 Cdn. Yet the cost to the College of your membership will be greater than that. Every member is entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting, a copy of the audited financial statement and a copy of the annual report. The printing and postal costs of these documents and the labour involved in sending them to you are costs that add up. In addition, there are expenses involved in the conduct of the meeting itself. The College rents a room (usually in a Toronto hotel) in which the meeting is held and provides some light refreshments. Therefore, I respectfully suggest that you follow up your application with a donation to the Corporation of $25 Cdn.

As the College enters its second quarter century and increasing number of graduates reach middle age, it has a right to turn to those whom it has educated at great cost to seek their work, wealth and wisdom. As a member, I urge you to consider what you can give to Pearson and to consider seriously the opportunity to become a member of the Corporation which governs the College. In my experience, serving Pearson College is a great privilege and responsibility.

Please contact me if you have any questions. I'd be happy to answer them.

with best wishes,

Juliet Guichon, Year 2

p.s. - For your information, I will post a copy of the by-laws. The legal statute which governs the Corporation is the Canada Corporations Act (Part II) which is available on the web.
- I will also post a draft application for membership for you to complete and send by email or by post.