About Us
"The Formation and History"
The idea for the creation of an alumni association was conceived when, in the Summer of 2003, Messrs Ewan Burke and Herbert Bell visited the BuffBayHigh School in Jamaica. Having toured the campus, they noticed that the infrastructure was in need of repair. Upon returning to the United States, they immediately contacted several close friends: Durval Heirs, Fernando Senior and Horace Bell to pitch the idea.
On the evening of November 9, 2003, some 28 past students of the BuffBayHigh School, formerly Buff Bay Junior Secondary, New Secondary, and Buff Bay Comprehensive High gathered at the home of Fernando Senior, 66 Lexington Avenue in Maplewood, New Jersey to crystallize the idea for the formation of the Buff Bay High Alumni Association (BBHAA).
Since the first meeting, the association has moved ahead full steam with an aggressive global membership acquisition strategy. Driven by the need to "give back" to our community from supportive members, the association has embraced a mission to seek charitable contributions from corporate and individual giving programs and conduct fund-raising activities to strengthen the stability of the educational programs to the school and to aid in its growth and development.
As the association grew in 2004, the fundamentals were etched into place: the election of officers and the executive committee; designing the membership application; drafting and adopting the constitution and bylaws; applying for non-profit status; incorporating in the State of New Jersey; receiving a federal identification number, and receiving approval from the State of New Jersey to begin charitable solicitations.
In spite of members busy schedule, the association has successfully managed to keep an open line of communication through the executive body via tele-conferencing. With scheduled bi-monthly meetings, and through its monthly newsletter, the association seeks to increase its membership base while keeping its members informed.
In 2005, the executive committee orchestrated a series of fund raising activities. These activities are geared towards raising substantial amounts of capital to fund viable projectspurchase computers and computer applications, teaching aids, books, electronic equipment, office supplies, painting of the school and so forth, as prioritized by the principal. With each amounts solicited or raised, the BBHAA is able to leverage the caring power of our old student community and potential contributors to accomplish more than any of us could do on our own.
Mission Statement
The Buff Bay High Alumni Association (BBHAA) is a non-profit organization. Through our business activities, we wish to make a worthwhile contribution to enhance the quality of life and learning for present and future students of the BuffBayHigh School.
Our mission is to provide Alumni support in the form of financial contributions and other intangible services directly or indirectly to the school. In support of this mission, we will continually seek charitable contributions from corporate and individual giving programs and conduct fund-raising activities to strengthen the stability of the educational programs to the school and provide educational materials for growth and development.
With unfailing commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards, teamwork, accountability, transparency, and openness, we will strive to promote a model of giving back to the community, and provide a medium of continuity for our members through social and cultural interaction.
