Dear Welhamites, Many of you have asked what the Lifetime Membership Fee is being used for. Here is a detailed account of what we do with the funds we receive and why it is now essential to become a bona fide member of the WGAA

WHAT THE WGAA DOES WITH THE MEMEBERSHIP FEE

1. Fee for the Chartered Accountant: As you know every bit of the money sent in by you is accounted for. We have a CA who audits our accounts annually, prepares our balance sheets, which in addition to being filed with the Tax Department, have to be filed with the Ministry of Home Affairs for our FCRA. Obviously he has to be paid annually.
2. Legal Fees: We have needed to employ lawyers to work on issues like Trademark and Patents Licensing to ensure that no unauthorized person uses the School name and logo to create and market merchandise. We have also employed a lawyer to see the FCRA registration through.
3. WGAA Running Costs: - Printing of receipt books, stationery, ID cards, invites and Tadpole issues. - Photocopy costs of documents to be given to the banks, lawyers, C.A., and govt. departments and for the AGM. - Stipend for WGAA assistant and liaison officer in Dehradun and internet and computer expenses for same. - Gratuity for back end support staff.
4. Transportation Costs: As when and where necessary.
5. Hosting WGAA Events: The mandatory Annual General Meetings and any special events like the Principal’s lunch and Mrs. Varma’s Memorial service held in Delhi.
6. WGAA Corpus: All remaining funds go into the WGAA WECARE corpus at the end of each year. The interest from this pays for the supplementary pensions and medical aid of retired staff, supports School activities and our social responsibility initiatives. All these details have, in fact, been posted periodically on FB as well as given in our Statement of Accounts (also posted on FB annually) presented at the AGM each year. Please note that we,( the current WGAA Executive Committee members), use our own homes, personal staff, vehicles and other facilities to hold regular meetings. We pay for all these services to the WGAA personally and do not claim any expenses. We do not employ a secretary, clerk or accountant to assist in day-to-day functioning simply in order to conserve WGAA funds so that they can be used to assist those in need.

THE WORK INVOLVED

• Hold the 4 statutory and 1-2 dozen coordination meetings
• Answer queries
• Disseminate information
• Put together newsletters and publications
• Handle registrations and keep records
• Design and create memorabilia
• Coordinate with vendors and sub licensees
• Plan and organise events and meetings
• Track and collate forms and donations (many of which come with incomplete details and need to be followed up)
• Make out receipts and deal with bank work
• Hold consultations with lawyers and the C.A.
• Organize workshops, speakers and Alumni linked activities for the current Welhamites at School.
• Liaison with School, all the while keeping the benefit of the Alumni and our ethos and traditions in mind.

WHY MEMBERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL It is also essential for you to become a member in order to:

1. Gain entry into School and be registered for continued updates on events
2. Become part of the WGAA Mentor Program
3. Be eligible to participate in the annual WGAA AGM and become an eligible for becoming part of the WGAA Executive Committee.

We trust that all of you will register, not just to stay in touch with each other and be part of the growing WGAA net work, the purpose of which will be even more essential as the years go by, but to help the ongoing WGAA Committees continue the good work started by its predecessors and that many YOU will decide to become part of the Executive Body in the years to come and take it to even greater heights.

Please download the REGISTRATION FORM and follow the instructions on it to become a member NOW!