Invitation - Mr. Rafe Parker
November 25th 2002

Please join us for an hour of your time to think about shaping Bermuda’s future in a bold and proven way.

We know you will enjoy your hearing from Mr. Rafe Parker, recently retired President of SEA, Wood’s Hole, Mass., USA (www.sea.edu), former leader in Outward Bound and British Army (Sandhurst).

WHEN: 1200 hrs, Monday, Nov. 25th, 2002
WHERE: Chamber of Commerce, Albuoy’s Pt.
Casual with light sandwiches

Nicky Dill
Anthoni Lightbourne
Malcolm Kirkland
Dwayne Trott
Ralph Richardson
Alan Burland
Ken Bartram
Mark Norman
Jay Kempe
Brian Billings
Warren Brown
Sr Patrick Dill

Bermuda, Shaping Our Future

Why should our youth go to sea? The clear response is:

Because, when you think on it, we ask so little of our youth and we have presented our youth with a demanding future.

Because the sailing ship is the finest vehicle for learning ever devised by man.

Because we can no longer be satisfied with incremental learning in a world of exponential change.

Because we wish to shape a future in which our children have high expectations within a supportive climate; and focus on active collaborative learning and the processes of inquiry and discovery; and rekindle the unique curiosity and the sense of wonder with which every child is born.

Because we wish to shape a future in which Bermudian students achieve substantially improved academic competence, including a better understanding of connections among academic disciplines and enhanced skills important for life as well as for work – problem-solving and life-long learning skills, the ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team, and personal traits such as adaptability, openness to new ideas, and empathy for the ideas of others.

Because we wish to shape a future in which our students speak with pride of their national maritime heritage and the vital part that it plays in the preservation of Bermuda’s values and identity and, most important, the preservation of its national spirit.

Project Summary and Update

After a world wide tendering process, we have selected an experienced boat yard to build our Bermudian sail training vessel commencing in the spring of 2003. Given the 24 month building period, the programmes are scheduled to begin, in earnest, September, 2005. The technical design plans and youth development programmes (mid-level) are at an advanced stage of preparation.

To date, in a very limited and collaborative offering, BSF has raised $1,200,000 from the Bermuda Government and Bank of Bermuda Foundation in addition to smaller self-initiated donations. Construction of the $3.8 m vessel will begin once $3,000,000 has been pledged.

Youth Situation: We all see the Bermudian community (society, economy and landscape) - changing in quantum terms due to globalisation and urbanisation. Bermuda's traditional support and development seem increasingly mal-aligned with the needs of modern adolescents in the 21st century. We observe that the need only grows greater with time.

BSF is a fresh, large scale programme with broad reach across the community, delivering not just character and team building, but integration with academic and trade skill development. BSF is all about exposing students to unfamiliar situations on a regular basis, equipping them with new personal, social and technical skills and nurturing them over time. BSF will introduce 1,500 students each year and engage 240 students per year in a structured and meaningful way over a number of years.

Eight (8) teams of 30 diverse young people (14+ years) will advance from Outward Bound Bermuda, The Duke Of Edinburgh Award Programme and Bermuda Sea Cadets and a direct BSF reach will be made to students who would not otherwise be reached or challenged by a parent/guardian.

The vessel itself is designed around operational group access - engine room, high-tech navigational area, catering galley and work shop. Our vision are graduates achieving themselves from accountants to mechanics, but always as citizens.

BSF is a company limited by guarantee (and a registered charity) generating both value for young people and revenue from a charter and retail sales business of select affinity brand items. Enhanced marketing and operational alliances with existing youth groups, school system, and retailers will provide effectiveness and efficiency. Vessel maintenance will be kept to a minimum through design and use of low maintenance construction materials (carbon-fibre spars/high tech epoxies) and free hauling charges at her home port of Dockyard.

In Bermuda, this is a bold new approach, with long term benefits, appealing to a wide range of our youth. It is a sustainable programme that will help develop Bermudians to better fulfill themselves in this rapidly changing, and often confusing world.

We very much appreciate the opportunity to explain in greater depth the value these programmes will provide to the community warranting your social consideration and hopefully your support.