Let's consider the notion of
stewardship. Stewardship deserves consideration, because it connotes responsible oversight and protection of something worth caring for and preserving, and that's a noble pursuit. Like polar swim.
People steward this institution...they care for it, invest responsible oversight, and strive to protect and preserve it for the future. Trustees are the obvious stewards of the school, as stewardship is essentially their mission. But I recently heard a campus master planning consultant declare, "We are all stewards of Proctor. We're all working to guarantee its prosperity and its service to the world long after we're gone."
The notion that we are stewards of something that will outlast us is profound. Our work is here-and-now, but it serves something that will last.
The words "We're all stewards of Proctor," refers not just to trustees, but to administrators, faculty, students, parents, past parents and--most of all--alumni. This weekend, we hosted senior alumni for a reunion that brought together more than three dozen stewards of Proctor from 1949-1985. During a circle chat with the Head of School, Mike specifically mentioned their roles as guardians and protectors of the community. Below, some enjoy an inspirational panel discussion with current students.
Afterwards, some enjoyed a tour of newer facilities. One alumnus observed that he attended Proctor when it consisted of 90 boys.
The relative prosperity of Proctor today creates a "wow factor" for these alumni, but the school that we know today is the beneficiary of its past, and the stewardship--including word-of-mouth promotion by alumni--has made all the difference. We're grateful.
The administration, faculty and students who currently attend and make this school work are stewards of this thing we call Proctor. Through our good work, we're shaping the prosperity of this school in a way that this year's senior class will appreciate when they revisit in 2043 and 2053....and beyond.