What does a year rep have to do? Nothing!
Susan Carter, Year Rep for 1968
Yes - you don't have to do anything. There are no meetings and no set requirements for contacting your year. In my time as a year rep, the college has asked only for help in tracing ‘lost' alumnae and for contributions to the annual Review. Both activities have been optional.
In exchange, the college has given me contact details for those in my year (permissible under the Data Protection Act as year reps are formally College agents). The Development Officer (alumnae@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk), has provided additional help, especially in setting up our Cambridge reunion.
The rewards from my year group have been out of all proportion to the effort involved, because others have done the hard work. Two volunteered to share the year rep role, one of whom not only compiled our first directory but also invited us to Cornwall in 2005. And so our reunions began. We went back to Cornwall in 2006, to Northern Ireland in 2007, and to Cambridge ‘forty years on' at the Alumnae Weekend in September 2008. Over 30 members of the year have been happy to have their contact details circulated to others and an e-mail group helps us keep in touch.
We have found great delight in each other's company. We were - of course! - always a fascinating and friendly group, but there wasn't time as students to get to know everyone. It has been an enormous pleasure to meet up with ‘lost' friends and to make new ones, in beautiful and interesting places. We have expert guides among our number and great hosts. Participants have enjoyed themselves so much that I have been thanked more effusively than ever in my life before.
It started slowly - only two of us went to Cornwall in 2005. Many people have mixed (or worse) feelings both about their time at Cambridge and about reunions. Our gatherings have allayed most fears, as they have been forward-looking and fun. Numbers have grown steadily, with partners and children drawn in.
So for its reward/effort ratio, the role of a New Hall/Murray Edwards year rep is hard to beat. Highly recommended!