AFVOA Newletters of Year 2006

Page 20 of 77 veterans has been widely appreciated. The concept of forming “ CORE GROUPS”, locality wise, service wise, age wise is gaining ground. We intend providing such groups with the expertise to enable them tackle issues that will benefit the members and their families. The issues could be regarding service / family pension matters, legal, physical and moral help etc. This concept is slowly sinking in the minds of the members for acceptance. They are realizing the importance, more so because of the NRI status of their children. We expect the members to voluntarily join the “Core Groups” after developing the essential mutual trust and confidence. 4. We are now a “Registered” body under the “Societies Act of Tamil Nadu”. Our clout and prestige is on the ascent. We are often consulted, our opinions are sought and most of them are accepted or given a serious thought. The Chief Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government had a formal meeting with our Executive Committee in his chamber. He was deeply appreciative of our activities and had a word of praise for our achievements and even wondered whether some of the concepts we have in our mind as welfare activities could be adopted by them! We had also projected the requirement of achieving ‘ parity ’ with the other State Governments on matters relating to grants , State Government benefits, concessions and reservation of vacancies in educational institutions for the veterans and their kin. The Chief Secretary had issued directions to get all the aspects examined in their entirety afresh and assured us that he would do his best. 5. The recent visit of the Adjutant General Lt. Gen. A S Jamwal PVSM, AVSM, VSM was indeed a crowning glory. The warmth, affection and regard exhibited by him towards the veterans was spontaneous. Over 200 veterans and their families attended the dinner hosted by the GOC at the Area Officers’ Mess. The concern for the welfare of our organization and the progress towards providing “ Functional Space ” is in hand and we are hopeful of positive results. 6. It is a unique distinction for the present Executive Committee to have held the office for 2 years instead of the earlier tenure of one year. This has enabled continuity, follow up and easy transmission of the ‘ in hand ‘ projects to be carried forward. The editorial committee wishes to place on record the stellar role played by the Executive Committee in shaping the Association into a cohesive, spirited and enthusiastic body. 7. Our Association has thought positively , acted with conviction and adopted decisions for the larger good of our brethren. Although we may not be’ Winners ‘ all the time, we tried all the time. The Association needs the cooperation of all the members towards this endeavor. “ If we were born knowing everything, what would we do with all this time on this earth.?” - Nelly in Fashion Rocks From the President's Desk 8. The hot, hot summer is upon us. It is the time to get away to the cool environs of the hills or to visit our kin in cooler climes abroad in order to beat the heat. Those of us who have to stay in hot and humid Chennai would probably cool off with iced drinks and ice-cream! Ice- cream, yes, it conjures up images of yesteryear, of the times spent at the Elphinstone soda fountain; Jafars ice-creams were delectable and out of this world. The huge quantity of ice- cream dished out in “Jafarco Special” and the nuts and crunchy chocolate cubes in “Chocolate Delight” are unthinkable these days. We veterans can only reminisce and still picture the huge poster at Jafars portraying a Spanish (or was it a Brazilian??) lady in an outlandish costume surrounded by a plethora of flora and fauna!! Up till the Seventies after Elphinstone gave way to a shopping arcade, Jafars did carry on