AFVOA Newletters of Year 2006

Page 72 of 77 43. Similar is the sadness in the minds and hearts of the early owners and their next generation which has inherited what is left of that once great colony. It is for the latter to make it a great colony once again, to make it rise like a Phoenix out of the Ashes and regain its past glory. One would like the new entrants to savour the uniqueness and assimilate the ethos that has been left behind by many of our senior service officers and spouses. Several among them have sadly left this Earth, and some have left the Colony, owing to ageing, loneliness and other circumstances. A couple of them, one, a very senior respected suave Naval sailor in his nineties and the other, an Air Force veteran who was always lending a helping hand to the community, expressed their love for the colony by leaving a sizeable endowment for use by the community, even as they moved out permanently elsewhere. 44. Having dwelt on the history and what makes this colony special, I make a fervent appeal to the new-comers to join the mainstream. Let us get to know each other, forget our narrow-minded squabbles and become part of a larger family; bring in more value addition to our colony by making it a better place to live in. To the older residents, one can only suggest, that let us not live in an illusionary Utopia, hoping that the resurrection of the Colony will come as a manna from Heaven. The earlier we realize that we have to help ourselves instead of depending on outsiders, the better it would be for all of us. 45. ( Writer’s Epilogue. Most of our veterans, wherever they are living in this metropolis, would bemoan the loss of ethos and clean lifestyle that they are used to. The younger generation, whichever walk of life they are in, do not appreciate the rich heritage that we are bequeathing them. That even a model colony has gone to seed is ample testimony to this lackadaisical and indifferent attitude). Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our Society. The optimist invents the aeroplane and the pessimist the parachute. - Gil Stern Matters AFVOA 46. Annual Picnic. The Annual Picnic for the year 2006-07 will be held on 07 Jan 2007 (Sunday) at Camp Gloria on the ECR. The picnic is open only for members and families who have paid their subscriptions for the current year i.e. 2006-07. Like last year, a Lucky Dip will be organized at the picnic venue. The prizes, as usual, will be attractive. It may please be noted that in order to take part in this event you are required to bring the “Lucky Dip Slip” attached on top which bears your lucky number- please do not forget to bring this slip as it has to be dropped into the raffle box for the lucky number to be picked. 47. It has also been decided to have as many outdoor games as possible to make it more interesting before lunch to be followed by Tambola and a few indoor games during the post lunch session. The Executive Committee requests all the members to take part in the Annual picnic in large numbers and make it a successful and memorable event. Members are requested to pay a nominal amount of Rs. 150/- per head as contribution towards defraying cost of catering, rent for the site, etc. (Only children below 5 years will be treated as guests.) The amount may be sent positively in advance to the Treasurer, Col P Samuel Raj, S-96, 4 th Main Raod, Anna Nagar, Chennai – 600040. Tel No: 26287127 or Cell: 9884617731. Members are requested to phone in their confirmations to any of the following by 22 Dec 2006 for planning purposes:- Air Cmde SK Jayarajan, AVSM,VSM 26445357 Brig SP Balachandran 42184916 9884617729 9884617730 Brig NB Subramanian 24903934 Col P Samuel Raj 26287127 9884617728 9884617731