AFVOA Newletters of Year 2009

Page 10 of 37 The last item on the programme was the well known song “Chalte Chalte” from the film of the same name. The lyrics were composed by Amit Khanna, and music was set by Bappi Lahiri, and the song was sung by that fabulous versatile actor-singer- comedian – Kishore Kumar. As this was the last song of the day’s show Unni was keen that all should participate. Hence he had on a wide screen for the lyrics in bold letters in Roman Hindi. Most of the audience joined in to make the evening memorable. Thunderous claps and cheers for Unni and hoping the AFVOA gets more such Unnis in the near future. Mention should also be made of a new find for handling the task of an Announcer or better known as Master of Ceremonies. Maj (Smt) S Pallavi, who is a young and bubbly lady, who was formerly with the ASC, and is now with ICICI Lombard, did an excellent job of complementing the male voice. GOC’s Speech Maj Gen EJ Kochekkan, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC ATNK&K Area was gracious enough to address the assemblage at the end of the cultural event. He paid rich encomium to the elderly veterans who performed on the stage. He expressed his great pleasure that such fine events were being organized by our Association. He gave out the following points. Army School. He stated that he was happy to announce that Army School, Chennai has become a reality. The School started at a cost of Rs. 10 crores is ready. We have been able to find and appoint a suitable Principal for the school and admissions will start soon. Army Officers’ Institute. A long felt need of the Station has been addressed in that formal sanction for the establishment of an Army Officers’ Institute has been received. The Institute will function at the premises of the Officers’ Mess of MH Chennai as soon as same is vacated by MH Chennai. Their new Officers’ Mess building will be ready in a few months and they will vacate and hand over the premises. The Institute will be a common one for all three Services in the Station both for Serving Officers and Veterans. He entrusted the responsibility of drawing up the Rules to the Association. Home for the Elderly. He stated that plans are at hand to set up a Home for the Elderly. Locations for the same have been considered and finalized. Gymkhana Membership. He said that the Madras Gymkhana Club has formally approved plans to induct 25 Garrison Retired Members as Permanent Members with voting rights by paying a minimum fixed amount. If the plan was successful more such vacancies could be availed. He urged Veterans to make use of this plan so that newly retiring officers could make use of their vacancies to become Garrison Retired Members. I would Life to live for some time yet. I am curious to know how it all is going to end. Frederico Fellini REVISION OF RETIRED OFFICERS’ TELEPHONE DIRECTORY The retired veteran Officers’ telephone directory of Chennai is in the final stages of revision. We do not want to miss out the particulars of even a single AFVOA member; nor do we want to allow any mistake in your personal details or telephone