AFVOA Newletters of Year 2009

Page 4 of 37 we have our uniqueness, each one of us. In comes the AFVOA and binds us together. And in that bonding numbers don’t just add up but mult iply each other in st rength many times over. This collective connection has helped us gain a twofold standing. Fi rst ly, AFVOA as a custom made organization devoted to brotherhood among veterans has almost become the brand owner for veterans welfare organizat ions all over. The ‘Core Group’ concept wherein veterans within geographical reach go forth to help out a veteran in dist ress is our very own invent ion and pioneer ing work over many years has brought the system to near per fection. Many are the veterans in other stations who have wished that similar concepts exist in their town and cities. In this and in many other fields we have earned for ourselves appellation deserving of emulation so much so Formation Commanders often cite us as examples when they address gatherings of retired officers and men. Secondly, our combined potency has given us the vigor to take on welfare oriented projects. A case in point is the ESM Welfare Transport that we are running wherein we are providing transportation at subsidized rates to ESM patients who visit the ECHS. The vehicle for the purpose has been gifted to us by Maj Gen EJ Kochekkan, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC ATNK&K Area. Maj Gen KS Chattaraman, our Welfare Transport Group Leader and his team of devoted veterans deserve our special appreciations for running the welfare project efficiently. So well is the project moving ahead that there is a growing demand to enlarge the service to other uncovered areas as well. Chennai was perhaps the only station without an Officers’ Institute. There had been a long felt need for one such institute by our members. Our request was heeded to by Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, SM, ADC, erstwhile GOC-in-C Southern Command who was kind enough to sanction the Army Officers' Institute, Chennai with the proviso that membership will be open to officers and veterans of the other two Services as well. The GOC, kind to us in his turn, has allotted the present premises of the Officers’ Mess of Military Hospital, Chennai which is to become the Institute as soon as the MH Officers’ Mess shifts to the new building which is in the final stages of being readied. Here too we are in a unique position. The pleasant duty of doing the ground work in starting this Institute has been entrusted to us. The Executive Committee of your Association along with Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM visited the premises and has assessed the usage of space for various purposes. Brig Mohan Thomas, our Vice President has drawn-up the draft rules for the Institute. The uniqueness here is the fact that our Association has been given the responsibility to give birth to an Institution of which the Serving Fraternity and Veterans will be members. There can be no doubt that this Institute will turnout to be a model of its type befitting the confidence with which the Serving Fraternity have placed their trust on us. Nearer hand, our last BiMonthly Meeting on 19 Apr 2009 was a Cultural Get- together. It was an event attended by the GOC and his Staff Officers. It was an evening designed exclusively for our members and families to show-case their talent in the performing arts. Young and old took part in it and enjoyed the evening as much as the spectators. Read on further details of the evening under the caption Meeting Gone By. Another interesting event took place on the morning of the 19 th that must be