AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 20 of 61 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Dear Members: The Picnic on 20 Jan 2013 went off very well and members who attended had a great time. The deep involvement of the Station and the AOC himself made the event truly memorable. A write-up on the Picnic features in this issue. On completion of 90 years of age on 27 Jan 2013, our senior veteran Gen Aban Naidu has sent a handsome donation of Rs 30, 000 to the AFVOA. He has also paid Rs10, 000 to cover his future annual subscriptions. More than just a life time subscription!! He will hopefully attend our meet on 23 Mar if he is up to it. Our thanks and appreciation to him for his generosity. Cheers! Maj Gen (Retd) CT Chari MEETING GONE BY THE PICNIC ON 20 JAN 2013 by Capt (Retd) K Balakrishnan AFVOA members and families, who opted for the buses, arrived at the Youth Hostel, Indira Nagar or ECHS Nandambakkam well in time. It was an easy and quick job for the transport in-charges (Surg Capt Natarajan and Lt. Col. Baskar Rao) to muster the passengers, obtain their signatures on the indemnity bond papers and get them seated. The caterers had brought the breakfast packs. A quick head count and mustering was completed and the vehicles moved to RV in front of the Chennai Trade Centre. Breakfast, bottled drinking water and tea were served in the buses. After breakfast, used plates, cups and bottles were collected and disposed. All credit goes to Brig. VA Subramanyam and his team for their efficient planning and execution. Brig. VA Subramanyam was seen moving around from bus to bus with a tray of tea cups, shouting ‘chai-chai’. He brought a smile to many a lip! The buses then moved together to the picnic spot at Air Force Station, Avadi. (Personally, I missed clapping and chorus singing of ‘Bhedupakko baramasa’, ‘Laddetha Chhadhar utte saleti rang mayya', ‘Sarian biwian ayia Harnaam Kaur na aayi’, etc popular during bus journeys of picnic outings in the good old days). Most of the members and families spent the travel time chatting with their co-passengers; while some preferred to avail a forty-wink nap. Air Cmde PK Bapat, AOC was himself present with a team of officers to receive the veterans and families at the Air Force Officers’ Mess, Avadi. All facilities of the Officers’ Mess were thrown open to the veterans and families. Members and families who arrived by bus, moved into the Mess to freshen themselves. Breakfast was distributed to those who reached the venue on their own. Tea, coffee and lime juice were offered to all. With a firm voice, Smt. Lalita Mohandas, the MC for the day, coaxed the veterans in assembling at the ‘shamiyana’ on the front lawn of the Mess. Having assembled, the picnic party was divided into four groups – those who opted for visiting various units located in the Air Force Station and their activities, those who chose to go for shopping at the AFWWA thrift shop, the welfare centre, the gymnasium etc., those who wanted to sit and watch video shows on the Air Force’s activities, and those who chose to sit back with a glass of beer or soft drink and chat with friends. Two school buses from the Air Force Station,