AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 33 of 61 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Dear Members: We had an enjoyable Saturday morning luncheon meet on 23 Mar 2013. The next meet will include the AGM, the elections and celebrate our Raising Day. During the summer months, many of us are travelling abroad. Brig Muthulaxmi, our VP is out to the US from mid May to mid Sep. Col RS Varadan, our Treasurer has to attend a marriage and a satha-abhishekam in the US. He is out from 5 May to 19 Jul. Many of our members are also visiting their kith and kin in other parts of the country to escape the heat and humidity of Chennai. We have fixed the AGM on 27 Jul with the confidence that most of us will be back to participate in the event. We shall also celebrate our Raising Day that falls on 7 Aug, on 27 Jul. We are looking for a person to take charge of the Newsletter and take it to greater heights. I am sure we have enough talent for this and I hope it will be forthcoming in the form of a volunteer. Cheers! Maj Gen (Retd) CT Chari MEETING GONE BY AFVOA members and families came in strength to attend our last meet on 23 Mar 2013. This was a special meet since we were honouring five of our octogenarians. Our veterans and their spouses and escorts came with big smiles on their faces, happy to be among fellow veterans, happy to take part in the tombola that offered a big snowball in a generous number of counts and last but not the least, partaking of the usual sumptuous lunch. Col Varadan handled the collections with efficiency. He was put to some difficulty as some members insisted on paying in cash. How much easier if our veterans spared a thought for our office bearers and brought the subscription and lunch payment by a cheque President recognized the presence of Cmde MS Raghunathan, VSM, Commandant Embarkation HQ at the gathering. He and Smt Raghunathan had been invited to attend our meet and join us for lunch. Smt Raghunathan could not come due to guests at their home. Cmde Raghunathan spoke about the various functions of the Emb HQ and summed it up with an open offer to our members to use his office freely if there is any need for emergency reservations. His positive and friendly manner charmed our members and a resounding applause was given to him as he left for an official meeting at the Airport. The tombola session was conducted by VAS, with his usual efficiency and in the absence of Lalita, our VP stood in to help him. The tension in the air was palpable and the sale of tickets was brisk. Once the numbers started to be called eyes were down and the concentration was intense. With all the effort and psyching up, the snowball was not taken. It has now rolled over to the next meet and there is little doubt that next time it will go. OBITUARY Our Vice-President now took charge of the proceedings. She made an obituary reference and invited Brig VAS Subramanyam to speak about a fellow signaler, the late Col I Jayakaran, who passed away on 01 Feb 2013. After the eulogy, the house stood to two minutes silence in memory of the departed soul. NEW MEMBERS The following new members were welcomed in to the Association: (a) AVM S Lakshminarayanan, AVSM