1. We wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year and welcome members who have attended today. However, several members are unable to attend today’s gathering due to ill health or personal reasons. On behalf of Kendra, we pray that members with ill health recover soon. Also some members are having celebrations in the family, we wish them our heartiest congratulations and best wishes. We pray for all members unable to come today to join us soon and take part in Kendra’s activities.
2. We welcome the new members who have joined from this year and request them to come and line up near the stage so that all can see them. We request all members to ensure to guide the new members so that they can enjoy all our activities and also contribute their talents for the betterment of the Kendra. Our large membership of 400 and over 400 names on the waiting list proves how popular our Kendra has grown. All new members are requested to always bring their Kendra Membership Card and to write a label with the name of their emergency contact behind the card and paste with cello tape.
3. DONATION : A full box of biscuits from a non-member : Daxaben. Many thanks to her on behalf of Kendra.
4. As usual, Manishaben recited the prayers today and everyone joined in. She conducted ‘Pranayam’ and ‘Surya Namaskar’ to tone up the body muscles and internal organs. Thanks to her on behalf of Kendra.
5. Today we have a special guest who is very well known throughout the Gujarati communities – Mr C.B. Patel of Gujarat Samachar with two of his seniors – Jyotsnaben and Alkaben. On behalf of Kendra we welcome them. Later on we will invite C.B.Patel to speak for five minutes. After lunch Jasuben Sheth has organised some games and as usual at Tea Time, Kendra will provide tea and biscuits.
6. Next Thursday – 23rd January, we will have a programme of Bhajans and Kirtan by a musical group.
7. We hope everyone enjoyed Kendra’s 7th Anniversary and New Year Celebration programme last Thursday. We thank all the volunteers who helped in making this a most successful programme.
8. On 14th February we have arranged a visit to the Houses of Parliament.
9. On 4th May we have arranged a trip to Manor House for 5 nights 6 days. There are all types of sporting activities, arts and crafts and other facilities (all included in price) and we have limited number of rooms available. So it will be First Come First Basis allocation.
10. In June we have planned Iceland Cruise on Queen Victoria.
11. Navnat Vanik Association has organised a wedding Fair at Navnat Centre on 2nd March and grand-parents were specially requested to visit the Fair with their children and spread the word to the youngsters who are getting married. They also want some volunteers for the event. More information available from Dhirubhai Galani.
12. We have noticed that a few members are wearing socks because of the cold weather and performing Yoga. We wish to remind them that for safety reasons it is not advisable to wear socks during Yoga. It is very risky and members are requested to remove these during Yoga.
13. Everyone must sign the Register including all the guests. Guests should obtain their Guest Pass from Vinod Parekh. Also please keep your ID cards ready when joining in the queue for lunch. We also request that members check that they have Emergency name and phone contact at the back of their Membership Cards, in case of need at the Kendra in Sattavis Centre or at other events. We also request all members to park sensibly taking into consideration the inconvenience to some of our disabled members and the food delivery van.
14. Vinod Parekh announced that yet again this year, Kendra has received an invitation from Mr Ashwinbhai Sheth for 8 members to attend a Lions Club function for the seniors on 2nd February at the Harrow Leisure Centre. Vinod announced that only those who have not been to this function before should give their names.
15. After announcements, our Hon. Secretary – Jayantbhai Doshi gave a brief history of Kendra and introduced C.B. Patel, who then spoke. Mr. C.B.Patel was very impressed with what he had seen during the last hour. He said that so many Kendra members were doing Yoga and he felt that he saw all ‘young’ men doing the same, and not Seniors. He praised for all the activities undertaken by Kendra. He also stated that he was a Diabetic since last 30 years and he is living with insulin all these years. So people should not fear any illness and take it in its stride. Jyotsnaben also spoke for a few minutes.