March 2015 Newsletter
TIPCA Webmaster
As Spring is just around the corner we are anxiously awaiting some good weather to come our way! In the TIPCA world as we spring forward you can look forward to an exciting year with wonderful fun and faith based family friendly events being rolled out.
As seasons change TIPCA is also on a journey of change to bring our association to the next level, driving real impact on our members making progress and keeping up with the times - Tech-savvy world!! Our Web Master Joel Noronha has worked extremely hard to introduce electronic tools and resources that will eventually make day to day functioning of TIPCA more convenient, accessible, user friendly, save time, money, and the list goes on to benefit the end users - our members. With that being said we do NEED YOUR COOPERATION to make that happen! I would encourage each and everyone of you to make the time to log in to tipca.com without further delay and follow through the instructions to register yourself, RSVP for events, pay online, renew membership, complete/update membership contact details etc. With your support and cooperation together we can continue to work toward a sustainable TIPCA that will benefit our community for generations!
Past event: February Mass and Socials - We had a good turn out and everyone was happy to be back on schedule with 2015 TIPCA, worship and socialize together as a community. We want to thank the Souza family (Karen/Ryan/Kiara/Reesa) for their generosity for a wonderful meal of delicious Biryani served to the attendees that was thoroughly relished by one and all.
Upcoming events:
Annual Lenten Retreat - Fr. Roy Oggero who had done a retreat for us at Camp Allen few years ago, is back by popular demand and has been engaged to be the main speaker. We also have St. Laurence Youth Minister, Kris Frank to do one separate youth session with topics specifically for our Youth. I would encourage all of you especially the youth to participate in this spiritually enriching and uplifting event. The speakers will present very powerful and uplifting topics to nourish our faith during this Lenten journey and so please do make the time to participate and experience it. You can refer to attached flyer for further details - program timeline, introduction of speakers. Lunch will be sponsored by the Naik family (Shekar/Stella/Natasha/Alisha) and refreshments will be sponsored by the Colaco family (Veena/Adolph/Anushka) for the retreat attendees. An electronic invite has already been issued using the new TIPCA Website (http://tipca.com/item/95439). You will need to join the website in order to respond to this Evite. Please RSVP by March 20, to help us facilitate arrangements.
Easter Party - This year instead of the usual Easter Picnic in a public park, as a result of suggestion put forward by some of our members we want to try something different this time. Instead of the usual potluck at a picnic venue, we will be hosting a Jam session at a hall from noon through 6.00pmand have catered food - lunch and snacks. There will be Easter Egg hunt for kids, games, music and dancing for all. Unless we receive some sponsors, it will be part sponsored by TIPCA and remaining will be from each participant. Our main goal is to keep it as affordable and reasonably priced as possible for the entire family and so we are currently in the process of finalizing on venues at Sugar Land and shopping around for caterers. It will cost approx $10 per person for food - Lunch and snacks. BYOB. Stay tuned for more on this. Again, you will have to visit tipca.com and RSVP online for this event.
Updates from recent TIPCA Committee meeting for 2015:
Your management committee met this week to discuss TIPCA business and make decisions on your behalf. They have chalked out the whole year's events so you can save these dates on your calendar. A key item discussed and finalized by the committee in the previous meeting was that admission to the major TIPCA events will be restricted to MEMBERS ONLY!!! (with the exception of visiting family members of registered TIPCA members from out of town at an additional fee), all others HAVE TO SIGN UP as members to participate.
Another decision taken and finalized is that when we have guests or friends attending TIPCA Socials ("to check out TIPCA"), the existing fee of $5.00 per person will be increased to $10.00 per person. However, if they sign up as members at the event, no need to pay this $10.00.
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, March 28 One day Lenten Retreat 9.30 am- ending with 5pm mass - visit tipca.com and RSVP online
Sunday, April 5 Easter Party, noon to 6pm (further details to follow) visit tipca.com and RSVP online)
Sunday, April 12 Next TIPCA Mass and Socials - sponsored by the Noronha family (Joel/Corine/Daniella/Alex)
Sunday, June 14 Mass and Socials - sponsored by the Colaco family (Veena/Adolph/Anushka)
Sunday, Sept.13 Mass and Socials - Montifest sponsored by the TIPCA Mangalorean community (Tentatively)
Fri-Sun, Sept.25-27 Recreation Camping trip at Camp Allen (in lieu of Fall Picnic) visit tipca.com and RSVP online
Saturday, Oct.24 BOLLYWOOD Show!!! - Dinner Dance (further details to follow) visit tipca.com and RSVP online
Sunday, Nov. 8 Mass and Socials - OPEN - NEED A SPONSOR
Saturday, Dec.12 TIPCA Christmas Ball (TIPCA mass & socials for this month will be cancelled) visit tipca.com and RSVP online
TENTATIVE EVENTS - TBD
Asian Mass (during Fall)
Children's Christmas Party (Dec)
TIPCA dues reminder: Our records indicate we have about 150 families in our database, however, so far only 50 have paid up their dues for 2015. Please pay up your dues ASAP @ $40 for family or $20 for single membership, preferably online via paypal OR send your cheques made out to TIPCA to our new Treasurer: John Andrade, 5506 Twin Rivers Ln, Sugar Land, TX-77479. Email: john...@hotmail.com Contact # 832-878-5764. As much as we want everyone to get up to speed with online payment to ensure accuracy and efficiency, we do understand a few members prefer to stick to the traditional way of writing and mailing out cheques and so we hope these numbers eventually decrease with time and have everyone on board. Our Treasurer and Web master will soon be cleaning up the database and deleting email ids of recipients on TIPCA distribution of those who have not paid their dues. As we would hate for you to be left behind please ensure you are up to date with your membership status.
Notice of Membership Increase Effective July 1, 2015
The present annual TIPCA membership dues are $40 for a Family Membership and $20 for a Single Adult. This rate has been in effect for the past several years. Adult children who live at home and have full time jobs also have to pay the Single Membership dues of $20 per year.
In order to ensure TIPCA continues on a sound financial footing while continuing the present level of activities it was voted to increase the annual membership fees as costs have gone up everywhere. The new rates will take effect from July 1, 2015. Annual Membership Fees will be increased to $50 for Family Membership and $25 for Single members. Members who pay their 2015 dues before July 1, 2015 will be charged the old rates of $40 for Family membership and $20 for Single membership.
To table some facts....TIPCA's existence and sustenance is based on the membership dues received to offset the fixed expenses such as website fees, Hall usage for socials, priest stipend, sound system, janitor charges and so on. Also at times when we do not receive sponsors for some of the TIPCA Masses, TIPCA pays for the food and other expenses for the socials. Bear in mind TIPCApart sponsors most events hence you receive subsidized rates for all events, TIPCA fully sponsors youth activities programs, Annual Children's Christmas parties, free gifts etc. FREE of charge!! all of which comes from your membership payments and sponsorships. TIPCA also maintains the tradition of giving back to the community as a community by giving small donations for worthy causes.
TIPCA Web Master updates: Explore the newly created functional website for our correspondence at www.tipca.com. You will need to join this website to access all the features meant for the Tipca group. To join, click on “Join Group” button on the top right of the page and fill in the required information. Once you have done this, we will approve your access to the website and you should immediately receive an email confirming this. The new tipca.com website will be a one stop shop with loads of features for your benefit such as:
1. Pull up latest newsletters
2. RSVP for events
3. View event pictures
4. Paypal Payments for membership and events.
For any trouble shooting/feedback you can contact Webmaster Joel Noronha via email at tipc...@gmail.com or phone 281-403-2401.
We look forward to a great turn out at the upcoming Lenten Retreat on March 28!! May your Lenten journey be fruitful and blessed!
God Bless,
Stella Naik
TIPCA - President
Phone# 281-762-7380