As a part of organizing team, let me take this opportunity to thank each one of and your family for the support, appreciation and active participation for converting our meet into an ever memorable experience. It was not the work of just 3 or 4 members. There were many who worked behind the curtain. The event turned out to be a grand gala program due to the combined effort, continuous support, regular interactions and excellent suggestions from many of our friends. I am afraid to quote the names as the list is too long and perhaps I may miss somebody. To keep up with the tempo and firming up the program, we had around 5 to 6 six gatherings at various venues like Ernakulam, Kollam and Trivandrum - in the last three months. Thanks to our Ramachandran and Ramesh kumar for their flawless fund collection efforts and accounting . We have a good saving due to liberal donations, tight expenditure control, sponsored cultural program, reasonable settlement with the resort etc . The resort didn’t charge for the 10 O’clock Coffee/Tea & extra lunch & dinner on 8th, gave concessions to unused rooms booked by us etc.. which were beyond the package agreement.
I am yet to settle the fees for Photography, Video and Banner printing. In a day or two I will settle them too and publish the income and expenditure statement. An indicative figure will be a cash balance of around Rs.1.4 L(Income nearly Rs.7.6 L and Expenditure around Rs. 6.2 L).
The photographs taken by the professional photographer are ready and are being shared via Google Drive. The Video is a heavy file - three full DVDs. So we have to work out a method to make it reachable to every individual. May be we have to make copies and distribute? Another task to complete is to collect the recent photos of all those who are yet to send and bring out a beautiful directory with the latest personal data.
As Anil told I too missed lot of fun. I wanted to interact and mingle with all. But somehow I could not. But I enjoyed a lot seeing the pleasant and loving faces of our friends – at the conference hall, at the lawn, at the cottage corridors, at the sprawling path ways, at the swimming pool, at the restaurant, at the beer parlour, at the outdoor games ground ….
It was heartening to note that the family members enjoyed more than us. They were seen interacting freely with all. It was really wonderful. I have no words to thank them for being one of us totally.
I could not take any photograph as my mind was not free enough either to click or pose. Can somebody volunteer to compile the photographs taken by our friends and share them? It will be a good souvenir. Somebody please come forward to take up this task .
The credit of success goes to all of us. The effort and trouble taken by each to attend is well understood. Many travelled across the continents just to be together for a few hours. But in those few hours they just swallowed 40 years to become the old college students. That is the bondage and regards we have. !8 of us who attended were from outside India. Few had to forgo their health problems to attend the Meet. Few had to leave their family behind due to unavoidable reasons. Our Krishna Kumar and PV Thomas had to leave their family at home as their daughter’s were expecting delivery. (Of course both of them are today the proud “Grand pa”). Against all odds each of us wanted to be together and that is how it turned out to be a mega event.
63 of us attended the Meet.
Civil – 15 out of 30, Elec – 27 out of 43, Mech – 21 out of 37.
Civil – 8 out of 15, Elec – 17 out of 27, Mech – 16 out of 21.
40 members participated for all 3 days.
Civil – 4 out of 15, Elec – 17 out of 27, Mech – 19 out of 21.
13 members participated for 2 days.
Civil – 5 out of 15, Elec – 6 out of 27, Mech – 2 out of 21.
10 members participated for 1 day (8th).
Civil – 6 out of 15, Elec – 4 out of 27
Total Participants including family members : 117
I am sure the 2018 meet will be surpass all short falls of this meet with 100 % participation and wider programs.
The photographs taken by the professional photographer is attached.
Once again Thanks to all. Any suggestions/ comments, please fell free to express.
With warm regards and love,