Editorial

Dear Friends

Whether a country adopts different political ideologies of Capitalism, Communism or Socialism one element that has emerged as common factor is consumerism, which is the order of the day. China which a few years back epitomizes communism has testified to this change by holding the Olympics.

China, Russia and the eastern Block which were hardcore communist had gone nuclear several decades back whereas the irony that India with its laissaize faire capitalistic socialism has resisted to this change. We are happy that the final nod was given and India eventually to enter the big league of super power nation. We may boast of our superpower prowess but the truth remains that with a population of 800 million we were able to get only one Gold and two Bronze medal in the Olympics.

All our efforts to formulate multipoint programmes have failed to properly motivate and empower the Youth. One obvious reason for failure is because of adopting top down approach rather than bottom up approach. Our political system should follow the corporate world, for the success story of many corporates are attributed to strategies and changes effected to the employees on the shop floor. Changes to increase the moral of the employees at the bottomline only yields fruit on top.

In Y M C A also we firmly believe that unless changed are effected at the individual and family we cannot expect productivity at the community and national level. If we are just complacent and don’t implement effective motivational and empowerment programme for our youth I am afraid we should be content with just winning one Gold and two Bronze in the next Olympics in London too.

Thanking you
With good wishes                       

Dr. G. Ebinesan
General Secretary

Y.M.C.A. Madras Esplanade Branch - Independence day Celebrations

Independence Day Eve Dinner was held at the Y M C A on 14th August 2008 at 7. 00 p.m. The programme started with a word of prayer by Mr. J. S. Anbu, Member of the Branch Management Committee.Mr. B. Ravikumar David, Chairman, Esplanade Branch welcomed the gathering and introduced the Chief Guest. Mr. A. Kangaraj, Member, Branch Management Committee presented a memento to the Chief Guest.

Mr.W. I. Davaram, I.P.S. Retd., Director General of Police delivered the Independence Day address.In this speech he praised the Y M C A for its Yeoman Service and recalled his long association with the Y M C A.  Mr. G. Bakthavathsalam, Hon. Secretary, Y M CA Pattimanram greeted the audience with a pep talk. Mr.M. Jeevakumar, Secretary proposed vote of thanks. A cultural programme was organized and presented by Mr. J.S. Anbu and his team. Lucky draw was held and the prizes were distributed by the Chief Guest. Sumptuous Independence Day dinner was served to the participants.

Seminor On Attitude – Aptitude Information Technology

A seminar on Attitude – Aptitude Information Technology was held on Saturday the 2nd August 2008 at 9.30 a.m. at the Y M C A for the Higher Secondary School students. 18 schools from the city of Chennai participated in the seminar.The inaugural function was held at 10.00 a.m. Mr. David Prabakar Nayagam, Member, Branch Management Committee extended the opening prayer.

Mr.B. Ravikumar David, Chairman gave the welcome address. Mr. A. Kanagaraj, Member, Branch Management Committee introduced the programme to the students. Mr. D.V. Venkatagiri, Director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry was the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural address. Ms. Reenadas, Senior Manager, Career Training, MAFOI greeted the students on behalf of the MAFOI. Dr. G. Ebinesan, General Secretary, Y M C A Madras presented a memento to the Chief Guest and greeted the students. Mr. M. Jeevakumar, Secretary, Y M C A Esplanade Branch proposed vote of thanks.

Y.M.C.A Royapettah - Independence Day Celebrations 2008

The Independence Day was celebrated at YMCA Royapettah amidst a large gathering of members,Mr.Dawood Shah, Director, Crescent School, Dr. J.D. Baskara Doss, Vice Principal, Annai Violet Arts & Science College, Rev. D.C. Premraj, Presbyter, St. Georgis Cathedral, Dr. R. Bathri Narayan, Chief Counsellor, National Institute Of Management spoke on Interfaith & Religions harmony in the context of Religious Pluralism from the tenets of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

The programme was interspersed with musical rendering , friends from Y M C A England led by Mr. Robert Short also participated. Mrs. Cathereen Dinakar of A. R. Rahaman Musical Collage, Kathrin and Issac gave  special item. Mr. Mohan Fernando Branch Chairman welcomed the gathering.

Dr. J.B. Santiago, member of Branch Committee convened the programme. Dr. G. Ebinesan, General Secretary, presented the memento and Mr. Surendar Gideon, Branch Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. The function concluded with fellowship dinner.

Y.M.C.A Madras Youthy Centre, Vepery, Swimming Pool(Therapy Pool)

We are happy to report that the Swimming Pool at International Centre at Vepery Y M C A in the First Floor is ready for only members to use. The Therapy Pool with new facility has a separate section, “ Jaccual ” which allows for water massage in the pool, the swim jets give a feel as if swimming in a river.The Therapy Pool was inaugurated on 23rd July 2008 by Dr. Samuel Sudhakar, a Board Member of Madras Y M C A. Dr. G. Ebinesan, General Secretary Y M C A Madras was present and felicitated on this occassion. Mr. N. C. Williams offered the opening prayer.

Indoor Shuttle Court

A new Indoor Shuttle Badminton wooden court was inaugurated on 15th August 2008 for only members. Mr. Robert Short, a well wisher of Madras Y M C A from England inaugurated the court in the presence of               Dr. G. Ebinesan, General Secretary Y M C A Madras, Mr. N. C. Williams Vice President and Mr. Raja Prabhakaran, Chairman of Y M C A Vepery. All these dignitaries had a trial game in the newly launched court.             Mr. Prince Clement Vijayakumar the programme secretary of Y M C A Vepery is incharge of these activities. Around 50 members play daily in the mornings and evenings..

Y.M.C.A Table Tennis Court

Table Tennis Court in a spacious floor in the basement area of our new International building at Vepery Y M C A Centre was inaugurated on 13th September 2008. Two new Table Tennis Table were set. Dr. G. Ebinesan, General Secretary Y M C A Madras inaugurated this new Table Tennis Court by cutting the ribbon. Earlier Mr. N. C. Williams Vice President Madras Y M C A offered the opening prayer. Mr. Raja Prabhakaran, Chairman of Y M C A Vepery played the first game with the other members..

Independence Day Celebrations

Y.M.C.A  KILPAUCK

Independence Day Celebrations

Independence Day Celebrations were conducted at the Branch with the traditional hoisting of the National Flag by the Chairman Rev. Dr. N. Durairaj. The programme commenced with prayer by Mr. Percy Williams. Rev. Dr. N. Durairaj delivered the message and encouraged national integrity among the members. Mr. R. Richard Ezekiel, Secretary proposed the vote of thanks and the meeting concluded with fellowship breakfast hosted by Table Tennis Players.

Inter Y.M.C.A Badminton Tournament 2008

Y M C A Kilpauk organized Inter Y M C A Branch Badminton Tournament from 20th to 23rd August 2008 in the categories of Men’s Single and Doubles and Veteran’s Singles and Doubles. Nearly 78 Members participated and the finals were held on 23rd August 2008. Mr. A. Mohamed Aslam, I.A.S., Additional Secretary to Government, Transport Dept was the Chief Guest and distributed the prizes to the winners. The programme commenced with prayer by Mr. Stephen Colton, Boars Representative and Dr. D. S. Mithra, Former Chairman, Y M C A Kilpauk welcomed the gathering and presented a Memento to the Chief Guest.

Annual Member Tennis Tournament 2008

The Y M C A Kilpauk has organized its Annual Members Tennis Tournament from 23rd to 26th July 2008. Nearly 60 Members participated in the Tournament. The finals were conducted on 26th  at 4.00 p.m. The prize distribution function started with prayer by Mr. Percy Williams, Rev. Dr. N. Durairaj Chairman Y M C A Kilpauk extended a warm welcome to the members present. Mr. Sridhar Babu, Asst. Commissioner of Police, Kilpauk District was the Chief Guest and distributed the prizes to the winners.

We thank the sponsors M/S. V. M. Thomas, Johnson Lifts Pvt. Ltd., K. T. Kuruvilla, Kwik Lite, W. S. Habib, Ramky Wavoo Developers Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Abdeen. Mr. R. Richard Ezekiel, Branch Secretary proposed the vote of thanks and the meeting concluded with benediction by Rev. Dr. N. Durairaj. Prizes were later distributed to the winners by the Chief Guest.

Family Club Get – Together 2008

The Y M C A Kilpauk branch had organized a Family Club meeting on 13th September 2008, about 18 members with their families participated in the Get – Together. The fellowship meeting commenced with prayer by Mr. Precy Williams, Dr. D.S. Mithra, Former Chairman extended a warm welcome to the members and distributed prizes to the winners.

Mr. Sherline Rai and Mr. Augustine of “ J ” Team Ministries organized party games and the participants enjoyed the warm cordially that transpired in this interaction. R. Richard Ezekiel, Branch Secretary thanked the members for keeping in line with the spirit of Y M C A in community building by encouraging such socialization. The meeting concluded with the Pot Luck Dinner contributed by the members with a multitude of Dishes

Y.M.C.A Kodambakkam

Y M C A Kodambakkam conducted special summer coaching camp for children. Professional Coaching was available for Tennis , Shuttle , Table Tennis , Chess , Taek – Won – Do. More than 300 people participated in the program.

Egmore Community Center

Wing Commander Anand Marcus hoisted the National Flag at Egmore Community Centre. Pastor. Simeon who conducts Bible Study in the Centre and Mr. Prince Vijayakumar, Secretary Y M C A felicated the gathering and distributed Sweets.

Y.M.C A Community Center

Sathumanagar

Sathumanagar Y M C A celebrated the 61st Independence Day Programme on 15.8.2008 at Y M C A Community Centre. Around 200 people attended this function. Mr. A. John, the Senior member of Sathumanagar Community Centre hoisted the National Flag and addressed the gathering. Friends from England also participated in this function and Mrs. Cathy Robert was felicitated on this occassion. Free Note Books were distributed to the poor children. Sweets were also given  to all the members present. Mr. Palani, President of Sathumanagar Community Centre proposed the vote of thanks.

Y.M.C.A Fort - Independence Day Celebrations 2008

The 61st Independence Day was celebrated on 15th August 2008 at 8.00 A.M. Ms. Annie Koilpillai, Retd. Headmistress and former Correspondent, CSI Schools was the Chief Guest and hoisted the National Flag. The Children delighted the audience with spectacular dances and cultural programme. Mr. L. Gupta, Owner of the Ramkrishna Bhavan was the Guest of Honour distributed the prizes to the winners of various competitions conducted by the school for the children. Sweets to the children of the school sponsored by Ramkrishan Bhavan. Ms. Annie Koilpillai, Chief Guest presented the cash award to Lakshmi of 10th standard for securring 1st rank in the SSLC public examination. (93.8%)

Annual Sport Meet 2008 [Overall house champoinship]

The annual sports meet was conducted on 5th September 2008 at Pachayappas school grounds, Esplanade Mr. L. George, Senior Superintendent, Airport Authority of India, Union Secretary, Chennai Airport was the Chief Guest and declared the sports meet open by symbolic flying of pigeons and gas balloons. The sports meet commenced with colourful march past by the four houses. The following students won the championship awards from the chief guest.

Boys Junior - Vijay

Photo Captions

YMCA School’s Correspondent, General Secretary YMCA Madras Dr.G.Ebinesan with the winners of Judo – state Championship, Kabaddi, Zonal, Swimming – state Ranking and Boxing and Mrs. J. Swarna, Headmistress.

Mr.C.D.Jose award from Dr.K.Rajaratnam

Mr.C.D.Jose, formar board member of YMCA kodambakkam and presently Director & Secretary of Madras School of Social work was honored with a Doctorate by the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theolog Church and Administration for his distinguished contribution to education, employment