ALUMNI MEETING 25 JULY 2008 : DUBAI

An Army Cannot march on an empty stomach and YES that IS Vishant in the foreground

A meeting of the Core Group* of the NP Middle East Alumni Association (NPMEAA) was held on Friday 25 July 2008 at International Convention Tower, Dubai


*CORE Group Present: Mr Robert Wilson, Mr. Chogyal Tshering La, Mr. Samir Sharma, Mr. Vishal Subba, Mr. Norden Ghissing, Mr. Steven Gurung & Mr. Vishant Gurung (who had inexplicably gone bald)

Core Group deep in discussion

Before we forget we would like to thank our President, Mr. Robert Wilson for arranging the venue and snacks as usual. Thank You Sir.

A lot of issues were discussed and among them were the following.

COMMUNICATIONS

All communications and decisions on behalf of the Alumni must be discussed with the core committee. No member is allowed to take decisions without first bringing the issue to the table. This is being done in order to protect the cause of the Alumni and to open better means of communication between members.

Mr Wilson & Mr. Ghissing are deep in discussion while Mr Sharma eyes the muffins

SUGGESTIONS OF GIFTS / SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL


It was thought that gifting football boots or such items (as initially planned) would only target a small group within the school and would not fulfill the Alumni’s goals of doing good substantial work for the school as a whole.

Subscriptions to International Reviews and Magazines (Nat Geo, etc) were suggested for the Library as well as an Inter School Sports Event to be held in Darjeeling (Hosted by NP and funded by the NPMEAA).

A Career Counseling Centre was also proposed. If approved by the members and the school, a permanent faculty member would be sponsored and placed in NP as a full time Career Counselor. It would be of great benefit for the students in guiding them for their future studies and career decisions as such facilities are few and very rare among schools in the hills.

A Sports tournament (football initially) was also proposed for the students of the NP Mungpoo school – Samir Sharma to look into cost while vacationing in Darjeeling.

Another proposal was for future funding of Smart Classrooms in the school with each class being equipped with projectors, screens, laptops & internet connection etc. If passed by the committee it would begin with Class12 and move down gradually.

However for the moment it was decided that the Alumni would gift the school INR Rs. 50,000/- as donation immediately.

The Prez & V.Prez at the meeting. "Next meet at my place." says Chogyal da.

REGISTRATION OF THE ALUMNI


Mr. Wilson to look into this as soon as possible. There is no category called ‘Alumni’ in registrations in the UAE. We however need to be a legal entity in order to have bank accounts and organise events. It was suggested we look at registrations as a Club etc.

Mr. Sharma to meet Jorden Norbu (President NPDSAA) and discuss registration with Darjeeling Alumni.

MEMBERSHIP


It was suggested that the Alumni needs to grow bigger and new members need to join as well. Vishal will send an email out requesting for personal information. Replies will be taken as confirmation of registration with the Alumni. All registered people will receive monthly newsletters and information about the Alumni’s activities.

Steve a la The Joker: "Why So Serious?"

WEBSITE AND VIDEO
Mr. Tshering La to send the HTML pages to Vishal for review and suggestions ASAP.
Alumni website to go online as soon as core members have endorsed it.
Mungpoo video to be uploaded to Youtube for ease in sharing with all



EVENTS


DASHAI (16 OCTOBER)

The Core Group decided to organize a Dashai party on the lines of the May Gala Dinner. It will cater to the same kind of people and the Dashai party to have elements of Nepali culture with Tika and complimentary Nepali Topi & Poté being presented to guests on arrival. Need to look into fun games in order to make it exciting and different from other parties. All tickets to be sold atleast 1 week before the event. Door/Gate sale to be avoided- Mr. Sharma will manage the event.

FOOTBALL (19 DECEMBER)
It was suggested that a Pre-Christmas Corporate Football Carnival would be ideal for December. Apart from the Football, it will be organized as a family outing with food & entertainment for all.
Age groups - Below 35 and above 35 for the tournament.
Steven to manage this.

NEWSLETTER
Vishal to look into starting a monthly / bi monthly update. Samir to look into probable e-book software

LUNCH
The core members then adjourned for a well deserved lunch break at the Crowne Plaza where the food was great but the service left a lot to be desired. However being North Pointers, and with Mr. Wilson as President, we managed to win the waitresses around and by the end of the meal they were all smiling like Cheshire cats with a certain Mr. Sharma blushing like a new bride.

The Waitress finally consented to Samir. To take the photo I mean.

and White is the new Black

If any of you have any suggestions then please feel free to write in to us by clicking on the link under QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS on the left side of the page. We welcome your suggestions and comments.


SURSUM CORDA

OBITUARY.
Mr. Chandan Singh Rawat

Olympian and veteran football player Mr. Chandan Singh Rawat died on Friday. Mr. Rawat who would turn 83 on 27th July was ailing from heart problems for the past one year and was bed ridden since February after he fell down and cracked his hipbone. He was admitted to a Siliguri nursing home on Thursday when his condition grew serious.

The octagenerian sportsman born and brought up in Dehradun played in the Indian football team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. He settled down in Darjeeling in 1957.

“It is a great loss for the nation. Though he was invited to play for many foreign countries he just wanted to play for his own country. We are proud he was our father, ” his daughter Mrs Manju Rawat said.


Aditional Note by Mr. Robert Wilson (President: NP ME AA)

“Mr Chandan Singh was a part of the North Point staff for many years in the early sixties and he was responsible for handling the Rector’s office at times when he was not on the field doing what he like the best.

He was instrumental in bringing out the best in the St. Josephs’ Team which included the likes of PC Wong, Paljor Tsarong, Hishey Basi,Deb Mukerjei, Ravi Thapa, Father Arroyo and many may more all under the stewardship of Father Burns. A great force to reckon with the NP team was instrumental in setting high standards of football led by Mr. Chandan Singh.

As a football player he will always be remembered by is great playmaking skills in the midfield but above all his ability to beat any opponent be it many years younger than him, in the air and his heading prowess is something which can never be forgotten.

After securing his NIS from Patiala, he then took up several coaching opportunities, but then his love for Darjeeling eventually lured him back to hills where he devoted his time and energy to coach and develop Darjeeling Dynamos, a team which won many laurels, however suffered from the ignominy of never being able to beat the North Point team, a team which was always close to the heart of the late Mr. Chandan Singh Rawat.

I will also remember his exploits in venturing to officiate in the final of the Herlihy Cup between Singamari Lions and Darjeeling Police, when all other officials were petrified to do so and his bold and brazen decisions earned him great respect, especially from his linesman one of whom happened to be me!”

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
We pray that they may have the strength to bear this loss and and we pray to the Almighty that his soul may rest in eternal peace.