This year the Tamil New year function was celebrated on Saturday 15th April 2017 by the LNS sangam. The new 2017-18 LNS committee took over as office bearers on this occasion. This years function was a fun packed event .Thanks to the members for their presence at this year’s Tamil new year function. With all their help and presence the function was a successful one.
Saturday, 15th April 2017 (2 Chithirai 2048), Methodist Church (IG1 3PP)
The meeting was attended by 70 members (51 adults and 19 children). Function/event started off with the Sangam members gathering at the hall from 1:00 PM.The event kicked off with delicious lunch from Anjappar restaurant.
After lunch, the outgoing Committee President Mr S. Ganesh Kumar started the meeting. As per our Sangam tradition, the event was initiated by lighting of Kuthu Vilakku by Mrs Vasantha Shanmugam. This was followed by a prayer song by Mrs Valli Lakshmanan, Mrs Nithayakalyani, Mrs Sujatha and Mrs Nirmala.
Mr Ganesh Kumar gave the welcome speech and thanked his committee for their outstanding efforts over the past year and for making all the events successful and memorable. Next, the outgoing Secretary Dr R. Palaniappan gave a brief summary on all the events they had conducted in their period.
Mr Ganesh Kumar along with Treasurer Mrs Annu Alagappan read the income and expenditure details for the past year including the details for our charity account. The final accounts including the Tamil new year event expenditure will be handed over from the outgoing committee treasurer to the incoming committee treasurer by next week.
The new members were given the opportunity to introduce themselves. LNS happily welcome the following members:
Mr Swaminathan from Koppanapatti
Mr Meenakshi Sundaram from Vendhampatti
New born daughter of Mr K S Somasundaram along with his parents (visit to UK)
Mr Mohan Subbiah and Mrs Sharmila delightfully announced the engagement of their daughter Miss Sheila who will be married in Kalla on August 27th. All LNS members are cordially invited to attend.Invitation and e-Invitation will be send over the summer.
The event also included special performances by the Sangam members’ children. Well done to the kids,it was nice seeing the younger generation perform:
Nithyasri Annamalai – Bharatanatyam
Lakshmi Lakshmanan – Keyboard
Vijay Somu Lakshmanan – Miruthangam
We will like to see more performances in the upcoming events by all the Sangam members.
Mr Ganesh Kumar formally handed over the committee to the incoming President Mr Lakshmanan Somasundram. Mr Lakshmanan Somasundaram gave the inaugural speech as the new President by thanking the previous committee. He introduced the new committee team as follows:
Mr. Annamalai Chockalingam as Secretary
Mrs. Umarajeswari Valliappan as Treasurer
Mr. Sivaraman Chockalingam as Committee member
Miss. Kavitha Shanmugam as Committee member
Mr. Ashok Chellappan Nachiappan as Web Master
Mr Lakshmanan Somasundaram announced the planned events, starting with the Summer Trip at Academy Newland Park on July 8th-9th, inviting all members to participate.He explained the highlights of this Summer Trip:
- Events/Activities includes all sports, leisure and our own dance floor For A ‘Party Til Midnight’Tamil Disco
- Accommodation & Food: Full Board – Overnight stay plus Full Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch
- All this for just…£47 per head (children under 5 years stay and enjoy for FREE!)
The date for the next main event after our Summer Trip, has been tentatively scheduled as:
- Deepavali: 21st October 2017 (Saturday @ Adeyfield Community Hall, Hemel Hempstead)
Mr Lakshmanan Somasundaram briefly mentioned few more ideas that will be considered with the Sangam member’s participation during the year:
- Separate Sports Day for our children (tentative in September 2017)
- Bhakthi trip to Birmingham or Skandavel temple
- Kids involvement (Kolam, Ellai Nool etc) during Pillaiyar Nombu
- Society contributions like blood donation, charity fund raising
- Supporting existing initiatives like Young Nagarathars, IBCN etc
- Appreciation and Motivation of achievements in any fields by Sangam kids or Sangam members (members are requested to share the details with pictures and videos to the Sangam committee so that it can be published widely)
The new committee thanked the outgoing committee by presenting trophies as a memento in appreciation for their hard work over the past year. Mr N. Shanmugam presented these trophies to the outgoing committee for their excellent contributions to LNS 2016-17.
Click here for Photos and videos taken during the event.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/3Rlx-xdTsOQ
Snacks/Tea/Coffee was served to all the members around 4:30 PM.
Towards the end of the meeting, there were interactive games conducted by Mrs Valli Lakshmanan and gifts were given to the winners.
Special thanks Mrs. Vasantha Shanmugam for sponsoring Flowers and the members who helped with serving the food, bringing swami items and other items, cleaning up the hall, etc.
The meeting concluded at 6:00 PM.
Next step: Email regarding the Summer Trip (confirmation of attendance) will be sent out within the next couple of weeks.
Thank you
Annamalai C
LNS Secretary on behalf of the LNS Committee 2017-18