December 21, 2009
One of the interesting personalities I met recently, is Joe Gonsalves (‘Joe’ to his friends), who spends one half of the year in the US and the other with his better half –in ‘Amchen Mangaluru’.
My association with Joe began a month ago, when Father Denzil Lobo, Director of Aloysius Institute of Management & Information Technology (AIMIT), invited me over to showcase his beautiful campus in the outskirts of Mangalore. Despite his age, (which I shall shortly reveal to you as you read further), Joe displays the enthusiasm and energy of a 20-year-old. He invited me to a dinner meeting, and although it was raining heavily, he drove me in his INDICA (manual gears), navigating through the narrow by-lanes, until we reached our destination. Much later, and after a sumptuous meal, Joe was considerate and bold to drop me home, despite the inclement weather in the late hours of the night, in a nondescript location in Mangalore.
It was Joe who provided me the necessary inspiration to write this article. His gregarious personality, indefatigable energy, sharp memory together with a youthful and humble heart, had made me ponder. Joe will shortly be celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary and it was very obvious that he is still head over heals in love with his wife, Irene.
Fr. Oswald Mascarenhas SJ & Joe Gonsalves
Joe is passionate about any issue he takes up and in so far as what I have seen him do, he has done a perfect job. I believe his alma mater had a lot to do with shaping his personality. Joe is proud of his roots and heritage and owes his success to St Aloysius College (SAC), which trained him to take up senior executive positions in multinational corporations all over India, before he retired with his children in the US. Although I would consider it a privilege to write more about him, I will reserve it for another day. Joe is an active member of the Aloysian alumni and together with other fellow Aloysians, is helping shape the Aloysian Partners International (API), a conglomerate of Aloysian alumni chapters all over the world.
There is a bit of Joe in all of us, deep passion and loyalty to our alma mater, but many of us might not have had the opportunity to express, connect or contribute. St. Aloysius College has produced many stalwarts like Joe, and I believe now is the time and the chance for all of us to give back to this wonderful institution that has groomed us to what we are today. Let us all join our hands together and help take this illustrious institution to even greater heights by seizing the opportunity and uniting under the common umbrella of the API.
What is Aloysian Partners International?
The idea of the Aloysian Partners International (API) though initially conceived in the US, found a lot of favor from the various Aloysian groups in Mangalore, Middle East & North America who felt that there was a need to have a common thread binding all the Aloysian alumni around the world. It is an umbrella organization and is not intended to replace the current alumni units, but to unite them within the guidelines set off in the API charter. The individual chapters will continue to operate independently and will continue to have their own office bearers. There are at present three formal alumni chapters - SAACA in Mangalore, APNA in North America, and the Aloysian Alumni in Kuwait, which will be incorporated within the API fold. Other alumni chapters that are planned to be part of this API framework within the next six months are in Bangalore, Mumbai, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. All these locations have substantial Aloysians who need to be brought into the Alumni network through this API initiative. More chapters will be created as and when we identify sizeable alumni population in other locations.
Where will the API office be located?
Although it is yet to be decided, the registered office will be located, preferably in India with office bearers amongst representatives of the various alumni associations from around the world. (Please note we are looking at various legal aspects and hopefully we will come up with an appropriate conclusion in the next few months). Each association will be invited to nominate their representatives for a fixed duration. API will be a virtual organization, which means that office bearers may not necessarily meet in person, but will use the power of internet and technology to run the affairs. For example, meetings can be convened whilst some are at breakfast, others lunch and dinner.
As mentioned before, API will have its own charter and office bearers, who will see to its objectives, bylaws, etc. There will be job descriptions, accountabilities and annual performance targets. It would resemble a corporation, albeit a non-profit one and guided by principles of professional management.
API will provide guidelines for the various alumni chapters in terms of managing their own constitution. The intention is not to impose its views, but to collaborate to form a mutually beneficial relationship. All chapters will regularly update API on the meetings, activities and initiatives in their region. API will send periodic news updates for the benefit of all the members. There will be regular meetings, exchange of notes, teleconferencing and newsletters. Plans are also afloat to launch an API website.
What are the Goals of API?
Like any other organization with a purpose, the goals of the API are manifold. Some of these, though not exhaustive, are as follows:
- To organize and energize a vibrant Aloysian alumni association at a Global level;
- To create new alumni chapters around the world;
- To assist members to network within and across various chapters;
- To generate a broad based passion and support for St Aloysius College (SAC);
- To ensure an ongoing effort to raise resources in order to sustain SAC’s current and future growth plans;
- To provide advice and guidance to the SAC management and alumni as needed;
In order to support these initiatives, API will shortly formulate its own charter and create a memorandum of understanding with each of the associate alumni associations. Only one alumni association from a region/city will be officially recognized by API.
What are the API’s plans of action in the near future?
The tasks ahead of API are very demanding. Given the current economic conditions, the challenge would be to motivate key alumni to take up active interest in the formation of API and formal alumni chapters. This is a voluntary assignment and we would welcome help from all quarters to make it happen.
Here are the tasks that have been set out in the near future:
- Formally register the association including interim office bearers;
- Formalize the incorporation of the formal alumni associations within the API framework;
- Identify various informal alumni associations and guide them to setup formal associations and incorporate them within the API framework;
- Identify alumni in areas that do not have alumni associations and provide the necessary guidance to set up one;
- Create an alumni database and drive for enrollment of primary and associate membership;
- Establish a vibrant and dynamic API website and web-marketing team;
New AIMIT Admin Block
How can you participate in the formation of API?
Our first goal is to register as many alumni as possible. Definition of alumni includes
a) Ex Students of St. Aloysius Institutions
• Primary School
• Secondary or High School
• Pre-University College
• Graduate & Post Graduate College
• School of Business Management & Information Technology
• Computer Center
• Technical Training Institute
• Boy’s Home
b) Ex Teachers and Non Teaching staff of these institutes
As a first step, as an alumnus we would like you to register online http://www.staloysius.ac.in/alumni/alumni.php (courtesy SACAA). Our target is registering 5000 alumni over the next six months. You are also free to register your classmates/batchmates, with those you are in touch (email id) and know about current location. Once we upgrade the website, we will send them an automatic mail acknowledging their records in the database. At a later date, we will also welcome our donors and well wishers into our alumni world even though they may not have had the opportunity to study in our great institute.
API will compile the lists and forward to concerned chapters to incorporate you within their fold.
Edmund Frank, Vice President SACAA
KV Kamath, Dr Devi Shetty and Aravind Adiga
Conclusion
We Aloysians must be proud of our contribution to the society. Great leaders such as K.V. Kamath, Devi Shetty, Arvind Adiga and many others studied and grew up with us. In the past one year a lot of work and discussions have taken place. We have a Herculean task ahead of us and cannot achieve without the active cooperation and participation of all the alumni; however, once we get our act together and organize ourselves the end result will be all-exciting. Getting a good database is the first step towards achieving the API goals. So please register yourselves.
If my good friend Joe, who will be 87 years, who drives a manual car, and available for the service to the people and yet so excited about this whole setup, why not you? Come and join us, together we will make this association worthwhile.
Aloysius Alumni Registration :
http://www.staloysius.ac.in/alumni/alumni.php
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