Doha: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) Annual Meet
Media Release
Pics by Santhosh Fernandes & Vincent Castelino
Doha, May 7: Friday 5th June 2009 was a proud moment for President Alwyn D’Souza and his team of 35 member ‘Jumbo Committee’, when they presented to a gathering of more than 400 members, their achievements during the past year when its 17th Annual General Meeting was convened at the Seraphic Hall of the Catholic Church of our Lady of the Rosary Church, Doha - Qatar .
The meeting started with an introduction by Jessy Mendonca followed by the prayer song by the entire committee and a prayer by past president Richard D’ Souza. Rev Fr.(Dr.) George Olivera, CAP, the evening’s guest of honor then blessed the gathering and prayed for MCC’s success. He was appreciative about the motives and achievements of the club.
Some of the winners of the recently held 5th Annual MCC Talent Competitions, both children and adults, presented beautiful dances, melodious songs and a skit.
President Alwyn D’Souza welcomed the gathering and thanked his jumbo committee as well as all active members for working shoulder to shoulder in making all of MCC’s endeavours successful during the past year. Of the major programmes and achievements of MCC during the past year are, the celebration of ‘Monti Fest - 2008’ with home cooked ‘Novem Jevaan’ for 650 people with a cultural programme of 2 hours’ duration , the 7th Annual Ladies Open Throw ball Tournament in which 7 multinational teams took part, Baila Dabazo by Eric Ozario and his 18 member team, winning of Qatar’s First ever inter club Kabaddi tournament, Participation in all Cricket tournaments organized by Qatar Cricket Association (QCA), The Eid Picnic attended by around 150 members, The 5th Annual Talent competitions in which around 300 children and 150 adults took part, The ‘Mangalorean Day’- a day of games, food stalls of authentic Mangalorean delicacies and cultural presentations by 155 participants, celebration of the ‘World Women’s Day’, etc. He also spoke about, as in previous years, MCC’s quiet and discrete role in community service such as the blood donation campaign, assistance to: Bihar Flood Relief Fund, Qatar Red Crescent Society and many other needy causes, both individual and institutional, such as the Mangalorean Bishop’s Medical Relief Fund, the Guru Sharan Ashram, Ave Maria Palliative Care Centre - Vamanjoor, the Capuchin Krista Seva Centre and many others to which around 2 lakh Rupees were donated in the past year.
To make MCC a commendable force in social interaction, he spoke about the proposed setting up of a Trust Fund and the enthusiasm of some philanthropic members to make it a reality. He also laid down MCC’s plan of action for the coming year.
The general secretary Oliver Pereira spoke in detail of the club’s activities in his General Report and treasurer Ronald Saldanha gave details of the audited financial report for the year 2008 - 2009. Sports Secretary Cyril D Souza invited members and non-members alike to join MCC’s cricket and throw ball teams. He also spoke about the proposed volley ball tournament and the coming sports day.
Membership secretary Ronald Rodrigues lauded the efforts of all existing members in enrolling new members and said that the club’s success is automatically attracting new members. He also said that the club has now grown from a strength of 30 members just five years ago to a total membership of 285 (both family and individual) . In the past year 73 new members have joined the MCC family, most of them families.
Cultural Secretary Reena Castelino, as always, did a commendable job in ensuring that the whole evening’s program went on like clock work and in the meantime provided ample entertainment to all those present.
Joint Secretary Riana Pinto and Joint Cultural Secretary Salini Montheiro conducted the Prize Distribution ceremony during which 169 trophies and certificates were given away to winners of the 5th Annual MCC Talent Competitions by Fr. Olivera and the past presidents of the club Richard D’Souza, Vivian D’Souza, founder member Jerald D’Mello and benefactor Alfred Sequeira.
Jovita Pereira and Joyce Alvares conducted several games for children and adults alike. Jessie Mendonca, Gracy Fernandes and Jovita Pereira managed the registrations.
Finally Membership Secretary Ronald Rodrigues proposed the vote of thanks and conducted the Lucky Draw for the members, wherein five prizes were given away to the lucky ones.
The gathering was treated with sumptuous dinner served by Integral Food Services
The evening’s programme was compered, interspersed by witty humour, by none other than the ever popular Eddie Sequeira , popularly known as Eddie Sequer, in his usual inimitable style.
On the whole the entire programme had the elements of both formal and informal affairs and was thoroughly enjoyed by all in an atmosphere of camaraderie and brotherhood.