Pics: Jerald D'Souza
Media Release
Doha, Jun 25: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar during its 26th annual general meeting held on June 22 at the Royal Gardens Club House unanimously elected Sunil D’Silva as its new president for the term 2018-2020. Sunil D’Silva was reelected for the post after four years having served as the president in 2012-14.
The meeting began with an introduction from the compere Clement Fernandes, who opened the evening and welcomed the gathering. Wendy D’Silva, joint cultural secretary invoked God’s blessings on the programme with an opening prayer. Young kids Viola Monteiro, Vanessa Fernandes, Anna Pinto, Angel Pinto, Suzanne Fernandez, Vernia Mascarenhas, Aaliya Almeida, Michelle Lewis, Renessa Banz, and Ashelle D’Souza trained by Preema Pinto sang a beautiful prayer song ‘Aik Deva Aik tujya burghyanche mankule magne’ from the album ‘Bhaghi Kutam’ composed by Fr Alwin Sequeira. Music was composed by Pradeep Menezes.
The executive committee of 2016-18 then presented its annual report before the members for the term 2017-18. General secretary Riana Pinto read the detailed report on the club’s activities while treasurer Joachim D’Souza put forward details of the audited financial report. President Prakash Noronha then gave his final outgoing message as president and briefed on the success story of activities especially, the silver jubilee celebrations with ‘Gulf Baila Naach’ success and thanked every excom member, advisory committee and members for their continued support and help during his term. As proposed earlier, he then informed that the MCCQ Charitable Trust is all set to register on July 2 in Mangaluru. This trust will cater for the educational needs of needy children and as a first step education support for 60 children, 30 each from Udupi and Mangaluru diocese will be paid from the trust at a ceremony to be held on August 4 and 5 respectively.
He then announced about the planned forthcoming events of the club which are as follows:
• Nativity feast celebrations on September 14 at Asian Town Banquet Hall
• Ladies throwball tournament on October 25 and 26 at Old Ideal Indian School grounds
Henry D’Souza, advisor of the club was then invited to look over the election of the new committee. He first dissolved the old executive committee members from their duties.
He then invited Richard D’Souza, advisor and former president, to install new advisory committee member. Richard then introduced Riana Pinto, outgoing general secretary after 14 years of service in Excom, acknowledged her service and commitment to the club for the past 14 years taking various roles in the executive committee and also her service to the community in church and in toastmasters and congratulated on her exemplary achievements as area director in Toastmasters Area 22, Div H, District 20 and as a successful leader. Riana Pinto was then inducted as the new advisory committee member. Founder member and advisor Jerry D’Mello presented her a bouquet. Riana Pinto then addressed the gathering and thanked all members for their support extended during her tenure for past 14 years as executive committee member and thanked the advisory committee for the honour bestowed and promotion to advisory committee.
Richard then handed over control to election chair Henry D’Souza. He then conducted the election of the new president and executive committee. He read all the nominations received for all 13 positions and invited all elected members to the stage. The new executive committee is as follows:
President: Sunil D’Silva
Vice-president: Joachim D’Souza
General secretary: Naveen D’Souza
Cultural secretary: Leticia Kavita Tauro
Sports secretary: Ryan Renjar
Membership secretary: Wendy Aurea D’Silva
Treasurer: Ashith Melron Rodrigues
Facilities and arrangements secretary: Denzil Christen Lobo
Public relations officer: Ronald Saldanha
Joint secretary: Sonia D’Souza
Joint cultural secretary: Shaila Menezes
Joint sports secretary: Avinash D’Souza
Joint facilities and arrangement secretary: John Paul Rodrigues
Sub-committees to assist the executive committee were also formed on the occasion. The members are:
Cultural team: Jeevan Rayan Ferrao, Sean Fernandes, Joyline Westrin Lasrado, Veronica Baretto, Naveen Pinto and Jaison Pinto
Sports team: Julius Mathias, Edwin S Pinto, Delita D’Souza and Sujatha Fernandez
Facilities and arrangements team: Melwyn Godwin D’Souza and Arun Santosh D’Souza
Web-master: Anson Sequeira
The election chair Henry D’Souza then took an oath from all the elected members describing their duties and were officially enrolled in the committee. He then asked the pledge from the members to the newly elected excom in discharging their duties. Outgoing president Prakash Noronha then handed over the constitution to the new president Sunil D’Silva. New president Sunil D’Silva then delivered his acceptance speech and thanked the outgoing committee for a successful term and congratulated the newly elected committee members. He also thanked members for giving him a second chance to serve as president and requested the support of all members in carrying out the club activities successfully. He also requested members to step forward in taking up leadership roles and for having representation of Christian community in every field as nowadays we see very few Catholics in main leadership roles.
The official programme was then followed by a short cultural programme. Colette Nazareth rendered a lively Konkani solo song ‘Yo baile Yo’. Rib-tickling skit was presented by Amith Mathias, George Menezes and Jeevan Ferrao and had the whole crowd in splits. Brothers Shown and Sean Fernandes presented a beautiful dance medley and entertained the crowd. Couple Naveen and Sonia Pinto sang a beautiful duet ‘Mogache Dhag’ song from Maxim Pereira album. Another rib-tickling skit from Clement Fernandes and George Menezes kept the crowd entertained. Some spot games were also played In between the programme. Joint sports secretary and newly elected general secretary Naveen D’Souza rendered the vote of thanks. Compere Clement Fernandes did an excellent job in conducting the programme.
A game of Bingo was played which was conducted by Sandeep Noronha and Ryan Renjar. The advisory committee members were invited to give away the prizes.
All members were then served with sumptuous home cooked food and sannas prepared by few members. The crowd was in full praise of the delicious dishes. During the dinner time, singers Naveen, Sonia Pinto and Collette Nazareth entertained the crowd with some lovely songs in their melodious voices.
MCC executive committee thanked all volunteers, artists and members who came forward to make the 26th annual day a memorable one.