The Gulmohar Sports-cum-Community Centre, more popularly known as the Club and the Gulmohar Centre, held its AGM on November 17th. True to tradition, the meeting was adjourned by half an hour due to lack of quorum, and resumed with a nearly full venue.The President of the Gulmohar Centre, Mr.Desikan Ranganathan, welcomed all and joined the House in observing a minute’s silence in the memory of those who had passed away. He proceeded by thanking all the members for their involvement with the Centre, particularly those who readily agreed to be a part of various sub-committees to strengthen the capabilities of the Management team. He added that Gulmohar Centre’s active and vibrant member community kept the Management sharp and focussed, by given valuable suggestions, at times justified criticism, and compliments too. He thanked the promoter societies, members of the Managing Committee, and the staff for their active participation in the working and development of the Centre. He also mentioned that the Centre’s association with the RWA, the senior citizen forum and the All India Kitchen Garden Association has been running well in the spirit of cooperation, seen in the well attended events such as festivals-specific programmes, health camps and the Udyan Mela. He said those organised by the Centre like the Sports Fest, winter lunches, and cultural events have also been very popular over the years.
Touching upon specifics in the Centre’s plans, he informed the House that going forward, the Gulmohar Centre will be a ‘ members only’ space, and the Management was working towards this. To begin with, the swimming pool has been made a facility only for members. A detailed template for automation of processes is ready and will transform the way the Centre operates across the board once implemented. He said systems are in place to keep essential services running efficiently and rare issues that occur are resolved promptly. He acknowledged that certain areas required more attention and action and promised that lasting solutions are being put in place.
In an interesting and unusual departure from previous years, he addressed the menace of false narratives being propagated in non-Gulmohar Centre WhatsApp groups merely for optics and to spread disinformation. He spoke about the worrisome trend of a few members he referred to as “ self-appointed conscience keepers” trying to keep issues burning, even after the Centre’s Management had responded promptly and decisively to address them. Addressing a murmur about the delay in holding the AGM and reasons ascribed for this by a very fertile mind, he said the financials are readied as per the several statutory requirements in force, and these take time, and there’s never been any intentional slowing down of the process. He concluded his address by inviting all the members to work with the Management to build a Centre the member community deserves.The House responded to his address with enthusiastic applause. The House unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting, the auditors report, the balance sheet and the appointment of an auditor for the new financial year, and other points in the agenda. There was a brief interaction between a few members of the Managing Committee and a senior member that turned out to be no more than a mere ripple in the teacup. A query on financials was answered to the member’s satisfaction.
To the pleasant surprise of all present, the AGM was concluded probably in the shortest time in years, and members had to wait to join their friends and families to partake of in the delicious lunch that followed. The large numbers proved that the AGM was a success all around.
