General body meeting ( 2017 )

REUNION GOVERNING BODY MEETING

A governing body meeting as part of the Alumni Reunion was conducted on 17.12.2016 in CHTC Auditorium. Meeting commenced with prayer by Ms.Cynthia, an alumni followed by the welcome address by Mr.Arun Paul ,President of OPTAA and Ms.Ashwin Kirupa, Organizer of the alumni reunion. Minutes of the previous General body were read by the General Secretary, which was approved by Mr.Rojer and seconded by Mr.Babu Samuel. One of the GB members enquired if OPTAA increase the amount given to OPTSA every year for which President replied that we don’t and Vice -President explained that it is to reduce the dependence of OPTSA on OPTAA since OPTSA was always a self-sustained organization and should continue to be one. Treasurer mentioned that amount given yearly is Rs.10,000 but gave Rs.17,000 this year(2016) upon their request for printing the souvenir.

AGENDA 1: AWARDS IN MEMORY OF VIJAYAKUMAR SIR

President presented the agenda. An initiative by Mr.Vineeth Johnson (PT,Batch of 1992),awards for students excelling in academics in memory of Mr.Vijayakumar, previous head of the Department of Physiotherapy for his contributions to the development of the department and institution. Volunteers have started donating for the same but the letter regarding the same from ? not yet received. Four awards were proposed but upon discussion with administrative heads of OT and PT awards have concise it to two awards, one for PT students in the name of Mr.Vijayakumar and one for OT students in the title of Ms.Jean Bald. Norms for the awards need to discuss once the letter regarding the prize money details is received. A GB member asked about the purpose behind the award. President replied that Mr.VIjayakumar served PT department for about 30 years and was a pioneer in the development of the department. Ms.Jean Bald also had played a crucial role in the development of OT department during its initial days. So the awards are to remember our forerunners. Another GB member asked whether Mr.Vineeth Johnson who initiated this was informed about cutting down the number of awards from four to two for which President answered that the situation was informed to him and will further be discussed when he comes to India next. GB members enquired about the criteria for giving the awards, means of discussion regarding it. A GB member suggested formation of an executive committee and to send emails to other alumni members the decisions made. An executive committee including Mr. Vineeth Johnson, Mr.Babu Samuel,Mr.Roger,Mr.Kalai selvan, OPTAA executive committee members, HODs of both departments and Governing body.

AGENDA 2: OPTAA AND ALUMNI HOUSE

President presented the agenda. Vice - President replied to a GB member who asked if the Director has promised land for us to start the work that new rule was set in Alumni house when rooms were occupied by OT,PT and nursing alumni and was not available for medical alumnus. When talked to the person who contributed most in the building of the Alumni house, he said that it is just discrimination and that he had no problem in us continuing to use the house. Since it is not practical to start from scratch to build on new land, we could raise funds to build rooms on existing building. GB members agreed to it.

AGENDA 3: WISHLIST

Treasurer presented the agenda. E-mails were sent to HODs of departments, executive committee members and OPTSA asking for a wish list and books for MOT and MPT students and musical instruments respectively were the replies. One of the GB members asked where students will store the musical instruments in the absence of a music room for which President replied that the Entertainment secretary could keep it I hostel or a day scholar could store in his/her house for the time being. Another GB member suggested that since it is the property of OPTAA which is donated to OPTSA, why can’t an OPTAA member take care of it. Vice-resident also supported the suggestion saying that we cant let students be responsible till they find a proper storage area and to hold the funds till then. He also emphasized to mark it as property of OPTAA. A GB member asked if there are enough books available in Gault and Dodd library for MPT students. For which Andrew sir replied that Xerox copies of first year books are available now in department library, key to which is handled by the students themselves. Books need for second year need to be bought. A GB member suggested to request alumni aboard to donate few books for which Vice-President replied that shipping charges are high. He mentioned that since it could be a problem to use Xerox copies of copyright books, HODs have requested to give books. A GB member mentioned that there were alumni who donated books in the past like Mr.Magesh Anand. So may be we could ask alumnus to provide us with access to journals which all alumni and students could use. Other GB members also supported the suggestion. VP said that since this was an objective of OPTAA, will be looked into as soon as possible. A GB member mentioned that would be helpful if alumni could contribute books since the available ones were old editions. Another GB member suggested that since getting subscription of journals, we could form a forum where full text journals available with alumni can be kept as a collection and anybody could use. VP approved the current wishlist supported by the GB members.

AGENDA 4: OPTSA AND OPTAA

A GB member asked if we continue to give 10,000 rupees to OPTSA for which Vice – President answered that if they need more, it will be provided with an official note stating the reason. Another GB member suggested that we could add an intern representative in the executive committee and Vice-President supported it saying that could do that but cannot give voting rights. They could be added during their internship to act as a bridge between OPTSA and OPTAA. Vice - President also suggested inviting OPTSA president to OPTAA meetings or having regular meeting once in 6 months with OPTSA governing body. Samuel Johnson and Peter Hudson were congratulated for their efforts in designing the OPTAA Alumni T-shirt in one day.

AGENDA 5:MINI CHAPTERS IN OPTAA

President presented the agenda that we could form small groups of alumni spread in different parts of the world and suggests a representative for each group. The governing body and general body members as following suggested representatives: Canada- Mr.Vineeth Johnson South Africa-Mr.Reejen Ireland- Mani Sir Qatar- Mr.Ben Shamir Singapore- Mr.Kalaiselvan UK- Mr.Artaban Middle East-Mr.Joseph Bose USA- Mr.David Paul Raj Bangalore- Mr.Babu Samuel and Mr.Reuben Daniel Vice -President said that the mini chapters could elect their representatives and communicates to them the need for a constitution and to work under the norms of CMC and OPTAA. He also mentioned the need for sustainable works and not just the initial enthusiasm. A GB member said that it is important to sensitize OPTSA to the spirit of OPTAA and another member suggested that we could invite interns to one of the OPTAA general body meeting for which T said that we could invite them to the GB before induction.

AGENDA 6: LONG TERM PLANS OF OPTAA

President presented the agenda and urged the group as to what we as OPTAA have given back to CMC,our alma mater. Vice- President asked if it is possible for OPTAA to start a fund to help poor patients for which Andrew sir replied that we could with separate approval, if the fund is earmarked. G.sec mentioned that funds for poor patients in rehab are handled social workers, which is given to patients with therapist’s suggestion. Vice-President said that fund could be in the name of OPTAA handled by social workers and that we could start with Rehab now and later develop it to help hospital patients. He asked if Mr.Lenny Vasanthan could help regarding rules and regulation to use funds in hospital. One of the GB member suggested that we could donate 5 wheel chairs per year. Another GB member asked if we could have a registered NGO as part of social welfare for which Vice -President replied that in India it is difficult to establish NGO and that it is safe to work under CMC. Another GB member asked about working with Friends of Vellore for which Vice-President answered that since yearly cost of maintenance is high, they are not supporting patients but only research and that they channel the funds through CMC. A GB member asked if OPTAA have enough money to support all these wishlist ideas, so why not start with small milestones. President replied that we are discussing the long-term plans and short-term plans have already been achieved. One member who was watching the live telecast made a suggestion that all funds should go to the departments through OPTAA and that we should do what the institution does not do. GB members suggested to involve more people into all this and to update database for which Vice-President added that we have already did the groundwork and have established a database. President mentioned that current governing body did not use up money from OPTAA account but raised funds and that it is our responsibility to communicate to our batch mates to make work easier. A GB member suggested that update e-mail could be sent every 3 or 4 months. A GB member asked about OPTAA constitution amendment for which President said that official letter drafted already but waiting for college of nursing e-mail address. A GB member requested in-charges to request OPTAA members working in CMC to come for OPTAA meetings. Another GB member asked about including non alumni of CMC into OPTAA, topic which was forcefully deleted by the Vice-President. President mentioned that next reunion would be on the third week of December 2018. GB ended with vote of thanks by the Vice- President.