SPA UK Sandesh 2016 | Page 80

Preston

Namaste
It has been a steady year for Preston, as we have strived to maintain key yearly activities, which include Shradh Bhajan, Navratri, Diwali Party and the ever popular New Year’ s gathering.
Over the last few years we have seen a decline in the attendance at our events. With this in mind the committee has continued to focus on ways to improve our events with the aim to encourage the wider membership to take part. Such changes have included replacing the Diwali Show format with a more informal Diwali party, to include a quiz and games that the audience can participate in. We have also improved the co-ordination of the Navratri and Shradh Bhajan programmes to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to get involved. Following the changes, the feedback has been positive which we can expand upon.
The branch has continued to support the annual Overseas Tours organised by Natubhai Tailor and Khushalbhai Kumar in conjunction with Baba Holidays. The destination in 2015 was China and Hong Kong. The itinerary was a 13 day tour, visiting world renowned sights such as the Great Wall of China, Beijing’ s Forbidden City, Peace Temple, Terracotta Warriors, Jade Buddha garden in Shanghai and much more. The committee was delighted by the positive feedback and would like thank all who took part. A donation of £ 151 from this trip was made to St Catherine’ s Hospice. In 2016, Natubhai and Khushalbhai followed up with a ten day Tour of Eastern Europe. It started in Warsaw( Poland), and covering Krakow, Salt Mine, Tatra National Park, Zacopane before travelling to Prague( Czech Republic), then onto Berlin before returning back to UK. Once again, it was as pleasant and delightful Tour as the previous ones.
Unfortunately, and regrettably, I have to report that we were unsuccessful in electing a full executive committee at our AGM in 2016. For the branch, this is an unprecedented situation, which can prove to be detrimental to the future and progress of the branch. Despite this, it was agreed at the AGM that the branch administration will be performed as a Working Committee with the aim to fill the vacant posts during the year.
On a positive note, the Working Committee acknowledges the support it receives from our active members. It is this continued support by our members who will be the key to maintaining the branch activities.
On behalf of SPA( UK)- Preston Branch, we would like to wish all Prajapati members a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year.
Jai Shree Krishna SPA( UK)- Preston Branch Working Committee
Top to bottom: Krakow Salt Mine in Poland on Eastern Europe Tour, Navratri 2016
78 vol. 41 | Prajapati Sandesh 2016