Devoted Volunteers

Thank God It is Friday. As usual a day to remember the needy. Today, there is something extra special. I dedicate today to women who lost their life to Cancer. First - my grandmother, late Devaki Amma, Second my mother in law Vijayalekshmy Menon, and third late Helen Letitia Simon, mother of Jasmin Godfrey and mother in law of Godfrey.

Remembering them all and their affection, love and service to their family and friends and to the society, and with lots of prayers and pranams to all other departed souls and affected cancer people, I have created a voluntary movement named “Devoted Volunteers”

The basic aims are to:

-              create more awareness on breast cancer in particular and all other types of cancers

-              necessary guidance and assistance to those who are affected by cancer

-              Communicate with necessary authorities to emphasise the importance of giving free or subsidized treatment for cancer

Anyone who is interested to join me in this voluntary movement can contact me at team1talentshare@gmail.com

More details of this voluntary movement will be listed in my blog www.clicksandwrites.blogspot.com in the coming days.

Sincere regards,

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

Friday, 25th October 2013

Volcano Fountain Abu Dhabi - a humble request to revive a great history that was

Any expat or Emirati family who was here before it was demolished in 2004 remembers the 80 foot fountain right by the Gulf. It was common to see families relaxing while the kids ran around the fountain or friends met to catch up. For many years, the Volcano Fountain which got the name from its cone – like shape and the electric lights that looked like lava at night was the place for National Day festivities and other traditional events, a part of the heritage and culture and a prime spot for visitors to the UAE. However, it was removed during the expansion of the Corniche and so far has not found a place in the new scheme of developments in the capital.

The fountain was built in mid 1980s as part of the city's beautification plan. Like the GCC Roundabout, it was also built just before one of the GCC summits in UAE. (July 2004)

Many in Abu Dhabi especially those who grew up seeing the fountain miss it. But one man has decided to take the initiative to bring this beautiful fountain back. Ramesh Menon, an Indian who works in the capital, has sent a petition to the authorities in Abu Dhabi asking them to find the right place to restore this grand monument to the city. “This will make a difference  in Abu Dhabi; it will keep a lot of memories alive and attract various people. There are many who have taken interest and joined in this petition. As lovers of this country, tradition, and historical growth, we all want the Volcano Fountain to be restored, rebuilt anywhere in the new Corniche or any other befitting place in Abu Dhabi, says Menon. “How can we forget that Abu Dhabi was synonymous with this fountain until 2004, and now it’s gone,” Menon reminds us who has been in the city for decades.

A committee is currently looking into the situation, and Menon is working to spread the message and gain more support to ensure that his mission succeeds.

Collected photos of Volcano Fountain (from various sources in the web - thanks to all the sites and phtoographers in advance)

Volcano Fountain - a humble call to bring it back

Any expat or Emirati family who was here before it was demolished in 2004 remembers the 80 foot fountain right by the Gulf. It was common to see families relaxing while the kids ran around the fountain or friends met to catch up. For many years, the Volcano Fountain which got the name from its cone – like shape and the electric lights that looked like lava at night was the place for National Day festivities and other traditional events, a part of the heritage and culture and a prime spot for visitors to the UAE. However, it was removed during the expansion of the Corniche and so far has not found a place in the new scheme of developments in the capital.

Many in Abu Dhabi especially those who grew up seeing the fountain miss it. But one man has decided to take the initiative to bring this beautiful fountain back. Ramesh Menon, an Indian who works in the capital, has sent a petition to the authorities in Abu Dhabi asking them to find the right place to restore this grand monument to the city. “This will make a differenced in Abu Dhabi; it will keep a lot of memories alive and attract various people. There are many who have taken interest and joined in this petition. As lovers of this country, tradition, and historical growth, we all want the Volcano Fountain to be restored, rebuilt anywhere in the new Corniche or any other befitting place in Abu Dhabi, says Menon. “How can we forget that Abu Dhabi was synonymous with this fountain until 2004, and now it’s gone,” Menon reminds us who has been in the city for decades.

A committee is currently looking into the situation, and Menon is working to spread the message and gain more support to ensure that his mission succeeds.

http://tempoplanet.com/making-a-difference-4/

Bring back the Volcano Fountain - Letters - The National - campaign and cause to keep history of a great nation alive

Photography Opportunity - "Our Story of the Date Palms"

Invitation to Participate 
----------------------------
Time Frame to participate : 1st October 2013 - 31 December 2013

To all Passionate Photographers members.

Have you ever watched the Palm trees flowering process. If not, watch them from now on. The trees are getting read to flower.

It will be a good observation cum photography experience if you track it.

Inviting you to click them from wherever you are post them here with details. Opt to choose the growth sequence in one or two selected trees.

A display of this wonderful event and the result of your efforts submitted to Passionate Photographers group is planned with selected photos from members in the beginning of 2014 - when this seasonal cycle gets completed with the dates ripe, mature and fall down announcing the arrival of christmas and another year end.

You are welcome to post a maximum of 16 photos, i.e. 1 photo per week for the next 4 months on the subject. 16 photos selected by each member / each month , ie September, October, November December clicks will be exhibited.

Photos taken using Mobile Phones can also be submitted.

Time Frame for clicking : 1st October 2013 - 31 December 2013

Please post your clicks marked for this event on to Passionate Photographers group and also email the soft copy of it to team1dubai@gmail.com
with the subject line: Photo Competition - "Our Story of the Date Palms"

Please note to observe the time and date you click along with the GPS location of your object, for jury to identify it before the exhibition.

Original high resolution files will be required to be submitted at a later stage with full information of the photo and photographer. Files should not be modified or altered with.

For those parents with children interested or not interested in Photography, this will be a very good exercise to have them observe the nature, the seasonal changes and to observe and realise how nature announces the arrival of the seasons in its own way. Since it is spread out during a period of four months, it will be also a test to find out how patient you are towards your short term and long term objectives.

Thus, to create interactive interest among parents/children/teachers, photos of participating children below age 16 will be separately displayed and appreciated.

Those children who are participating in this event are also welcome to write a short story - not less than 300 words - on their experience of capturing the season that passed by while photographing for this event.

Please share it with your friends and family who may be interested.

Please do not hesitate to contact me in case you have any further clarifications.

Welcome to participate and Best wishes in advance,

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

Gulf News reader for 24 years says, ‘I absolutely love the newspaper’

Ramesh Menon talks about his journey with Gulf News and what has made him a devoted reader

• By Donia Jenabzadeh, Special to Gulf News
• Published: 21:00 September 28, 2013

Dubai: It is quite striking as to what extent a reader’s devotion can reach. Speaking to Ramesh Menon, 46, we get to know that there is no limit. He has followed Gulf News since his first day of arriving in the UAE 24 years ago.

When asked about his journey with the paper, the Indian national said: “At the time when I first arrived in the UAE in 1989, there were limited sources for quality news, and that is when I developed my keen interest in Gulf News, as it was the only paper at the time that would deliver quality and reliable news.”

Upon his arrival, Menon first stayed in Abu Dhabi, then moved to Dubai and later Sharjah, before moving back to Abu Dhabi in 2000, and that is where he has been based for the past 13 years.

Over all these changes, one of the factors that have been consistent in his life isGulf News. And he charted the changes in the paper keenly.

He said: “The breakthrough came when each section [of the newspaper] got separated, which added consistency to the paper as it made it easier for readers to pull out that particular section, which he or she is interested in. Although I always read the whole paper, I find this very convenient as I can choose the news I want to read first.”

He is a determined reader with great enthusiasm for news, and he does not settle for anything less than perfection, which is evident in his constant interactivity with the newspaper’s Readers Desk. He said: “Most of the staff know me by now, as I am constantly interacting with their work by giving them my suggestions.”

Menon got married in 1991 and became a father in 1992. His second child was born in 1995. His two sons are now pursuing undergraduate studies in engineering and management. While he is based in Abu Dhabi, where he works as a technical officer for an oil company, his wife and elder son are currently living in India, while his younger son is studying in the UK.

Marking the 35th anniversary of Gulf News, Menon said that the key reason for the newspaper’s success is that “it is a reader interactive newspaper. This is evident in the community reports, which is the voice of the reader on certain issues that need to be highlighted. Facebook and Twitter are constantly being updated and this is a great opportunity for the reader to follow up and get instant news as well as to interact with the paper.”

His daily routine includes reading the printed edition of paper in the morning and then moving on to online updates on gulfnews.com during the day. He finds the online version very helpful, especially when travelling but also for being prepared as to what will be in the news the coming day.

The very reason he started reading the newspaper in the first place, as a 22-year-old, when he initially came to the UAE in 1989. He said: “Gulf News is a beautiful paper, I absolutely love the newspaper, and it will always be my number one source of news.”

To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online