The Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Malayali Samajam was held on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Fickling Convention Centre at which the following were appointed unanimously as the office bearers for the year 2011-2012: President: K.P.Shibu; Vice President: Siju Jaicob; Secretary: Cijimon Kesavan; Joint Secretary : Gracy Paul; Treasurer: Cherian Mathew
The Committee Members are Akarsh Revindran; Shibu Joseph; Jils George and Shaji Varghese
The Samajam has announced these forthcoming programmes and events: The new committee of Auckland Malayali Samajam has begun conducting Malayalam Classes for children of age 5 and above. The classes are held at Onehunga Community House, 83 Selwyn Street, Onehunga on second Saturdays of every month between 2 and 4pm.
The Samajam’s main youth cultural event ‘Samajam Youvajanolsavam 2011’ will be held July 16 at Mt. Roskill War Memorial Hall. Between 2pm – 8pm.
The competition items for the Samajam’s Youvajanolsavam 2011 are: 1. Film song (4min) can sing as karaoke using a BGM dvd/cd 2. Light music (4min) 3. Mohini attam 4. Bharata Natyam 5. Cinematic dance (maximum 7 persons/group) 6. Single dance 7. Folk dance (maximum 7 persons/group) 8. Thiruvathira 9. Oppana 10. Margam Kali 11. Mimicry 12. Mono act 13. Recitation Malayalam 14. Fancy dress 15. Instrument music 16. Speech in Malayalam (subject: Onam) 17. Drawing (participants should bring necessary items) 18. Painting (participants should bring necessary items) 19. Story writing (participants should bring necessary items)
Onam is nostalgia for every Malayali, especially when they are away from their homeland – so it is an unavoidable occasion in their calendar always. Other than the extravaganza the Samajam publishes a magazine called ‘Darpanam-The Mirror 2011 together with the Onam Festival on August 19, 2011.
Darpanam will be A4 size in full colour and the 80 page publication will have 2000 copies
Every year the Samajam organises cultural programmes and Harvest festivals of Kerala for its members and the public. This year it is celebrating its most famous and colourful Onam festival (ONA KAZCHA) at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145 New North Rd on August 19 between 6-10pm.
The Samajam is also planning to organise ‘star nights’ and various sports activities at least one in each month.