July- September 2014 Edition Message from the CSA President Mrs Jesse Sidhu Randhawa Respected Saadh Sangat Ji, Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh I want to take this opportunity to firstly thank each one off you in bestowing your faith and confidence in me and allowing me to serve the Sikh community of Canberra as its President. I share with you how the CSA Executive Committee has been able to work with local and other organizations to forge greater partnerships to connect and promote our Sikh religious faith and its ethos. We have worked to share information about the Sikh tradition and our faith and its history both at the Federal and ACT level. We have met with Bill Shorten, and Minister s from the ACT government s office and raised concerns the community has in Canberra. We wrote to address the issues and concerns the Sikhs felt in our community about the changes AERIAL taxis was imposing on them under the guise of implementing a uniform with specification on "the turban". Later on, we met the CEO and discussed this matter in a meeting with him The committee is promoting its main aims and objectives to have: A fully functional Gurdwara that will hold regular daily and weekly events in accordance with the established Sikh protocols (Rehat Marayada). We have been successful in achieving that. To hold major Sikh community religious events commemorating the Sikh Gurpurabs and Sikh festivals in the Sikh calendar. We have been successful in accomplishing this objective and have had many Ragi Jathas come and perform Kirtan and help us in achieving this goal. Provide education and opportunities for Sikh children to study the Sikh language and script (Gurmukhi), recitation of the Sikh hymns and music (Shabad Gurbani), and studies on its scripture, ethics, customs and traditions. I have had members requesting Kirtan classes to be held for young children, and this is something that the next committee needs to implement. We also need to keep working towards improving the teaching and learning at the Punjabi school. Besides this some of the other initiatives taken by the committee and CSA membership in this past year have been: July - September 2014 Edition
A Gurmat Camp was organised with the support of members of "Basics of Sikhi" from Sydney. An all-day Stall was organised at the Multicultural Festival to create awareness about Sikhs among the wider community. Free soft drinks and snacks were distributed to all the visitors at the festival. Gatka presentation was staged in the afternoon to showcase Sikh Martial art. In March presentation on Sikhs was given at the Canberra Interfaith Forum at the National Multicultural Festival. Paving around Nishan Sahib has been done by Kaar sewa without having to engage paid workers in the tradition of Sikh heritage. Levelling off the front ground has been completed to improve the parking facilities for the sangat. With the generous participation of the Sangat a shed was built over the utensils cleaning area this year. This is a big benefit for the Sangat involved in the sewa of cleaning utensils, especially in adverse weather conditions. We have also bought a container to store Kitchen utensils and food to increase the working space in the kitchen and in the surrounding area. We started this quarter with some major construction activities at the front of Gurdwara Sahib (some still underway) to provide more open space and better ambiance for the visitors to the Gurdwara Sahib. This will help cater and accommodate the various needs of our growing community such as weddings and other festivities. The Executive Committee has also taken some administrative decisions with respect to reviewing the proposed constitution. Today we are putting forth before you all the proposed constitution with the aim to provide a detailed written document which is inclusive, user-friendly and answers all those questions on which our constitution is silent or is lacking in detail. We are looking forward to listening to your suggestions and accommodate them in the review process via amendments today. This year we have had a saving of more than hundred thousand dollars, the details of which will be presented by the Treasurer. Out of that money, a saving of $75000 has been put in the ME bank account which is part of our building fund. The committee s aim has always been to be transparent and open with regard to the use and spending of any money that we all have collectively collected. It is important that we trust and have faith in each other and in the goodness that we all have in us as human beings. I would like to conclude my speech by publicly thanking, Hardeep Singh, Kanwal Pahwa, Harbans Melhi, Vikram Grewal, Surjit Kang, Madhu Sudan Sidhu, Amardeep Singh and Gurminder Girgla and Bob Sekhon for the respect and support that I have received from each and every one of them in this journey. I also thank all the volunteers whose tireless efforts when performing sewa at the gurdwara helps us in establishing greater appreciation of our values, heritage and history of the Sikh religion. I also acknowledge and thank Terry Hunjon s work in putting together our Newsletter, the Sanjhi for us, and the Punjabi school teachers who have worked to support young children in learning Punjabi. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Mrs Jesse Sidhu Randhawa President CSA July - September 2014 Edition Page 2 of 18
CONTINUATION OF CSA AGM AND ELECTIONS 2014 See Sanjhi Notice Board on Page 14 for details. nobody goes hungry when one has come to the haloed sanctum sanctorum of the gurudwara. Initiated by Guru Nanak Dev, it became an established tradition of the Sikh community by the third Guru Shir Amar Dasji at Goindwal. As a matter of fact, the langar SIKH NEWS www.sikhnet.com Golden Temple Airlifts Food for 100,000 in Kashmir October 9, 2014 by Paramjit Singh Kohli When all the forces including the army, government, social media and public are working together to help the victims of Jammu and Kashmir flood, considered to be the worst in 100 years, Guru ka Langar in Amritsar has created a record of sorts when food for 1,00,000 flood victims was airlifted to be distributed to them. The Guru ka langar, which runs continuously round the clock at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, has risen to the occasion to help the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir by preparing langar (food prepared in the free kitchen) and supplying it to the victims in their time of need. Last week, perhaps a record of sorts was created when food for more than 1,00,000 victims stranded in different places across the affected state was airlifted from Amritsar to be distributed to them. 50,000 individual aluminium-foil wrapped packets containing four desi ghee paranthas, dry potato vegetable and pickle, that can serve 100,000 people, were sent to J&K through an Air Force plane. Earlier a private airplane was helping them with the transport of food. The idea of langar or providing food to all and sundry is perhaps the most vibrant tradition ensuring that that runs continuously, 24 7, is equipped to provide food to more than 70,000 people on a daily basis and this could have been the reason why the SOS message was sent to it to help out the needy who have been caught in the fury of the flood. When the demand rises, the Guru ka langar is able to serve food to more than one lakh devotees as well. Guru ka langars are perhaps one of the rare community kitchens where women are accorded a place of importance, as the kitchens of festivities in most other communities and religions are still dominated by their male counterparts. One is reminded of an incident that happened when a group of women from Uttar Pradesh had visited Gurudwara Manji Sahib near Ludhiana. They did not have an occasion to associate with community kitchens in their native places, and that day at the gurudwara suddenly the devotees footfall had increased. The granthi asked this writer to request the ladies to do some Kar seva. The ladies were thrilled and continued to do it for 2 hours, till they had to be weaned away. A tradition that was started by Guru Nanak Dev does ensure that nobody goes hungry, in sync with the tradition invoked through the lines स इतन द जए ज म क July - September 2014 Edition Page 3 of 18
ट म सम य म भ भ ख न रह स ध न भ ख ज य. To carry forward this philosophy, a tradition continues in Sikhism whereby each household, whether in the rural or urban area, ensures that the supply line at the gurudwaras never goes dry. It is on account of this advocacy that one can always be assured of food whenever one has stepped into the portals of a gurudwara. And this is why, regarding the requirement of more food for the victims, Darbar Sahib manager Partap Singh said, We have no problem of resources and the sangat (devotees) is helping us in a big way. May this tradition of community service continue to define and give a meaning to our existence. Guru ka langar, by this initiative, has reaffirmed that in times of crisis it is humanity that rises to the occasion, relegating all religious and other differences to the back burner. CMCAA Presented: The Winter Evening of Multicultural Entertainment The Canberra Multicultural Artists Association (CMCAA) Inc, function which was hosted on 5 July 2014 was indeed a grand success. The function that was attended by at least 200 audience was conducted in a warm family atmosphere. A large number of CSA members were present at the function. The evening saw a number of community associations exhibiting their cultural aspects. A number of local young artists also showcased their talent. The function was presided over by Ms Jancye Winter Director of Multicultural Function & Senior Manager OMA, who addressed the audience and also handed out CMCAA awards to its various young artists and also The Canberra Bhangra Jammers for their dazzling performance at CMCAA Winter evening of Melodies 2013. The nominally charged ticket of $20/- included delicious dinner that the audience greatly enjoyed. The function was sponsored by The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) ACT; Patel Grocery Store Queanbeyan; Desi Bazaar Gungahlin and ASSURE VISA Immigration Services. The audience enjoyed excellent food and melodious performances throughout the evening. A number of dazzling & colourful cultural dances from various communities portrayed their culture aspects which were greatly applauded by the audience. Strange But True www.strangefacts.com There are over 58 million dogs in the U.S! Every second, Americans collectively eat one hundred pounds of chocolate. A fetus develops fingerprints at eighteen weeks! The fear of vegetables is called Lachanophobia! There are approximately fifty Bibles sold each minute across the world! Dolphins sleep with one eye open! A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h.! Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, every time you breathe! July - September 2014 Edition Page 4 of 18
July- September 2014 Edition SANJHI ARTICLES The Great Sikh Leaders - Part 5 After Chhota Ghalughara S. Jassa Singh also came to Malwa alongwith S. Sukha Singh and Nawab Kapur Singh and stayed at Kotkapura in the region of Brars. Other Sikhs scattered all around wherever they could find peace and safety. An Article by S. Amardeep Singh On his return to Lahore Lakhpat Rai ordered closing of all Sikh Gurdwaras. Some were raised to the ground. The Holy Scriptures were consigned to the flame or dumped into the wells. He declared that a Khatri (Guru Nanak Dev Ji) had commenced this religion and now a Khatri (he himself) had put an end to it. He ordered that no one should read Gurbani in future, utter the name of Guru Nanak Guru Gobind Singh. Any body found violating these orders would be, killed mercilessly. He thought he could annihilate Sikhs and Sikhism by such means. At the same time in Afganistan Nadir Shah got murdered on night 8-9 June 1747 and Ahmad Shah Durrani took over as the king of Afganistan. Here in Panjab, Shah Nawaz defeated his brother Yahya Khan (who had taken over the reigns of Panjab after the death of his father Zakaria Khan) and took over the kingdom of Lahore. Yahya Khan escaped towards Delhi. July - September 2014 Edition
In subsequent developments Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated Shah Nawaz forcing him to escape towards Delhi on the night of 11-12th January 1748. Durrani released a coin, appointed Jaleh Khan Kasuri as the ruler of Lahore, Mir Momen Khan as his deputy and Lakhpat Rai as Diwan, Ahmad Shah Durrani himself preceded towards Delhi. Nawab Kapur Singh and S. Jassa Singh along with S. Charhat Singh were in Taran Taran at this time. They were perhaps watching which way the balance of power would tilt and waiting for right opportunity. Ahmad Shah too came that way, on 1 March, 1748 he crossed river Satluj. In the middle of March 1748, Durranis were decisively beaten at village Manoo about five Kos from Sirhind, by the army led by Kamaru Din, his son Mir Moin-ud-din (Mir Mannu) and prince Ahmad Shah son of the king of Delhi. As soon as Ahmad Shah had left Lahore for his country, the Singhs under the leadership of Charhat Singh started pillaging the Durranis They did not let them have a respite till they reached Attock. Sikhs snatched many horses and wealth from them. Secondly, they protected the area between Lahore and Attock from the ransacking of retreating Durranis. Occupation of Amritsar by Sikhs: Salabat Khan, a Rajput of village Tharoo had stationed himself with his Army at Amritsar since 1747. He had placed Sri Darbar Sahib and Sarovar under very strict vigil. He had created small fortresses all around which were occupied by sharp shooting soldiers who were instructed to kill any Sikh who came to visit Sri Darbar Sahib and took a dip in the Sikhs were fully aware that the defeat of Ahmad Shah would result in changes in the ruling set up of Lahore. Those like Jaleh Khan and Lakhpat Rai appointed by Ahmad Shah will not survive in their offices. No one had been appointed by the Delhi ruler so far. The Khalsa Dal decided to make the best of the political uncertainties. They resolved to free Sri Amritsar and started preparing themselves accordingly. Nawab Kapur Singh appointed S. Jassa Singh to lead the campaign. S. Jassa Singh made a quick appreciation of the situation, made out a plan and besieged Amritsar. Salabat Khan who was a valiant soldier started encouraging and backing up his soldiers by leading them from the front. S. Jassa Singh, stepped forward and challenged Salabat Khan. In reply Salabat Khan made a very concerted attack on S. Jassa Singh. S. Jassa Singh took it on his shield and before he could strike again, Jassa Singh made a lightning strike of his Khanda and had the head of Salabat Khan rolling on the ground. Seeing this Najabat Khan, nephew of Salabat Khan prepared himself to strike Jassa Singh with his lance. Nawab Kapur Singh saw it and he shot an arrow that brought Najabat Khan down on the ground. July - September 2014 Edition Page 6 of 18
With both their leaders writhing on the ground, the army of Salabat Khan lost courage and they ran away from the battlefield. Thus Sikhs occupied Sri Amritsar. They went straight to Sri Darbar Sahib and enjoyed the divine bliss of its glimpse after many years. There were a few days to Baisakhi of 1748 It was to be celebrated on 29th March. S. Jassa Singh sent messengers to all corners to inform the Sikh Sangat that had spread in small numbers all over. This fair of Baisakhi was being held after a very long time. S. Jassa Singh proclaimed that the day for Sikhs to live in Jungles and caves is over and they should raise some fort and establish themselves on firm footings, this proposal was accepted and a new exercise of finding a most suitable place for a fortress engaged their minds now. Many places were discussed. At last Bhai Sukha Singh and a few other devout Sikhs suggested that there could be no better place than Amritsar. The fortress should be raised there. "Let us live in the lap of Guru, and die at the door of the Lord.". To be continued July - September 2014 Edition Page 7 of 18
Poetry By S Jaspreet Singh ਮ ਰ ਦਲ ਵ ਚ ਤ ਰ ਲਈ ਰ ਹਮ ਤ ਬੜ ਏ, ਪਰ ਮ ਰ ਕਲਮ ਦ ਡ ਰ ਇਹਨ ਹ ਕਮ ਨ ਫੜ ਏ ਮ ਕਰਨ ਤ ਚ ਹਵ ਨ ਤ ਹ ਮਜਲ ਮ ਕ ਝ ਤ ਰ ਲਈ, ਪਰ ਮ ਰ ਸਰ ਤ ਤਲਵ ਰ ਇਹਨ ਜ ਲਮ ਦ ਖੜ ਏ ਸ ਣਆ ਤ ਸਭ ਕ ਛ ਵ ਚ ਵ ਟ ਆਪਣ ਧ ਉਤ ਲ ਦ ਤ, ਅ ਜ ਓਹ ਨ ਕਰ ਦ ਖ ਤਰ ਕਸ ਟ ਕ ਤ ਚੜ ਏ ਤ ਲ ਪ -ਪ ਸ ੜ ਆ ਸ ਸ ਨ ਜ ਨ ਹ, ਇਹ ਜਹ ਕ ਸ ਦ ਲਸਟ ਲ ਬ ਬੜ ਏ ਵ ਚ-ਵ ਚ ਨਸ਼ ਜਹਨ ਪ ਲਈਆ ਕ ਠ ਆ, ਇਹ ਜਹ ਕ ਠ ਇਕ ਦਨ ਬਣਦ ਮੜ ਏ ਹਰ ਹ ਈ ਵ ਲ ਇਨ ਛ ਤ ਨਈਓ ਸ ਕਦ, ਜਨ ਚਰ ਤ ਲ ਓਹਦ ਪ ਦ ਨਈ ਜੜ ਏ ਧ ਨ ਤ ਰ ਜਗਰ ਓਏ ਪ ਜ ਬ ਦਆ ਜ ਟ, ਕਦ ਪ ਜ ਦ ਸ ਕ ਤ ਕਦ ਫਸਲ ਜ ਦ ਹੜ ਏ ਪਰਦ ਸ ਵ ਚ ਬ ਠ ਨ ਦ ਖ ਡ ਹਡ ਏ ਸਤ ਉਦ, ਪ ਜ ਬ ਮ ਰ ਨ ਸਆ ਚ ਦਨ - ਦਨ ਜ ਦ ਏ ਮਰ ਏ July - September 2014 Edition Page 8 of 18
Who Are Sikhs? An article made available to Sanjhi by S Bharpur Singh Sekhon Editorial in The Sikh Bulletin by: Gurpal Singh Khaira Editor In Chief July-August 2014 The Sikhs with estimated 23 million members worldwide lay claim to being a major religion of the world ranking 5th in numbers. Yet very few people in the world, even in western countries of Europe and North America where Sikhs have established sizeable communities do not know who the Sikhs are and what they represent. They are being mistaken for Muslims because of the turban and also as a sect of Hinduism because of their Indian origin. Since their agitation for greater political freedom culminated into violent confrontation with the Government of India during mid-1980s they are viewed as prone to violent confrontations even on minor issues. The Sikh thinking has not grasped the new realities on the world scene and insists on having the right of tyrannicide which explains the assassination of the prime minister of India, Mrs. Gandhi by the Sikhs. It is also because the Sikhs have completely failed to communicate to the world about their religion and its institutions. For example people know what the places of worship are called for all the other major religions i.e. the church for Christians, mosque for Muslims, Synagogue for Jews, temple for Hindus, and pagoda for the Buddhists. However, non-sikhs are not aware that the Sikh place of worship is called Gurdwara because Sikhs in the diaspora mostly publicize it as Sikh Temple. Founding Prophets of all the major religions namely Jesus, Mohamad, Abraham, Krishna, and Buddha are well known to the world but the founding prophet of the Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev Ji is entirely unknown to people of the world. Who are the Sikhs and what are the basic tenets of their religion? Sikhism is the youngest and newest religion on the world scene, less than 550 year old. The founding prophet Guru Nanak dev ji after receiving divine revelation set out to preach that there is only one God who is present throughout his creation. HE is not pleased by meaningless rituals or symbolic actions. We get merit in the divine court only through truthfully living a life of altruism. This is achieved by adopting such virtues as Humility, Honest living, justice and compassion for all, Equality, non-discrimination, and Meditation on divine name (Naam Japna). He laid emphasis on earning for one s own living through honest means and helping the unfortunate to stand on their own feet through sharing. He declared those who remember God in their heart at all times and do good deeds are practicing the highest religion in the world. He said if you conquer and control your mind you will conquer the July - September 2014 Edition Page 9 of 18
world. Those who mould their lives as such consider none is their enemy and are in accord with one and all. He condemned hypocrisy in the strongest terms. The followers of Guru s path become rich spiritually and ethically, useful and helpful socially, selfless servers of humanity and all of God s creation. The message was preached by the nine successor Gurus over a period of 200 years to create a community of people known as Sikhs in the Punjab region of India. These teaching are compiled in the holly book Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which is the eternal spiritual guide of the Sikhs. The Sikhs became known for their courage and virtuous deeds in the face of adversity. They got recognized for self-sacrificing for the common cause and resisting tyranny from any quarters. They are required to associate with spiritually uplifted individuals (God oriented) in the holly congregation and shun the company of self-willed and perverse minded individuals. Regardless of what the intentions of the prophet who preached the new religion were the people of faith seem to need strength in numbers rather than in dogma to support and sustain their belief system. In almost every religious system the original body of doctrine concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by the prophets is eclipsed by meaningless ritualistic form of adulation to the deity. The emphasis of these rituals is to chain and bind the followers to the group rather than to uplift their moral, ethical and spiritual values in life. Since almost everyone is born into the religion of his or her parents, the religious leaders think the only way to increase the number of followers of their religion is for Faithful followers to have more children. Sikhism the newest religion is no exception to this post prophet period deviation from dogma and spiritual degeneration. It did not take long for Sikh religion to invent and develop its own rituals on the same lines of the neighbouring religions namely Hinduism and Islam. There is no system of clergy in the Sikh religion. The Guru said God does not require individuals to have any intercessors to approach HIM. However with time a class of clergy has sneaked in to take control of the religious affairs to shekel the Sikhs with rituals just like all other religions. It is in the same vein the current occupant of the position of Jathedar at Akal Takhat, the highest ranking Sikh priest recently urged the worldwide Sikh families that it was their religious duty to produce more children. This exhortation smacks of slave owner mentality by the Sikh clergy and is against the spirit of the Gurbani of the Holly Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This thinking of the Sikh religious leaders has evolved to recognize an individual a Sikh only if he is maintaining the symbols required by those Sikhs who take Khande di Pahul, the initiation ceremony to join the order of the Khalsa. The order of Khalsa was created by the tenth and the last Master Guru Gobind Singh JI to resist the tyranny and defend the public against injustice. They are aware that Sikh Gurus rejected symbols as is amply evidenced in the Gurbani of the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guru ji told the Jogis that smearing ashes on the body, wearing patched coat, piercing ears to put mundra, and carrying a staff are of no spiritual value if they have no contentment in heart (Santokh), compassion (Daiya) and truth (Sat). He told the Hindus that wearing sacred cotton thread (Janeo) has no merit without living a life of contentment, compassion and truth. Similarly Muslims were advised that their daily five prayers (Namaz) are just meritless rituals if you have aversion to contentment, compassion and truthful living. The situation has reached a point where the corrupt July - September 2014 Edition Page 10 of 18
politicians, to keep control of the Sikh institutional financial resources through their captive clergy are bent on disenfranchising a majority of the Sikhs because of their laxity towards symbols. There is no recognized central authority to guide followers of the Sikh religion. There are lots of self- styled saints who assume authority to interpret and preach claiming divine inspiration. There are very few Sikh scholars with objective thinking in their approach to research on Sikh theology. But there are lots of so called scholars who after retiring from other professions such as Engineering, Science, Medical, military etc. consider themselves to have an authoritative wisdom to interpret Sikhism and consider their rendering of Gurbani is not subject to any question. Some are busy inventing new terminology using scientific methods while others are proclaiming the Sikh Excellency based on favourable comments written by some non- Sikh writers. Most of the comments are taken out of context ignoring the fact the writer may also have written unfavourably on some aspect of Sikhism. The leaders collectively are always oblivious to what is going on around them which could have adverse implications for the Sikh religious community in the near future. For example about eight years ago the French Government proposed a law to ban all religious symbols in the schools. The draft bill was published and sent to all the municipalities in the country to deliberate and make recommendations before it is presented in the parliament for a vote. All religious communities i.e. Muslims, Jews and Christians participated and submitted their objections except the Sikh community of France. They did not even know what was happening. The bill passed and became the law of the land and then the Sikhs woke up from their slumber and started hollering religious discrimination. They are still agitating against this law in France. This is not an exception. I present here a quote from the book Sachi Sakhi by Sardar Kapur Singh. He says that in 1925 Sir Fazal Husain a famous Muslim leader published a twenty page booklet for a private circulation to select Muslim political and intellectual leaders with the instructions not to show it to any Hindu or Sikh. Kapur Singh claims to have read this booklet and quotes the following paragraph from it; Hindu considers political matters and their implications years ahead. The Musalman tries to tackle them just in time. But the Sikh never thinks of them unless the time is actually past and the matter is well settled. The Sikh brain is intoxicated and obscured with the memory that once they ruled over Punjab, and they quite forget that the tail of the Sikh lion has been twisted by the British. He goes on to cite some political incidents to prove the correctness of Sir Fazal Husain s above observation. What is needed for the Sikh community to survive under the new realities of the fast changing world is to revive its glorious ideals with kindred spirits and be above all form of discriminations, prejudices and nepotisms. The Sikh religion is not a religion of the outer symbols; it is the religion of the interior purity and righteous living. SGGS page 473. Those who have purity on the inside and are dressed in rags are better ones in this world. July - September 2014 Edition Page 11 of 18
There is urgent need for immediate attention to strengthen the Sikh institutions to establish their distinct identity for everybody in the world to recognize and know. It is important to understand the names are not translated to pronounce in other languages. For example Tara Singh does not become Star Singh in English. Therefore, always propagate the Sikh place of worship as Gurdwara and not as Sikh Temple, Langer and not as free kitchen, Sri Guru Granth Sahib and not as Sikh Bible, Amrit shakna and not as Sikh baptismal ceremony. Finally recognize the Sikh identity based on his virtuous conduct and righteous living and de-emphasise the identity based on the outer bodily symbols. July - September 2014 Edition Page 12 of 18
Pothi Dada Ji ki - 1 An article by - Mrs Paramjit Kour July - September 2014 Edition Page 13 of 18
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SANJHI NOTICE BOARD 1. CONTINUATION OF CSA AGM AND ELECTIONS 2014 Dear CSA Members, Since all the items on the Agenda for the AGM held on 20 th September 2014 were not completed there will be a continuation of the AGM to address and complete Items 5 to 11 as shown below; with the exception of Item 6 because the structure of the Guardian Council as proposed by the Executive Committee was not approved by the Special General Meeting held on 30 August 2014. ITEM NO 5: To appoint a Returning Officer. ITEM NO 7: To receive and table nominations and elect the Executive Committee comprising: President Vice President Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Secretary Assistant Secretary Committee Member (1) Committee Member (2) Committee Member (3) Ex-Officio Member ITEM NO 8: To appoint Auditor/s for the financial year 2014-15. ITEM NO 9: To appoint a Returning Officer and Back-up for the Elections for 2015-16. ITEM NO 10: Any other Business. July - September 2014 Edition Page 15 of 18
ITEM NO 11: To close the Meeting. This meeting will be held at 11.00am, on Saturday, 1 Nov 2014, at the Neighbourhood Hall, 6 Gritten St, Weston ACT. The Notice and Agenda for this meeting is attached. To ensure that only eligible CSA members participate in this meeting, all Members will be required to present proof of their identity and current residential address to authorised CSA Executive Committee Representatives at the entrance of the hall prior to the meeting. Any person who is unable to provide proof of ID and their current address will not be allowed into the hall to attend the meeting. To facilitate this process members are required to be present at the location by 10.30 am for registration and verification of their documents so that the AGM can start on time at 11 am sharp. This Notice of Meeting is for members only and non-members will not be allowed to enter the hall or attend the AGM. Some nominations have been received in writing. Other members who wish to nominate for certain positions can do so until the day of the AGM. According to the CSA Constitution (Clause 5.3.3) nominations can also be made from the floor at the AGM itself. Jesse Sidhu Randhawa President Canberra Sikh Association Inc. 2. CSA Langar Roster CSA Langar Roster will be separately communicated by the CSA Executive using CSA Email List. 3. Punjabi Radio Program Mehak Punjab Di A Punjabi radio program "Mehak Punjab Di" is being broadcasted every Saturday from 8 am to 9 am. This Punjabi hour broadcasted on CMS July - September 2014 Edition Page 16 of 18
Community Radio FM 91.1 under the leadership of Sarabjit Singh and Chief broadcaster Inderjit Kaur Chadha with assistance of Amardeep Singh. Please listen to this Punjabi program and send your feedback at mehakpunjabdiradio@gmail.com 4. Sikh Calender 2014 http://www.calendarlabs.com/calendars/religious/sikh-calendar.php Date Oct 23 Nov 06 Nov 24 Sikh Festivals: Diwali Guru Nanak Birthday Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom 5. Sending your article for printing in Sanjhi If you have an article related to Community News, Sikh Religion, Gurdwara Sahib, Current Affairs, Poetry, Jokes, and similar other articles and wish to publish this in your favorite Sanjhi then please send them to Tejinder Singh Hunjon at email: thunjon@bigpond.com Thank you for your Contributions to SANJHI. July - September 2014 Edition Page 17 of 18
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