Goodbye Blog, Hello Website

Dear Members,
The blog has serviced us well now for nearly two years. It is therefore with some sadness that I tell you that it will be discontinued. Members will now be able to post their own questions/advice/moving sales/staff needs on the new website.
1. Go to www.owcmadras.com
2. Click 'members forum'
3. Register an account
4. Wait 24 to 48 hrs for your account to be approved. This is merely a formality. We want to restrict the forum to members so that advertisers and others do not misuse it. Once you have been approved you may start posting!
Note that all events can now be found on the events calendar. The site contains a new and expanded vendor directory, as well.
Many thanks to Katya Reyes and her company e-designed.com. She exceeded our expectations and was great to work with. I think you will all agree that the site looks wonderful and is extremely user friendly.
Thank you also to Patrick Fischer for his many useful inputs!
I am blogging off now! See you in the forum!
Natalie von Hoffmeister

Ladies Who Lunch - Change of Venue!

Unfortunately, Dahlia is closed next week and we are therefore having to change the location for the next Ladies Who Lunch.In keeping with the Japanese theme, we will be trying out the "bento lunch" at Hip Asia Restaurant, Taj Connemara. It's a lovely 5-course lunch with soup, salad, sushi, main course and dessert (Rs.650 + tax for vegetarian, Rs.750 + tax for non-veg). Of course, their a la carte menu is fantastic too. You will be able to relax at this gorgeously decorated restaurant and meet new people, whilst enjoying some scrumptuous food.
For futher information, please contact Candy at http://service.gmx.net/de/cgi/g.fcgi/mail/new?CUSTOMERNO=23917550&t=de1906064122.1212496457.2733a1e8&to=candy%40thehouseofwong.co.uk or on 98846 11174.
Apologies for the change of venue, but I look forward to seeing you all there.

Executive Committee Meeting

The next executive committee meeting will be on Friday, June 6th at Anokhi #85 Chamiers Rd. at 10AM

June General Meeting

Wednesday, June 4th: General Meeting 10 AM

At The Presidency Club: Fairlawns, 51 Ethiraj Salai, Egmore

“Story Trailing into South Indian Customs and Traditions”
Social chat at 10 AM
Presentation at 10:30 AM.
There is a Rs 250 charge to cover food / drinks. Rs 350 for non members.
The meeting will be held on the first Wednesday of the month to accommodate American School moms.

Membership Renewals

WANT TO RENEW but can't make it to a meeting or other activities. No problem. Just send an e-mail to owcmadras@gmail.com and be sure to let us know of any changes in your directory listing.
To pay your annual membership dues of Rs. 1,000, just drop a check made out to Overseas Women's Club of Madras in the mail (or via courier) to Ruth Subramanian, D1-85 Bonn Avenue, IIT Madras, Chennai 600 036. Sorry we don't take credit cards.

Remember, the membership year runs from April 1 - March 31.

Playgroup: Tuesday, May 27th and Beyond

We are all invited at Bopha’s place for playgroup:
Tuesday 27th May
3 to 5.30pm
Bopha ROINE and baby Claire

46 (new#)

First Main Road (Same street as Surya Green shop)

R.A. Puram

Mob: 988 47 17 675

If you ask for the French family with a baby everyone will know...
You can't park under the building as it is private. It should be possible in 1rst Main Road and in the small streets around. I'm afraid it might be tricky though.
Please tell everybody that we mainly have "baby" toys even if we start to have an unreasonable huge amount of them. If some of you can bring some of your child favorite toys to share with other toddlers for a few hours, it would be great.

I am also emailing you the details for next weeks, as I am traveling. Please print this out; there will be no more reminders (unless the host herself is sending one).

Tuesday 3rd June
Hosts are Sangeetha, Angela and Emma
Place: Vanilla
No. 8/57, 1st StreetLuz Avenue, Mylapore Chennai
3 to 5.30pm
Emma moved to England earlier then planned, but she did contribute her share for this playgroup. Thanks Emma!
It’s Angela’s last playgroup as she is soon moving to Doha!

Tuesday 10th June

Patrick
3 to 5.30pm
New no: 10, Sivakamipuram 2nd Street (it is a house) Thiruvanmiyur/Adayar. Suggest you call Patrick if need more directionsCell Number: 996-222-5815
fischer1995@yahoo.com

Directions: The street is a narrow which creates two problems: First, it is difficult to find. If you are going south on LB road, the street is the last left before IMPCOPS Hospital and about 300 meters past MG Road. It is the first right after the Tumble Tots sign. I don't think there is a street sign. You can also reach the house from MG road (the Google map above in not correct showing our street as a dead end) but it is more difficult to explain; however, if people (or drivers) know the area, then that might be another option. Second, there will not be room for everyone to park on the street so plan to be dropped off and park on MR Roador other street


Tuesday 17th June
Amber
3 to 5.30pm
Bischop Garden ext4, Grayshott G102
Hp: 9944934966
amberkatejones@hotmail.com


Tuesday 24th June
Yifat
3 to 5.30pm
It’s Tsoof 2nd birthday!
Address will be posted later.

yifat_agam@yahoo.com
hp: 9884159724


Tuesday 1st July
Elmarie
3 to 5.30pm
58/16 ArchbishobMathias (ABM) Avenue, Veena, Flat B, Boat Club
Hp: 9790933633
elmarie_b@hotmail.com

Updates for Newsletter!

Please send all updates for the June newsletter by Sunday, May 25th to:
natalievh@gmx.net
This month only. Jennifer is out of station.
- Natalie

Playgroup Tuesday, May 20th

Melissa is hosting the playgroup today, from 3 to 5.30pm. She has a wonderful garden and pool. Melissa wants to make it top prioritythat mums supervise their own children in the pool atall times. Safety first!
Here are her details:
6 Lilypond st Akkaraimobile9840660300
Down ECR rd till the Sholingalalur turnoff on the right. Do a U turn hereand come back towards Chennai (dont take the turnoff to Sholingallalur) take the FIRST left after the u turn into lilypond st, then take first right. Melissa's the first house on the left. There are only 2 houses in the street.

Fish Cove Dinner

Ladies' Night Out
May 28th
7PM
Taj Fisherman's Cove
Covelong Beach
Rs 1200 for four course meal and glass of wine.
Call Jaya 98402 33975 to reserve.

Playgroup May 13th

Grayshott apartment blok B202
Bischop Garden ext nr4
R.A. Puram
Hosted by Geraldine : 9940672134
From 3.00 to 5.30pm.

Executive Committee Meeting: Change

There will be an executive committee meeting on Thursday, May 15th at 10AM at Anokhi: #85 Chamiers Road, RA Puram.

To be discussed: the website (it is currently under construction by OWC member Katyes Reyes), a June meeting and the upcoming Welcome Back Lunch!

Ladies Who Lunch

Sawatdeekaa! Never made it to Thailand yet? Or maybe you love Thailand so much that you wish you live there? Come experience some authentic Thai food, and meet new people, in this exquisitely decorated restaurant that will surely help you escape the sizzling heat of Chennai.
Date: Wednesday 14th MayTime: 1pmVenue: Benjarong, 537/146 TTK Road, Alwarpet (Tel: 044 2432-2640)Cuisine: Thai
Please note that the timing has now been moved back to 1pm.For further information, please contact Candy via email at candy@thehouseofwong.co.uk or on 98846 11174.

Membership Renewals

Please not that Ruth Subramaniam will be 'out of station' for the next month. Those wishing to renew can contact MaryAnn Nicholson in the meantime.

New Member Coffe Morning

Thanks to those of you who came to today's coffee morning in spite of the heat. The next coffee morning will be Wednesday, May 28th at 10 AM at Anokhi # 85 Chamiers Road. See you there!

May 6th Playgroup: Swimming!

Tuesday, May 6th

3 - 5:30

Green Meadows

4/364 A, Anna Salai, Palavakkam

There is a pool with slide. Adults Rs 100. Children Rs 50. Drinks and snacks can be ordered as desired.

Directions: Take the ECR past Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakam

You will pass Spencer's Daily and 5 Star supermarkets. Anna Salai is on your left. If you reach Neelangarai, you've gone too far!

May General Meeting

Wednesday, May 14th
10 AM Social Chat
10:30 Presentation
Esthell Hotel
No.1, Royal Enclave Besant Avenue
Adyar (Near Fashion Folks)
Rs 250 to cover cost of food and drinks
Uma Prajapati, a designer for the Upsana Design Studio from Auroville, will be presenting on her many projects including:
Small Steps, an initiative promoting a responsible alternative to plastic shopping bags
Tsnamika, a little doll crafted from fabric waste by fisherwomen affected by the tsunami
The Varanasi Weavers Project which seeks to find ways for traditional weavers to earn a good income by pairing them with large companies and design studios
Silk scarves, blouses, tsnamika dolls and bags will be on sale.

May Tiffin Club

The April Tiffin was a sellout - thank you to the person who could not come for paying your share!!

Chef Rajesh at Aqua (the Park Hotel) showed us several delicious recipes from the Aqua menu. Our lunch after was a sampling of those same dishes. Scrumptious!!

The May Tiffin will be on 16th May and we are visiting the Taj Flight Kitchens which prepare and supply teh meals to many fo the flights we all take out of Chennai airport.

This event is open to all OWC members not just Tiffin Club members and the limit is 30 ladies. Please sign up be sending me an email as soon as you can. We are opening this event to AISC parents too, so feel free to pass information along.

There is no charge for the event, but there may be a small contribution towards the cost of the transport - it will be easier for us all to take a bus out there together so the event can start on time and the tour can be conducted for all of us as once.

We are supposed to be there by 10-10.30 am and all other details will be sent to you when you book onto the event.

Happy dipping and dripping!!

Sejal Wasani
9884052575

Executive Committee Meeting

For those of you who are, or would like to be, members of the executive committee (children's committee, entertainment, social welfare, etc.) this year, we will be meeting at Amethyst on Friday, April 25th at 10AM.
Amethyst
14/30 Padmavathi Road, Off Lloyds Road
Jeypore Colony,Gopalpuram
Chennai

Playgroup

Playgroup for Tuesday, April 22nd
3PM to 5:30 PM
Hosted by Natalie von Hoffmeister
No. 9, 3rd Seaward Rd.
K.G. Valmiki Apts.
Apt. 4
Valmiki Nagar
Thiruvanmiyur
Opposite The Cheshire Home
Cell: 9884187761
New people welcome!

Playgroup

This Tuesday 15th April Paula is hosting the playgroup.
Where:
Bischop garden ext 4, Grayshott
R.A. Puram
blok E 401
from 3 to 5.30pm
telnr Paula: 9940033270

We are meeting at the playground (at your right side when you enter Grayshott).
The playground is shaded. Don’t forget to bring insect repellent!
If you want, you can bring along some toys for the sand, a bike/three wheeler, ball,….
I hope to see you Tuesday,
Isabel