ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING - 2014
Topic: General Body Meeting
Facilitator: Dr Suvarna Alladi, President
Dr Chandrashekhar K, Vice-president
Ms. Rukhsana Ansari, Secretary
Mr Shashidhar Komaravolu, Treasurer
Ms Bala Tripura Sundari, Joint Secretary
Date: 28th July, 2014
Place: ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan, H No: 8-2-332/5, Road #3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
Time: 4pm-5.30pm
- The ARDSI Annual General Body Meeting was attended by around 35 people constituting ARDSI founding members, ARDSI and Memory Clinic staff, patients and caregivers, members from senior citizens' organisations, representatives of pharmaceutical companies, representatives of other NGOs and nursing attendants.
- The meeting commenced with an introduction to the agenda of the meeting by Ms Rukhsana Ansari followed by the presentation of the ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan annual report- 2014. The report covered the different activities done by ARDSI Hyd Deccan during the year, the work of the Memory Clinic- research done, counselling provided, assessments done for patients etc. Further, the activities of the day care centre like the Christmas party for patients, the screening of the documentary on Alzheimer's disease called 'Bicycle, Spoon, Apple' on the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day etc. were elaborated upon. Ms Ansari also spoke of the tentative shifting of the day care centre to a more conducive location. She also mentioned and thanked all the major sponsors of ARDSI.
- Mr Shashidhar gave a detailed report of his visit to Geneva in June, 2014 for the global workshop on "Campaigning for change" by Alzheimer's University and Alzheimer's Disease International. He spoke of the need for dementia-friendly cities all over the world and what standards these cities need to adhere to. He also elaborated on the need for dementia to be made into an issue of national and global importance. Further Mr Shashidhar spoke of his experiences in Geneva particularly about the interesting 'dementia cafes' where awareness sessions about dementia were done over a cup of coffee and how this could easily be replicated in India.
- Mr Shashidhar presented the treasurer's report which described the financial logistics of the organisation in detail. He also spoke of the donations received majority of which were from pharmaceutical companies, and urged caregivers to donate more for the cause.
- Concerns about lack of awareness about dementia amongst doctors were raised by caregivers and the need for more awareness campaigns were stressed on.
- Some caregivers expressed concerns about their own memory, and the doctors, Dr Suvarna and Dr Chandrashekhar spoke to them about the difference in forgetting due to normal ageing and due to dementia.
- A volunteer urged daycare participants to also become more involved in day care activities with one another to aid in its smooth functioning.
- Ideas about fund-raising events and associations between other NGOs and ARDSI Hyderabad Deccan were discussed before the meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms Bala.
