MERT 30 - Publicity Effort

MADRAS ESPLANADE ROUND TABLE 30

Launches its first Publicity

for the year 2008-09.

It was a great kickstart for our fundraising programme for the year. The joint event between Chennai Event Management Services & MMRT-42 was flagged off on Sunday the 3rd August'08 .

The Ceat Mumbai Xpress 2008 flagged off from our very own, St. Georges Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School at 10.30am. The honours were done by Vishal Pawar, Senior Product Manager, CEAT & our Area Chairman, Tr.Rajesh Gupta and also present with us was our Area Vice-Chairman,Tr. Shaktivel, Chairman of MMRT 42, Tr.Sandy & Director of Chennai Event Management Services Mr. Aravind Bremanandam.

This 3 wheeler Auto rickshaw rally had participants from 10 countries. The overall international contestants were 39 in number from Norway, New Zealand, USA, UK, Germany, Hungary, Australia, Canada, Spain etc... Our Area Chairman, Tr. Rajesh Gupta, briefed the participants of the auto rally about RTI, its movement Freedom to Education & about its achievements & how this rally would benefit to the various schools they would be visiting during its bumpy & long ride all over to Mumbai. He said every penny contributed towards RTI goes a long way in helping to build schools for the under priviledged children in India, because if we can make a change in our society then its only by educating our poor & needy children.

The event flagged off and proceeded to our very own RT- 30 VES AGARMEL SCHOOL. This school has been the baby of MERT-30. Here the participants were greeted warmly with garlands & tilak by our little school children, The Correspondent, School Principal who had been waiting since morning for their arrival. This was one of the first schools that this rally visited. They were offered light refreshments & snacks. School was shown around, to each & every participant, school photographs were highlighted, the growth & achievements of the school was spelled by our correspondent. They were really amazed with the fact that from a mere 74 children in the year 2000, today the school has around 439 students & next year the numbers would swell over 600 children & the very fact that every year they pass with 100% results.

They also saw our science lab, Yi-Akshara -the learning centre for kids & enjoyed some lighter moments by playing volleyball with our kids. Hon.Tr.Rajesh Nichani stuck the first poster on the participating vehicle. We had stuck stickers & posters in the front & back of all the 24 participating rickshaws. As such, each participating 3- wheeler carried the message of Freedom through Education, all its way to Mumbai.

Posters and Banners were put up all over the route from flag off venue upto VES by MERT-30. This could all be possible only with the support of all our Tablers, Circlers & Twinklers of MERT-30 present at both the venues. The rally will be covering 2000 km spanning over 12 days making its way through Vellore, Bangalore, Hassan, Mangalore, Bhatkal, Panaji,Tarkali, Ratnagiri, Mahad, & Alibag all the way upto Mumbai conveying our message & inspiring more people to come forward & join hands in this movement

The Ceat Mumbai Xpress 2008 was a fantastic combination of showcasing the Wonders of India to the international based participants. Our focus on Charity & the sheer bonkers of rickshaw racing knotted up very well. Kudos to all our Tablers,Circlers & Twinklers.

YIT

Tr. Satya Rao-Publicity Convener

Tr. Vishal Jindal- Secretary.

MERT 30