Posted by Tony Colaco

Goan Christmas Party in Germany

The Goan Association Germany held its fourth event of the year 2006, on 16th December, with a Christmas Party, attended by over eighty Goans, coming from different towns, including some Mangaloreans and  Germans.  The venue was the Parish Church Hall of St. Batholmaeus in the city of Frankfurt . Welcoming the guests, its president Matano Garcias thanked the members and their friends, for their enthusiastic response to the GAGs call, and had a word of appreciation to the many helpers in organizing the event.  Santa Claus arrived at 8pm to the delight of the children present, whom he entertained with his ho, ho and ha ha before giving away the gifts.  The hall was packed to its capacity. For dancing, Disco sound was provided  by young Gordon Ferrao, with excellent selection of music by Sylvia Klafski, catering to the taste of young and old, including some old traditional Goan numbers.  The dance floor was busy as usual.  It was the warmest Christmas Party ever experienced, with unusual temperature for this time of the year in Germany , where everyone could take to the floor with their coats removed.     Six-years-old Mark Noronha-Engisch performed a dazzling Break-dance on the floor, and as part of his act flung his shirt in the air to everyone's delight. The Party continued untill midnight, with everybody enjoying dancing and savouring Goan delicacies and food prepared by a handful of volunteers.  The German beer and white wine made the evening all the merrier. President Matano Gracias, in his welcome speech,  announced  that on completing his three years' term would step down to make place for new blood to take up the presidentship, and requested  all to actively participate in the next General Body Election in February 2007.  That means extra work for its indefatigable General Secretary -Mariano Pereira, ever ready to oblige.  

Submitted by basiliom@adinet.com.uy

Goan Association Germany join the Alliance of World Goan Organizations

On behalf of Goan Association Germany here is our request for the membership of the Alliance of World Goan Organizations.

We pledge our support for the Alliance of World Goan Organizations and wish you success in your endeavors.

Best regards,

Mariano

OUR SUPPORT TO THE ALLIANCE

The Goan Association Germany, the latest to celebrate the World Goa Day, originated by Rene Barreto in the year 2000, do hereby pledge its membership and support to the Alliance of World Goan Organizations.

Our Association is officially registered in Germany , and enjoys all benefits accorded to other German Associations.

It is presently presided by Matano Gracias and me as the General Secretary.

We have celebrated the World Goa Day for the last two years, to which activity we were introduced by Basilio Magno, Rene's collaborator and the author-composer of the WGD anthem "Proud to be a Goan".  We began the WGD celebrations by singing first the anthem we believe it helps to get the public in a socio-patriotic mood, reminding us of our Goan roots with a sense of pride.

We keep Goa's flag flying high through our socio-cultural activities, bringing Konkani tiatrs from Goa or London, picnics, social gatherings with Goan cuisine, dances, singing Konkani folksongs, etc. As the Goan population in Germany is small our membership is not too large but is expanding yearly.  We try to inculcate in the young generation the spirit of Goan identity and the love of our mother-tongue Konkani, even though it seems to be a tough nut to crack, given the lackadaisical attitude of their parents.

The Association was originally founded by Basilio Magno in the early 70s in Rüsselsheim as St. Francis Xavier's Association which later we named it The Goan Association Germany to conform with the international denominator, to identify it as Goan. When Basilio had left for Spain , due to internal wranglings it was deactivated for few years.  Together with some like minded Goans, an initiative was taken to reactivate it in Frankfurt by calling a meeting and a new Managing Committee was elected as follows:

President: Matano Gracias; Vice-President: Vito Oliveira; General Secretary:  Mariano Pereira; Treasurer: Jerome Simoes; PRO: Michael Nazare. 

To put it on a firmer footing, I wrote the constitution for the Goan Association Germany and was registered in compliance with the German law.  It has been functioning well since then.

We write to request you to admit the Goan Association Germany into the family of the Alliance of the World Goan Organizations, and forward to us the Rules and Regulations or the guidelines, and the registration number for easy identification.

With kind regards and best wishes,

Mariano Pereira

General Secretary GAG

Note: Pictures of our last Tiatro “SUKH” from London directed by Bella Fernandes, staged in Frankfurt on 7 October 2006 to celebrate Goa Day attached