It was the 20th of July amidst the first semester exams when Mindula ayya informed us about the 17th installation of the Rotaract club of the Faculty of Science. The ceremony was scheduled to be held on the 28th of August. We were told that it was an important occasion where the committee members for the year 2019/2020 were officially introduced. Therefore Mindula ayya and Sachindee akki asked for four volunteers as coordinators to conduct the ceremony. The divisions where they needed volunteers were finances, IT, decorations and refreshments as well as hosting of the program. After a few seconds, Charuka rised and volunteered to look over the financial side, followed by Nilakshi who volunteered to handle decorations and refreshments. Oshadha volunteered to handle the IT side and Nethma volunteered to host the program.
After the end of the first semester exams the four coordinators were called for a meeting and were advised on the procedures and preparations for the installation. The board for this year directed their main focus towards eco friendliness and sustainability. As a result, we decided not to print souvenirs but to make e-souvenirs which would save up on paper and reduce wastage of resources.
After the meeting, as coordinators our first job was to recruit our first year friends to our respective divisions for help and so we asked everyone to join one of the groups to provide their support and assistance. Almost all our colleagues joined in willingly. Soon after forming the groups we were all set to start work in our own ways.
Charuka, the coordinator for finances, had to start work before the other coordinators. Under the guidance of Mindula ayya and Ovin ayya, Charuka and his team started to collect money by fund raising. All of our faculty friends got together and made donations which proved an immense support for the ceremony. Afterwards, Charuka and his team started to call companies with the request for sponsorships. Eventually with huge support from his team and his commendable dedication, Charuka was successful in providing a strong financial aid to host the ceremony.
Talking about the second division, the IT side of the ceremony, Oshadha and his team started their job under the guidance of Mindula ayya and Kaushan ayya. In order to make work easier, Oshadha divided the group into sub groups as follows; making the e-souvenir (mainly Gayani and Hirumi) and making the documentaries (mainly Pramuditha and Sadaru). The entire team got together and did their job well.
Moving on to Nilakshi who volunteered to handle decorations and refreshments, she and her team (mainly Hashini and Oshadha) started their duties under the guidance of Sachindee akki. They went to check out the costs of flowers, table cloths, other decorations, etc. They walked through the busy streets of Townhall, Boralle, Pettah , Nugegoda. The team would cover large distances on foot in search of materials for the tiniest of details to achieve the perfect finishing touches. Thanks to the ceremony, the decorations and refreshments team now know the Colombo streets like the back of their hands. Since most of the team members were girls, it was much easier to come up with creative, practical ideas and agreements. The boys in that group (mainly Adeeban and Heshan) too gave their maximum support to make the ceremony a wonderful one. Nilakshi divided the group in to sub-groups and gave responsibilities to capable leaders, Raveesha (head table), Pawani (oil lamp), Janani (flower decorations) and Oshadha (refreshments). The entire team did a great job and the final outcome of the ceremony was immaculately admirable.
The last division was compèring. It was Nethma who volunteered for this. Then Aloka joined in. Under the guidance of Mindula ayya, they planned according to the agenda. They both shared their parts and got ready to do their job.
Finally on the day of the ceremony, after lighting the oil lamp, Charuka delivered the welcome speech and gave a fresh start to the occasion. Everything was perfectly done and the new board was officially introduced. The documentaries which were created were displayed and the program went smoothly as planned. We must not forget the awesome entertainment item performed by the choir team of the University of Colombo, Faculty of Science, which delighted the audience.
‘Hard work, pays off’ and thus the 17th installation of RACFOSUOC came to a successful end.
-Written by Rtr. Nilakshi Wijeweera, Rtr. Oshadha Ariyarathne, Rtr. Charuka Gunawardhane, Rtr. Nethma Wimalasena-
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