I asked the community members if they had anything to say to those who are coming and here are some of the immediate responses:
Kashi: “Don’t worry. You can come and we will welcome you.”
Ramprakash: “We will welcome you with flowers.”
Sanjoy: “We are making folder covers for the meeting.”
It is clear we will receive a warm welcome here!
In October, you will be coming to Kolkata, the fourth-largest city in India. As in many other countries, India has seen riots this year due to food shortages and rising prices.
On April 21, many inhabitants of Kolkata demonstrated against the spiralling prices with a general strike. Our Charter states that L'Arche communities "are united by the same vision and the same spirit of welcome, of sharing and simplicity." Whilst basic staples like rice and corn become unaffordable for many people in the world, L’Arche communities prepare for the General Assembly.
In doing so, please keep our Charter’s spirit alive. You might also want to contemplate one of Gandhi’s most well-known quotes: “Live simply so others may simply live."
Most people who are coming to the general assembly in Kolkata have now registered and bought their tickets. Anybody that has still not registered please do so as soon as possible to help us in our planning.
Future practical information will be sent directly to participants by e-mail. The September issue of the International Meeting Ground will also be entirely dedicated to the General Assembly in Kolkata.
If you have any questions then do contact the Paris office on kolkata08@larche.org
1, There is some important practical work for each community to prepare before sending their delegates to Kolkata:
- There are various reports that need to be approved:
- The Identity & Mission Statements
- The Report of the International Coordinators
- The President’s Report
- The Finance Report
- Nominations for the International Executive
- Changes in the Constitution (this has already been sent out)
For this it is important that each community takes the time to reflect seriously on the various papers which will be sent out at the beginning of September so that your delegates know how you wish them to vote.
2. Banners
Each country is asked to make a banner showing the Identity and Mission of L’Arche in its country. These will be hung in the conference hall and can be taken home afterwards. The dimensions must be: 0.75 metres wide and 1.80 metres long (the banners will be hung vertically, not horizontally). On both ends there should be a hem of 5 cms. so that we can introduce a cord in the top hem to hang the banner and a rod in the bottom hem. The length of 1.80 metres is the final length including the two hems.
3. International Painting Exhibition
Asha Niketan Kolkata are hosting an international painting exhibition of paintings by people with learning disabilities. For this, each community is invited to bring one or more paintings by members of their community to the general assembly in Kolkata. The theme for the paintings is ‘celebration’. The community hope to make a calendar afterwards based on the paintings. They will invite famous painters from Kolkata to come to the exhibition which will be held after the assembly.
4. DVD
Each community should already have received a DVD which has 3 short films on it about the history of Asha Niketan and the communities today. Included with the DVD are some suggestions as to how to make use of the material in your communities. We have already had very positive feedback about these DVD’s. Finding ways of using them well will be a great help in your preparations for Kolkata ’08. Please let the office of L’Arche International in Paris (kolkata08@larche.org) know if your community has not received the DVD.
5. Market place
Every day after lunch at the general assembly there will be a market place. We are inviting organisations that are friendly with Asha Niketan to come and sell their products as we realise there will be no time for people to go shopping. The communities from South Asia will also sell their workshop products then. Any other community that would like to sell products from their workshops is welcome to do so. Please inform the Paris office if you plan to bring products for sale so that we can organise tables etc.
6. Prayer
Last, but certainly not least, please pray for the preparations and for the meeting itself.
We look forward to welcoming you in Kolkata !
Hazel
Events coordinator of L’Arche International
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