HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINAR AND CONCERT
July 3rd, 2009, 5:00p.m. The first of 520 guests began the descent into the basement Hall at Christ the King Church in anticipation of the much-awaited Health and Wellness Seminar and Concert hosted by 55PGA. Rigorous planning and organizing was the order of the days leading up to the event. The committee had left no stone unturned to ensure that this rather daunting undertaking would run as smoothly as was humanly possible. And, to our extreme satisfaction, it did. Credit for the precise and professional execution of all the various jobs entailed in facilitating such an event successfully, must without any doubt, be given to our titan team of volunteers without whom we couldn’t possibly boast of any measure of success.
Our two lead volunteers, Ruben and Christine, made a dynamic meet and greet team, strategically stationed at the two entrances leading into the hall. Their job, which they conducted without hitch or hassle, was primarily to ensure that everyone entering was in possession of a ticket. This preempted the possibility of 
having a crush of people in the small lobby waiting for either tickets or their husbands/wives who were parking cars or had not yet arrived. Dominic D’Souza stood sentry in the lobby effectively keeping line-ups to a minimum. In attendance at the two check-in tables set up at the main entrance to the hall were our team of veteran members Theo & Thelma D’Souza, Edmund & Armand. Together they set the stage and mood for a smooth and stress-free start to a perfect evening. Lead usher volunteers Elma and Alban then took over the entry process, guiding attendees towards food pick-up areas. As Captains of the ushering team, Elma and Alban ensured that at no time was there ever a cluster of people in the doorway or the center aisle indecisive of where to go or what to do next. They directed with authority albeit with warm hospitality. Next in line we had Pio right entry and Pliny on the left, nudging people towards the four food tables skirting the sides of the hall, two tables on each side. The tables were laden with neatly package and labeled snack packs containing an assortment of delectable provided by Belinda Remedios. In each pack were a chicken pan roll, a shrimp pattie, a samosa, a chutney sandwich, a tuna sandwich and a bread pudding. Dishing out the snack packs and bottles of water with unquestionable efficiency and swiftness were Iona & Wanda, Blanche & Joyce, Tina & Alba, Marie & Maxima. When the food packs were picked up and coupons collected, guests were discreetly nabbed by waiting ushers, Anthony, Dolly, Lolita, Daphne and Edmond and directed into the rows of seats in a manner that quickly and efficiently filled up all seats front to back of the hall. This allowed for the hall to be accommodated and seated well within the very short timeline provided.
The entire operation was conducted with such ease and confidence, it created an aura of discreet and effortless precision and professionalism. Kudos to each and every one of our volunteers for making this event the success that it was.
And while all this was going on, we were able to entertain the Celebrant Singers to a welcome dinner in a back hall, thanks to the unobtrusive behind-the-scenes work of Ida who set a mouthwatering table of roast chicken, potatoes, pasta salad, fruit and ice cream.
At six p.m. we were ready for the parade of our red carpet guests. Thanks to the medical knowledge and capability of our man-in-the-field, Edlyn DeSouza, the mensa that encompassed our theme of Body, Mind & Spirit was awe-inspiring. Heading the lineup was Dr. Subodh Verma who gave us, South Asian baby 
boomers, some very valuable information on heart health, which was extremely well received and most appreciated by all attendees. Truth be told, even as Dr. Verma was power-pointing his brain-jolting slide on artery blockage, I was rushing to book in with Jenny Craig and get myself a personal trainer! An eye-opener, indeed, to all of us whose mantra has been, “it’ll never happen to me”. Next on the roster was Sagar Parikh who gave us a meaningful insight into mental health. Jas Parhar followed, extolling the merits of consultation with a Pharmacist before blindly taking prescribed drugs. A practice many of us ignore. Ending the seminar portion of the evening was Jon Stemkoski who opened our hearts to the healing power of faith and spirituality. Capably moderating the event was cardiologist Dr. Louis Noronha, of Goan descent, currently practicing in the Mississauga area. Dr. Noronha is an active member of the Christ the King Parish and an esteemed member of our community. Henry Lobo, a prominent Goan artist, was commissioned to produce the beautiful artwork that was presented to each speaker as honoraria for so willingly giving up their time. This was a seminar that I am almost certain every one of the 500 plus attendees felt glad they didn’t miss.
At 9:00 p.m. the Celebrant Singers, a missionary group of young gospel singers from California, their instruments and voices well tuned, began their concert in the Church. It was a spiritual rendition of beautiful 
hymns very much in tune with our theme of Wellness of Spirit. Jon Stemkoski led the Concert, which went on until 11:00pm. A lineup of members kindly hosted these young people for the night before their departure to their next stop the following day. On behalf of the committee we thank all the families who so readily opened their homes to the singers.
July 3rd, 2009 will be held in the annals of 55PGA history as a warm memory of an event that garnered a whole lot of commendations from the many members and executive members of all the other GTA Goan-affiliated associations. Thanks must go to President Rudy Fernandes, Vice-President Juliet Rebello and the rest of the New Horizons Committee for making this event possible.
Joan DoRosario
On behalf of the Executive Committee I wish to thank Joan for her fine leadership that ensured the success of this memorable event. Thanks Joan also for capturing this Seminar’s proceedings so effectively and succinctly.
Rudy Fernandes
