THE P.D.A GAVE YOU A NEW CLUB, AND NEW HOMES…

VOTE P.D.A. AGAIN TO ENSURE THE MARCH OF PROGRESS

After the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) powered the makeover of the Press Club in 2008, you reposed your faith in the same team with an overwhelming majority. There was a reason: Nearly 250 members had been waiting in the wings patiently for their dream homes, and a committed team was needed to push this through. Despite the doubting Thomases and the negative campaigning, you put your faith in the PDA to do the job. Once again we proved you correct. After 7 years of lobbying spread over the terms of 4 chief ministers, Ashok Chavan finally signed the dotted line 9 months ago for the Press Club-MHADA Housing Scheme. Under the scheme, 168 members got 2BHK, HIG flats, while another 62 are awaiting their turn to get their keys for 1 BHK, MIG homes.

Over the last few years, the PDA has made the Press Club an institution you can be proud of:

The Club is today a modern, hygienic recreation area you can proudly bring your friends and family to.

• The Club is a place where women too feel at home and where women’s causes have a platform for discussion.
• The Club today provides professional support to members including a media room with high speed broadband, professional camera-cleanup facilities for photo-journalists, etc.
• The Club today provides top-line entertainment. For instance, 6 weeks of IPL and 5 weeks of World Cup Football was broadcast live on high-definition (HD) big screens and 3-D.
• The Club today is the only institution in India that has run a Film Club successfully for over 6 years without a break.
• The Club is the only one in India that uses professionals to train the staff and ensure a high level of property management so that you get the best possible ambience and service.
  

IT IS FOR THESE REASONS AND MORE THAT THE PRESS CLUB OF MUMBAI HAS EMERGED AS THE BEST PRESS CLUB IN INDIA.
Once again we have elections, and once again the PDA team needs your support. A lot has been achieved; but a lot still remains to be done. In particular:

-The dilapidated Conference Hall needs to be rebuilt as a modern venue for events that will bring in much-needed revenue.
-The offering for F&B needs to be widened to include more happening afternoon menus. We are in talks with Café Coffee Day and Barista for this.
-Though we are the only club to have a website, our online services and interactive communication needs to be improved.
-The Press Club today commands substantial respect, but much more needs to be done to make the Club the primary public platform in the city for speakers, celebrities and causes.

All these things will only happen if you make that little effort on Saturday, July 24th morning and come and vote PDA. The Club is not on auto-pilot; it can crash if you are not careful. Don’t be complacent, and make sure your star team makes it!

ATTEND AGM ON FRIDAY, JULY 23 AT 2.00PM
VOTING ON SATURDAY, JULY 24TH FROM 12 NOON TO 7.00PM
VOTE PDA! VOTE PROGRESS!!

THE TEAM

PRESS CLUB ELECTIONS 2010 : PDA Candidates

PRESIDENT - GURBIR SINGH (Business World)
Senior Editor in Business World. Started writing for Indian Express in 1980; joined The Economic Times in 1982; worked freelance for journals like EPW between 1985 and 1988 before rejoining The Economic Times in 1989. Has served as Hon Secretary both in the Bombay Union of Journalists and the Press Club. Key architect of the new press club and instrumental in getting 230 mhada flats to the press club members fist time in the history.

CHAIRMAN - PRAKASH AKOLKAR (Maharashtra Times)
Prakash, Deputy Editor of Maharashtra Times has in journalism for the last 3 decades. He joined MT in 1979 and worked in various capacities such as Special Correspondent, Chief Reporter etc. and covered various social, p[political and cultural events for Maharashtra Times. He is the person how written the first exclusive history of the Shiv Sena’s 30 years a book named ‘Jai Maharashtra’. He has recently written a book “Mumbai on Sale”: story of Mumbai’s Rise and Fall in last 3 decades.

VICE CHAIRMAN - SANTOSH BANE (Times of India)
Santosh Bane a well-known photographer has been in Time of India for the last 17 years. Currently he is working as National Chief Sports Photographer. He has covered 3 World cup cricket as instrumental in organizing the Press Club photo contest. He has served 5 years as press club managing committee member

SECRETARY - SUNIL SHIVDASANI (Press Trust of India)
Sunil Shivdasani is the Legal Editor working with Press Trust of India. He was with Hindustan Times for as short period with 33 years of experience in Journalism. In his previous stint with the Press Trust of India for 27 years, he rose to the level of Bureau Chief. Shivdasani has been election officer for Press club, Mumbai, twice and also has been on the Scrutiny/Review committee of the Press Club for two terms. He has also headed the membership review committees of Press club.

JOINT SECRETARY - DEVDAS MATALE (The Sunday Indian)
Devdas currently the Editor of The Sunday Indian - Marathi, a News Weekly by the Planman Media group. Started his career in journalism with the Marathi daily ‘Mumbai Sakal’ in 1989; Soon joined ‘Sanj Loksatta’ by the Indian Express Group and covered BMC and Mantralaya, the political beat. As news channels were just arriving headed Zee News, Marathi as the Executive Producer. Later moved on to Navashakti as a news editor, then moved on to Sahara Samay Mumbai as Senior Producer. Has served the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh in various capacities and curently serving as the Vice President. He was also been the first chairman of the BMC Vartahar Sangh. Also headed the Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh. Currently also on the Regional Accredition Committee of Maharashtra Government.

TREASURER - AJIT JOSHI (Freelancer)
Ajit Joshi, having more than 22 years experience in the journalism. He started his carrier with leading Gujarati Daily Janma Bhoomi- Prawasi, he worked for MID-DAY, MUMBAI- MIRROR, GUJARAT SAMACHAR and few other main streams news papers of Mumbai and Gujarat. Mr. Joshi is also having vast experience of governmental work and also is very familiar with most of important government department like, BMC, MANTRLAYA, and Revenue. He is played a major role in rebuilding the new clubhouse of Press Club.

MANAGING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

DEVENDRA MOHAN
Business India
Devendra Mohan, 59, has been in journalism since 1969 and has written for the Hindustan Times, The Statesman, Indian Express, The Times, Free Press Journal, Onlooker, Blitz and The Daily; edited Newstrek fortnightly for one year. He was also the bureau chief of Newstime/Eenadu in Mumbai from 1986-89. For the past eight years, he has been writing for Business India fortnightly as its senior assistant editor. Associated with the Press Club Mumbai as a regular member and was directly involved in various fund raising activities. Responsible for getting funds MP & Karnataka chief Minister’s in the eighties. He has been actively participating in various cultural and the Meet-the-Press activities. In the past recent years, he has been actively instrumental in major fund collection drive for the club besides garnering various resources for its development. In the past, he has served the club as its treasurer, secretary and chairman for two terms.

SANTOSH ANDHALE
Mumbai Mirror
Santosh Andhale is the Special Correspondent with Mumbai Mirror and has over 10 years of experience in journalism. The youngest member of the Progressive Democratic Alliance with 30 years old, Santosh is an active member of the press club. He has broken many stories in the Mumbai social sector. He was with Saamna before joining Mumbai Mirror.

O P TIWARI
Dainik Jagran
Om Prakash Tiwari is the Special Correspondent in Mumbai of Dainik Jagran, the highest circulating Hindi daily. Prior to joining Dainik Jagran, he was Assistant Editor with the Hindi edition of Blitz. He has been part of Managing Committee of Press Club, Mumbai for four terms. He is a science graduate from Lucknow University. He is also a member of Maharashtra Rajya Hindi Sahitya Academy.

EDWIN FERNANDES
Times of India
Edwin aged 47 years is working for Times of India for the last 30 years. He has an active member of the club for the past 14 years and instruments in organizing a few sport events in the club. He served as a joint conveynor of the sports committee for consecutive two terms.

MRITYUNJAY BOSE
Sakal Times
Mrityunjay Bose currently works as the Special Correspondent of Sakal Times, a Pune-based daily of Sakal Media Group. He heads the Mumbai bureau of the newspaper. In 1995, he started working as a Reporter-cum-Sub Editor with Career and Business Times, a weekly newspaper. Thereafter, he joined The Free Press Journal and then switched over to United News of India (1996-2004). After his stint with the news agency, he moved to The Maharashtra Herald and then Sakal Times. An M.Com, he has completed his journalism studies from the KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research. He has authored War Zone Mumbai – a book on 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai.

PRAVEEN KAJROLKAR
Eenadu
Praveen started his career in 1990 as a freelance photographer. Currently with Eenadu Newspaper has provided extensive coverage of Bhij earthquake, July 26 flooding, 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts as well as the 2006 local train bombings etc.. He has two decades of experience working with leading newspapers such as Times of India, Mid-Day, Tarun Bharat, Kalammudi, Daily and Bombay Times.

DHARMENDRA JORE
Hindustan Times
Dharmendra is currently working as Deputy Chief of Political Bureau with Hindustan Times. He is in journalism for about two decades. He started his profession in Indian Express and has covered various beats. Currently he is covering the Mantralaya and also a well known face in the political journalism and contributed his efforts to get the MHADA houses for Press Club members.

KAMLESH SUTAR
Headlines Today/ Aaj Tak
Kamlesh is an active and popular amoung the electronic media,currently working with the Headlines Today / Aaj Tak. He has over a decade of expericen especially in television journalison. He worked with the leading organizations like News X, Times Now, Doordarshan, Daily Lokmat and All India Radio. He has extensively reported from Rural maharashtra especially on Vidarbha Suicides and Dalit Attrocities. Covering Political beat for a decade now and written two documentary films and also directed a TV series for Doordarshan

VIJAYANAND GUPTA
Hindustan Times
Vijayanand Gupta is a popular photographer has been in Hindustan Times for the last 5 years. Currently he is working as Dy. Chief Photographer. He has experience of two decades working with Mid-day, Bombay Times, Sunday Observer and Metropolis. He has covered IIFA awards in Dubai and Malaysia, International fleet review, Lakme fashion week. He has won number of domestic and international awards.

MAKARAND GADGIL
The Energy Business
Active member of the journalist fraternity for last 15 years, member of the press club since 2006. Currently working for the specialised magazine on the energy sector ‘The Energy Business’, Earlier worked in publications like TOI, Lokmat and Business Standard and also worked in Pune and Delhi apart from Mumbai.

N O T I C E FOR AGM 2010

The Annual General Body Meeting of the Press Club, Mumbai will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 1.30 pm at the Club premises to transact the following business:
1. To Read and confirm the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Jun 26, 2009.
2. To consider and if found fit, adopt the Report of the Managing Committee for the previous year;
3. To consider and if found fit, adopt the audited statement of Accounts of the Club for the previous year;
4. To declare the election of the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Jt. Secretary, Treasurer and 10 members of the Managing Committee; [This item will be taken up on July 24, 2010 from 12 Noon to 7 pm. For details refer Election Schedule]
5. To appoint an Internal Auditor to assist and advise the President.
6. To appoint a five-member Membership Review/Scrutiny Committee
7. To appoint the Auditor and to fix his remuneration.
8. To transact any other business with the consent of the chair.

PRESS CLUB ELECTIONS 2010 - ELECTION SCHEDULE

ELECTIONS SCHEDULE, RULES AND OTHER DETAILS

I. Schedule
Filing of nominations: Monday, July 12, 2010 to Monday July 19, 2010 upto 7.00 pm.
Scrutiny of nominations at the Club’s premises: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by 7.00 pm.
Withdrawal of nominations: Wednesday July 21, 2010 upto 7.00 pm.
Polling, if necessary: Saturday, July 24, 2010 from 12.00 noon to 7.00 pm.

II. Mr Vinod Vasudev has been appointed as Returning Officer for the elections for the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Jt. Secretary, Treasurer and 10 members of the Managing Committee. In case of his absence Mr. Jatin Desai will take charge as the Returning Officer

III. Your attention is drawn to the following clauses in the election rules:
(a) Any member who, as on 10th May, is in arrears of current year subscription or other dues shall not be entitled to be a candidate or a proposer or a seconder in the election or to exercise his franchise.
(b) Each nomination shall be duly proposed and seconded by ordinary members and signed by the candidate, all three of them being eligible to vote, provided further that only such persons as have been members for a continues period of one year on the date of election, shall have the right to stand as a candidate or to propose or second a nomination.
(c) Nomination forms for the posts of President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Jt, Secretary, Treasurer and Managing Committee will be available at the Press Club office during working hours. The Nomination form, complete in all respects, should be placed in an envelope, sealed and then dropped in a sealed box provided for the purpose at the Press Club premises. (The Club will provide Envelopes).
(d) In the event of there being a larger number of candidates than the seats, an election shall) be held by secret ballot, by way of single non-transferable vote on the date and the hours stipulated in the Notice.
(e) There shall be separate ballot papers for the election of the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Jt. Secretary, Treasurer and for the Managing Committee Members
(f) The Ballot paper or papers, as the case may be, shall incorporate the names of all the candidates, surnames first, wherever applicable, in alphabetical order.
(g) The members qualified to vote shall write a cross (X) clearly against the name/s whom they wish to vote for.
(h) A member may vote for fewer candidates than the number of seats. Any ballot paper in which the voter has voted for more candidates than the number of seats shall be treated as invalid.
(i) Also, any ballot paper in which a cross in shown in such a way as to make the choice ambiguous shall be considered invalid. Mutilation of ballot paper, cancellation or scratching of vote shall render the ballot paper invalid.
(j) The decision of the Returning Officer in regard to validity of a vote/ballot paper shall be final and binding.
(k) The counting of votes shall commence immediately after the closure of voting.
(l) As soon the counting is over, the Returning Officer shall prepare the result, sign the result sheet and announce the results.

VOTE PDA. VOTE PROGRESS

Thank You

THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR VOTING SOLIDLY WITH THE PDA!

It’s a mandate for growth, a rejection of negativism!!

Dear Members and Voters,

As we begin a new term for the Press Club, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having given such a decisive mandate to the PDA team. On a day lashed by rains, bomb blasts and uncertainty, you came out and voted to ensure that the path of progress did not get derailed. As many as 430 members of 711 eligible voters braved a bad day to put their stamp of support on the brave new world, and to reject sniveling criticism that belongs to the last century.

It was not just a win, it was a stunning victory that has surprised many of the PDA team. Some of our office bearers like Santosh Bane won by over a 100 votes and set new records. For the first time we have a lady, Swati Deshpande, in the key post of Secretary; and as many as 8 of our 10 candidates who stood for the Managing Committee romped home.

There are important lessons to be learnt from the poll results. Members have voted with their heads and hearts. The previous PDA team has set a new bar by building a world-class clubhouse with modern facilities, and our members have said: “Yes, this is the way to go. Give us more.”

On the other hand, members have resoundingly rejected the politics of negativism. Those who have opposed the Club’s development, have resorted to vicious smear campaigns and operated filthy, anonymous blogs have been the worst losers. We sincerely hope these persons will mend their ways and work for the development of the Club.

The PDA team also takes this opportunity to congratulate Pradeep Vijayakar for being elected President and the two other Managing Committee members, Ashish Raje and Kapana Rane, who have won. It also must be mentioned that Chairman-Candidate G.Vishwanath put in considerable effort to keep the election campaign of his team as clean as possible, and we thank him for his efforts.

Dear Member, we will expect your continued support in the days to come. This means we expect you not only to give us your suggestions, but also pull us up when we don’t keep to the high benchmarks we have set for ourselves.

Thank you once again!

TEAM PDA

And the winners are...

The Following members are declared won the Press Club Elections for the Year 2008-10.

President : Pradeep Vijayakar - Times of India
Chairman : Devendra Mohan - Business India
Vice Chairman : Santosh Bane - Times of India
Secretary : Swati Deshpande - Times of India
Jt Secretary : Gordon D'Costa - Hindustan Times
Treasurer : Rajesh Mascarenhas - The Economic Times

Managing Commitee :

Gurbir Singh - Business World
Santosh Andhale - Mumbai Mirror
Pradeep Shinde - Matruboomi
Prakash Akolkar - Maharashtra Times
Edwin Fernandes - Times of India
Ajit Joshi - Gujrathi Mitra
Sunil Shivdasani - Hindustan Times
Om Prakash Tiwari - Dainik Jhagran
Ashish Raje - Mumbai Mirror
Kalpana Rane - Maharashtra Times

PDA Sweeps the Press Club Polls

PDA sweeps the Press Club Elections

The ruling panel Progressive Democratic Alliance swept The Press Club, Mumbai Elections 2008-10, held on Saturday, July 26, ’08, by wining all the office-bearer seats and 8 out of 10 managing committee seats.

On a day lashed by rains, bomb blasts and uncertainty, a large number of journalists came and voted to ensure that the path of progress does not get derailed. It was not just a win; it was a stunning victory that surprised many among the ruling team. Members have resoundingly rejected the politics of negativism. Those who opposed the club’s development, resorted to vicious smear campaigns and operated filthy, anonymous blogs have been the losers.

Devendra Mohan of Business India won the chairman’s post by defeating G Vishwanath of The Hindu by over 47 votes, while Santosh Bane of The Times of India defeated Prasad Mokhasi of Loksatta by 105 votes to bag the post of vice chairman.

For the first time, the Press Club has a lady, Swati Deshpande, from The Times of India, holding the key post of secretary. She defeated Vinod Khatri of Navbharat Times by over 57 votes. Gordon D’Costa of Hindustan Times defeated Kalpana Rane of Maharashtra Times by 60 votes to bag the joint secretary’s post.

Rajesh Mascarenhas of The Economic Times bagged the post of treasurer by defeating Chandrashekar Sant by a margin of 90 votes.

Others who became members of the managing committee include Gurbir Singh of Business World, Santosh Andhale of Mumbai Mirror, Pradeep Shinde of Matruboomi, Ajit Joshi of Gujarathi Mitra, Sunil Shivdasani of Hindustan Times, Edwin Fernandes of The Times of India, Prakash Akolkar of Maharashtra Times and Om Prakash Tiwari of Dainik Jagran.

Elections Results 2008-10

President

Mr. Pradeep Vijakar has been elected as President. He secured 297 votes.
Mr. Chandra Prakash Jha secured 110 votes.
Invalid votes: 22

Chairman
Mr. Devendra Mohan has been elected as Chairman. He secured 212 votes.
Mr. G.Viswanath secured 165 votes.
Mr. Sumant Mishra secured 42 votes.
Invalid votes:10

Vice-Chairman
Mr. Santosh Bane has been elected as Vice-Chairman. He secured 262 votes.
Mr. Prasad Mokashi secured 157 votes.
Invalid votes:10

Secretary
Ms. Swati Deshpande has been elected as Secretary. She secured 237 votes.
Mr. Vinod Khatri secured 180 votes.
Invalid votes:11

Joint Secretary
Mr. Gordon D’ Costa has been elected as Joint Secretary. He secured 237 votes.
Ms. Kalpana Rane secured 177 votes.
Invalid votes:12

Treasurer
Mr. Rajesh Mascarenhas has been elected as Treasurer. He secured 252 votes.
Mr. Chandrashekhar P. Sant secured 162 votes.
Invalid votes:13

Managing Committee Members
The Following 10 (ten) candidates are declared elected to the Managing Committee:

Name: Votes secured
1) Mr. Gurbir Singh 264
2) Mr. Santosh Andhale 258
3) Mr. Pradeep Shinde 228
4) Mr. Sunil Shivdasani 226
5) Mr. Ajit Joshi 222
6) Mr. Om Prakash Tiwari 221
7) Mr. Edwin Fernandes 214
8) Mr. Ashish Raje 210
9) Mr. Prakash Akolkar 207
10)Ms. Kalpana S. Rane 189

The defeated candidates and their votes are as follows:

Mr. Ninad P. Siddhaye 175
Mr. Jayprakash Kelkar 173
Mr. Ghanashyam S. Bhadekar 168
Mr. Sai Prasan 168
Mr. Rajesh Kocharekar 154
Mr. Nilesh M. Dave 150
Mr. Vinod Raghavan 146
Mr. Manalody James 142
Mr. Mukund Karnik 133
Mr. Ayub M. Shekason 118
Mr. Chandra Prakash Jha 90


(Jatin Desai)
Returning Officer

Date: July 26, 2008

Final PDA Candidates