JMAAA Reunion, Canada: July 2012

2012 Marine Academy Golden Jubilee Reunion JMAAA
July06~ 07,  2012. Niagara & Hamilton, ON, Canada

Friday Jul 06 2012
Reunion festivities started on Friday July 06 2012 evening at JMAAA President Mr. Ashfaqul Haq (13th)’s house. Nearly all mariner members and their families, in and around Toronto, were at hand and enjoyed the gossip and Mrs. Jasmine Haq’s usual fantastic hospitality with excellent food. Capt. Qudrat E Khoda (17th) and his wife from New Jersey, USA and Mr. Syed Dehlvi (15th) from Houston, USA were the icing on the event.
Saturday Jul 07 2012 Niagara Kingsbridge Park
It was raining heavily in Greater Toronto and Niagara Area during the morning hours but it quickly cleared up to make it a very pleasant day for the reunion of all mariners at Kingsbridge Park, in Niagara. Mr. Mir Ziohurul Tawhid (11th) and Capt. Shaikh Abdullah (14th) with their families were the first to reach the picnic spot, Kingsbridge Park, in Niagara. It was close to the Niagara Falls and other tourist attractions but it turned out nobody went to see the falls or other promised attractions as they were enjoying spending time with together, some of whom met after a long time. All guests arrived by noon. Snacks, tea, coconut, watermelon flowed happily down to everyone’s stomach. There were few attempts to start-up a cricket game, a soccer game and some other games without much success. Most were busy gossiping, soaking the sun and enjoying the fantastic weather. At least two fishing expedition were launched. Expedition teams returned without success. Mr. Ekramullah Chowdhury (17th) came from Australia and Capt. Ekramul Haq (17th) from Ohio, USA with their families brought smiles to all Torontonians. JMAAA founder and Treasurer Mr. G. M. Suhrawardi also arrived from New Jersey. The JMAAA annual meeting was held at the park as the families actually took walks out of the shade to appease the mariners. The meeting was sweet and short. New Executive committee was elected as follows, President: Capt Abid Choudhury (11th); Vice President: Capt. Qudrat E Khoda (17th); Secretary: Mr. Mafizur Rahman (13th) and Treasurer: Mr. G.M. Suhrawardi (6th). Venue for the next reunion provisionally was decided to be Toronto and probable date was August 9, 2014. Few other items were hashed out for the minutes. In the mean time hot pizza arrived as organized by Mr. Munir Rashid (15th). Everyone jumped in for the lunch. Tea and other snacks followed. Soon it was time to head for Hamilton. Group photographs were taken with funny faces also.

Saturday Jul 07 2012 Hamilton
Mr. Munir Rashid did an excellent job selecting the venue with lighted big clean wide space. It was really uplifting to enter the venue. As the evening session began, the out going President Mr. Ashfaqul Haq formally handed over the responsibility to the new President Capt. Abid Choudhury, followed by few short speeches and vote of thanks to the organizing committee and the host Torontonians for contributing for the expense of the events. Next was a short cultural program, participated by the families and children of the members. As soon as the cultural program ended, food was served. Everyone enjoyed the excellent food and the sweets. The function was over by around midnight, when members returned to their home/hotel with lots of good memories and desire to meet again in 2014.