Newsletter_January_2006

The Dutch Burgher Union
114, Reid Avenue, Colombo 4.
Telephone No. 2584511

Newsletter – January 2006

President’s New Year Message

Dear Fellow Member,

It is difficult to comprehend how this year has gone so fast and we are in the beginning of a new year. Change is inevitable, and we have it in so many spheres. Our lives change too and we sometimes find that difficult to accept. Life is sometimes sweet and sometimes bitter, there are times when everything goes well, friends are supportive, and we have rewarding tasks to do. We can only live one moment at a time. We at the DBU are singularly fortunate, as we have a Union to come to, to relax with friends, play our favourite games, listen to music or sit quietly and relax. We must count our blessings and be thankful for our beautiful venue and for the work that we do, especially in the field of charity which is dearest to our hearts and objectives. So please patronize the DBU (upstairs) more often and see for yourself the changes we have made where you will observe the vast improvements also in the rear verandah.

Me and my Committee wish you and your families the happiest, brightest and peaceful New Year, filled with happy days, eventful happenings and good fortune to rejoice and celebrate, making it a year just wonderful and memorable in every way for you and your families.
Yours sincerely,

Kem Martenstyn
President

APPRECIATION

At the end of another year at the DBU, the President and General Committee place on record their deep appreciation and thanks to Mr Mohan Lourdes (Manager), Ms Etienne Jayatunge (Administrative Secretary), Mr Jerome Pereira (Barman), Mr Kapila Jayasundera (Office Aide) and Mr K Subramaniam (Gardener), who gave of their very best at all times right throughout the year. Thank you all, for your loyal service to the DBU

MEMEBERS NIGHT

Bingo Night
Saturday, 28th January 2006
No entrance ticket or cover charge for members & guests
“Happy Hour” at the bar (10% off) from 8 -9 pm
Eyes down for first game @ 8 p.m.
“Bites”, snacks & Lamprais will be available.
Dress Code: Strictly “Smart Casual.”

SOME DUTCH AND PORTUGUESE DELICACIES

December is the month at the DBU when most of these delicacies are usually available, But how many of us know their origin and what they are? We’ll now tell you about some, very briefly.
(D= Dutch, P=Portuguese)

* Bol Fiado-(Laminated Cake)- P
* Broeder (also Bruedher)-(Dough cake)-D
* Suikerbrood -(Sugar loaf)-D
* Poffertjes-(Fritters)- D
* Ijzer Koekes -(Iron Cake)-D
* Boroa -(Semolina Biscuits)-P
* Bolo de Coco -(Coconut cake)-P
* Wafel -(Wafer cake)- D
* Pente Frito -(”’Fried comb’) -P
* Fougete-(“Rocket”) -P
* Aardappelen Koek-(Potato cake)-D
* Lomprijst – (Lamprais) -D

Honorary Membership

We are pleased to announce that Rodney Vandergert has been elected as the first Honorary Member of the Union. We extend to him our congratulations and best wishes.

A BIG THANK YOU..

To Dallas Martenstyn and the others for their untiring efforts in improving the facilities for our members. One has only to visit the bar and lounge areas to see the remarkable facelift that has taken lace in such a short period of time.

NOTICES:

1. As per Excise Regulations, the bar closing time is 11pm.
2. The upstairs hall and bar is closed on days on which there are official Union functions.
3. Dress Code: After 7pm , “Smart Casual” shall be worn in the upstairs lounge area by members and guests. The wearing of sports kit, shorts, rubber slippers and sleeveless ‘T’ shirts is not permitted. Thongs shall not worn at any time.
4. No one under 18 years is allowed in the bar area. The barman has been authorised to ensure that this Excise Department Regulation is adhered to. The co-operation of everyone will be greatly appreciated.

INAUGURAL MEMBERS’ SNOOKER & DARTS TOUNAMENTS – Dec 2005

The inaugural Snooker and Darts Tournarnents for members were successfully concluded on 9th December 2005. Though the number of entries was small, a high standard in both tournaments was witnessed. The Snooker title went to Hirantha Pereira with MA Gaffoor as Runner-up. The other members who played in the preliminary rounds were Monte Holsinger, Jeran Jegatheesan, David Joachim, Kevin Koch, Dallas Martenstyn, David Martenstyn, Ryan Ohlmus, Kevin Pinto, Stefan Schumacher and Emard Soris. In the Darts tourney, Dorian Gray won the trophy with Kevin Koch being the runner up. The other participants were Clinton de Kretser, Jerome Fernando, Monte Holsinger, David Joachim, Stephen LaBrooy, Dallas Martenstyn, Ryan Ohlmus, Kevin Pinto, and Udesh Ratnagopal, To the Organising Committee comprising David Joachim (Chairman), Ryan Ohlmus, Dallas Martenstyn, Kevin Pinto and Jeran Jegatheesan, go a big bouquet for the extremely well conducted tournaments.

DBU CAPS, CAR PARK STICKERS & DBU Mugs:

For the information of Members and Associates who joined us recently, DBU caps (Rs 200/=), Car Stickers (RsIOO/=), and DBU Mugs (Rs.300/=) are available for sale. Please inquire at the Office or bar. We urge every member to have a DBU cap, to be worn at DBU outings/outdoor functions as a show of solidarity among members and families of the DBU.

CD with DBU INDEX OF GENEALOGIES

(updated as at Dec. 2005) also containing the lists of V.O.C SERVANTS and FOUNDER FAMILIES
Anyone desirous of ordering this Compact Disc (CD) , @Rs2300/= incl. of VAT, may do so by making payment at the Office and obtaining a receipt. The Office will advise, within 10 days, when the CD would be ready for collection.

Membership Subscriptions for 2006
Members are kindly reminded that subscriptions for the current year should paid by the 31st of this month. Thank you.

DBU JOURNAL Vol. LXX (70)
Now on sale at the Office. Members’ price Rs290/= (inc!. ofV( “)

JDBU Vol. 70 is published after a lapse of nearly 8 years. The journal contains many interesting features of historical interest. For the first time, is published in a single volume, the lists of Founder Families and VOC Servants, and these could be of immense value to many Burgher families who have not had the opportunity or time to search and have their authenticated genealogies published in the DBU journals. We repeat what was stated in DBU Bulletin No.9-December 2002: “It must be re-iterated that the responsibility of proving lineage rests, not with the Committee, but with the applicant. While the Committee can and does assist in search, the ‘burden of proof’ lies with the applicant.

Other items include the names the Presidents of the Union, names of Members & Associates at 31.8.05, speeches made at the 97th AGM , and by the late Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Lakshman Kadirgamar on the 31 st October 1996, excepts of articles by some notable DBU stalwarts, like R G Anthonisz, Dr R L Brohier, R A Kriekenbeek and E.H. Vanderwall, and a triad of short articles on the subject of ‘Burghers’ reproduced from past volumes of the JDBU. There are also additions to and corrections of published genealogies of 5 families, an article about the DBU Constitution and a page on internet humour.

Mr. Maurice Forster, Co-ordinator Student Sponsorship Programme of the 80 Club Melbourne Inc, had this to say: “The DBU Journal has happily been resurrected after nearly a decade. I had great pleasure reading many interesting articles from back numbers in my friend Reggie Poulier’s collection when in Colombo in ’97. I hope sincerely that all the sentiments expressed in the last sentence of your editorial will be realized. J was also happy to hear from Kem and learn from the journal that some serious efforts have been made to involve the wider Burgher Community, within the membership of the DBU”

This 70th Volume is indeed a Collector’s item, and as at the date of this Newsletter only 58 copies are available. (Rs 290/= for members & Rs 1,725/- for non-members – prices include VAT)

FRESH LAMPRAIS

Available daily. Book early. FROZEN LAMPRAIS Available between 10.00 a.m. & 8.00 p.m. (Telephone – 2584511)