Jan%202014

r e t r o p e R Greater Austin Malayalee Association January, 2014 • 2014 Board in place • President, Ram! • 2013 Christmas Pictures • Poems • Short stories • Why join GAMA Board?

Christmas holiday decorations @ Legoland California, Carlsbad-Sharath Edathil

Message from the President Happy new year to everyone!

2013 was definitely a big year from GAMA's perspective. Our community grew a lot in the last one year and this reflected in the people 2013 President: Ani Jose

attending all GAMA events. I will not go into a detailed report of all the events GAMA organized last year, rather let us focus on the broad positives and things we can improve go-

..cont on page #2

2014 GAMA Board members

The 2013 board members did a wonderful job, organizing various events throughout the year. Congratulations to each of them and a big THANK YOU on behalf of the community. Six of them have completed their term of two years.

The 2014 board was formed in

the general body meeting held during the GAMA Christmas event with the addition of eight new members. Con2014 President: PG Ram gratulations to all new members. We PG Ram was elected are looking forward to another great as the President GAMA year from you guys. unanimously.

The first meeting of the new board was conducted on the third Sunday of January and elected the new officials. Mr.

..cont on page #2

GAMA Christmas—2013

Inside this issue: Short story by Jane

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Poem by Sreevidhya

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GAMA Christmas

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Poem by Moni

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Kidz Korner

8

Trip to the Ice cream Factory

9

Page 2

..message from the president GAMA events have become very consistent year after year, following a predictable schedule which is familiar to everyone who has been living in Austin for couple of years.

The event management has matured over the time. After every event, the board gets feedback from the community and compile a list of lessons learned which then is used to improve the future events. Despite many setbacks, we are actually making big progress in making it better. it goes without saying that this would not be possible without the cooperation of large number of community volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone who has lend a helping hand during the past year, your contributions are never forgotten!

confirmed during the General Body meeting during GAMA Christmas celebrations. I see a talented and experienced team who is extremely capable of carrying forward the work we have been doing. I wish them all the best and

promise my fullest cooperation and help on a continuing basis. I hope 2014 will be an year to remember!

Thank You Animon Jose—GAMA President (2013)

The new board members has already been

..2014 Board Sunny Thomas was elected as the VicePresident, Govindan Namboothiry as the new Secretary and Rakesh Sunny Thomas Menon as the Vice President 2014 Treasurer.

Govindan Namboothiri Secretary

Thomas Cyriac Secretary– Backup

Rakesh Menon Treasurer

Simpson Varkey Treasurer—Backup

..cont on page #4

From the editors’ desk 2014 is here!. We have a new Board of directors for GAMA. A Very young and energetic group of people. We have a feeling that, this year is going to make a huge difference to the Malayalee atmosphere of Austin. Great team. Congratulations and thanks for dedicating your time for the community.

It’s been an year since we took the responsibility as editors of this Newsletter and

that ends with this edition of the Reporter. In the next couple of weeks, we will be handing over our responsibilities to a couple of folks from the new board. We had a great year. We got quick responses whenever we were in need of help. Thank you all and please continue to do the same in the coming years as well.

Wishing you all a great 2014!

PG Ram

Sajan Lukose

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Cover Photo here is another Christmas season.... Merry Christmas!!!

I live in Austin with my wife Shishija and our 5 year old son Aarush and we like this place. Especially our son. We are natives of North Kerala and we moved to Austin an year ago from Bangalore where I have lived for 14 years. I love Photography.

Decorations are expression of joyfulness, Christmas brings full of joy in to our lives &

Music and playing cricket are my other passions.

Sharath Koodali Edathil

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Sreevidhya Ajayan

Why do Indians dance barefoot?

T

oday when my daughter came back from school, she had a book with her. The name of the book was “India”. She showed me some pictures from it and asked. “Why do we dance with NO shoes?”

I didn’t want to say, the Indian Dances were fully developed before shoes were invented.

Instead, I told her, we dance on very nice & smooth carpets and hence don’t need shoes.!

I know that’s not the right answe. Can’t we use something like the ballet shoes now? Is it too late to make changes?

If you know the answer, please share!! Send your comments to gama.newsreporter@gmail.com.

..2014 Board Thomas Cyriac will be the backup secretary and Simpson Varkey will be the backup for Treasurer.

Animon Jose, Jithin Sasidharan, Nitin Thomas, Leena Mathew, Sajan Lukose, Santhosh Nair, Ullas Pazhayaveettill are the retiring

directors this year. They passed on their advices to the new team during the GAMA Board meeting.

The new members of the board are: 1. Anoop Nair : He moved to Austin from California this year. He is originally from Ernakulam. He is staying in Avery Ranch with his wife Indulekha Nair and son Krish

..cont on page #5

The 2013 Board of directors in war room!

Page 5

..2014 Board 2. Dijoy Divakaran: Dijoy works for Charles Schwab , he moved to Austin about 6 months back from Cleveland, OH. His native place in Kerala is Thrissur. He lives with wife Dhanya and daughters Kalyani (9 years) and Nanda (4 years). Dijoy is a Badminton player.

3. Laxmi Sankar: Laxmi is from Ernakulam.

She and her husband Sankar has been moved to Austin from Boston.

ability Services). He lives with his wife Raji and children Radhika, Gopika and Ambika .

5. Ramakrishnan: Rama works for Oracle and he and his wife moved to Austin a year ago. He is originally from the town of Kalady in Kerala. Rama regularly volunteers for cultural events, and also play cricket.

6. Satheesh Iyer :Satheesh, his wife Push4. Rajalal Karunakaran: Rajalal has been an kala and 2 children live in Round Rock Austin resident for the past 8 years and a from 2005. Satheesh works at Dell and is a member of GAMA since 2006. He works for regular GAMA participant. the State of Texas (Dept. of Aging and Dis-

7. Satheesh Kumar : Satheesh is originally from Karunagappally, Kollam (Dist). He moved to Austin in 2007 from Lansing, Michigan. He lives with his wife Lekha and daughters Silpa and Sandra. His hobbies include Movies &Politics!

8. Teresa Joy: Been in Austin for 8 years, married to Antony Sebastine and have two kids- Michelle & Aiden. Belong to Kottayam in Kerala. Currently I work at Dell. Favorite unwinding pastime is travelling , reading and photography.

2013 GAMA Christmas celebrations GAMA Xmas programs were held at Akins High school in Austin. It was a perfect entertainer with an excellent mixture of dances, songs and musicals for the audience.

GAMA General body meeting was held and 8 new directors were announced during the meeting. All directors that were exiting the board were honored

by President Mr. Animon Jose.

The stage program coordinators and participants put so much

effort into stream lining the programs, the execution was almost flawless. As soon as Santa Claus arrived several kids were on the stage sharing a moment of glory. Children as well as children at heart were after Santa Claus for the treats that he was handing out.

The food at GAMA Christmas was a delicacy which included a dessert and grape juice. The GAMA Xmas 2013 celebrations was one of the most kid friendly programs.

More pictures on Page #10

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Taking care of your gums Gum disease is an infection of the

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gums that bleed easily

tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

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red, swollen, tender gums

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gums that have pulled away from the teeth

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persistent bad breath or bad taste

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permanent teeth that are loose or separating

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any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

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any change in the fit of partial dentures

Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem:

Dr. Satish Thirumalai, D.M.D. La Frontera Dental, PLLC www.lafronteradental.com

Page 7

...taking care of your gums.

Some factors increase the risk of developing gum disease. They are: poor oral hygiene smoking or chewing tobacco genetics crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean pregnancy diabetes medications, including steroids, certain types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at your dental office, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth and it

may become more severe over time. If it does, your teeth will feel loose and start moving around in your mouth. This is the most common form of periodontitis in adults but can occur at any age. It usually gets worse slowly, but there can be periods of rapid progression.

Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Common features include rapid loss of tissue and bone and may occur in some areas of the mouth, or in the entire mouth.

Research between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases is ongoing. While a link is not conclusive, some studies indicate that severe gum disease may be associated with several other health conditions such as diabetes or stroke.

It is possible to have gum disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed.

Good dental care at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring.

Remember: You don’t have to lose teeth to gum disease. Brush your teeth twice a day, clean between your teeth daily, eat a balanced diet, and schedule regular dental visits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

The proper brushing technique is to: Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.

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Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.

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Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

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To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.

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Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

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Of course, brushing your teeth is only a part of a complete oral care routine.

You should also make sure to:

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Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Tooth decay -causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

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Eat a balanced diet and limit betweenmeal snacks.

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Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Brushing:

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Brushing your teeth is an important part of your oral hygiene routine.

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Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush or an Electric toothbrush

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Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.

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A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.

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Make sure to use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.

Page 8

Kidz Korner Piles of leaves on the ground.

Making Lots of crimson mounds The wind howls a mourning call Summer fades away and turns into fall.

By: Sruti Ramachandran

By: Shruthi Namboothiri

By: Roshan Paul

By: Leah Sajan

A Trip to the Ice Cream Factory

My Butterfly Story

By: Siddharth Iyer, 10 years

By: Vandana Iyer, 5 years

The moment my eyes flew open, there was only one thought in my head: we have to go to the ice cream factory today. The tour was fun but getting ready for it was a bore. I just didn’t think that breakfast, bathing, and brushing teeth had any meaning. All this precious time could have been spent at the ice cream factory. However all these thoughts were forgotten the second we reached the factory.

The factory was a sight for sore and bored eyes. When we got inside, instead of a lot of machinery, I saw a history lesson. I wouldn’t say this was the best part of the trip but, it was quite interesting reading about the daily requirement of milk coming from sixtythousand cows and how commercial storyboards were back in the day. However, this bore of a history lesson was about to be over.

The best was soon to come.

“1:25,” a lady yelled. “All 1:25 people please

come to the double doors. My family and I rushed over as the lady opened the doors to heaven. We were walked through the entire ice cream making process starting with the ingredients.

First the ingredients were mixed and pressed with tons of pressure to make it nice and creamy. Then it would be frozen and packaged. It would be placed upside-down to create a natural seal.

Lastly it would be sent to the blast freezer and then shipped in beautifully decorated boxes just for us. After this amazing tour, it was time for the grand finale: free ice cream.

After ordering, we sat at our table and chowed down our ice cream at speeds that mocked the tick of time. I didn’t talk much. I was too busy eating my ice cream and thinking about the tour.

This concludes my story. This adventure would have been better if I didn’t have to write this essay but, this was a very good trip.

One day a little butterfly was born. He was lonely. When he was older he was lonelier. Then one day there were two lovely peacocks. They helped the butterfly for many days. They helped but they never found a perfect friend. One day, it was a special day! It was the butterfly’s birthday! The peacocks were delighted so they found a pretty girl. She made friends with the butterfly. From that day onwards, the butterfly was never lonely again. Every 10 minutes the girl would come visit the butterfly to play. They would eat pizza and chipotle together at the butterfly’s table at home. The butterfly lives in the girl’s backyard. They have fun together. The lovely peacocks are always there for the butterfly and the girl.

Why join GAMA board of Directors?

By: PG Ram & Animon Jose

This mu st Look wh be true! o wrote it!

1. You can get an "early snoop" into what your "Mallu Ranch“ neighbor will be performing for Onam 2014 2. The crowd will recognize you as the chicken running around with its head cut off 3. Your toddler thinks you are rich since you collect $s sitting at the front desk 4. You will get a chance to invite yourself to Onam going through the calling list 5. Risk free (didn’t say “theri free”) management training 6. You will realize that “Program committee” is similar to “Bitcoin”, it should stay as a virtual entity 7. You realize that it may be easier to find the real “Maveli” and “Santa”, getting someone to dress up as one for an event is harder 8. No drug screening required, you could be a “crack head” and be part of the board.

9. No director has been “laid off”, even during deep recession 10. GAMA Board membership isn’t “some thing money can’t buy, for everything else….”

GAMA Christmas—2013

This is a community newsletter for us to keep in contact and to brush up our interests in arts & literature. We call upon all to provide your feedback so that we could be more useful. We are also looking forward for any articles you can provide for the next issue of the GAMA Reporter. gama.newsreporter@gmail.com

Please support our sponsors Contact one of the GAMA directors if you would like to be a sponsor.