Saturday,
September 29th
On
September 29, 2007 the Old Thomians of
California hosted their Biennial function in
style. The Old Thomians know how to organize
and host a party that provides maximum
entertainment for the $$!
The Committee met often in the months leading up to the Dance and the goal was to convince the Old Thomians and the greater Sri Lankan community to fork out the $95 and trust the Old Thomians to put on a great show – and they did. Every little detail was discussed and addressed. From the intricately designed table décor to the split minute timing of the dance sets by the band.
The Old Thomians were set up in early 1983 and this is our 25th year of existence and having organized many Dinner Dances over the last couple of decades, the Old Thomians have it in them to produce the best. Prior Dinner Dances have been held at The Onion!!!!, Hilton Burbank, Fisherman’s Lodge – Studio City, Castaways, Odyssey… so on. The Sheraton – Universal City is well situated and since it is the hotel for the Stars it was quite apt for the Old Thomians to select their Grand Ballroom to organize their show.
From 7 p.m., the members, their wives and some of the enlisted corporate help, manned the main welcome table, handled seating, provided gifts and ushered in the attendees to the splendid ballroom. The early comers were rewarded with some door prizes drawn early and were also richly rewarded with the pulsating mix of steel drum music provided by Tropical Wave. They beat the Caribbean music laden with Reggae with much ease. Alas, early comers were reluctant to take the floor!
Dinner at 8 p.m. was a first and it set the tone for the well timed arrangement of events that evening. The succulent swordfish, sweltering steak and chicken that could be chilli-ed with the Tabasco, were great choices and it was tasty! The chocolate Taco was a sweet thing of beauty! President Deshan Atapattu wasted no time in welcoming one and all and was a man of few words. More door prizes were announced and the versatile band of musicians led by Hussein Jiffry took the stage at 9:45 p.m. What a super opening spell of dance music that left no room on the dance floor for the late comers!
At 10:30 the Tropidanza Dancers put the Brazilian beat into this rocking Thomian event and shimmied and sashayed their way and then with their unbelievable shakes of the hips caused much whiplash. The mesmerizing quaking of the hips captivated the focus of everyone present and really drove the adrenaline of the well wishers to a boiling point. When the band took the stage again…. they partied as if there was no tomorrow! After an extra long entertaining session by Hussein & Neluka Jiffry, Rukshan Perera and their band, the Old Thomians paused the proceedings to draw the final door prizes, and raffle. Fedex, Serendib Inc., Dr. Milroy Fernando, Upul Travels, Paalama.org, Viran Perera – Princess International (sole importers of authentic Sri Lankan frozen fast foods), Adore Travel, Muneer Akbar, and Singapore Airlines combined to provide fantastic prizes for one and all.
The Old Thomians were invited to the dance floor where they initiated a tribute to the land we are in now… USA “God Bless America – my home sweet home” brought many a tear to many eyes and lumps in many throats. After a few silent moments pregnant with anticipation of an internationally renowned Thomian Baritone, the College Song was sung a capella and fittingly, the famous singer – Rohan de Lanerolle walked in to the chorus of Esto Perpetuas. He very casually slipped in another verse of the College song with so much gusto that the non-Thomians – for the first time took notice of our beloved STC College song!
Then it was back to dancing, with baila and fast paced Sri Lankan style entertainment. Hussein and Rukshan were in inimitable form. The final session rolled over until 1:15 a.m. and then it was time to call an end to the festivities due to pressure exhorted on us by Sheraton Management!!! It took another 23.5 minutes for the revelers to wind down and find their way out of the floor area… and it took another 17.75 minutes to say good bye and pack up. All in all…. this was one of the best if not THE best overall event that was ever hosted by OTAC – Old Thomians Association of California.
Esto Perpetua!
(Be thou forever)
The Committee met often in the months leading up to the Dance and the goal was to convince the Old Thomians and the greater Sri Lankan community to fork out the $95 and trust the Old Thomians to put on a great show – and they did. Every little detail was discussed and addressed. From the intricately designed table décor to the split minute timing of the dance sets by the band.
The Old Thomians were set up in early 1983 and this is our 25th year of existence and having organized many Dinner Dances over the last couple of decades, the Old Thomians have it in them to produce the best. Prior Dinner Dances have been held at The Onion!!!!, Hilton Burbank, Fisherman’s Lodge – Studio City, Castaways, Odyssey… so on. The Sheraton – Universal City is well situated and since it is the hotel for the Stars it was quite apt for the Old Thomians to select their Grand Ballroom to organize their show.
From 7 p.m., the members, their wives and some of the enlisted corporate help, manned the main welcome table, handled seating, provided gifts and ushered in the attendees to the splendid ballroom. The early comers were rewarded with some door prizes drawn early and were also richly rewarded with the pulsating mix of steel drum music provided by Tropical Wave. They beat the Caribbean music laden with Reggae with much ease. Alas, early comers were reluctant to take the floor!
Dinner at 8 p.m. was a first and it set the tone for the well timed arrangement of events that evening. The succulent swordfish, sweltering steak and chicken that could be chilli-ed with the Tabasco, were great choices and it was tasty! The chocolate Taco was a sweet thing of beauty! President Deshan Atapattu wasted no time in welcoming one and all and was a man of few words. More door prizes were announced and the versatile band of musicians led by Hussein Jiffry took the stage at 9:45 p.m. What a super opening spell of dance music that left no room on the dance floor for the late comers!
At 10:30 the Tropidanza Dancers put the Brazilian beat into this rocking Thomian event and shimmied and sashayed their way and then with their unbelievable shakes of the hips caused much whiplash. The mesmerizing quaking of the hips captivated the focus of everyone present and really drove the adrenaline of the well wishers to a boiling point. When the band took the stage again…. they partied as if there was no tomorrow! After an extra long entertaining session by Hussein & Neluka Jiffry, Rukshan Perera and their band, the Old Thomians paused the proceedings to draw the final door prizes, and raffle. Fedex, Serendib Inc., Dr. Milroy Fernando, Upul Travels, Paalama.org, Viran Perera – Princess International (sole importers of authentic Sri Lankan frozen fast foods), Adore Travel, Muneer Akbar, and Singapore Airlines combined to provide fantastic prizes for one and all.
The Old Thomians were invited to the dance floor where they initiated a tribute to the land we are in now… USA “God Bless America – my home sweet home” brought many a tear to many eyes and lumps in many throats. After a few silent moments pregnant with anticipation of an internationally renowned Thomian Baritone, the College Song was sung a capella and fittingly, the famous singer – Rohan de Lanerolle walked in to the chorus of Esto Perpetuas. He very casually slipped in another verse of the College song with so much gusto that the non-Thomians – for the first time took notice of our beloved STC College song!
Then it was back to dancing, with baila and fast paced Sri Lankan style entertainment. Hussein and Rukshan were in inimitable form. The final session rolled over until 1:15 a.m. and then it was time to call an end to the festivities due to pressure exhorted on us by Sheraton Management!!! It took another 23.5 minutes for the revelers to wind down and find their way out of the floor area… and it took another 17.75 minutes to say good bye and pack up. All in all…. this was one of the best if not THE best overall event that was ever hosted by OTAC – Old Thomians Association of California.
Esto Perpetua!
(Be thou forever)