MB#21: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧: 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗.
- www.suryanarayana.com
- 1 day ago
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[MemoirBlogthon #21] In 1965, my father took on the voluntary and often challenging role of Secretary of the Vijayawada Officers Club. Through diligence, fair administration, and strict enforcement of rules, he earned a reputation as the "best administrator." When I questioned why he spent so much time there, he revealed the deeper "why": it was an invaluable opportunity to build connections. This goodwill proved him to be President and priceless, earning him a rare life membership.
The Officers Club Office Bearer: Diplomacy, Hard Work, and the Strength of Connections
In 1965, my father assumed a role beyond his responsibilities in the Roads and Buildings Department, demonstrating exceptional skills in administration and networking, by becoming the Secretary of the Vijayawada Officers Club. His diligent contribution led to his successful re-election for a second year.
The Officers Club, situated on government-leased land in the heart of the city, was a privileged space exclusively for government officers, where about 200 members and their families spent their leisure time. It was a center for camaraderie, offering outdoor games like tennis and indoor games like the bridge game, which my father enjoyed.
The Diligent Administrator
As Secretary, my father took on the difficult, often thankless, administrative challenge of streamlining the club's operations. This included:
Strict Administration: Streamlining the membership admission process and maintaining strict timings (4 PM to 10 PM).
Upholding Rules: Firmly enforcing rules like liquor prohibition, which, while necessary, often faced resistance from a subset of members.
Staff Loyalty: He earned deep loyalty from the club staff by frequently standing as a shield to protect them from unreasonable victimization by members.
He was re-elected precisely because members recognized his superior leadership and fairness. I used to observe his style of attending to disputes, resolving friction among members, and taking late-evening inspections of the 10-acre premises to monitor for staff misuse. His working routine reflected this commitment: he would finish his engineering duties by 6 PM, dedicate the next hour or two to club matters, play a game, and return home by 8:30 PM.
A Masterclass in Networking
My initial reaction to his busy schedule was one of concern: why was he spending more time on club affairs instead of with family? His response instilled a lifelong lesson: "This is an excellent opportunity to establish connections with other government departmental officers."
He was absolutely right. This voluntary, diligent service was a powerful investment in goodwill that transcended departmental boundaries. I recall two incidents where the club connections helped in our rescue:
When a water problem arose in our rented house, my father simply called a club member from the concerned department, who immediately sent his people to resolve it.When a robbery occurred at a relative's house in a neighboring district, my father immediately contacted a police officer who was a club member, securing prompt assistance to help retrieve the lost property.These examples proved that his thankless job as office bearer yielded powerful practical benefits for his family and friends.
A Lifelong Privilege
The ultimate validation of his dedicated service arrived years after he left office. Despite the club rules typically prohibiting it, my father received the rare privilege of unanimously becoming its president for a single term. Life Membership was bestowed for a one-time payment of ₹1,000, effective from June 1, 1987. I learned of this exceptional honor by reading the official letter he had carefully preserved.
This honor proved the depth of the respect he had earned. As long as he lived in Vijayawada (until 2010), he remained a regular visitor, with club staff and former members continuing to show him loyalty.
Membership and key positions in such clubs were a privilege; my father was accorded that privilege lifelong due to his diligent and sincere approach towards administrative capability. His tenure taught me that volunteering is a unique opportunity to establish a reputation as a fair and capable administrator, thereby making him a timeless role model.
MB#21: Quiz
MB21 Question: What rare privilege did the goodwill the father built at the officer's club eventually secure for him?
A. An honorary guest.
B. A rare life membership.
C. A political nomination.
D. A scholarship for his children.
MB#2: Quote