MB#93: 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝘾𝙎𝙄 𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠.

[MemoirBlogthon #93] After a successful term as chairman, the ambition shifted to winning the prestigious "Best Chapter" award for the Hyderabad Chapter of ICSI. This blog details the pivotal role my father played. Having successfully chaired the Institute of Engineers local branch, he served as the ultimate mentor and evaluator. His central question—"Are you bidding for any award?"—spurred the meticulous compilation of the evaluation sheets. He didn't just review the content; he insisted on providing documentary proof, photos, and CDs for every claim, transforming our submission from a statement of activities into an unassailable dossier. The result: the chapter received the "Best Chapter for the Southern India Region for 1996 as an A1 Grade Chapter," a victory forged in my father’s grit and meticulous planning.

MB#93: Winning ICSI Best Chapter Award with Performance and Paperwork. Second row photos: My father attends my speech and receives a souvenir from Managing Committee member Sri Ramakrishnan.

Visibility and contribution were now established; the next logical step, inspired by my father’s own administrative history, was to systematically document these massive achievements and make a compelling bid for the prestigious "Best Chapter" award.

The Witness and the Whisper 🤫

My term as Chairman of the Hyderabad Chapter of ICSI culminated in an incredibly successful year of service. On September 21, 1996, we organized the farewell function for the outgoing oral coaching students batch. I invited my father to attend, keen for him to witness my performance as a leader. He came, bringing not just my wife but also my in-laws, and we accommodated them in the VIP seats. The event was held in the auditorium of the Hyderabad branch of the Institute of Engineers, which was close to our Hyderabad Chapter of ICSI premises.

My father patiently observed the two-hour proceedings, listened to the students’ feedback, and finally heard my 15-minute speech offering exam tips to the 800 students preparing for their examination. My popularity with the students was evident: they clapped every minute of my speech. The secret was simple: I taught the core subject, Company Secretarial Practice, and often took select students as volunteers to my company’s (five-star hotel) Annual General Meetings (AGMs). The managing committee surprised me by honoring my engineer father as a privileged parent of the chapter chairman before the vote of thanks.

A few days later, before returning to Vijayawada, my father asked the pivotal question: "Are you bidding for any award for your Hyderabad chapter for 1996? You may have a winning possibility just on the lines we won as the best branch award for our Vijayawada branch of the Institute of Engineers Branch."

He suggested I work on it and asked me to review the evaluation papers for his suggestions, emphasizing, "But you must work like this all year with grit."

The Meticulous Evaluation Blueprint 📊

My father, an engineer by training and a proven administrative leader, glanced at the chapter's award submission with a keen eye for detail. We began preparing the detailed evaluation sheets for submission to ICSI in 1997, documenting the massive effort undertaken in 1996.

The submission was structured around seven key areas:

1. Chapter Office, Records, and Finance: We detailed our own 600 sq. yard premises, the 12-hour operational schedule, the seven staff members, computerized member records (455 members), and financial compliance, including the timely submission of annual reports.

2. Library: We boasted an inventory of 827 books at the start, 638 added during the year, 466 library members, and a full-time librarian.

3. ICSI Publication Sale: We reported sales worth ₹4.97 lakh and, significantly, published the first-ever chapter publication permitted by ICSI: a Guidance Note on "Revalidation of Share Transfer Deeds."

4. Member Services: We documented 15 study circle meetings, 8 seminars/workshops, the annual fellowship meet, and forwarding names of qualified CS professionals to 75 companies for employment.

5. Student Activities: We organized 16 meetings involving students and parents and coordinated for 15 companies to take students for internships.

6. Managing Committee: We held 16 meetings involving 41 members, ensuring high administrative engagement.

7. Overall Assessment: We produced 10 newsletters to maintain continuous communication.

   
   

The Paternal Seal of Approval ✅

My father’s most critical suggestion, rooted in his engineering precision, came after reviewing the first draft. He strongly recommended we provide documentary proof for every single claim: printed material, invitations, forms, photos, and CDs covering the programs. This substantiated evidence transformed our submission from a list of accomplishments into an unassailable case.

The result of this meticulous preparation was the ultimate validation: our Hyderabad Chapter received the prestigious "Best Chapter for Southern India Region for 1996 as an A1 Grade Chapter." I received the award on behalf of the managing committee at the National Conference of ICSI held in Hyderabad. The victory was not just mine but a testament to the power of my father's experience and grit in laying out the blueprint for success.

Receiving the "Best Chapter for Southern India Region" award was the ultimate validation of my father's insistence on grit and documentary proof, proving that meticulous planning triumphs over mere ambition.

MB#93: Quiz

MB80: Question: What was the title of the first publication published and sold by the Hyderabad Chapter, which was permitted by ICSI?

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• A. Guide to Annual General Meetings.
• B. Guidance note on "Revalidation of Share Transfer Deeds."
• C. Handbook for New Members.
• D. Financial Reporting Standards.

MB#93: Quote

"The quality of the details often makes the difference between success and failure. – J. Willard Marriott