TIST
December 2004
Alone with myself, the trees bend to caress me, the shade hugs my heart. - Candy Polgar
CHEZHUMAI ©
Merry Christmas
According tradition, Jesus Christ was born on this earth to redeem mankind from their wicked nature. People celebrate Jesus birthday as Christmas. Jesus believes in groups - during His earthly ministry, He guided people to be in groups:
“And he made them all be seated in groups on the green grass. And they were placed in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. (Mark 6:39-40)”.
There are two main reasons for making the people sit in groups: I) One who has more can always share it with the one who has less and 2) One who has less can also always take it from the one who has more.
TIST is also emphasizing the same plan among the Small Groups, please share your views and ideas with others and lead a happy life. Merry Christmas.
New Small Groups of Molachur
All the small group members of Chittoor Village are always with a trigger to do more towards TIST Program, and above all, they also motivate the non-members to get-up-and-go with TIST Tree Planting Program.
During the month September – October 2004 TIST registered five more new Small Groups at Chittoor: (a) Roja, (b) Brindavan, (c) Velavan, (d) Thalampu and (e) Malligai. Since there was little rainfall during October, lot of shoots had come out under neem trees. All the new small group members have collected those shoots and formed a nursery near their house. Other than the nursery, they have also bought few thousand eucalyptus and casuarinas seedlings and planted in their dry wasteland. Since it was raining, TIST allowed them to buy seedlings, so that the members will make use of wet weather. Otherwise, TIST emphasizes all the small group members to plant only those trees, which are grown in their nursery. The motive of TIST program is to buildup the standard of the TIST small group members with the available resources, no member should spend money for any of the TIST activities.
During the Molachur Node Meeting, all the new small groups of Chitoor have submitted their SGMR, the details are given below :
They have neem, eucalyptus, tamarind and agathai seedlings in their nursery and eucalyptus & casuarinas are the recently planted trees in their wasteland.
Notice Board at Chittoor Village
The Chittoor Small Group members have come out with a Notice Board, wherein; the members write down their activities with TIST, like, the date and time of Node Meeting, details of Small Groups meetings etc. This Notice Board is placed in a common place where the whole village views it. TIST looks forward to have one notice board for every village.
Bookkeeping on Seedlings and Trees
Saraswathi Small Group is doing a good show with regard to tree planting at Kandoor. During Node Meeting for November 2004, they submitted their SGMR stating 25,110 seedlings and 8,827 trees. Above the SGMR report, they are also maintaining a book for TIST Program, wherein they are writing the details of their seedlings, trees, small group meetings and node meetings schedule in detail. This is a good appreciative practice. TIST looks for the same kind of practice from all the Small Groups.
Development of TIST Program at Chittoor
Salsa Small Group of Ulundhai (Mel Kodungular)
This small group leads the way with regard to tree planting and following the best practices of TIST at Mel Kodungular. They have transplanted more than 12,000/- casuarina trees during December 2003 and February 2004 in their 4 acres wasteland. They also started a nursery with more than 40,000 casuarina seedlings in the soil bed. Their hard work kept all their casuarinas trees in good condition during the dry season. Now, after the good rainfall all the casuarinas trees, which had transplanted in their 4 acres wasteland, had grown more than 7 feet in height. They are planning to trim the side branches of the casuarinas trees, so that, the tree grows to good height. Above the voucher payment, the trimmed branches will bring them good amount. This is a wonderful activity of this group.
Now since the ground is wet & loose and the Kili river which flows adjacent to their groves has started to stream little after the rainfall, they have transplanted all their 40,000 seedlings. These transplanted trees will certainly grown to a good height and strength, and they will withstand the summer 2005.
This small group has utilized the rainfall to a great extent. TIST Congratulates this small group, at the same, TIST advises them to start yet another nursery with different kind of species like, Neem, Casuarina, Mango, Tamarind, etc., so that, during summer if there is any casualty, these seedlings can be transplanted.
News Small Groups of November 2004
1. Vellaputur (Madhuranthagam) – 3 Small Groups
2. Sathanoor (Vazhur) – 3 Small Groups
The above small groups who were registered in November 2004 are well aware of TIST activities. TIST Project Manager for Tamil Nadu had already highlighted the activities of TIST in detail to the above small groups. They have also started a nursery even before their registration. The registration was delayed due to heavy rain in Tamil Nadu.
In our next issue, more detailed activities of the above small groups will be highlighted.
Message from TIST Auditor/Quantifier
I request all the Small Groups of TIST to make use of the rainwater. Grow multiple species of trees and maintain good intervals between the trees. Have regular meetings within your small group. Submit your SGMR report regularly during the Node Meeting. Attend the Node Meeting with good strength without fail. Have a good bookkeeping of your trees/seedlings.
TIST India
Mr. Prabakar Srinivasan, Project Manager
Mr. A. Joseph, TIST Coordinator and Correspondent
Schedule for Node Meeting
Node Villages Covered Group Center Day Session From To Chamundi Chamundi, El Endathur, Agili Mel Kodungalur 1st Sunday 05.12.2004 02.01.2005 Morning 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Mel Kodungalur Singapalli, Ulundhai, Mel Kodungalur, Kattukolli Mel Kodungalur Kunnavakkam 1st Tuesday 07.12.2004 04.01.2005 Evening 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Peruvalayam Peruvalayam, Melapulam, Mottur Melapulam 2nd Saturday 11.12.2004 08.01.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Kattiampandal Kattiampandal, Vellaputur Kattiampandal 2nd Sunday 12.12.2004 09.01.2005 Morning 9:00 AM 12:00 AM Chitoor KeeraNallur, Chittoor, Molachur, Nandhimedu, Singadivakkam, Marutham, Jambhodi Molachur 3rd Sunday 19.12.2004 16.01.2005 Afternoon 3:00 PM 5:00 PM Kandoor Sokandhi, Kandoor Molachur 3rd Sunday 19.12.2004 16.01.2005 Evening 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Aandiseruvallur Vedal, Aandiseruvallur, Kottavakkam, Melpadavur, Seruvallur, SeruvallurMettucolony Vedal 4th Saturday 25.12.2004 22.0
