Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon

The Dutch Burgher Union 114,
Reid Avenue, Colombo 4.
Telephone Nos: 2584511, 5331661

I thank you for the confidence placed in me to serve as your President for the third consecutive year, uncontested. I am indeed honoured and proud.

My vision for the DBU became a reality due to the efforts and unstinted support of my talented and dedicated Committee who went about their work very professionally and untiringly. Thank you.

My special thanks go out to our Treasurer David Grenier, who always kept a close tab on the finances. Fleur Mack together with Rozanne Hemdev and Tracy Holsinger who put on a fantastic Fashion Show in aid of the DBU WBs, which earned us a handsome profit, also deserve special thanks. The Buildings Committee, headed by Dallas Martenstyn, which did an incredible job in completing the restoration work of the DBU building must be given special mention for the immense effort put into this onerous task. Congratulations on a job very well done! Christine Walbeoff, (Architect), Patricia Marnelka (Interior Decorator), Stephen Labrooy and Ajitha Madanayake. Kudos to you aII! You have brought back our DBU building to its past glory. Please visit the upstairs Members Bar and see for yourselves the tremendous transformation, bringing out the beauty and grandeur of the original roof with its extraordinary timber beams. My special thanks also go out to NU Dimensions for all the additional work and excellent finishes to the building.

Work on the DBU building is now almost complete and we hope to have everything ready for the centenary year.

I am extremely happy so see the DBU once again a lively, thriving place for our Community, a place where we members can be proud to be a part of, to bring our guests to - a place where we really and truly BELONG. Teamwork and transparency have always been the hallmarks of our journey together towards achieving all that we have in the past two years.

My thanks also go out to Mohan Lourdes and Etienne Jayatunge who have always been pillars of strength to me and the Committee. They are both assets to any President and Committee. Thanks also to Jerome , Kapila , Errol, Subramaniam, and also Gunadasa and Pieris. for their help and support.

When I look back on the past two years as President of the DBU, I feel a true sense of fulfillment and happiness. There is only one project which I could not complete, and that is the renovation of the St Nikolaas' Home. On the advice of Architect and fellow Member, Christine Walbeoff, we have decided to renovate the existing buildings instead of constructing new ones. The work on this will commence shortly. I look forward to seeing the completion of this project during my term as President this year.

I urge you all, my fellow members, to come and participate in all the events and functions we will be organizing for you in the coming year, and thus to join me and my Committee in taking our Union forward from strength to strength.

OFFICE BEARERS & MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE - 2007/2008
The following Office Bearers and Ex-officio Members were uncontested and will serve on the General Committee for the year 2007/2008 :-

President Ms Kem Martenstyn
Deputy President Mr Nigel Austin
Secretary Mrs Ann-Marie Kellar
Treasurer Mr Mike Anthonisz
Ex-officio Members Mr Mervyn Anderiesz
Mr Scott Dirckze
Mr Vernon Muller

Eleven (II) Committee Members proposed by the General Committee were elected for the year 2007/2008. The voting results were as follows:-

Proposed by the General Committee:
Mrs Jackie Anthonisz
Mr David Grenier
Mr Stephen LaBrooy
Mrs Fleur Mack
Mr Dallas Martenstyn
Mr David Martenstyn
Mr Keith Modder
Mrs Anthea Muller
Ms Carol Prins
Mr Timothy Speldewinde
Mr T. A. Vansanden

No. of Votes
58
56
53
59
54
56
58
56
55
57
52

Wear your Easter Bonnet (hat), With flowers & ribbons on it
You’ll be the grandest lady In the Easter Parade!

Come dance and sing with Darlan & the Bohemians and don't forget to bring your hats!

Freshly baked hoppers, egg hoppers
accompanied by your favourite curries and sambaIs
Chicken curry, Fish Ambultiyal,
Seeni Sambol, Katta Sambol & Pol Sambol
followed by Curd and Treacle
all this for only Rs.550/= per person

After a short lapse, we once again roll out the barrel with Darlan every Wednesday in the upstairs Bar/Lounge from 8 p.m. to 12 mid-night, commencing 18th April 2007. (Guests Rs.200/= each)