PRO
PRO: Public Relations Officer Report
We should take pride that SPA (UK) has
matured to be a well-respected
organisation
- “It has been a pleasure to serve SPA”!
Namaste and Jai Shree Krishna,
T
he role of Public Relations
Officer has been a welcome
relief in the midst of intense
work pressures. The demands of
amalgamating 3 companies, shutting
two plants in Hull and St. Albans and
setting up a new team in Birmingham,
were very high throughout the last
18 months. Therefore, I was filled
with immense pride and humility,
when I was nominated for and won
the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award’
from the British Office and Stationary
Services Federation in 2012.
All that left little time for my voluntary
services other than offering SPA (UK)
Executives moral support and being
a distant observer. And that was one
of the best experiences I could ever
have had – enforced estrangement
gives time for reflection and offers
a different perspective. I emerged
feeling even more proud of the
achievements of SPA (UK) and with
considerable hope for the future,
despite some of the challenges we
face.
28
We should take pride that SPA (UK)
has matured to be a well-respected
organisation within the Hindu
Community and wider circles. Our
President, Jitubhai C. Mistry, has had
a leading role in the issue concerning
caste including press and radio
coverage. This puts SPA (UK) firmly
on the political map. We need to take
a stance and be principled – we have
never done it before to this extent and
we now have the confidence and moral
courage to do so.
Our highly successful 33rd Mahila
Samelan provided a chance for some
press coverage. Attended by over 700
people (majority women), it was an
ideal platform to educate and impart
knowledge on the subject of dementia.
And a first for our community, it was
an opportunity to bring awareness of
the caste issue and gather over 300
signatures for our petition against
caste legislation.
It’s been a pleasure to serve SPA (UK),
and the organisation will enjoy my
life-long support. I would like to extend
my best wishes for a joyous Diwali and
a Happy New Year.
Jai Shree Krishna,
Mr Kiran D. Mistry
SPA (UK) PRO (2013 -14)