‘Floating Members’

A section of the 'freshers' (three from left) in today's exercises

Big Laaf is growing from strength to strength. With each passing day, new faces are showing up in the exercise circle, many of who stick on for good – just that we have been taking them all for granted. Put it to public opinion, promotion by word of mouth or the positive vibes we exude, these fresh entrants have led to a swell in our numbers.
Sadly, barring a Chanda Khadaria or Sunita Nagpal (who are already taken to be regular members), we do not even know the names of the many freshers. None of them has been formally introduced to us yet. Things often take an embarrassing turn when these people line up for the snacks/ refreshments after the exercises, little knowing that the treats are meant strictly for members only. Not that anybody has ever been turned away.

Managing Committee meeting of BIG LAAF in progress

But still, it has become incumbent upon us to apprise them on what it takes to become a bona fide Big Laaf member.
Today Kiran Prakash, in his capacity as Secretary, convened a meeting of the club’s Managing Committee, specifically to regularize these so-called ‘floating members’. They had to be brought on board, if necessary by relaxing the rules of admission and collecting the membership fees. More importantly, they needed to be told of what is expected of them once they join us formally.
After extensive discussions, the consensus was to embrace the present lot of freshers since all of them were regular and appeared to be sincere about the exercises. Kiran Prakash offered to brief them on the membership dos and don’ts and obtain their consent before collecting the necessary membership fees. The general feeling was that we must not be too rigid about enforcing admission rules, unless, as Bijoy Gupta put it, the “character of the person” was in question.
“There is no place for characterless people in this Club,” he trumpeted, the taunt directed at you-know-who!