IBM Centennial : A proud moment for IBMers

 " There comes a time when every enterprise must ask itself: What difference have we made? What impact have we had on the world? What have we changed?
In 2011, IBM reflects on 100 years of innovation, bold risks and transformative breakthroughs. We celebrate the big wins—and the mistakes we've overcome. We renew our purpose, unite in our legacy and define our aspirations for the future.
Welcome to IBM at 100."

Celebration of Service is one of the expression of the centennial experience where IBMers world over go and serve communities - Pledge, Plan and Participate. At IBM Pune, the Celebration of Service event was launched on 15th June. It happened at IBM Premises - TPO Tower B Cafeteria. It was a showcase of the activities that have been started and/or carried out by IBMers in Pune under On-Demand Community initiatives or through their personal non-profit initiatives.  The volunteers formed small groups and got the kids from various schools to prepare for cultural activities like skits, songs, a dance and a quiz. The students who performed came from various schools in Pune which are contributing towards education and upliftment of underprivileged children and where IBM On Demand Community has been active. The cultural activities were followed by the presentation on IBM Centennial and Celebration of Service followed by short presentations by NGO representatives  (IBMers) who had participated. This was followed by Inauguration ceremony of lamp lighting and inspiring speeches by the Pune leadership - Rekha Garapati, Director Pune Labs and Debashish Chatterjee, Vice President and Sectors Leader – GBS GD.  Finally it was time for a few more cultural activities performed by the kids and a Quiz competition amongst three teams who represented two schools where IBM ODC has been active. The program concluded with distribution of gifts to the kids who participated in the event.

I, one of my colleague in GBS Manisha Ghatpande and several other ODC volunteers coordinated the event. It was indeed a fulfilling day.,, as things went smooth and we got the word about Celebration of Service going amongst IBMers in Pune. While I drove back home from the event, I offered to drop the blind school kids to their hostel and it was fun listening to their conversations and understand how they take on life as differently abled...