TQM
Lest We Forget – Interactive Workshop on Volcano Fountain
Dear Friends,
You are invited to attend an interactive workshop conducted by me on “Volcano Fountain”.
Date: Monday, 16th February 2015
Time: 7:00 to 09:00 pm
Venue: Lest We Forget exhibition section at Qasr Al Hosn (Cultural Foundation)
Organised by: Michele Bambling, Curator for the UAE National Pavilion at Venice Biennale.
Share your experiences, bring photos or videos of the nostalgic architechtural marvel which once used to be the happening place in Abu Dhabi.
Looking forward to see you,
Ramesh
Prize for dedication – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 07 February 2015
Prize for dedication
I have expressed this particular emotional feeling within me before. It keeps coming back. To be or not to be a socially committed person? To address or not my observations for improvements to the authorities or not?
I keep saying to myself. No, I will not act or react any further when I get to see negative or even threatening responses at times. I tell myself, do not see things as you see, close your eyes and walk away from the realities.
Can I do that? Honestly, No, is the answer.
I was in the middle of a meeting two days ago and my phone rang. It was an unknown number and the lady at the other end, an officer from the Abu Dhabi Police, verified me and said, you are selected for an award. “Please attend and receive it on Thursday at a function to be held at our premises.”
I asked her what was it and what did that made them select me for it. She answered to me saying, “You have contributed with several valuable suggestions and hence you are one of the recipients for it.”
I went to receive it on Thursday and found myself among a group of officers from the Abu Dhabi authorities privileged to receive the prestigious Ministry of Interior Excellence Award.
Interacting with them I found one common thing, we all carried the same zest for quality and social commitments to make sure safety is of utmost importance at all times.
There was also one thing I noticed, we all did our personal or professional contributions, which paved the way for this award, without aiming for any recognition.
However, it turned out to be a winner for each one of us at a time, when we all literally forgot them. For me specially, when a time, when I was thinking of weighing the pros and cons of such initiatives carried out by me.
It proved the old saying, what you sow is what you reap. Make it a practice to give your best efforts to do good things and a time will definitely come with its reward.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today, Short Take Dt 07 February 2015
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Ministry of Interior Excellence Award
I wish to inform you that today 5th February 2015, I received the “Ministry of Interior Excellence Award” from Abu Dhabi Police for my safety / community issues related contributions and suggestions.
The function was held today at 10:00 am in their premises at Capital Police Station, Abu Dhabi.
I just wanted to share with you this personal moment of achievement, as a community conscious resident and all the more a committed member towards Safety and welfare issues of the society I live in.
Sincere thanks and regards for your continuous support.
Ramesh Menon
Thursday, 5th Februray 2015
Airport wisdom – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 31 January 2015
Airport wisdom
Travelling offers plenty of opportunities to observe, interact and learn many new things from people and places.
The other day, I was at the airport waiting to board the plane and suddenly a medical emergency came up and it was delayed. Tired and restless passengers joined as groups and started conversing with each other. I happened to be with passengers from the US, Belgium and Switzerland. Our talks led to an interesting question to each other, why we were travelling where we were travelling to!
The elderly person from the US was a citizen of Indian origin, but still keeping connections with his family and friends. It was too cold where he was living and since at his age he couldn’t withstand it, he was moving on to India for a few months.
The traveller from Belgium was travelling for the first time and he was full of expectations towards his holidays from the fascinating stories he heard from his friends who came before.
The third person, who was from Switzerland, was proceeding to India after a brief stopover in the United Arab Emirates. He told us that his daughter, when she was a small child had read about the UAE, its history and culture. From then, she was keen on visiting the UAE at least once.
What she did was to find an educational programme that suited her and was utilising one full semester period in the UAE.
“With this visit, I could see my girl in the UAE and then proceed to India, which is closer to UAE and fulfil my dream of visiting the historic and cultural abundance,” he said.
Keep trying and do it when you get the chance — however long it takes. I am sure, your goals and dreams will come true, if you keep an attitude of this sort.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
ABU DHABI: TOTAL AWARDED 10% IN THE NEW 40-YEAR ADCO CONCESSION
ABU DHABI: TOTAL AWARDED 10% IN THE NEW 40-YEAR ADCO CONCESSION
Total has signed a new 40-year onshore concession agreement with the Supreme Petroleum Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), granting Total a 10% participating interest effective January 1, 2015. The concession covers the fifteen principal onshore oil fields of Abu Dhabi and represents more than half of the Emirate’s production.”
Paris – Total has signed a new 40-year onshore concession agreement with the Supreme Petroleum Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), granting Total a 10% participating interest effective January 1, 2015. The concession covers the fifteen principal onshore oil fields of Abu Dhabi and represents more than half of the Emirate’s production.
“Total’s entry into the new ADCO concession is a major milestone in the history of the Group’s 75-year partnership with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We are committed to bringing our most advanced technological expertise to unlock the full production potential of Abu Dhabi’s onshore fields and therefore contribute to the development of additional reserves over the next 40 years,” outlined Patrick Pouyanné, Chief Executive Officer of Total. “Total is honored to be the first International Oil Company to be chosen by the government of Abu Dhabi and ADNOC to participate in this new onshore concession and to be entrusted with the mission of technical leader on two major groups of fields”.
The new concession will be operated by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations Limited (ADCO), a new operating company in which Total will be a 10% shareholder. Total has also been appointed Asset Leader for the Bu Hasa and Southeast (Sahil, Asab, Shah, Qusahwira and Mender fields) fields, which represent about two-thirds of ADCO’s production.
In 2015, ADCO’s expected production is around 1.6 million barrels of oil per day (Mb/d), with an objective to increase output to 1.8 Mb/d from 2017.
Total in the United Arab Emirates
Total has been present in the UAE since 1939 and has built a strong presence, reflected by the size and diversity of its assets and partnerships. The Group’s equity production in 2013 was 260,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).
Total held a 9.5% interest in the previous 75-year ADCO concession that expired on January 10, 2014.
In partnership with ADNOC, Total holds a 75% stake and operates the Abu Al Bu Khoosh field and holds a 13.3% stake in Abu Dhabi Marine (ADMA), which operates two offshore fields. Total also has a 15% stake in Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (GASCO), a 5% stake in Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (ADGAS) and a 5% stake in National Gas Shipping Company (NGSCO). The Group also owns 33.33% of Ruwais Fertilizer Industries (FERTIL), which produces urea.
The Group holds a 24.5% stake in Dolphin Energy Ltd. in partnership with Mubadala, a company owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. Total has also upgraded and increased the capacity of the Taweelah water desalination and power plant which produces about 20% of Abu Dhabi’s water and power requirements.
Total is a partner in the Shams project, the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant in operation (100 MW), inaugurated in 2013. In addition, the Group is a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of the entire range of automotive and industrial lubricants through its affiliate Total Marketing Middle East.
That’s the spirit – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 24 January 2015
That’s the spirit
I was at a sports meet organised for children during the weekend.
It was interesting to see boys and girls coming early in the morning and competing with each other to win in each event they participated.
The weather was excellent and so was the ambience.
There was one event where children in pairs had to run together with one leg each of the participant tied to the other. With limited coaching I found a pair of girls winning well ahead of their competitors.
In another race, a group of girls competed against each other. A few of them ran really fast. When the race finished I saw all of them together sharing their experiences.
Among them was a girl who despite losing, remained very positive and told others, “Hey, I lost.” What a spirit!
Those were the most beautiful words I listened to in the recent times.
We have a lot to learn observing our children.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in the original, please visit Gulf Today online
Inspirational turn – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 17 January 2015
Inspirational turn
This is an actual story about a boy who just graduated as one of the best students from a technical institution of significance.
When he joined, he was the most disobedient among the students, always trying to find one way or another to be in the limelight among the backbenchers.
Smoking, making loud sounds or even at times ignoring instructions from the professors, he was taking out his personal frustrations in the college on his fellow students and teachers.
One day, the professors took him and other students on a visit to a school for physically challenged. A boy trying to do a painting caught his attention. He was attracted to his effort to complete forgetting his physical disabilities. Both formed a rapport with each other and our student started helping him instantaneously.
May be it was the first time in life he got connected to an emotional human element. It never died down. Transformed at the realities of life, he was a changed student altogether when he returned to his college.
Then on, everyone saw a different personality in him. He was regular to his class and assignments and at the end of the course, he was the best student in his batch.
Academicians have a big role in transforming students. The students’ success to a certain extent lies in the capabilities of an effective Communication Action Programme whereby they are taught in simple ways how important is education and the significance of becoming a professional by own efforts and merits.
There is always a good human being in everyone and the success of a person or programme is dependent on finding out this and nurturing in the right way.
Students like him are to be congratulated and educationists who identify and develop such national potential at a young age are to be praised.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 17 January 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Public speaking – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 29 November 2014
Public speaking
Public Speaking is an art. Some people are very talented at it. So much so, that we love to hear them speak for any number of hours.
It may be natural for some but for others it may be developed over a period of years. Both require indepth knowledge on the subject they speak and also huge amount of preparation before.
It is also the same case when it comes to answering questions spontaneously after the speech on the subject they talked as well as various others.
I was lucky to listen to two such speakers recently. One was a US scientist, who elaborated his mastery and presented it in the simplest manner that even a layman could understand.
The other one was one of my own seniors. With experience in the industry for about 40 years, it is a treat to watch and listen to him on any day. It comes so natural that the audience will never realise how much time and topic is covered until he leaves the podium.
It doesn’t end there as he has a natural way to answer post-speech questions. I haven’t seen him carrying a manuscript for his speech.
However, it was new experience for me and all others gathered who listened to him the other day at a huge gathering.
As he came in front of the podium, he took out a set of papers. Before reading out the key messages from it, he said to all. “Today, I am a virgin! It is the first time I am reading out from a pre-written note!”
It was really an icebreaker to capture the huge audience. Though he ventured out from the note at times, it blended perfectly.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Abu Dhabi’s F1 Grand Prix was a great specactle – Letters to the editor – The National Dt 25 November 2014
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| Fans applaud the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. (Christopher Pike / The National) |
Well done, Abu Dhabi, on a successful finale to the Formula One series (Hamilton takes Abu Dhabi GP, November 24).
The Etihad Formula One Grand Prix really was a treat to watch. The organisers did a great job from the issuing of tickets to the closing event.
Praise should be showered on the volunteers from Takatof who were well trained and well informed.
However, I have a wish list for next year’s event. It includes more television screens in the general stands, free earphones for following the commentary in English and Arabic, and a prominent display showing the lap number. Transport after the race is also an area for improvement.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National online.
Learning experience – Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt 15 November 2014
Learning experience
It was a hectic week with Adipec 2014 celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The prestigious oil and gas exhibition and conference has gained immense popularity over the years. It was proved by the continuous flow of visitors with their quest to know more about technology and expertise present in each of the stands.
The event offered an opportunity to meet with colleagues who arrived for the exhibition from different parts of the world and also make some new friends who were first timers.
Observing them and many others in our and various other stands was a learning experience by its own. Some people make it a show and some others contribute significantly to make the show run!
For me, it was a month of long working hours and I needed a break. Off to the airport straight from the exhibition, I realised my dress was completely out of form.
I approached an outlet where an Ethiopian salesgirl gave me the right choice of shorts, jackets, belt and other accessories. In no time, I was relaxed and comfortable in my new dress.
Good customer service is an inborn art and a person like her should be congratulated and promoted to be role models. Our travel becomes all the more interesting when we come across such pleasant salespersons.
Ramesh Menon
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