National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) has geared up to celebrate its 16th Biennial Convention and 30th Anniversary on Sept. 17-19, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Hotel and the World Fair Marina Restaurant in New York City area. NFIA, the largest umbrella organization of more than 200 associations, representing over 2.7 million Indian Americans will host its members and guests during a 2.5 day event that includes a welcome reception on Friday, September 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the World Fair Marina, Queens, N.Y., followed by a full day of conference at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Hotel on Saturday, September 18, starting at 9:00 a.m.. The day celebrations will continue and conclude on Saturday evening with a Gala Awards Banquet, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the same venue.
Hon. Arun Kumar Singh, India's Deputy Ambassador to the U.S. will inaugurate the festivities during the opening reception on Friday evening. Other guests of honor include New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, New Jersey Assembly Deputy Speaker Upendra J. Chivukula, Columbia University Professor Jagdish Bhagwati, Technologist and Entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa, New York City Comptroller John Liu, Congressman, and past & present Leaders of NFIA. Dr. Vivek Wadhwa, Senior Research Associate with the Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School will kickoff the day long conference on Saturday morning with the opening keynote and, Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati, economist and University Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University will deliver the keynote address during the luncheon on Saturday afternoon. Ten conference sessions scheduled at the whole day conference on Sept. 18th will cover contemporary issues affecting the Indian-American community. "We are very excited about the conference which will feature 40 specialists and two key note speakers of international eminence. The panels will cover a whole range of issues including those of diasporic cultural identity, youth achievements, inadequacies in social services, senior citizens issues, political engagement, philanthropy and US-India relations," said Dr. Thomas Abraham, founding president of NFIA and chairman of the conference. "The resolutions passed at the conclusion of the conference will be submitted to the U.S. and Indian governments for feedback and future action," continued Dr. Abraham. "This event will provide an exciting opportunity for multi-generational Indian Americans to celebrate, connect and cultivate relationships that may prove beneficial both on the personal and professional front," said Lal Motwani, Convener and Executive Vice President of NFIA.
PREAMBLE
Indian Americans constitute one of the newest major ethnic groups and third fastest growing community in America. Since settling in American shores, Indian Americans have established very well in education, profession and business as well as integrating in the larger society. The newer generation of Indian Americans has taken keen interest in the political process. For the first time, over two dozen Indian Americans have been appointed by Obama Administration and many others are running for public offices. The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), since its inception in 1980, has played a key role in providing a broad platform to bring all community groups together as well as promoting the cultural, economic and political interest of the community. Therefore, NFIA will celebrate 30 years of its existence and its contribution to Indian American mobilization with a conference sharing Indian American experience including its success and challenges.
PROGRAM
Friday, Sept. 17
6.30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. - Welcome Reception, Conv. Inauguration & Dinner
Chief Guest: Hon. Arun Kumar Singh, Deputy Ambassador of India to the U.S.
(Location - World's Fair Marina Banquet Hall, 1 World's Fair Marina Flushing, NY)
Saturday, Sept. 18
9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. - Conference Sessions
"Sessions on Emerging Identity, Youth Achieving Success, Community's Issues and Relations with India, U.S.-India Relations, Leadership in Corporate America, Senior Citizens' Issues, Political Involvement and Social Services to the Community"
7.30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. - Grand Gala Awards Banquet (with dances & DJ)
Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Hotel
(Call 718-457-6300 for room booking, NFIA Conv. Rate of $117 plus tax)
104-04 Ditmars Blvd., East Elmhurst, New York 11369, USA
Sunday, Sept. 19
9.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon - NFIA General Body Meeting and Election of Office Bearers (open only to member association representatives)
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Meet Political Leaders, High Achievers, Community Leaders
The best opportunity to network with NRIs/PIOs from all over the USA
Convention and Conference Registration
Registration: $190/person, One day fee: $75/person, Banquet Only: $90/person. Conference Only: (9/18): $15/person (Coffee/tea breaks incl, not lunch). Full registration includes two cocktail receptions/dinners, lunch, continental breakfasts, banquet and coffee breaks. Send in your registration, sponsorship and journal advertisement to NFIA, Attn. Lal Motwani, 237-50 Fairbury Ave., Bellrose, NY 11426, USA, Tel: 718-470-1026, Fax: 718-962-2761, email: lmotwani@verizon.net, www.nfia.net or call Ritresh Agrawal at 646-675-2625.
NFIA Convention Team: Convener: Lal Motwani; Co-Conveners: Dr. Navin Mehta, Dr. Harshad Bhat, Kenny Desai, Ritesh Agrawal; Secretary: Anna Prasad; Conference Chair: Dr. Thomas Abraham; Media Chairs: Nami Kaur, namique@gmail.com and B. Aravindakshan, aravindanny@gmail.com
NFIA Executive Committee: President: Chandu Patel; Executive Vice President: Lal Motwani; Vice Presidents: Ashok Madan, Satheesan Nair, Anil Yadav; Secretary: Sachin Amin; Jt. Secretary: Hari Har Singh, Treasurer: Kirit Kumar Patel; Immediate Past President: Radha Krishnan; Chairman of the Board of Trustees: Dr. Rajen Anand
Conference Theme
INDIAN AMERICANS CELEBRATING SUCCESS, OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Saturday, Sept. 18th
9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. - Plenary Session: Indian Americans Making an Impact in America
Session chair - Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President, FIA Metro New York, NFIA and GOPIO
Welcome - Lal Motwani, Convener, NFIA Convention 2010
Greetings - Chandu K. Patel, President, NFIA
Keynote Address Dr. Vivek Wadhwa, Senior Research Associate with the Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School and Executive in Residence/Adjunct
Professor at the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University
10.30 to 10.45 a.m. Coffee/Tea Break
10.45 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. - Conference Sessions in Two Tracks
Session 1 - Indian American Community - An Emerging Identity
Session Chair - Prof. Parmatma Saran, Author and Prof. Sociology,
City University, New York
Panelists: Prof. Ved Nanda, Evans University Professor and
Thompson G. Marsh Professor of Law, University of Denver
Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi, MD, FACG, American Association of Physician of
Indian Origin (AAPI), Hemet, CA
Dr. Prema Kurien, Associate Professor of Sociaolofy, Syracuse
University, Syracuse, NY
Session 2 - Indian American Youth Achieving Success
Session Chair - Dr. Rupam Saran, Associate Professor, Medger Evers College
City Univ., New York
Session Co-chair - Attorney, Jessica Kalra Esq., New York, NY
Panelists: Raina Himani Jain, Senior, Freedom High School in
Nina Chandra, Investment Banking Analyst, Royal Bank of
Scotland and Former Chair, Wharton Indian Economic Forum
Vinay Kapoor, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA), New York
12 Noon to 1.00 p.m. - Conference Sessions in Two Tracks
Session 3 - Indian American Community - Relations with India
Session Chair - Inder Singh, Chairman, GOPIO International
Session Co-chair - Radha Krishnan, Immediate Past President, NFIA, Detroit, MI
Panelists: Raj Purohit, Chief BJP, MUmbai Prqadesh
Ashook Ramsaran, Executive VP, GOPIO International
Dr H. R. Nagendra, Vice Chancellor, Yoga University, Bengaluru, India
Dr. Jagat K. Motwani, Author on Diaspora and Community
Activist, Dix Hills, NY
Priya Tandon, Asian Pacific Institute Representative
American Jewish Committee, New Delhi, India
Session 4 - Indian Americans Making Impact in Philanthropy
Session Chair - Dr. Sanjay Sinho, CEO, American India Foundation, New York
Panelists: Dr. Abraham George, Philanthropist, Founder Shanti Bhavan,
Boonton, NJ and Tamilnadu, India
Dr. Shashi S. Shah, MD, FACS, Chairman AAPI Foundation, New York
Jay Sehgal, Executive Director and Managing Trustee,
Sehgal Family oundation, Des Moines, IA
Dr. Awtar Singh, Consultant Geotechnical Engineer
SHS Consulting Services and Philanthropist, Los Angeles, CA
1.00 p.m. to 2.30 P.m. - Lunch and Luncheon Speaker on Emerging U.S.-India Relations
Session Chair - Dr. Maya Chadda, Professor of Political Science,
William Patterson University, Wayne, NJ
Luncheon Keynote Address
Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati, University Professor of
Economics at C
olumbia University and senior fellow for international economics at the Council
on Foreign Relations (CFR), New York, NY
Session 5 - Community's Leadership in Corporate America
Session Chair - Dr. Sid Gautam, Professorof Financial Economics and
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Methodist Univ., Fayettteville, NC
Panelists: Narpat Bhandari, Country Director and CEO-Global School of
Silicon Valley and
Co-founder, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Silicon Valley, CA
Vijay Nahata, CEO, Oriental Supreme Ltd. and Lucky 8 (USA and China)
Kanchan Banerjee, Editor-in-Chief, New Global Indian, Boston, MA
Session 6 - Indian American Senior Citizens - Mobilizing Services
Session Chair - Rajeshwar Prasad, Executive Director, National Indian American
Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC), Farmingville, NY
Session Co-chair - Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi, Practicing Psychiatrist and Founder &
President, India Home Inc., New York, NY
Panelists:
Dr. Kul Anand, MD, Geriatrician, Bellerose, NY Iggy Ignatius, Founder and CEO, ShantiNiketan
(Indian Retirement Community), Tavares, Florida
3.30 to 3.45 p.m. Coffee/Tea Break
3.45 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. - Conference Sessions in Two Tracks
Session 7 - Community's Success in Political Involvement
Session Chair - Dr. Rajen Anand, D.V.M., Executive Director,
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Alexandria, VA
Session Co-chair - Subash Razdan, Past President NFIA and Director,
Gandhi Foundation, USA, Atlanta, GA
Panelists: Hon. Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker, NJ State Assembly
Toby Chaudhuri, Director of Communications,
America's Future
Ashok G. Chandra, Indian American Conservative Council,
Manhattan Chapter
Amitabha Bose, Director of Congressional Affairs, Federal
Railroad Administration, US Dept. of Transportation
Session 8 - Services to the Community - What is Achieved and Future Needs - 2nd Floor
Session 8 - Services to the Community - What is Achieved and Future Needs
Session Chair - Sudha Acharya, Executive Director, South Council for Social Services (SACSS), Flushing, NY
Panelists: Seema Agnani, Executive Director, Chhaya Community Development Corp.,
Queens, NY, "South Asian American Housing and Community Development"
Ayaz Ahmed, Director, Health Services, South Asian Council for Social Services
(SACSS). "Healthcare Reform and Remaining Challenges"
Agnelo Dias, Chief Clinical Administrator, Child Center of New York,
"Mental Health Needs of the Community"
Priya Murthy, Policy Director, South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow,
(SAALT), Washington D.C., "Making an Impact at the National Level."
4.45 to 5.15 p.m. Plenary Session - Reports from each sessions and conference resolutions
Session Chairs - Dr. Maya Chadda and Dr. Parmatma Saran
The conference program has been put together by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President of NFIA. Contact: Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net
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NFIA TO HONOR TEN AT THE AWARDS BANQUET
This year's awardees are recognized for their achievements in various fields as well as for philanthropy and community service. They are: Narpat Bhandari, a technologist and entrepreneur for Leadership in Silicon Valley Hi-Tech industry; New York philanthropist Peter Bhedha for Community Service; Shanti Bhavan founder Dr. Abraham George in Education and Philanthropy; PND Hotel Investors CEO Pravin Khatiwala for Community Service and Hospitality; South Asian Times publisher Kamlesh Mehta in Media; geotechnical forensic expert Dr. Awtar Singh in Philanthropy; AAPI President Dr. Ajeet Singhvi for Organizational Achievement in Medical and Health Sciences; Manhattan College President Dr. Molly Easo Smith for Education; TV Asia Anchor Rohit Vyas for Television and Mass Media; and technology entrepreneur Dr. Vivek Wadhwa for Engineering, Technology and Society.
"NFIA has been honoring outstanding achievers among Indian Americans for the last thirty years who have made a mark in the American society and/or have done outstanding community service and the New York convention will honor ten such achievers and contributors to our society," said Lal Motwani, Convention Convener. "NFIA is proud to honor these award recipients who are role models to our new generations growing up in America," said NFIA President Chandu Patel.
Distinguished Awardees - To Receive award and Recognition at the NFIA Banquet Sep 18th
Narpat Bhandari - Leadership in Silicon Valley Hi Tech Industry
![Narpat Bhandari]()
Narpat Bhandari is a pioneering technologist, teacher, entrepreneur, philanthropist and community leader. He is a unique combination of enterprising attitude, community leadership, personal humility and professional will. Narpat Bhandari is the epitome of inspiration to younger generations, a truly global citizen, and a torch-bearer of powerful values established by India's great leaders. Narpat and Chandra established the Bhandari Foundation which has supported multiple projects in the fields of education and medicine and a chair at University of California in Santa Cruz in California.
Peter Bheddah - Community Service
![Peter Bhedha]()
A philanthropist, Mr. Peter Bheddah has all along been driven by an overriding impulse to help the needy. He has delved deep in to his own pockets and in to pockets of others and has worked tirelessly to provide the much needed succor to the needy whether here or in India. His commitment to the humanitarian cause resulted in setting up of hospitals and schools in the district of Kutch in Gujarat he hails from. It led him to rush aid to earthquake hit Gujarat. It led him to be a part of institutions and organizations like Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation and Interfaith Nutrition Network that are committed to humanitarian causes. Mr. Bheddah has made tremendous contribution and enriched Indian American community, which will forever be a shining part of history of Indian Americans.
Dr. Abraham George - Education and Philanthropy
![NFIA Award.Dr. Abraham George]()
The Shanti Bhavan Residential School is a dream project of Dr. Abraham George "A Chance to Dream." It provides an education not confined to the pages of a textbook; an education demanding open-mindedness and free thinking; an education not tainted by prejudices based on gender, caste, creed, or social status. But most importantly, this school has set the foundation for a fruitful future with the promise of both professional and personal success. An ethical global system must ensure that everyone receives the quality education that is their human right, mostly of the Dalit community (formerly called "untouchables") in India.
Pravin Khatiwala - Community Service and hospitality
![Pravin Khatiwala]()
Pravin Khatiwala is the President of PND Hotel Investors that owns and operates several types of hotels/motels throughout the Northeastern US. Khatiwala has a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering from City University of New York and is a licensed engineer in the State of NY and NJ. He has served on the AAHOA Board (1992-1996) and has played a pivotal role in building the Atlantic City Hindu Jain Temple & Community Center (www.achindutemple.org), with his initial contribution of over $2 million. In year 2000, he contributed over $1 million to build PRKhatiwala Vidya Sankul, a school in Surat (www.prkvidyasankul.org); built a community hall; held eye camps over 25 years, assisting over 7500 people; built a computer library in the Sarvajanik Engineering College; a research lab at the PT Science College; established a faculty of IT at the Engineering College, and contributed to establish an educational trust for deserving students. Khatiwala has generously provided college scholarships to many deserving college students in NY, NJ and Pennsylvania.
Kamlesh Mehta - Print Media
![Kamlesh Mehta]()
Mr. Kamlesh Mehta is an entrepreneur with over 25 years experience across a wide range of industries in the United States and India. While interning for a chartered accountant in India, he utilized his commerce background honing his skills as an expert businessman. He started his own diamond trading business in Mumbai in 1985, migrating to New York in 1986 to set up an expansive business of rare gemstones and diamonds. He earned prominence as one of the largest dealers of Colombian Emeralds and was featured and profiled in several trade magazines. He is a founder of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York. Mr. Mehta has delved into the media business, by founding The South Asian Times, a leading weekly newspaper for south Asians communities all over in the United States. Mr. Mehta has been appointed Deputy Director of Nassau County Office of Economic Development.
Dr. Awtar Singh - Philanthropy
![Dr. Awtar Singh]()
Dr. Awtar Singh has established a fully funded annual fellowship for a top student from his alma mater Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, India for graduate-level studies at the University of California, Berkeley from where he did his Ph.D; another at University of Colorado, where he did his M.Sc and an annual scholarship organized by Indian American Heritage Foundation. Besides, Dr. Singh has been directing his donation to many worthy causes. He is the chairman, Board of Trustees, Indian American Heritage Foundation, Los Angeles. Dr. Awtar Singh served as a professor at UCLA for about seven years. He is a leading geotechnical forensic expert in Southern California. In 1972, he started a consulting firm of geotechnical engineers and geologists, Lockwood-Singh & Associates. He worked as Executive Engineer at Bhakra Dam.
Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi MD - Organizational Achievement in Medical and Health Sciences
![Dr. Ajeet Singhvi, President AAPI]()
Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi is diplomate by The American Board of Internal Medicine/of Gastroenterology/Geriatric/Critical Care Medicine/Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. He is a professor at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA from 1991 to present. His professional appointment is as the Chairman, Quality Assurance Committee/Pharmacy/Therapeutic Committee and the Department of Internal Medicine at Hemet Valley Medical Center, Hemet, CA. He has served as a President of Indian Medical Association of Southern California. He is currently president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) for the term 2010-2011. Publications are on Diffuse Ganglioneuromatosis limited to the Small Bowel And Granulomatous Vulvitis as a Presenting Clinical Features of Crohn's Disease.
Dr. Molly Easo Smith - Education
![Dr. Molly Easo Smith]()
Dr. Molly Easo Smith is eleventh President of Manhattanville College, a liberal arts college located Purchase, New York. A scholar of Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, Dr. Smith was named the eleventh President of the college after a career as a faculty member, scholar, and administrator. Dr. Smith has taught Shakespeare and Renaissance Drama at various universities in the US and Scotland, published tow books in Shakespeare and his contemporaries as well as several essays on Renaissance drama and literature. Dr. Smith believes in the transformative power of education, in inclusion and diversity as foundations for institutional excellence, and in the imperative to engage individually and collectively with the larger question of our place and purpose in the world and the universe.
Rohit Vyas - Television and Mass Media
![Rohit Vyas]()
Mr. Rohit Vyas is a highly respected journalist; he has covered the Indian American community continuously for about 35 years, longer than any other individual in the profession. A veteran broadcaster, he is a founding member of TV ASIA, and serves as its English News Anchor. He is the former News Director for ITV/Vision of Asia (Channel 47) in the New York Tri-State region. Rohit is a former Editor of India Abroad, the Founding Editor of News India and the former Editor and Publisher of International Observer, a newspaper dedicated to the United Nations and international affairs. He has been a member of the media delegation of the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of India. Mr. Vyas is also the regular emcee for the Indian American community's landmark mega events, such as the annual India Day Parade in New York, the biggest annual Navratri Festival.
Dr. Vivek Wadhwa - Engineering, Technology and Society
![Dr. Vivek Wadhwa]()
Dr. Vivek Wadhwa wears various hats, Visiting Scholar, School of Information, UC-Berkeley; Director of Research, Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University; Senior Research Associate, Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School. Prior to joining academia in 2005, Wadhwa was a technology entrepreneur, who founded two software companies. He also serves as a Columnist for Business Week and Contributor to TechCrunchs. An entrepreneur turned academic, Dr. Wadhwa is one of the smartest writers on the tech industry; Little Men in big Shoes.
ABOUT NFIA (National Federation of Indian American Associations)
237-50 Fairbury Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426 Ph: (718) 470 1026, Fax: (718) 962 2761 Email: lmotwani@verizon.net, www.nfia.net
Indian American community is one of the fastest growing major ethnic groups in America. Numbering over 2.7 million people, the community has made outstanding contribution to the economic, cultural and political life of America. National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) is the largest umbrella organization of more than 200 associations, representing these 2.7 million Indian Americans.
The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), established in 1980, has been serving the community for the last 30 years. Its goal is to give voice to Indian-Americans to be a participating community in America and motivate them to perform their civic duties, and at the same time preserve their rich cultural heritage, thus contributing to the melting pot of America. NFIA's membership comprises of organizations for all Indian people, irrespective of their religious, regional, professional or political affiliation, as NFIA leadership has devoted substantial efforts to promote participation of people from all walks of life.
Attention Media
The following Media Interviews are scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 18th.
11.00 a.m. - Dr. Vivek Wadhwa (UC Berkeley, Duke and Harvard)
12 Noon - Narpat Bhandari (Global Internationl School)
2.30 p.m. - Prof. jagdish Bhagwati (Columbia Unviersity)
For more information or press registration, please contact:
Co-Chairs, Media and Communications, NFIA 16th Biennial Convention & 30th Anniversary Celebration
J. Nami Kaur E-mail: namique@gmail.com
B. Aravindakshan E-mail: aravindan@aol.com
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