The Wait Is Over! NetIP Launches Registration For The 18th Annual North America Conference

On June 5, 2009, the LOL Lounge in Toronto was the venue for the official launch of the Network of Indian Professionals of North America’s (NetIP NA) 18th annual three day conference presented by Rogers Communications, scheduled for Labour Day weekend in Toronto. This is the second time in 10 years that the City of Toronto has been selected to host this prestigious, landmark South Asian conference. 
 
A diverse gathering of over 200 professionals from a wide range of business fields attended the evening’s corporate mixer.  The Conference Marketing & Communications Chair, Raj Girn began the evening by welcoming all attendees.  Ms. Girn proceeded to present the NetIP NA Vice President of Events, Ajay Chopra, who introduced the Guest of Honour for the evening, the President of NetIP NA, Aruna Paramasivam.  Ms. Paramasivam flew in from the United States to specifically attend the official conference and simultaneous chapter launch here in Toronto.
 
Addressing the attendees, Ms. Paramasivam expressed her pleasure to be in the city, and how delighted she was that the conference was returning to Toronto following a 10 year hiatus. She went on to state, “I am so excited to be here in person to announce the formation of the new Toronto Chapter of NetIP”, which expands the organization to 24 chapters across North America. Toronto Chapter President, Ms. Syerah Virani announced a special saving of 75% off the regular chapter membership fee in honour of the launch of NetIP NA’s newest chapter in the conference host city.  
 
Looking forward to returning for the three day conference on Labour Day weekend, Sept 4th – 6th, Ms. Paramasivam encouraged people to join the non-profit organization which is experiencing a revitalization of growth based on a number of re-branding initiatives that are increasing its already diverse and active membership base.
 
Conference Director, Ms. Farah Merchant and Mr. Chopra together announced some highlights associated with this year’s conference including the theme, Believe! Create! Achieve! and the venue, the prestigious Sheraton Centre Hotel located in the core of the city of Toronto. Conference attendees can look forward to being surrounded by many of the city’s historical attractions, museums, shopping, and entertainment scene.
 
The Conference promises three days of superior networking with over 800 delegates, plus an exceptional array of guest speakers and entertainers.  Confirmed thus far are:  Rohit Bhargava (Ogilvy & Mather), Ravi Baichwal (ABC News), Ruby Dhalla (MP, Government of Canada), DJ Jiten (Pioneer of the South Asian DJ Scene), Bilaal Rajan (Published Author/Motivational Speaker), Sheniz Janmohamed (Ignite Poets), Sanjay Singhal (Simply Audio Books), and Parminder Singh & Harnarayan Singh (CBC Sports), but to name a few. 
 
In addition to the Platinum Corporate Sponsor, Rogers Communications, this year’s conference is also sponsored in part by Gemma Communications, Atelka, Voysus Group, The Resource Group and SMT Direct.  Platinum Media Sponsors are ANOKHI Magazine, MyBindi.com and Sahara One TV.
 
While this conference has already broken all formerly set sponsorship levels of past years, we continue to seek quality partnerships to propel the organization to new heights this year.  Contact Sponsorship Chair, Mr. Dinu Mukherjee at dinu@netipconference.org for more information.
 
Registration for this exciting conference is now open at: www.netipconference.org. Registration includes: three days of professional networking, engaging seminars, top-notch industry speakers, elegant evening social events, daily meals, and a grand formal gala finale event. 
 
To register, find out more about the conference, and to keep up to date with conference developments, visit www.netipconference.org. The 18th Annual NetIP Conference in Toronto will be a memorable and unique South Asian event that you will not want to miss!

Chapter Spotlight – NetSAP Boston with the “Bhopal Chemical Disaster” survivors

NetSAP-Boston partnered and participated in a community awareness event called “Bhopal Chemical Disaster” on April 25th, 09. The event was organized by Saru Mahajan, Community Awareness Chair on the NetSAP-Boston board.
 
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, http://boston4bhopal.org ,  is a coalition of survivors group that got together in Boston after several other tours around the world. These survivors have been working for justice and a life of dignity after suffering through one of the world’s worst industrial disaster, and for a toxic free future for all. The event was organized with various organizations around Boston including MIT, AID-Boston and various other Human Rights Group.
 
The Union Carbide Chemical Disaster of 1984 that happened in Bhopal, India killed more than 23,000 people due to a catastrophic gas leak and ongoing water contamination in the central Indian city. The youth from the second generation of survivors are affected by the ongoing water contamination from the abandoned Union Carbide factory site.
 
Dynamic youth leaders, 16 year old Sarita Malviya and Safreen Khan, traveled from their homes in Bhopal, India to the US and Canada to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Bhopal Chemical Disaster. Traveling with the teens was Rachna Dingra of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, an international coalition of survivors and supporters with a worldwide presence. The campaign called for ‘No More Bhopals’, more effective regulation of the chemical industry, and greater rights for marginalized communities to protect them from chemical harm.
 
The main purpose of this event was to educate the attendees about the plight of people in Bhopal after 25 years and how they are still struggling for resolution. The stories told by the individuals reached out to the audience and impacted them immensely. Many people gave donations to the group and also helped the group reach out to other major Human Rights groups in the US and world. After the meet, similar meets were organized in Boston. Several individuals from NetSAP-Boston also assisted the victims by providing monetary support and also helped them with setting up other funds.
 
Pallavi Chhabra, NetSAP Boston President remarked that “NetSAP was proud to partner with the Coalition in a first-of-its-kind community service event; The survivors of the tragedy shared their moving stories with the attendees and overall feedback was positive leading us to believe that NetIP should participate in more such events, not only in Boston but across the Nation”

NetIP Salutes Tanya Pinto, a South Asian that Inspires us to Create Believe and Achieve!

 

She was born in Bombay. She is a South Asian woman that inspires not just adults but also children. She is a young woman with a mission to help street children, slum children, and orphans in India efficiently while investing in ways to provide these children with an education. Tanya Monalisa Pinto started Baal Dan, a US based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with no religious intent or bias, in early 2006. Baal Dan works with schools, orphanages, NGO’s and projects in India to help impoverished children. Since 2006, Baal Dan has provided aid to over 3,000 children all over India. 
 

Become a Bone Marrow Donor – Help Nalini Shah!

A friend and a ex-NetIP NA Board member, Sonali Shah, reached out to us to request your help. Her mom, Nalini Shah,  has a life threatening blood disorder. The cause is unknown, and a bone marrow transplant is the only hope for a cure for her disease. The actions of the bone marrow are complex and controlled by many factors. Finding a matching donor for a transplant is not always easy, or even possible.

Since tissue types are inherited, patients from the same race are more likely to find an appropriate match within the same community. Sonali’s family is partnering with SAMAR – South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters (www.samarinfo.org) – an organization that’s mission is to create an informed society of individuals who would make a conscious decision to be committed donors for the national registry (NMDP) and be available to donate blood stem cell/marrow if they match a patient. Currently, the NMDP has millions of donors, but is very underrepresented by South Asians. Today there simply are not enough viable donors registered to help these patients.

Please do consider getting tested to be added to the registry via a simple saliva swab test.

Sonali is trying to increase awareness of the registry and even conduct drives in NY. You can follow dates of the drives and other updates on her facebook group to help Nalini Shah – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105699746625&ref=mf#

Additionally, SAMAR can send you a kit if you would like to become a donor asap. Time is of the essence.

Please do consider this request from a fellow NetIP’er!

Sundip Arora

Vice-President, External Affairs, NetIP NA