NetIP is proud to announce its formal partnership with TeachAIDS. In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1st, 2009, TeachAIDS is launching an India Initiative. Cultural icons such as Shabana Azmi, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Amol Palekar, among others, have already joined the TeachAIDS’ efforts and graciously donated their voices for the HIV/AIDS educational animated shorts. In the coming year, NetIP will be supporting TeachAIDS’ efforts to raise awareness among South Asians globally about the fight against the spread of HIV infection in India, to reduce stigma and break the silence on this global epidemic.
Solving the problem of how to provide effective health education on diseases subject to social taboos is an immediate need. Today, India has the world’s third-largest national infected population, after South Africa and Nigeria. However, teaching about diseases such as HIV/AIDS presents significant challenges to prevention education because social stigma often precludes open discussion. In fact, sex education has been banned in academic institutions in numerous states across India.
TeachAIDS is a non-profit that works to address and overcome the social and cultural challenges related to HIV/AIDS prevention education. Founded out of Stanford’s School of Education, TeachAIDS uses a rigorous research-based process to develop medically accurate and culturally tailored HIV/AIDS educational animations. Their materials have been tested with tremendous success in numerous developing regions and are currently used in more than 25 countries, including India, China, South Africa, Botswana, and the United States. All TeachAIDS animated works are available for free to all.
Tejas Kadia joined the NetSAP DC board as a volunteer recognizing the need for more political events in the nation’s capital. He immediately jumped on as Political Pillar Chair and has consistently been a highly effective contributor. Tejas started conducting monthly Chai Chats, discussing the hottest topics in the political arena including health care reform, immigration status, foreign relations with India, and racial slurs.
Building an interest with NetSAP DC members on a monthly basis, Tejas ended his year as Political Pillar Chair by orchestrating “Getting Involved in the Political Process - A Panel Event”, which is also the winner of NetIP’s October Event of the Month. The highly successful event was attended by nearly 150 people and included premier political organizations and notable panelists.
We wish Tejas the best of luck as he continues his leadership role as the Political Pillar Chair of NetSAP DC in 2010.
Getting involved in the Political Process - A Panel Event, NetSAP DC
On October 26th, NetSAP DC, in conjunction with Indian American Leadership Initiative, Indian American Republican Council, and North American South Asian Bar Association, held a panel event entitled “Getting involved in the Political Process”. Nearly 150 people attended the standing room only event, in which a variety of south asian panelists discussed their personal stories about being actively involved in politics while staying focused on the unity of Republicans and Democrats for the Indian American community at large.
The following notable panelists attended and fielded questions: Honorable Kumar P. Barve, Maryland House of Delegates Majority Leader (D-17); Samir Mayekar, White House Office of Presidential Personnel; Bhavna Pandit, Indian American Leadership Initiative - Political Director; Anu Rangappa, the Dewey Square Group; Dino Teppara, Indian American Republican Council – Chairman; Neena Shenai, American Enterprise Institute; Neil Chatterjee, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Suhail Khan, Institute for Global Engagement. This event showed that Indian Americans want to make a difference on any level of government (local, State, Federal) and help the United States and its people with its future. Additionally, it was pointed out that Indian Americans are one of the top ethnic communities that elected officials require in order to succeed, as exhibited by this past Presidential election.
The feedback was very positive and encouraging for young political hopefuls to become engaged in public service and to be a cause for change in the Indian American political arena. Many attendees were pleased to see both Republicans and Democrats on the same panel in the same room while they set aside economical, social, and geo-political differences to discuss their heritage as Indian Americans first.
Few people can say that getting fired is one of the highlights of their life. Yet for former “Apprentice” star Surya Yalamanchili, getting personally fired by Donald Trump on national TV has been a peak moment of his life.
Well known for the passion, energy, and business acumen he displayed on the hit NBC reality TV show, Surya, 28, has been a fireball of a businessman since he was 15, when he started his own Internet company. Since then, he has catapulted himself into the big leagues. Last year he became one of the youngest brand managers ever at Procter & Gamble.
He is now poised to take on the world as he runs for US congress from the 2nd Congressional District in Ohio: www.votechili.com.
Listen live on HD Radio on Wednesday, December 9th at 8 PM:
New York – 98.7 FM (HD2)
Washington DC – 103.5 FM (HD2)
Chicago – 101.1 FM (HD2)
Los Angeles – 105.9 FM (HD2)
You can make a difference in the fight against global poverty. On the 27th of each month, Grameen Foundation and NetIP ask supporters to make a donation of $27 to let the world know that poverty is unnecessary and one person can help change the lives of the world’s poorest. To jump start the efforts, a group of friends of Grameen Foundation will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $200,000.
We have a special page set up just for NetIP members so that the total we raise as an organization can be accurately tracked. Click here to read more about Grameen Foundation and see the special NetIP donation page.
Manu Narayan has been hailed as a “promising young star…a compelling actor and outstanding singer who can light up a stage with sheer force of personality. Manu has starred on Broadway’s Bombay Dreams, and co-stars alongside Mike Myers in the Film The Love Guru. Manu was born in Pittsburgh and now lives in New York City.
The music for Bombay Dreams was created by A. R. Rahman, plot was written by Meera Syal and it was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Love Guru starred Mike Myers, Jessica Alba along with Justin Timberlake. Manu has also starred in Quarter Life Crises with Maulik Pancholy, Lisa Ray and Russel Peters.
Ami Sheth is a model and actress that began her career at 16 with a fashion show at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. She attended Boston University and has a degree in biology. She is a licensed vet. NetIP’s New York Chapter featured Ami as one of the Auctioned Dates at their summer 2009 cruise to help raise money for charity.
Ami starred in ‘Hotel Chelsea’ and recently modeled for Indias Reebok spring/summer line and is currently shooting the tv show “Delocated”. You can see Ami on Claritin’s commercial nationally.
Listen live on HDRadio on: New York – 98.7 FM (HD2)
Washington DC – 103.5 FM (HD2)
Chicago – 101.1 FM (HD2)
Los Angeles – 105.9 FM (HD2)
Or listen anywhere in the world via the internet, humdesiradio.com
President: Sundip Arora, Boston
Sundip’s service with NetIP started on the Boston board in 2007 which helped propel the chapter to a Best Chapter award. In 2008, he served as VP events for NetIP NA, delivering a successful conference to our membership. This year as the VP of External Affairs, Sundip has proved that he does indeed have the Midas touch. Under his leadership, NetIP has launched a successful branding initiative and a rejuvenated sponsorship effort, and has built a number of alliances and partnerships nationally. We look forward to the Arora Administration in 2010!
Director of Operations: Santosh Perla, Pittsburgh
Santosh’s new role will be his 4th year of service to NetIP. His knowledge of NA’s operations and his working relationships with most chapters uniquely position him to be the go-to guy and right hand man to the President. Elected VP Internal Affairs in 2009, the internal team has a much needed structure and organization to better serve chapters under his leadership. Santosh joined a near defunct Pittsburgh chapter in 2007 and propelled it to Best Small chapter during his 2 years as president. He also won best small chapter president in 2008. We look forward to Santosh’s efforts towards building an even more successful 2010.
VP of Internal Affairs: Shubha Rao, Atlanta
After successfully serving two years on the Atlanta board, Shubha stepped up to the National team this year as the Strategic Relations Chair on the Internal Affairs team. Her vision for this new role in 2010 is to encourage collaboration across chapters and NetIP NA, and empower and support each chapter to help them become influential organizations in their local communities.
VP of External Affairs: Latha Nehru, Dallas
Under Latha’s leadership in 2009, the Dallas chapter was completely transformed and went on to win two Boscars for the Most Improved Chapter and Best Large Chapter President. Her effervescent personality, involvement in the NetIP NA’s Volunteer Community Service Committee and other professional alliances make Latha uniquely positioned for this role next year.
VP of Finance & Administration: Sriram Narasimhan, Pittsburgh
Sri founded the Phoenix chapter under NetIP NA’s chapter startup pilot program in 2007. Under his leadership, the chapter won the Boscar for Best New Chapter last year. Midway through 2009, Sri stepped into the role of VP of Finance and Admin and ably took over the reins in this new position. We wish Sri the best and look forward to his expertise in running a tight ship.
VP of Technology: Anish Mistry, Columbus
In 2009, Anish completely revamped the Columbus chapter website, and helped transition it to the new NA chapter web platform and branding initiative. In 2010, Anish plans to successfully transition away from HarrisConnect to a new integrated system that empowers the local chapters and provides user-friendly tools they need and want.
