NetIP SFBA – 2011 Year in Review!

NetIP SFBA’s goal in 2011 was to provide unique and quality events.  We brought 35 events to the Bay Area and raised $8000 for charities, including ASHA for Education, UNICEF and Hospital for Hope. 

We kicked off the year with “Entrepreneurial Politics” with Vivek Wadhwa, tech entrepreneur and Ash Kalra, City Council Member, stimulating a challenging discussion about immigrant entrepreneurs and the government’s ability/lack of ability to support them.  This event quickly led to a NetIP SFBA first and provided an opportunity for audience members, including Rishi Chopra, Political Awareness Pillar Chair, to be invited on a panel with Tom Brokaw of NBC’s Nightly News. 

“Karaoke at Kaama” was yet another opportunity for a board member to share his skills for the local community.  Ankit Jain, Vice President created local buzz by adding a twist to his DJ skills and mixed karaoke videos for a night of Bollywood & bhangra music, allowing people to serenade the new local venue or scream their hearts out. 

“Vegas Invasion” was a challenge that NetIP SFBA decided to lead for the West Coast chapters with the intent to allow an opportunity for the nearby chapter members to connect for a weekend in Las Vegas.  It brought together four West Coast chapters – SFBA, LA-OC, Phoenix and Chicago.  All attendees had front of the line access to the hot day and night clubs for ongoing networking throughout the weekend.  With the support of all chapters, we were able to turn this event into a charitable event, donating $2000 to ASHA for Education.   

Our annual Black & White Affair was give a Masquerade Ball twist with a casino theme.  It attracted 250 guests and we were able to raise $5000 for Hospital for Hope, which aims to aim to fund the construction of a hospital in an extremely under-served area of the rural Indian state of Jharkhand.  The goal of the Black & White Affair is to bring together the NetIP SFBA community, but also tighten the Bay Area community by raising money for a charity with the support of local businesses and partnerships.

NetIP SFBA successfully achieved its goal of providing unique and quality events.  We are more than a networking forum and aspire to be the facilitating vehicle used by South Asian professionals to improve and enhance the communities in which we work and live. 

We are grateful to have received recognition from North America with a Boscar for Most Improved Chapter.  With the support of the local community, businesses and partners, we hope to continue to be a platform for community growth and development.  We hope to continue to be influenced by the power of Silicon Valley and be innovative, grow and progress into an even more successful 2012.  Raising the bar!