NetSAP DC’s January Third Thursday Benefiting the Grameen Foundation

Reprinted with Permission from Purti Ruchi Bali, President of the Network of South Asian Professionals DC

Originally posted on January 25, 2010 at http://netsapdc.wordpress.com/

January Third Thursday, January 21, 2010

We (NetSAP DC) held our first Third Thursday of the year at Hudson in Dupont Circle and had a great turnout. By my humble estimate, I think we had about 50 attendees (its hard to gauge as people come in and out of the happy hour). We had free appetizers and great bar specials. To add a professional element to the Third Thursday, we asked all attendees to wear name tags and attach star or smiley face stickers to indicate their professional industry (for example, my purple star meant that I’m a consultant). Most people were good sports and we got a lot of compliments for the simple and effective idea.

Hudson did get crowded as do most of our Third Thursday locations and this only reinforced the fact that Third Thursdays are our most popular event. Our Special Event Director is working hard to secure larger and new venues for this monthly event. We also took cash donations at the door to fundraise for Haiti relief efforts. The cash donations along with 50% of the door cover charge will be donated to NetIP’s National Charity Partner, the Grameen Foundation. In total, NetSAP DC donated $222.00 to the Grameen Foundation! Thank you for your donations! If you didn’t get a chance to attend this month’s Third Thursday, don’t worry there are 9 more to go this year!

Editor’s Note: Proceeds from this event where donated to The Grameen Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund. The Network of Indian Professionals North America has pledged to support the initiatives of the The Grameen Foundation in 2010.

Edited by Latha Nehru, VP of External Affairs, NetIP NA, www.NetIP.org

NetIP’s October Leader of the Month

Tejas Kadia, Political Pillar Chair, NetSAP DC

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.

NetIP announces October’s Event of the Month Winner

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.

NetIP Announces March Leaders of the Month

Kamana Sharma, NetSAP DC

Kamana Sharma has done outstanding work for the Greater DC area

through the Community Service Pillar.  Philanthropic events

produced by NetSAP DC have increased in frequency, attendance has

tripled, and more underprivileged individuals and groups are

benefiting from NetSAP DC’s community work.  Kamana approached the

NetSAP DC board in January wanting to create a monthly community

service event based on President Obama’s call to action on

www.serviceusa.org.  Kamana believed that NetSAP DC members should

participate in President Obama’s call to action as a community of

South Asian American professionals and has achieved this goal through

each month’s Second Saturday of Service. Each month’s service event

assists a local organization, so NetSAP DC members are not only

promoting the importance of service in the South Asian community but are also

positively impacting the local Washington DC community.

 

Farida Hasanali, NetIP Houston

Farida Hasanali has been the beacon of enthusiasm and innovation on the Houston

board.  The comfort and warmth that people see in her has helped NetIP

Houston keep its member base loyal.  Her exemplary leadership

exhibited in organizing NetIP Houston’s International Women’s Day

event demonstrates her commitment and passion for the chapter.  Farida

decided to host the event at her home and was responsible for all the

logistics such as invitations and program details.  The home setting

and the women-only criteria provided the perfect environment for the

event. This event was a prime example of how Farida’s outgoing and friendly

personality has made everyone with whom she interacts an instant friend and

supporter of NetIP.

NetSAP DC’s Second Saturday of Service – A Consciousness of Service

NetSAP DC’s Second Saturday of Service – A Consciousness of Service

NetSAP DC Second Saturday of Service is designed to provide a community approach to service for its members to commit, serve, and network during service events. Members were asked to commit their second Saturday each month, a commitment to become both a more engaged citizen and a more engaged member of the NetSAP DC community. Over 60 volunteers participated in the first event at the DC Takoma Community Center, clearly showing that members were ready for the challenge to transform lives and expand their capacity to lead.

NetSAP DC Second Saturday of Service originated from President Obama’s call to action on www.serviceusa.org. President Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods and he is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities.

The March Second Saturday of Service event provided volunteers from NetSAP DC and AAPI DC with the opportunity to serve and network while cleansing the DC Takoma Community Center. Cleansing activities were both in and outdoor. DC Community Centers are safe zones for children and teens and offer the chance for families to enjoy special activities and events close to home.

Click here to view photos from the event: http://www.netsap.org/netsapdc/index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=55

Washington Post features NetSAP DC

Washington Post features NetSAP DC

NetSAP DC and Professionals in the City host a monthly Speed Networking event at Gua-Rapo. The Four Minute Speed Networking for South Asian Professionals event is a fast, fun, safe and comfortable way to meet other South Asian Professionals. Speed Networking is a structured event that puts both outgoing and more reserved “networkers” on a level playing field. It is the perfect opportunity to meet interesting and fun DC single professionals in a relaxed setting.

NetSAP DC’s event was recently featured in the Washington Post. Click here to read the article and to see photos from the event: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/07/AR2009030701841.html?referrer=emailarticle