Background and History of ‘NRI Parent Association-Ahemdabad
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The American Indian Senior even though live in America but they never forgets the problems of seniors in their country of origin. We had ICSC at Santa Clara California, which now merged with India Community Center. We are running several programs like, family day, Friends on same wavelength, Current Events, Yoga meditation, and Chhajuka Chaubara, etc. One of the initial program ‘Chhajjuka chaubara’ (i.e. A creative writing program) which is also popular are always attended by seniors who visit or settle down in Silicon Valley. You can meet new faces frequently here who are visitor.
We met in some of the sessions of program the office bearers of ‘NRI Parent Associations of Poona, Baroda etc. They brief our members what types of services they are rendering to the NRI Parents in their receptive places. We felt it was very much necessary to have such organization at Ahmedabad, which is having large numbers of NRI parents. Besides that Ahmedabad is commercially very active and is very near to the Gujarat’s capital Ghandhinagar. I t can serve their cause very well. Therefore I decided to find people who can take up the responsibilities to run such organization when I next time visit Ahmedabad.
My stay was long at Ahmedabad in 2005 and it helps me organize the association.
I was trying to collect some people to organize the NRI Parent Association where I came across to Jayantibhai D Shah who is a good organizer. He showed his intention to stay in India for long time then but he changed his decision thereafter due to his personal/family reasons. However he was a person who join with me at initial stage.
The people from Poona and Baroda also wanted to innate the floating of NRI Parent Association at Ahmedabad.
In context of above one day Mamta Solanky, Journalist from Metro, Ahmedabad, Newspaper came to me to take my interview regarding formation of NRI Parent Association at Ahmedabad and which was publish in the issue of 14th may 2005. It was received very well and so many people contacted me and shown interest. I was interested in those people who take over and look after the association very well as and when I leave India. One Hemant Shah, Businessman and connected with so many organizations contacted me and show me keen interest in the formation of NRI Parent Association. He him self is also one of the NRI parents.
We had a several meetings along with Jayantibhai D Shah at my place and decided to call the meeting of NRI Parents by issuing public circular giving its aims and objectives. Shri Jayantibhai Shah offered his place for the meeting with other facilities.
We had also made approach to Jayantilal K Shah and Jashbhai U Patel during the process of formation of NRI Parent Association, Ahd and were willing to help the Association in every manner.
The first General meeting was hold on 19th June 2005 accordingly and wherein decided to form NRI Parent Association, AHD. We also fixed annual fees of Rs500/- and executive committee of Association thereon. The executive committee was also given power to select first office bearers of the Association.
The office bearers were elected in the next meeting of executive committee wherein Bharat Desai. Hon Chairman, Hemant Shah, President, Bipin Patel, C G Desai, Vice Chairman’s Indaravadan Shah, Narendra Shah Secretaries, Suresh Shah, Naresh Patel, Treasures were appointed. The Hon Chairman position was given to me, looking at my contribution as a founder member and with the understanding that will leave India in near future.
We had get-together meeting with dinner on30th July 2005 at Dadi Dinning Hall, Pritamnagar, and Ahmedabad wherein Ramesh Tanna, Resident Editor of Gujarat Times was chief guest. The members were briefed regarding the aims, objectives and future plan of the association. Chandravadan Desai, Vice Presidents gave some idea regarding American law for senior citizens. Ramesh Tanna assured all support to the newly founded organization. Bipin Patel one of the Vice Presidents who was appointed secretary of Gujarat chamber of commerce was also honored in his absence. The large number of members attended the program.
We had also arranged general body meeting in the August 2005 at Lions Hall, where in we had direct interaction with the members. The members made several suggestions. Even Hon chairman also requested members to actively observe the performance of association and to make suggestion to make improvement thereof. Hon chairman also stressed on points regarding registration of the association, for early drafting of the constitution and making running of the association economically more viable.
Finally the NRI Parent Association, AHD, was officially inaugurated by Krishnakant Vakharia, Chairman, Vishwa Gujarati Samaj at Ahemdabad Medical Association Hall. Mukesh Patel, Tax Consultant, Mahendra Shah, Divya Bhasker Newspaper, and Geetaben Patel, USA also attended the function as guest. The function was well received by the members. It was also well received by the media.
However the membership had reached to about150 by October 05.
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