House of Representatives

             CHARLICE BYRD                                                                                                          STANDING COMMITTEES:         

REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 20   COVERDELL LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ROOM 411                

        POST OFFICE BOX 906                   ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334                      CHILDREN & YOUTH - VICE CHAIRMAN     WOODSTOCK, GEORGIA 30188-0906           404-656-0126                                 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM    

        CELL: 404-557-2218                            FAX: 404-463-2793                                              HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

  EMAIL: charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov                                                                                     JUDICIARY - NON-CIVIL

                                                                                                                                   SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - SECRETARY    

08 LC 95 0938

House Resolution 1783

By: Representative Byrd of the 20^th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing Varinee Sangmalee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, a native of Bangkok, Thailand, Varinee Sangmalee came to the United States in 1969, and she has since been actively involved in her community; and

WHEREAS, she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in personnel management and a minor in finance from Georgia State University, and as an exchange student, she was the recipient of a postgraduate scholarship in international management from the German government; and

WHEREAS, she was the president of the Thai Association of Georgia in 2001 and 2002; she is the founder and president of the Thai Association World Center, USA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and global services organization and the founder of the Thai American Chamber of Commerce; and she serves as the Royal Thai Embassy's representative to the Southern Region of the United States; and

WHEREAS, she is currently serving her second term as the president of the Asian-Pacific American Council of Georgia, which is an umbrella organization for 14 other organizations with membership of more than 100,000, and she is the chairperson of the Asian Cultural Experience, an organization with members representing 15 countries that sponsors an annual multi-cultural event hosted in partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Gardens; and

WHEREAS, Varinee Sangmalee is also an advisor to numerous organizations and special events such as the Asian Film Festival, Who's Who in Asian American Communities, and on the board of directors of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Asian Pacific Islander Communities Coalition; and

WHEREAS, as a community leader, she has been actively involved with many organizations with raising money for scholarships, holding health fairs and career fairs, and involved in fundraising events for natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the members of this body join together to appropriately commend this outstanding individual.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body hereby join together in commending Varinee Sangmalee for her work with the Asian community and the valuable services she provides to her community and this state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is hereby authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Varinee Sangmalee.

 APAC PAST PRESIDENTS 

and 

VARINEE SANGMALEE, 2007 & 2008 APAC PRESIDENT

L-R: 2003 Willie Bonus (Fil-AM), 1993 Victor Romero (Fil-AM),1986 Tito Espina (Fil-AM), 2006 Charlie Yoon Kim (KAAGA), 2001 Dr. Ash Thakker, PhD (IACA), 1992 Vir Nanda (IACA), 2007-2008 Varinee Sangmalee (TAWC USA), 2005 Dr. Narsi L. Narasimhan, PhD (IACA),  2004 Bala Pant (NASeA), 1995 Shin S. Chang (TAA).

Nepal Abroad Bhadra 22, 2064 / September 08, 2007 Page 5

‘NASeA-ANMN Joint Convention 2007’ In Atlanta

Photo:Nepalhorizons.com

NASeA-ANMA Joint Convention

2007 Accomplished !

The joint annual convention on the Nepalese Association in Southeast America (NASeA) and the Association of Nepalese in Midwest America (ANMA) was held in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA from September 1-3, 2007 atthe Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel.  There were well over five hundred attendees including participants from all over the US as well as from Nepal.

The Association of Nepali Teraian in America (ANTA) was a conference cohost.  NASeA President Dr. Narayan Rajbhandari, ANMA President Mr. Sanjay Shrestha and Convention Chair Mr. Tek Thapa welcomed them and the representatives of many affiliates and sister organizations at the plenary kick-off ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

This was followed by a Nepalese Women’s Global Network forum on domestic violence, a forum on depression, a session on NAPAC, an organization interested in Nepalese-American issues and an International Nepalese Literary Society session.

After a delicious Nepali dinner the evening was enlivened by concerts of popular touring Nepali popular music groups. On the side, everybody engaged in networking and catching up with friends and families. 

A Ganesh pooja preceded the opening ceremony on Sunday. It was inaugurated by Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN and blessed by Nepali Baba and Monk Krishnaman.  

Guest speaker Ms.Varinee Sangmalee, President of APAC, Atlanta lauded the flourishing of the Nepali diaspora as a part of the Asian-American coalition there.

Mr. Kali Prasad Pokharel, Charge d’affairs at the Embassy, Washington, D.C. brought up the newly passed Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Bill and how the Embassy is registering all Nepalis in North America as an important facet in the process for the diaspora to help Nepal.

Mr. Acharya then spoke of the impending CA election in Nepal and went on to assure the audience that there is now definitely a desire in Nepal to work with and help the diaspora.

Dr. Ambika Adhikari, President Nepalese Americas Council and key note speaker, enlightened everyone on the coordinating role of the organization and how it has assumed the natural role of shepherding NRN affairs within itself. 

The plenary session continued into the NRN session, which was devoted mainly to exhorting the assemblage to go to Nepal for the October NRN Conference in Nepal and discussion on the new Bill and what it achieves for the NRN. Some guests with a background of activism in the field also spoke. Eleven resolutions to be sent to the NRN conference were passed.  A Nepal Forum devoted to the Madhesi/Terai issue followed lunch.

The highlight was the participation of MP Dr. Minendra Rijal who articulated the position of the parties in power and how a solution was possible.  Concurrent sessions on immigration and entrepreneurship, transfer of technology, Dharma and as well as a children’s program were conducted.

A notable feature was the first-ever general discussion meeting to establish the American Society of Nepali Engineers in the grand NASeAANMA tradition to nurture and foster organizations like NAC, ANMF and NGWN. 

The Dharma session highlighted our roots and values. The session was addressed by many speakers including Monk Krishna Man and Nepali Baba. A perfect harmony between the three principal sects of Hinduism in Nepal namely Baudha (Buddha), Shaiva (Nilkantha) and Vaishnav (Narayan) symbolized by the temple ‘Budha Nilkantha Narayan’ was highlighted. 

Another fine dinner and the concluding home grown cultural show completed the festivities. In addition to showcasing the talent of the many performers, the event was also a successful organization fundraiser and an opportunity to award the performers and thank the volunteers who made it a spectacularly successful Conference.

 [Courtsey: Nepalhorizons.com]

NASeA-ANMA joint convention held

The joint annual convention of the Nepalis Association in Southeast America (NASeA) and the Association of Nepalis in Midwest America (ANMA) was held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from September 1-3.

Over 500 participants from all over the US and Nepal attended the convention co-hosted by the Association of Nepali Teraian in America (ANTA).

The convention debated various issues including Nepali Women's Global Network forum on domestic violence, a forum on depression, a session on NAPAC, an organization interested in Nepali-American issues and an International Nepalese Literary Society activities.

The evening was enlivened by concerts of popular touring Nepali pop music groups.

On Sunday's session, inaugurated by Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN and blessed by Nepali Baba and monk Krishnaman,guest speaker Varinee Sangmalee, President APAC,   Atlanta lauded the flourishing of the Nepali Diaspora as a part of the Asian-American coalition there.

Kali Prasad Pokharel, Charge d'affairs at the Nepali  Embassy,Washington , DC

presented the newly passed Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Act and explained how the embassy is registering all Nepalis in North America as an important facet in the process for the Diaspora to help Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya briefed the Diaspora about the CA polls in Nepal and went on to assure that there is now definitely a desire in Nepal to work with and help the Diaspora.

Dr. Ambika Adhikari, President of the Nepali Americas Council and a key note speaker, stressed on the need for coordinating roles of their organisations for shepherding NRN affairs.

The NRN session was devoted mainly to exhorting the assemblage to go to Nepal for the October NRN Conference and discussion on the new Act.  A forum devoted to the Terai issue articulated the position of the parties in power and how a solution was possible.

Concurrent sessions on immigration and entrepreneurship, transfer of technology, Dharma and as well as a children's program were conducted. A notable feature was the first-ever general discussion meeting to establish the American Society of Nepali Engineers.

 nepalnews.com ia Sep 05 07