in the meeting held in VCCI Conference room on February 18, 2010. We have requested Mr. Nilesh Shukla, the Chairman of NRG Centre to call a joint meeting for this purpose and shall get back to the members as soon as it is finalised.

I wish all the members a very Happy Holi and Eid Mubarak.

Om Juneja.

2.0. Highlights of Meetings.

2.1. NRIPA Monthly Meeting held on Saturday 30^th Jan. 2010, 6.00 PM at Hotel Tropical woodland Alkapuri Vadodara.

The President, Dr. Om. Prakash Juneja presided the chair.

An appreciable gathering of 85 persons participated and enjoyed the meeting.

1. All present paid homage to Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi and observed silence to bestow eternal peace to late Shree Bhupendrabhai Umedbhai Amin.

2. Mr. Maganbhai Mistry presented prayer including chanting of “OM”. All enjoyed the recorded voice of Mahatma Gandhi and his favorite bhajan “Vaishnava jan to tene re kahiye” and dhun “Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram”.

3. Mrs.Geetaben Shah, Mrs. and Mr. Thakordas Bhagia made it a happy moment for all whose birth date fell in January.

4. All enjoyed entertainment presentations by Mrs. Meena Paryani, Mr. Maganbhai Mistry, Mr. Lakhi Paryani, Mr. Vinod Sangani, Mr. D. O. Kotecha, Mr. Vijay Khopkar and Mr. Ashok Jailwala.

5. Dr. Shital Vaidya’s presentation on “Prevention of Arthritis” followed by questions answers was very informative and useful.

6 (A). Shree D. D. Tuteja joined as a Life Member and Shri Umesh Narayan Joshi, Shri Nand Lal Pamnani, Shri Prannath Bhatia and Col. Rohit B. Desai converted their Annual Membership to Life Membership.

6(B) 4 new members (Mr. Subhash Jivanlal Talati, Mr. Kirit S Shah, Mr. Haresh K Aswani and Mr. Mahendra C Jhaveri) joined as Annual Members.

7. Total collection of the day inclusive of participation fees and membership fees was

Rs. 24,200/.

8. The publication of the Monthly NEWSLETTER, January 2010 by Mr. Umakant Shah was well appreciated.

9. All EC members were busy to perform their functions in a stipulated time frame. All were happy and enjoyed a memorable event of the first monthly meeting for the year 2010.

10.0. You may enjoy few photographs of our monthly meeting kept on our website: http://www.nripagujarat.com/about/gallery/picture-gallery/

2.2. NRIPA EC meeting held at 14.30 hrs on Thursday, 18 February, 2010 at the residence of Mr. Amritgiri Goswami.

Members who attended the meeting.

S/Shri:

(1) President - Dr. Juneja Om Prakash

(2) Sr. Vice President - Mr. Pravin D. Vaidya

(3) Vice President - Mr. Paryani Lakhi N.

(4) General Secretary - Mr.  Goswami Amritgiri J.

(5) Joint Secretaries - Mr. Mistry Maganlal R. (6) Mr. Niranjan P. Talati

(7) Treasurer - Mr. Khopkar Vijay Y.

(8) Joint Treasurer - Mr. Chavda Rameshchandra D.

(9) EC Members - Mrs. Geeta Jatin Shah,

(10) Smt. Ramnathan Leela

(11) Immediate Past President -Mr. Madhusudan Mehta

(12) Editor - Mr. Umakant Shah

2.2.1. Following Resolutions passed unanimously after discussion.

1. It is resolved that Mr. Lakhi N. Paryani, Vice President will arrange printing of all stationery items like Letter Pads, Envelopes, Membership Forms, Brochures.

2. Mr. Umakant Shah and Mr. Amritgiri Goswami will prepare membership form and hand
over to Mr. Lakhi Paryani.

3. It is resolved to prepare laminated Identity Cards for all life members on chargeable basis of Rs. 70/- per membership. Mrs. Rashmika Naik will manage the same.

4. It is resolved that printing of Birth day Greeting Cards is omitted.

5. Following Mementos are planned.
Golden Marriage Anniversary Memento for those who complete 50 years of their marriage.
Diamond Birth Day memento for those members (inclusive of spouse) completing 75 years of age.

6. It is resolved that widow of a deceased member would be entitled for a honorary membership of our association, provided she send her written consent in response to a letter from the association requesting her to accept such membership. She has to respond within one month from the date of such letter. Follow up by telephonic call is to be undertaken to convince her.

7. Dr. Om Juneja, President, will draft a letter about request to accept honorary membership as refereed at resolution no. 6.

8. It is resolved that membership fees structure is to be maintained as it is.

9. It is resolved that development of membership data software is not worthwhile looking to its utility, for the time being.

10. It is resolved that Treasurer is authorized to transfer Rs. 600/ from annual membership fees ledger to life membership fees ledger per each member who has converted his annual membership to life membership by paying Rs. 4400/-.

11. It is resolved that we may not accept invitations to sponsor monthly meetings from institution dealing in investment field at their office premises. It is also resoled that we may not accept invitations to sponsor monthly meetings from institution dealing in investment field who are making phone calls to members for investments.

12. It is resolved that the decision of website hosting taken by the concerned committee members is endorsed.

2.2.2. Discussions:

1. Holi Festival celebration meeting is to be arranged on Monday, 01 March, 2010 at 17.30 hrs at Kamati Baugh. All participants will pay Rs. 50/- per person and necessary arrangement for snacks etc. will be managed by Mr. Niranjan Talati. (This, subsequently is cancelled for various inconveniences expressed by members).

2. Various points sent by VCCI were discussed and strategy finalized for the discussion with officials of VCCI at their office.

3. It was agreed in principle to provide database of our children to NRG Centre.

4. Delegation of NRIPA met officials of VCCI at their office to discuss and understand the objectives of NRG Centre and way of participation of NRIPA with NRG Centre.

5. It was suggested that some members of NRIPA may be included in the sub committees of NRG Centre like Legal Aid, Cultural & Religious Tourism. NRIPA suggested names of Mr. Pravin Vaidya and Mr. Panjwani for legal Aid committee and Mr. Pran Nath Bhatia and Mr. Maganbhai Mistry for Cultural & Tourism Committee.

6. It was suggested to share news and views among both the organizations.

7. It was suggested to include one more point for Spirituality & Yoga. NRIPA suggested to include Dr. Om Juneja and Mr. Vijay Khopkar in this committee.

8. It was suggested to provide Gujarat Cards to parents of NRIs.

9. VCCI appreciated website of NRIPA having salient features.

2.3. Inauguration of NRG Centre at Vadodara

2.3.1. Government of Gujarat NRG (Non Resident Gujaratis) Centre managed by VCCI - Vadodara Chamber of Commerce & Industry was inaugurated on February 20, 2010 by Honorable Shree Jay Narayan Vyas, Minister of Health & Tourism and Non Resident Gujarati Division, Government of Gujarat.

2.3.2. Shree Balkrishna Shukla, Mayor, Vadodara Municipal Corporation and M.P.; Shree Yogesh Patel, Parliamentary Secretary and MLA; Shree Bhupendrabhai Lakhawala, MLA; Shree Jitendra Sukhadia, MLA; Shree Vijay Nehra, IAS, Chairman Dist. Committee for NRGs and Collector, Vadodara; Shree Nilesh Shukla, Chairman, NRG Centre and Vice President VCCI; Shree Jatin Bhatt, President VCCI, were seated on the Dias.

2.3.3. Dr. Om Prakash Juneja, President; Mr. Madhusudan Mehta, Ex. President; Mr. Lakhi Paryani, Vice President; Mr. Amritgiri Goswami, General Secretary; Mr. Vijay Khopkar, Treasurer; Mr. Umakant Shah, Editor, NEWSLETTER; Mrs. Geeta Shah, EC Member; Mr. D. D. Tuteja; Mr. Jatin Shah represented  NRI Parents’ Association (NRIPA), Vadodara during the inauguration ceremony of this NRG Centre.

2.3.4. Mr. Madhusudan Mehta emphasized need for NRI Hostel near Airport. He said Parents of NRIs may become bridge in attracting their NRIs kids.

2.3.5. Dr. Om Praksh Juneja, Mr. Vijay Khopkar, Mr. Jatin Shah also expressed their views and concerns along with others.

2.3.6.. “રાજ્યના પ્રથમ NRG સેન્ટરનું લોકાર્પણ” reports Bhaskar News, Vadodara in the “Divya Bhaskar” daily of 21 Feb. 2010. To read their report click on http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/2010/02/21/100221013434_nrg_center_state.html

2.3.7. “રાજ્યના પ્રથમ NRG સેન્ટરનું જયનારાયણ વ્યાસે ઉદ્ઘાટન કર્યું” reports “Sandesh” daily of February 21, 2010. To read their report, open the link http://www.sandesh.com/sandesh_article.aspx?newsid=161763

2.3.8. NRIPA, Vadodara requested Honorable Shree Jay Narayan Vyas, Minister of Health & Tourism and Non Resident Gujarati Division, Government of Gujarat,  to extend help in fulfilling its mission. To read more open the link http://www.nripagujarat.com/correspondence-with-government/2556/

Senior Citizens are the Nation’s Leading Carrier of AIDS because:

(1) Hearing AIDS,

(2) Band AIDS,

(3) Roll AID,

(4) Walking (Knee) AIDS,

(5) Vision AIDS,

(6) Dental AIDS,

(7) Hair AIDS (Wigs)

(8) Medical AIDS, and

(9) Government AIDS.

They are also HIV positive because: “ Hair Is Vanishing”

(a) Sardar ko ek blank message aaya.

Phir sardarne usi mobile ko phone karke bola,

tumhe malum hai, tumhare mobile ka ink khatam ho gaya hai?

(b) We love ourselves even after doing many mistakes.

Then how can we hate others for their one mistake?

(c) Every morning, you have two choices. Continue your sleep with dreaming or wake up and chase your dreams. Choice is yours Good morning.

(d) Sardar attends biopracts exam.

Examiner: ‘Tell the bird name by seeing leg.”

Sardar: ‘I don’t know’.

Examiner: ‘You fail. What is your name?’

Sardar: ‘See my leg and tell my name!’

(e) Worries are like birds. Let them fly over you.

But don’t let them build a nest on your head. Life is a precious Gift. Keep ourselves worry free. Good morning.

(f) A hotel guest marched down to reception. ‘Does the roof always leak?’ “No,’ said the recepnist ‘Only when it rains’!!

(g) Night is longer than the day for those who dream and day is longer than night for those who make their dreams come true. Have a excellent day.

(1) Shri M.B.Mehta has forwarded a Poem written by his grand daughter Anusha for her school project in Sept. 2009. This was sent to him by his daughter Mrs. Utpala Anand.

A Poem to commemorate Sept 11 downing of the World Trade Center - a school project by Anusha:

“It was that day, 9/11
When the good and the innocent mourned from heaven
Having lost their loved ones, near and dear
How heavily it can weigh, just one single tear!

All those innocent children
sitting in that flight
With no ray of hope with them
In their terrible plight

The poor pilot
With a gun to his head
Knowing that either way
They would all be dead

The people working in those towers
Didn’t know that these were their last hours
In a world where there were people so corrupted with sin. Determined to kill innocent men, women and children!

When the plane hit each tower,
Overtaken by evil power
The two buildings began to tilt
It was then that the innocent blood was spilt.

Kids were informed after school
That their parents had been found in a dark, red pool
Even though it was horrible as it seemed
They came to realize it wasn’t a dream

Walls crumbling and rocks tumbling
Firefighters fought the flames
For it was bravery that they had
Not the desire for fame.

For all the souls that were lost that day
on 9/11, I’ll really pray,
For their families to recover fast, and faster,
And pray that there should never again
be such a disaster.

- Anusha Anand
September 7, 2009

(2) NRG World Association.

News from Gujarat Samachar Sunday, 7th Feb 2010, Page-4, sent by Shri M. B. Mehta, which is of interest to all of us.

NRG World Association, 8 K, Greenland Society

Opp. Pratham Complex, Near ISKCON Temple, Gotri Road. VADODARA., is formed to bridge between the

Resident Gujaratis in India and Non Resident Gujaratis around the world and launched yesterday in a function. Smt. Induben Mehta has announced donation of five flats to be used as guest house for NRGs visiting Vadodara.

As this news had earlier appeared about launching of such association, our Gen. Sec. had written a letter to Shri Utpal Mehta, to attend our Monthly meeting on 30th Jan. 2010 and brief our association and to explore possibility of associating with them. Their response is awaited.

(3) Comparison OCI V/S PIO.

Shri M.B.Mehta has sent a link giving comparison

http://immihelp.com/nri/pio-vs-oci.html

This would be useful to all NRIs.

(1) An Interesting fact about Feb.2010.

4 Mondays,

4 Tuesdays,

4 Wednesdays,

4 Thursdays,

4 Fridays,

4 Saturdays &

4 Sundays.

It comes in every 11 years.

(2) Japanese attitude about perfection…..!!!!
Apparently the American computer giant decided to have some parts manufactured in Japan as a trial project.
In the specifications, they set out that they will accept only three defective parts per 10,000.

When the delivery came in there was an accompanying letter.
‘We, Japanese people, had a hard time understanding North American business practices.
But the three defective parts per 10,000 have been separately manufactured and have been included in the consignment in a separate packaging clearly mentioned ‘ defective pieces as required, not for use’.
Hope this pleases you.’

5.1. Appeal to Members.

All members are requested to share your hidden talents, hobbies by publishing small articles, poems, jokes; experiences while in India and abroad etc. in the News letter and make the News letter interesting to read, full of information and humors also.

Please also invite News and Views from your children abroad for publishing in the News letter

5.2. SUGGESTIONS BOX

Members are requested to give freely their suggestions to the Editor, which can be displayed here for the information of all and discussed in the next meeting for implementation.

5.3. WELCOME To NRI children coming to India.

All members are requested to inform the EC in advance about their children coming to India and bring them in the meeting to welcome them and share their views about NRIPA and get feedback for better caring of the parents.

5.4. HEALTH TIPS

All members are requested to share their Experience how they keep their health Fit and Fine, their daily routine, food habits etc.

5.5. KHUSHIYA-HI-KHUSHIYA

All Members are requested to forward their Family’s Happy News to share with Members.

5.6. Caution

Kindly note that Any Error or Omission in the News Letter is only inadvertent and not by any intention and is highly regretted. Please inform the editor at the earliest such errors and omissions for rectification.