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