Sept%202013

Reporter September, 2013

Cover Photo by Hema Rao

In this Issue

President’s Message.

Poem: Yathra by Sreevidhya Ajayan

We are well past the mid point of 2013 but from the perspective of

Poem: Onam Varavayi by Moni

GAMA, things are beginning to heat up. As I write this report, hundreds

Poem: Amma by Jane Joseph

of volunteers are working hard to make this year’s Onam a grand suc-

Cover Photo Competition

cess. But before that, let us take a step back to the activities GAMA orGame day by Ullas Pazhayaveettil

ganized till now.

Chithra in Austin by Noel Thomas We started the year by organizing SaReGAMA, the annual talent show. SaReGAMA is slowly gaining popularity among the local Indian community as one of the finest talent shows organ-

Kidz Korner

ized. Thanks to the sponsors, we are able to offer handsome rewards to the winners! Soon after, we organized picnic which saw record number of participants. The venue was pictur-

Informative

esque, the weather was perfect, and the food was yummy! I don’t think we could ask for anything more! Instead of taking the usual summer break, we organized GAME DAY for both children and adults. Great number of kids and adults participated in various games. Free snacks to the participants were the highlight of the day! cont on page#2..

Changes in Immigration Laws by Adv Mathew Vairamon.

Raising cavity free kids by Dr.Satish Thirumalai.

From the Editor’s Desk Sreevidhya Ajayan

First of all "Happy Onam" to all the

Sreevidhya is from

readers of the Newsletter. With the festive atmosphere in the air and Onam preparations under full swing, we hope you find this Newsletter, thought provoking and enjoyable. As you read this Newsletter, you will find that the quality of Austin Malayalee literary scene is maturing. This edition has several informative articles from people working in different fields. We want to thank every one who have contributed to make this Onam edition of News Reporter happen.

Angamali, Ernakulam. She started writing Malayalam poems from 7th grade after being encouraged by her mother and her Malayalam teacher.

Since then, she has participated in several competitions and won prizes for poem and essay writing. She is also one of our Malayalam teachers and teaching has been her dream job. ..continuing from page

The Malayalam classes we started last year

our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors.

are still going on, children are reading and

Call for Volunteers

writing small passages and stories. We expanded the classes to start two new batches

I want to take a moment and appreciate

this year, and we have some people from the

the time and effort taken by the GAMA

community stepped up to volunteer for the

board members and volunteers. Organizing

classes. Without the help of these volunteers,

events at this scale is not an easy task and

we wouldn't be able to run these classes

is impossible without the help of such vol-

week after week. I hope these classes will

unteers. But an organization like GAMA

continue to enrich our children in the future

cannot be run by few people who are al-

too.So we were able to screen three Malaya-

ready stretched thin. We need larger par-

lam movies; all of them were appreciated by

ticipation of the community to continue the

large number of audience. We hope to restart

activities we have been doing so far. I un-

the movie activity after the summer rush.

derstand that different people will have different commitments and the availability

Every event we organized was enthusiastically

will be different for most of you. But if you

supported by our sponsors. Without their

like what you see at GAMA events or have

support, we wouldn’t be able to organize

been benefited by GAMA in any way, I re-

these events cost effectively. On behalf of the

quest you to consider given back to the

entire GAMA board, I would like to extend

community.

Thank you all for reading this as well.

Without readers, there is no point in producing this newsletter!. Now that we have excellent quality materials coming our way, we want the readers to take a moment to congratulate the contributors for their effort.

This could be as simple as a Facebook post or a 'like' or couple of words on an Email to the editor.

Your kind words will be a huge encouragement to our creative writers.

If you have a comment, please do send them to gama.newsreporter@gmail.com.

Your mail could end up in the next edition of news reporter, under the “Letters to the editor” section.

Thank you and enjoy reading original materials from our community members Editors: PG Ramachandran & Sajan Lukose

GAMA Board wishes a ver y happy Onam to All Malayale es in Austin,TX , t k

King Mahabali (Maveli) Kerala was the capital of king Ma-

We all know Moni for quiet some time; and we have seen him in a variety of roles. We seen him as an actor, writer and director in many of our past Onam celebrations. But this time we are introduced to the poet in him. Congratulations and we are hoping to see more of this stuff in the coming months.

Did you know?

Did you know that Mahabali was the king of the world? Not just Kerala. Of course, his capital was Kerala. In fact Kerala was not even fully formed until several years later, when the next Avatar of Vishnu (Parasurama) decided to do the finishing touches with his Axe. Mahabali loved Kerala people (who doesn't?) and he visits us every year.

If you think, this is not accurate, share your thoughts. (gama.newsreporter@gmail.com)

“ on t k t k ! " �

habali. He was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu on Earth as he sacrificed his kingdom for the Lord. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody in his kingdom was happy in the kingdom, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that kingdom. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of King Mahabali and everybody was happy.

New Changes Coming in American Immigration Laws Dr.Adv.Mathew Vairamon, M.S., LL.M., Ph.D Attorney at Law, Notary and Mediator Area of Practice: Immigration, Citizenship, Social Security, Taxation, Wills, Power of Attorney, Adoption.

The U.S. government has proposed drastic reformations in the American immigration laws. These proposals were passed by the Senate for 68-32 votes and now it is time for the House to take action and pass comprehensive reform. It is estimated that11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, as well as a huge line of persons waiting to get visas or full citizenship. These residents’ unclear legal status has led to them being treated as second-class citizens, exploited and discriminated them. Many Republicans now support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a position previously deplored by many House GOP members as “amnesty. The White House has sent indications it approves of the bipartisan group’s proposal, but its previous blueprints for immigration reform were more liberal. The President Obama will likely propose a more direct path to citizenship that skips “probationary legal status” on the belief that the Senate proposal creates an uncertain legal grey area for persons in the program. Republicans get a guarantee that the federal government will be required to certify the border is secure, as well as loosen their image.

The proposed immigration reform allows for Registered Provisional immigrant status for individuals here before Dec. 31, 2011. Under the Senate bill, most unauthorized immigrants will face a waiting period of 13 years or more before they become citizens; a criminal background check; work requirements; documentation demands; English-language and citizenship exams; and employment eligibility verification.

In addition, they will be required to pay significant fees and penalties that could total more than a month’s worth of their gross yearly income. After a ruling by the US Supreme Court in June 2013, the US Immigration Service and the US Consuls will recognize Same Sex marriages for immigration and visa purposes. The marriage must be legal where it was made and all requirements for Visa issuance or Green Card approval must be met.

Email: mathewvairamon@gmail.com

Immigration laws don’t limit the number of petitions for spouses, minor children and parents of United States citizens. But the government does set thresholds for other kinds of relatives including the siblings and adult and married children of U.S. citizens, and the spouses and children of green-card holders. As it currently stands, BSEOIMA proposes some very significant changes to both family and employment based immigration. Overall, it expands, the opportunities for immigration through employment while eliminating certain options for sponsorship for relatives. It is the best time to file 1-130 Immigration Petition for a sibling or a married adult child over 30, because if the new law passes in the House, you may not be able to file 1-30 for them after the laws come into existence.

Once the new law has been in place for 18 months, the only immigration option left for these family members would be a new points-based merit system that favors education, employment and job skills. The new system would grant only a few points for a close relationship with a U.S. citizen. Despite these positive developments, the loss of the F-4 category and the age cap on the F-3 category will come as a blow to many families. While there is no certainty that the BSEOIMA will be approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law, the continued forward momentum in Washington is certainly encouraging. In recent years, some U.S. citizens have hesitated to file petitions for sibling or married sons and daughters due to the very long wait for visa availability. Eligible Green Card holders who have not taken steps to naturalize can only sponsor spouses and minor or unmarried children. Now there is a strong possibility that certain relatives previously able to immigrate will no longer have that option in future. To keep the door open for these family members, I advise eligible permanent residents to file immediately for their citizenship. Those who are already U.S. citizens should move forward with 1-130 petitions for these relatives as soon as possible

Disclaimer: The author is an Immigration attorney and the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author . The GAMA director board or the editorial board cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the views expressed in this article.

Cover page Competition “One of the most Incredible and breath taking attractions in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, is the Marjorie Glacier. It is a 21 mile long glacier, inaccessible by land . Despite the lack of roads, there are over 400,000 visitors each year most of whom arrive via cruise ship. This picture was shot from the deck of Norwegian Sun during the 1st week of July 2013. The pristine environment of Alaska cannot be expressed in words, only by experience is its true beauty revealed.� - Hema

Winner: Hema Rao. Hema, her husband Raghu and their kids Deepti & Aditi Rao are living in Austin since 2006 and they love Austin!

(The winning picture is ion page #1)

As most of you all know, we did a photo contest for this edition of the News Reporter and we are proud to say that it was well received by the community. We have received pictures taken from all around the world and really had a tough time deciding on the best.

Congratulations to Hema Rao and her family. The picture they took while vacationing in Alaska has been chosen as the best picture and you can see the picture on the cover (front) page.

GAMA's annual Game day was held on July 27th at the Clay Madsen

By Ullas Pazhayaveetil

Recreation Center between 2pm and 6pm and consisted of competitive games such as caroms, and poker for adults, and chess for both adults and kids. With a turnout of about 70 participants, the event was filled with playful banter, a healthy competitive spirit, and an all round family experience. The final showdowns were well contested with cash prizes on the line. The event was made possible by generous contributions from our sponsors. PSG Investments and Matthew & Associates sponsored the prize money. Prizes and certificates will be distributed during GAMA's Onam 2013 function.

Adults Chess 1st Place - Benny John 2nd Place - Ullas Pazhayaveetil

Kids Chess 1st Place - Jacob Lijoy 2nd Place - Malavika Perinchery

Caroms Doubles 1st Place - Ullas Pazhayaveetil / Suresh Warrier 2nd Place - Govindan Namboothiry / Deepa Sethumadhavan

Texas Hold'em Poker 1st Place - Govindan Namboothiry 2nd Place - Gayatri Jayaram

Maveli by Leah Sajan

er Korn K id z

Onam by Shruthi Nampoothiri

Send us the art works by your kids for our Kids Corner. Any artworks from 2 to 12 years are welcome.

Art work by Sruti Ramachandran

By Noel Sunny

I was lucky to be a part of the Oreswaram musical symphony performed by Mr. M.G. Sreekumar and Mrs. K.S. Chitra in Austin on August 23rd. When I was given the opportunity to host the show, I was reluctant to do it, but I am glad I changed my mind. I was able to meet the artists in person and discover a lot about their lives. To my surprise they were very friendly, contrary to what I was expecting.

Both Sri. M.G. Sreekumar and Smt. K.S. Chirta are prominent playback singers and have played a vital role in shaping the South Indian music industry.

They have recorded over thousands of songs, most of which have become classics. There were lot of people present for the occasion and I was a bit nervous to be on stage. But the friendly crowd and the harmonious orchestra eased my anxiety. I really enjoyed the show.

The melodious music and beautiful songs gave me chills. The crowd was very energetic. Keeping up with flow of music, they danced and sang along. I was reminded that regardless of our difference, we have the gift to enjoy good music. Music is often called the universal language. It has no boundaries; it can whisk us away on a journey, bring back memories or even make us emotional. And from the radiant faces I saw after the show, I must admit that this beautiful experience will resonate in our hearts for days to come.

Smt. K.S. Chithra and Sri M.G. Sreekumar were honored by the various India associations in Austin, for completing 35 years in the music industry. Mrs. Janaki Nagarajan, president of Indian Fines Arts (IFA), Mr. PG Ramachandran on behalf of the Tamil Sangam and Mr. Animon Jose, representing the Greater Austin Malayalee Association (GAMA) handed over mementos during this occasion.

10 Secrets for Raising Cavity Free Kids A Guide to Instilling Good Oral Healthcare During Childhood

Dr. Satish Thirumalai, D.M.D. La Frontera Dental, PLLC website: www.lafronteradental.com

I want to share some valuable information with you that will prove very helpful in teaching your children about caring for the teeth and gums.

The common misconception is that since children have baby teeth it is not as important to take good care of them, but that could not be further from the truth. First of all, instilling proper oral health techniques at an early age lays the groundwork for proper oral health care later in life.

Second, the baby teeth and gums serve as the framework for what will later become permanent adult teeth. They must be cared for properly to ensure that there will be no problems when the adult teeth start to come in.

1. START EARLY! The earlier you begin caring for your child’s teeth and gums the healthier they will be. We recommend starting to clean your baby’s gums with soft gauze shortly after they are released from the hospital. There are no teeth to clean, but this will remove any bacteria or residue in their mouth, and also begin to train them and get used to cleaning their mouth.

2. Introduce your child to brushing at about 18 months of age, or when their first molars start to come in. There are small toothbrushes available and toothpastes made especially for young children. Again, teaching good habits early makes them easier to incorporate into a daily routine.

3. Your child should first see a dentist at around 3 years old. This will allow the dentist to evaluate the overall health of the teeth and gums, progress of the baby teeth, and make any recommendations. Also, this is a great time for a child to be introduced to the dental experience. By school age, kids begin to talk about trips to the dentist and scare their friends. Dentists even get a bad rap in some cartoons! By bringing your child to the dentist early you can show them that there is nothing to be afraid of.

4. Thumb sucking and pacifiers are a part of infancy, but they should be stopped at a fairly early age. The repeated motion can cause the position of the developing teeth and dental arches to change. If the habit is not stopped before the adult teeth start to develop, it can cause problems that will require braces and possibly other procedures to correct.

5. You should also refrain from giving your child a bottle of juice or milk while in bed. The liquid can rest in the mouth without being swallowed, which can quicken the process of tooth decay. If they need something to help them go to sleep we recommend a bottle with water or a pacifier instead.

6. After your child’s initial visit to the dentist you should bring them in every 6 months for a check-up. This will allow the dentist to monitor the health of their teeth and gums, and also check for cavities and other dental problems and fix them at an early stage.

7. If your child uses a pacifier, don’t dip it in sweetener or sugary juices. This was recommended in the past but it is not good for your child’s teeth.

8. If your child is under the age of 7, you should help them brush their teeth. They do not have the advanced dexterity at that age to reach all their teeth and properly clean them.

Teach them how to brush their teeth and let them try themselves so they learn, but also make sure you clean their teeth properly.

9. Let’s face it – kids love candy. In a perfect world I would tell you to have your children avoid candy and they would, but that isn’t going to happen. The best we can do is limit the amount of candy they eat, avoid some of the chewier candies that can stick to teeth and leave residue behind, and try to brush after eating candy.

10. Set a good example. Your children look up to you, so if they see you brushing and flossing with them as they get ready for bed or when they get up in the morning, they will be more likely to do it. It can be a fun activity for them to do side-by-side with mom or dad.

I hope that you have found these tips to be helpful. Baby teeth are temporary, but once they are gone, we are left with one set of teeth for the rest of our lives. Educating your children about proper oral hygiene at an early age will ensure that those teeth last for a long time. If your child is getting ready for their first visit with us, or if it is time for a check-up, please give us a call to schedule your appointment. We take pride in our ability to work with children and try to make their dental experience as enjoyable as possible.

“You don't have to brush all your teeth- just the ones you want to keep.” - Anonymous.

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Upcoming Events GAMA Onam Celebrations.

Date: Sept 14, 2013, 4:00 pm Venue: Klett Performing Arts Center, 2211 N. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78626

GAMA News Reporter September 2013

Greater Austin Malayalee Association

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