Sangalo 2004 draft

Nepal Center of North Carolina ( NCNC ) Newsletter 2004/2005 New Year meeting and farewell to old BOD: Jan 17, 2004 ============================================== New Families and friends were welcomed in the community with a Pot-luck party. Our own VP Nagendra ji delighted crowd with some interesting Jhaure songs.

Some interesting menu items: Aallo Achar, Nepali Wala, Naini Tal Style.

'FRIED CHANNA DAL' masala wala Delhi style.

Jeri, Masoo and Khir Some of the messages from our friends: Thanks for the party last night. I think NCNC did a great job‌.

It was fun to be in a group setting for a change. .. count on us any time you feel you may need us....

Compiled by Ishwar Devkota First BOD meeting preparation Saturday March 13, 2004: Hope all of you are coping with weather and looking forward for spring. Weather had not been cooperating with us for a while. It appears that following Time is suitable for most of us and first NCNC BOD meeting is scheduled as follows: Kindly note that we like to have maximum participation for the first meeting, however if you are busy please do let me know.

Proposed date: Saturday, March 13, 2004, Bombay Grille, RTP, Time: 2 to 3:30 PM Spouses are welcome (please let me know in advance if possible for seating arrangements) Following is tentative agenda: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

Welcome Mr. Roshan Shrestha as our New General Secretary Welcome Ms. Srijana Thapa Guilford as our new BOD member Chalk out overall plan of action for this year In particular, plan for first Spring meeting (Nepali New Year meeting) in April Newsletter WEB Site Donation for Samrita Lohani Other ideas

Nepali New Year’s meeting : Burlington, April 17, 2004 Children’s Game in Burlington detail: Srijana Guilford This year Pragya Luintel and I, Srijana Guilford, organized an hour of children's games for some outdoor fun. Each game had prizes that included nerf football rockets, whistles, wind whirlers and more. It was a great time for kids to get together and participate in some directed activities that were made especially for them.

The games got under way with a water relay for ages 6 - 13. Two teams of 6 lined up behind their own bucket of water with a ladle. Each child had to take a ladle of water as fast as they could to another bucket a few yards away. The team to fill the second bucket the fastest won. Of course we had a few fun spills and splashes!

The second game we played was a lollipop pull that was for all ages. Each child dipped their hands in a bag of lollipops and pulled out one to keep. A fun twist to the game was that if the lollipop they pulled out had a special marking on it, they also got a prize!

After 30 minutes of playing, we had to take a break because the children were off playing with their prizes. But they soon returned asking if we had more games....and we did! Next the children sat in a circle, listened to some top 40 hits and played 2 games of hot potato.

Each stop in the game either revealed a prize or an elimination. Then we played a round of Bahira-Bhitra. The children walked around a circle of rope and had to jump in the circle when Pragya called out bhitra, and jump out of the circle when she called bahida. If a child did the wrong thing, they were eliminated. This game was very popular and also attracted the adults. We played a second round to include them which brought the number of players to 20 people!

Pragya and I enjoyed planning these games and we hope we can provide some more fun at the next event. We also enjoyed meeting the children and hope that they will continue to participate in NCNC festivities.

Dashain Meeting in Greensboro 2004 On the 30th of October 2004, Dasain-Tihar celebration sub-committed of Nepalese Center of North Carolina (NCNC), at Greensboro organized Dasain-Tihar celebration Program. About 150 Nepalese, NCNC life long members and friends of Nepal, leaving this State participated in the program. Program followed by the welcome speech and Dasain-Tihar greetings from Acting President, Madhukar Devkota of NCNC. He welcomed and introduced the newly arrived Nepali in this state. Program followed by the brief speech of newly arrived Nepali, currently living in this state. Patriotic song played

by Nepali Students of Salem University, Winston-Salem highlights the program. After the dinner, cultural and kids program was performed.

Madhukar Devkota

Educational Outing: In order to provide basic information about basic laws, financial planning, medical and other emergencies, volunteering opportunities, and civic knowledge, NCNC is interested in holding a subsidized educational retreat to interested individual and family to places like 1) Kitty Hawk, 2) Asheville, or 3) Yogaville and so on There might be some interest in Law Enforcement officers and other civic Personalities to come and talk to the Group.

NCNC is seeking funding for this event. We request more ideas and help with proposal writing for this event. If some one is willing to fund portion of it to start that will be great start. Please Contact: Roshan Shrestha (rs@unc.edu) or Ishwar_Devkota@hotmail.com Annual International Festival in Raleigh: Your support is needed NCNC has been taking part in International Festival and generating funds as well as friendship in the community fro last four years.

Ishwar Devkota recently attended a meeting about the state of the International Festival.

As all of you know International Festival is loosing money and may not survive if more funds are not generated. We had a very successful meeting and there were a lot of ideas and suggestions from both those who were able to attend and those who could not attend but sent suggestions by email or letter.

If you have any additional suggestions, please feel free to email him at ishwar_devkota@hotmail.com and he will send them to the list. They will really appreciate your suggestions and your support. They need support to survive.

Sanskritik Sangalo I am working on an extensive "Sanskritik Sangalo" that we hope will be a memorable collection for now and for future. I am requesting: Articles on the your experience in North Carolina and any news on Nepali in North Caolina and/or in Nepal. They may include experience in: Business/Profession here and in Nepal as they interrelate and/or compare Education opportunities, Living in North Carolina, Volunteering and better Citizenship Articles may be on Senior Members from Nepal that they have arrived and what their experience might be here in new land. Others may be news on new borns, newly adopted (s), newly weds, new college goers, new graduates, new high school goers, new middle school goers and every one and from ALL This newsletter is going to be printed in Nepal. Therefore you may write in Nepali or English. Many articles and poetry pieces have been submitted. For more information please contact me at Neupane@juno.com Nagendra Neupane

Tsunami Relief Fund We shared grief with all on colossal devastation caused by Tsunami in Asia. Our heartfelt condolence goes to the bereaved families. We at NCNC are responded on our part by collecting donations for "Tsunami Relief Fund". We believe that every dollar counts. We have submited our contribution through Hindu Society. The total contribution was $ 1777.11.

We thank for the following individuals for donating: Rabi KC 21, Rajib Rajbanshi 20, Sarala Acharya 101, Devendra Ray 15, Madhav Dhakal 25, Madan Risal 111, Madhukar Devkota 25, Roshan Shrestha 11, Janak Marahatta 25, Kisan and Pam Upadhaya 25, Kamala Devkota 101, Sekher Marahatta 51, Nagendra Neupane 10, Sri Kanta Gautam 105,00, Sujan Neupane 1111.11 Please note that NCNC is a 501 C(3) organization and therefore all of your donations will be Tax deductible.

Yagya Acharya =============================================================== Miss Aslasha Pandit: Heart surgery in Nepal I received a picture taken of the girl we helped before and after surgery. She is doing very well. I like to thank NCNC and Sri Sujan Neupane ji for arranging $700 to supplement $1300 I raised myself. Total of $2000 was sent for her care.

My thanks are also due to all my dais and bhais who helped me. Bibhor dai, Madhav dai, Madan dai, and Janak dai have always been helping in Greensboro and thank Ishwar dai for his own contribution and helping to raise more money.

Rabindra KC =============================================================== Bone Marrow Transplant – patient in Washington D.C. There was an appeal for help for a Bone Marrow Transplant patient undergoing treatment in NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892. This is a case of patient Mr. Keshav Homogain who has gone bone marrow transplant and has to live here for 2-3 months more for post operative care on his own expense. His brother donated bone marrow. Patient is a school teacher in Nepal and obtained a loan of 13,000 dollars to come here secured by his home and land.

When he returns home he will not be able to work for quite some time and as often the case is he is the only bread winner of the family.

Our own Ms. Shanti Rajlawat took initiative to help out in this case and we responded by sending $ 260.00. Thanks to Sujan ji for 222.22, Shanti Rajlawat for 20.00, and Kamala Devkota and $17.78.

NCNC Acounts =========================================================== NCNC beginning balance: 7, 442.87 1. Accounting for the year 2004/2005 a. International festival in Raleigh i. Income $ 1206.00 ii. Expense $ 440.00 iii. Net profit $ 766.00 b. Contribution from Triangle Community Foundation to NCNC. i. Income $ 500.00 c. Burlington Lunch outing i. Income $ 600.00 ii. Expense $ 1200.00 (Food catering) iii. Expense $ 250.00 (discounted park Fee) iv. Net Expense $ 850.00 d. Greenboro Dashain i. Income ii. Expense iii. Expense iv. Net Expense

$ 515.00 $ 1124.00 $ 609.00 $ 609.00

e. Tsunami relief fund i. Collection $ 1777.11 ii. Distribution $ 1777.11 (NCNC check to HSNC to strengthen local community relationship) f. Miss Aslasha Pandit: heart surgery in Nepal i. collection $ 700.00 ii. distribution $ 700.00 g. Bone marrow Transplant patient: Keshav Homogain i. collection: $ 260.00 ii. distribution (pending): $260.00 NCNC ending balance: $7,173.98 (prior to 4/1/2005) Kisan Upadhaya

More frequent potlucks.

In order to improve relationship between the Nepalese community in Triangle and Triade areas, we encourage more frequent gatherings and pot lucks. TEEZ, Saraswoti Pooja, Tihar, Deusi/Bhailo etc.. may be some occasions for such activities. NCNC will support these events in partnership by advertising and providing basic expenses such as soft drinks, chips, and utensils as appropriate. =============================================================== BOD contact Information Name Ishwar Devkota

Telephone Cell: (919) 6561301 Home:468-4269

Email ishwar_devkota@hotmail.com

Nagendra Neupane

(919) 468-1450

<neupane@juno.com>

Madhukar Devkota

(336) 294-8020

<madhukardevkota@hotmail.com>

Kisan Upadhaya

(919) 417-3148

<upadh001@mc.duke.edu>

Roshan Shrestha

(919) 672-7453

rs@unc.edu

Bibhor Rimal

(336) 887-5693

bibhorrimal@yahoo.com,

Madhav Dhakal

(336) 812-9704 Cell (336) 8472610

SDhakal@netzero.net dhakal@go.com, madhav.dhakal@bankofamerica.com

Yagya Acharya

(336) 228-7757

<ypacharya@hotmail.com>

Srijana Guilford

<Sguilford@exploris.org>