February
2012
Board of
Trustees, Executive Officers and respected members of the
community:
On
behalf of the Vokkaligara Parishat of America (VPA), it is my
pleasure to extend greetings for a happy, healthy new year. I
look forward to working with you to continue our previous
achievements, embark on new activities and initiatives, and
ensure that the legacy of our first generation Vokkaligas
inspires the youth of the next generation. I trust that
through our common vision and with concerted collective
effort, our VPA will move forward to accomplish its stated
goals and objectives.
This
organization has flourished and sustained well under the
leadership of past presidents, Board of Trustees, officers of
executive committees and committed members of the community at
large. I would like to commend the VPA-East leadership for
conducting a very successful national convention in 2011.
Special recognition is due to President Smt. Anasuya Swamy.
Thanks to
Coordinated efforts by convention chair Dr. M. Anjanappa,
co-chair Dr.
Gayathri
Prabhakar
and
a team of excellent office bearers, committee chairs and
volunteers for planning and executing programs of high quality
at the convention. Congratulations are due to the VPA-East
leadership for conducting a fair and successful national
election.
I
am delighted to welcome the new executive officers of the
National VPA- Vice President Ravishankar Byrappa Gowda,
Secretary Renuka Nagaraj, Treasurer Lakshmana Mittur, Joint
Secretary Vinod
Keremane,
and Joint Treasurer Harish
Kumar Mariyappa.
I am very pleased to welcome the newly elected Board of
Trustees. All of these professionals have served the VPA for
many years in different capacities and I am looking forward to
working with them to advance and achieve our stated VPA goals
during my tenure as President.
Also,
it is a pleasure to welcome our new chapter Presidents–Deepak
Budaguppe (East), Dhananjaya
Kengaiah(West),
Deepak Bangalore (Mid West) and Shamala Chidananda (South)
along with each chapter’s executive officers.
During
our tenure, my desire is to achieve the following
goals:
- Set
up an Advisory Committee of National Presidents to address
and clarify concerns in the existing constitution document
and provide guidance for amendment
- Continue
to implement
strategies for youth led programs conceived and executed
during previous conventions
- Improve
communication through monthly bulletins and other services
to address the welfare of the elderly members and VPA
families
- Initiate
and plan charitable/outreach efforts in the U.S. and in
Karnataka that are meaningful, sustainable, and subject to
periodic assessment
- Institute
a system of checks and balances for accounting and auditing
VPA records.
- Establish
regular communication between National and Regional
chapters
Together,
we can sustain and celebrate our proud heritage, make our
organization more viable and inclusive, and develop youth
positive pathways to be proud of their ancestry.
Best
Wishes,
