APAC 2008 - The 23rd Annual APAC Banquet

News from Media in 2006 & 2007

NRIPulse.com
APAC Celebrates Heritage Month with Gala Banquet

Congressman Hank Johnson with Varinee Sangmalee, Prashant Shah & Dr. Josephine Tan. Bottom: Past presidents presenting awards to meritorious students.
The Asian/ Pacific-American Council of Georgia (APAC) celebrated 22 years of existence at its annual banquet held at the Holiday Inn in Decatur recently. May is designated the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month each year. Fourteen member organizations and other supporting organizations participated in the gala event that included fashion shows, cultural programs and the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. Congressman Hank Johnson was the guest of honor.

APAC president, Varinee Sangmalee, in her welcome address, said she looked forward to the day when all Asian Americans would help each other as one big family.

Congressman Johnson said it was wonderful to see so many organizations come together. There are 200,000 Asian Americans and 6000 Pacific Islanders in Atlanta according to the 2004 census, he revealed. The communities continue to make great contributions to the economy, he added.

"We need a fair, practical immigration policy that takes into consideration economic realities," he said. "(For instance) There should be more opportunities for immigrants to learn English. We need to be more committed to help immigrants assimilate into American society from a psychological standpoint," he said.

Dr. Josephine Tan, who is in charge of Asian American affairs for Georgia Power spoke briefly on the topic, "Who are we?" Asians have made a mark in all walk of lives, she said.
"Asian/Pacific influence has permeated mainstream American fashion, movies and culture. Asian Americans are achievers not only in academics, but also in Science and the Arts."

Dr. Tan also called on several past presidents, including India American Cultural Association's Dr. Narsi Narasimhan to speak on the topic, "who are we?"

Subash Razdan of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce announced that past president Giriraj Rao, a prominent member of the Indian American community and executive director of the Gandhi Foundation of USA, had won the 2007 Governor's Award in the Humanities.
"We are blamed for not identifying with the mainstream," he said. "We should assimilate more." He added that APAC has been a unifying force in Georgia.

The evening began with fashion shows by Jane Choi and Moon Paik of J. Paik fashions. Female models sashayed down the ramp in elegant, classic, custom made couture. They were followed by tiny tots in eco-friendly outfits. The fashion show was sponsored by Team Spirit Realty.

The glamorous Rachel Kim of Channel 2 Action News was the emcee for the evening. Other guests included India Tribune publisher Prashant Shah, Tony Escandari of the Tuscany Group, John Kim of Team Spirit Realty and the Philippine honorary consul general Raoul "Ray" Donato.

The Most Outstanding Student awards were presented by past presidents Bala Pant and Dr.Narsi Narasimhan, following which service awards were presented by president Sangmalee.

The evening ended with colorful cultural presentations that included the Thai classical dance, Indonesian music, Indian dance, Korean traditional dance, Nepalese dance, Filipino folk dance, Malaysian dance, singing by Chinese American children and a Lao classical dance.

Veena Rao
Editor
editor@NRIPulse.com

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