The India Association of Minnesota (IAM) held their annual meeting on the 7th December 2003.

The India Association of Minnesota (IAM) held their annual meeting on the 7th December 2003. The event was attended by past and current members of IAM as well as other community members. The outgoing President, Deep Shikha, started the proceedings at 1 PM welcoming the audience before turning the floor over to the outgoing treasurer to provide an update of IAM finances. Mr Govind presented the income and expenditure for 2002-2003 as well as provided an update on the other accounts of IAM. The income for 2002-2003 was about $11,500 and the expenditure was about $10,500. Two key account projects – the Orissa Cyclone project and the Gujarat Earthquake project – will be closed shortly.

Ms Deep Shikha subsequently provided a summary of IAM activities over the last year, listing the annual dinner, IAM’s annual picnic and India’s Independence day celebrations, organization of Festival of India and participation at the Festivals of Nations along with School of Indian Languages and Cultures. She mentioned IAM’s interactions with visiting dignitaries from India – namely ex- PM, Mr. V. P. Singh and Indian ambassador to USA, My Lalit Mansingh. She also listed organizations and projects that have received support from IAM – namely the 55+ club, AIWA, SILC, among others.

Mr Mishra gave a short summary of 55+ activities while Ms Naina Ramkrishnan updated the gathering on the efforts to rejuvenate the Asian Indian Women’s Association. Ms Preeti Mathur spoke about IAM’s volunteering activities with a local soup kitchen. Mr Ramkrishnan spoke of a US wide program that had been launched to help Non-Resident Indians contribute to development in rural sector of India.

A new board was elected for the year 2003-2004 led by Ms Rabinder Bains (the outgoing vice president). Mr Ram Gada introduced the new board made up of 21 members, many of who were returning from having served on the IAM in the past. IAM also decided to structure a council of advisors to focus on long term plans of IAM and advise the board. Members of the council were nominated, and their nominations supported by the gathering.

The new president said that a number of things would be on her plans for the coming year including exploration of a facility for IAM and for activities of the local Indian community, increase interaction of the Indian community within mainstream American society and encouragement of political participation by the local Indian community.