www.iastlouis.org November 2014 indiaassociationofstlouis.com

Board of Directors Sendil K.Rathinasabapathy President sharmiladil@gmail.com Sharath Rao President-Elect

sharathrao09@gmail.com

Meera Jain Secretary Mjain_05@yahoo.com Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju Treasurer buddhiraju@gmail.com Gayatri Chintakunta Cultural Co-ordinator Gsr_chintakunta@ yahoo.com Smita Parikh Cultural Co-ordinator Smitaparikh2000@ yahoo.com Sundar Varanasi Cultural Co-ordinator Sundar_vvk@hotmail.com

From the President

Dear Members, I am honored and humbled to have served you as president of India Association of St. Louis for the year 2014-15. On behalf of the Board of India Association of St. Louis, please accept our greetings and thanks for making 2014 a great success. We have had a record participation of old and new members for all the events, new memberships and yearly membership renewals. India Association would not be what it is today without the hard work of its talented and dedicated board members and the support, co-operation and enthusiasm of members, artists and businesses from the local community. At the beginning of the year, we were able to call for the general body meeting after very long time. This meeting was conducted along with Republic day on Jan 25

th 2014. Many of the

India Association members attended the meeting. The need to consolidate the land in 717 and 725 Weidman Road was elaborately discussed and questions were answered. Finally the motion to amend the bylaw is proposed and it is unanimously passed. The bylaws of the India association of St. Louis (ARTICLE III Clause 10) will be amended as follows.

The board of directors upon agreement of 75% of general body membership shall sell the property owned by India Association including the land owned at 725 Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO, 63011, and proceeds with be saved invested. This is to be done by mail ballot only by election committee. The land owned at 715,711A and the house owned at 711 Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63011 is

PRAVASI

specifically excluded from this clause which is subject to the terms

and conditions of the land sale contract executed on xx/xx/2014.

Later the land (715,711,711A) in Weidman is purchased from the Hindu Temple of St. Louis and necessary deeds are registered in the St. Louis County on April 20

th 2014. The same property is leased back to The

Hindu Temple of St. Louis for 99 years. This will help to build the bigger multi-purpose community center to serve the community. Spring festival was celebrated on March 22

nd, Rangoli competition and

cultural programs are conducted. Our independence Mela was celebrated on August 16

th, members conducted parade of cars from the

mall in Manchester to Mahatma Gandhi Center. We invited Supreme Court Judge Honorable George W. Draper and Associate Circuit Court Judge Honorable Judy P. Draper as a special guest for the Independence Day celebration. Sreenu Dandamudi was honored for his service to the community and to the state of MO. Stalls were opened for the whole day and the event was successful. Professional Antakshari was conducted in September for everyone who is interested. This event created lot of interest among the music and movie lovers. Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi visited St. Louis for various events on October 16

th to 19

th. India Association of St. Louis

honored to conduct a discussion session for the members on October 18

th. He gave a speech on the topic “Be the Change – What I can do”,

many members had a chance to ask questions related to his life with Mahatma, India, Gandhi’s ideals and principles. To wrap up the year successfully, Diwali night was celebrated on October 18

th evening. We had vendor stalls opened for the whole day;

over 500 people visited the stalls. In the evening, the cultural programs are enjoyed by the visitors. We had lot of new members signed up and annual members renewed on this day. All the cultural program participants are given appreciation certificates for their involvement. Sweets were distributed and finally sparklers were given to the kids to mark celebrate the festival of lights. India Association and Mahatma Gandhi Center is discussing to merge to become a single entity to serve the community. Thank you and none of this is possible without you.

Sincerely,

Sendil K. Rathinasabapathy, President, India Association of St. Louis.

Income Expense

Booths $450.00 Ads $150.00

Food Sale $39.00 India Nite $922.38

Interest Income $6.51 Land expenses $10.00

Membership $2,225.00 Mail box $80.00

Non-member $149.00 New year $271.00

Printing and Reproduction $305.64

Republic Day $331.19

Special Guest $825.25

Spring Festival $535.80

Web design $117.00

Total Income $2,869.51 Total Expenses $3,548.26

India Association of St. Louis Election for Board of Directors

Nomination Form

Nominations are solicited for 3 members for IASTL Board of Directors. Please fill the following nomination

I hereby nominate the person below to serve as a Director in the Board of India Association of St. Louis for a three year term 2015-2017. I understand that the nominee should be an Indian Association life member or annual member for at least past three years (2015,2016,2017) and the nominee and the seconder should be member of the India Association of St. Louis.

Name of the Candidate__________________________________Phone_________________

Address____________________________________________________________________

Signature of the Candidate_______________________________Date__________________

Proposed by__________________________________________Phone_________________

Signature_____________________________________________Date__________________

Seconded by__________________________________________Phone ________________

Signature____________________________________________ Date __________________ Mail to: Mail this completed nomination form (in original) to

Election Officer, India Association of St. Louis, P. O. Box: 6282, St. Louis. MO 63006 To be received in the mailbox by the deadline of December 31, 2014 Incomplete or illegible nominations will not be accepted.

Election Officers: Ashwin Patel, M.K. Sateesha, Jitendra Parbhu

India Association of St. Louis thanks the outgoing board of directors Sundar Varanasi and Gayatri Chintakunta for their services. We seek their

continued support for the community.

Hosted by MAHATMA GANDHI CENTER & INDIA ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS

Come and Celebrate New Year’s Eve

December 31st

Wednesday

9PM onwards DANCE TO THE NON-STOP VIBRANT

INDIAN/AMERICAN MUSIC BY DJ

Location: Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center 717 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011

Mohinder Partap 314-993-6520 Sendil Rathinasabapathy 314-600-4786

Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju 636-207-0898 Sharath Rao 314-308-6584

Elly Bhuyan 636-391-5963 Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju 636-207-0898

Ranjit Bagwe 314-725-8097 Gayatri Chintakunta 314-603-9124

Raghunandan Dundoo 314-432-0281 Sundar Varanasi 314-578-2704

Girdhar Sharma 314-256-9496 Meera Jain 314-862-0645

Satish Kulkarni 314-409-7341 Smita Parikh 314-567-0416

Jiwan Singla 314-567-1429

Anjan Roy 314-878-7354

Tickets (can get from contacts, at the door, at the store)

Adult Admission (1 person) – Tickets , Seema, Haveli, Mayuri and Priya. (Includes party snacks, favors and 2 drinks)

$20

Children (Age 12-18) $10 Children under 12 (entertainment at the lower level)

Free

"Three random draws from the attendees will receive New Year surprise gift".

717 Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63011 www.gandhicenterstlouis.org

Mohinder Partap, President 314-993-6520 Girdhar Sharma, Secretary 314-256-9496

VijayaLakshmi Buddhiraju,

Treasurer 636-207-0898

Jiwan Singla 314-567-1429

Elly Bhuyan 636-391-5963 Satish Kulkarni 314-409-7341

Ranjit Bagwe 314-725-8097 Anjan Roy 314-878-7354

Raghunandan Dundoo 314-432-0281

NOVEMBER 2014 Message from the MGC Board of Governors

Holiday Greetings! Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center board extends warm wishes for this festive season and yearns for a very happy and flourishing 2015 for the Indian-American community in and around the greater St. Louis region. Since inception in 1991, the center has been striving to serve its mission of bringing the community together and meet the needs of the community as envisioned by the founder members. Besides hosting numerous cultural, social and holiday events, the center has also sponsored a variety of humanitarian, educational and communal activities that has forged the community together and left a significant mark. All of these MGC efforts and activities are made possible only because of the countless hours of hard work put forth by dedicated selfless volunteers, generosity of the donors and continued support of the community. MGC makes every effort to accommodate all the regional organizations and groups and use of the Center has continually increased to an all time high this festive season. As with any non-profit organization, the Center intermittently needs supplemental funds for its upkeep, repairs and maintenance. Indian-American community of the region has always risen to the occasion in the times of such needs. As a token of appreciation and gratitude for the founder members and donors, pictures of those who have donated a total of $25,000 or more to MGC will be installed in coming weeks. The board looks forward to broaden this list of MGC platinum members with a minimum of $25,000 total donations made to MGC reflecting wide participation to this all inclusive institution. All are encouraged to join this list of platinum donors by end of this year. MGC and India Association of St. Louis are in the process of discussions to

consolidate and merge these two sister associations in near future for better management and encourage stronger community involvement. We urge all the users, renters of the Center to comply with the rules of community center and use it responsibly as your own, for your own. See you all at the New Year’s Eve party at MGC on Wednesday, 31

st

Dec 2014. Best Regards, Board of Governors, Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center

Rental Charges for Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center

For Reservations: contact Dundoo Raghunandan– 314-432-0281

For details and requirements contact Jiwan Singla – 314-629-2546 For All reservations full payment is required. If cancelled before 30 days prior to reservation date, total amount will be refunded. Cancellation from 30 days to 1 week prior to reservation date will incur a charge of $100. Upon cancellation within one week prior to reservation, there will be no refund provided, except in unavoidable circumstance acceptable to the MGC Board.

Facility

Weekdays Weekend rates

(Monday through Thursday)

(Friday, Saturday, Sunday and

American National Holidays)

Lower Level (includes kitchen)

$250 $450

Upper level $355 $500

Upper level & Lower Level (No food in the upper level)

$450 $800

Upper level & Lower Level (If serving food in the upper level)

$1100 $1200

Meeting up to 4 hours without serving food

$100 (if available) $100 (if available)

Wedding MANDAP RENTAL IN MGC - $400 (IF USED OUTSIDE $600)

Please observe following: 1. Turn off all lights at the end of your function. 2. Make sure that the exhaust above the furnace in the kitchen is turned off and keep pilot lamps on. 3. Make sure that the water is not kept running in the bath room 4. Make sure that garbage is not littered all over inside/outside and keep in the garbage cans. 5. Make sure the entrance door is closed-once closed you cannot re-enter. 6. The decorations are allowed only to the walls without damaging them.

Wedding

MANDAP

RENTAL IN MGC

- $400

(IF USED

OUTSIDE - $600)

Following is the concise financial statement of MGC for the year 2014

January 1st 2014 through October 31st, 2014

January 1st 2014 through October 31st, 2014

Income: Expense:

Rental $47,635.00 Bank Charge $12.00

New year $1,420.00 Custodial-cleaning $6,975.50

Donations $1,750.00 Deposit Return $2175.00

Total Income $50,805.00 Donations $2000.00

Electricity $7,122.74

Insurance $5,105.00

Internet-service $465.00

Laclede gas $2,177.42

Maintenance $9,858.30

Metropolitan Sewer $2,529.76

New Year Expense $3,099.22

Postage and Delivery $9.80

Supplies, Bus $1,355.31

Telephone $384.47

Water $3,758.90

Total Expenses: $ 47,028.42 Please note that among the utilities, water, sewer, street light and lawn/parking lot expenses are shared between the Hindu temple and MGC. Anyone interested in more details or would like to make a yearend tax exempt contribution to MGC please contact any board member or mail your check to MGC, 717 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011.

The Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center Board sincerely thanks the retiring board

members: Jiwan Singla, Raghunandan Dundoo & Anjan Roy for their services.

Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center Election for Board of Governors

Nomination form

Nominations are solicited for a 3 year term from 3 members to join MGC Board of Governors.

As per the bylaws, the nominee must be a member of MGC for a period of 2 years having contributed at least $500 to MGC. Nominator as well as Seconder must be

donors of MGC. Following nomination form must be completely filled.

I hereby nominate the person below to serve as a Governor in the Board of Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center (MGC) for a three year term (2015-2017).

Name of the Candidate_________________________________ Phone_______________

Address__________________________________________________________________

Signature of the Candidate___________________________________________________

Proposed by_____________________________ ____________Phone_______________

Signature________________________________________________________________

Seconded by_________________________________________Phone _______________

Signature________________________________________________________________

Date______________________________ Mail to:

Mail this completed nomination form (in original) to-

Satya Sagar, Election Officer

Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center 717 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011. Completely filled nomination form must be received in the mailbox by the deadline of January 15

th , 2015. Incomplete or illegible nominations will not be accepted.

India Association of St. Louis and Mahatma Gandhi Center is discussing to merge together to come up with one association to serve the community. Your suggestions are most welcome. Please share your thoughts with any of the board members.

Dr. Arun Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s Grandson) delivering the

speech “Be the change – what can I do?” (Oct 18th

2014)

Independence Day mela – Aug 16th 2014. Supreme Court Judge

Honorable George W. Draper and Associate Circuit Court Judge Honorable Judy P. Draper, Sreenu Dandamudi, John Boesch

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