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| ashu | Posted
on 07-Mar-03 11:01 PM
Hi all, Without taking sides, and strictly in the interest of public information re this public organization, I post this here for your information. After reading this, please draw your own conclusions. As a well-wisher of ANA, here's my hope that ANA -- in whatever form that it exists and it aims to exist -- will be able to work for the greater collective good of ALL Nepalis of all kinds of backgrounds in North America. I hope the differing parties will work out their differences and work even harder on behalf of ANA. oohi ashu ktm,nepal ********************************************** Dear Friends, Once again 2003 is an election year for ANA. As you might recall we contested the election 2 years ago with your enthusiastic support. While the election results last time was not fully in our favor we have continued to work to make ANA more open, transparent and more responsive to the concerns of the general membership. Under the leadership of Girija Gautam we took strong initiatives to speed up the construction of the Pashupati-Buddha Mandir and the completion of the Nepal Educational and Cultural Center. However, despite our sincere efforts to collaborate and work for the common cause there has not been a noteworthy progress in ANA due to differing views of the current leadership and the forceful influence from some of the past leadership. We remain active in ANA and will continue to work for all the good causes. But due to the lack of success in this past 2 years a group of concerned individuals including some ANA Executive members have recently sent a letter to ANA President Krishna Nirola. One of the major concern in that letter is our demand for a fair election. The full text of the letter to Mr. Nirola is included in this mail for your information. We will keep you updated with his response. We look forward to your feedback and support. Sincerely Jeet Joshee and friends. ************************************ Krishna Nirola, President Association of Nepalis in the Americas Lanham, Maryland Dear President Nirola, We write you today out of deep concern that the Association may be headed in the wrong direction. We believe that in the last two years ANA has become increasingly exclusionary in a way that those who differ in opinion from the old ANA establishment feel they have no room and role to play in the organization. We further believe that ANA is extremely polarized where new ideas, energy and fresh voices are not given value. Rather they are dismissed as reactionary and disruptive. Increasingly, ANA has become an exclusive group rather than a democratic community organization. Personal agendas and individual egos of some have risen above the Association itself. In this regard, we view that the organization is setting a disturbing trend. We want you to know that we write this letter in good faith that you will hear these concerns seriously and take actions immediately. As you know each and every single one of us is a dedicated member and ardent supporter of ANA. We have passionately participated in many different ANA activities and projects. We truly believe in ANA’s national character and its broader goals representing the largest segment of the people of Nepali origin in North America. Therefore, we want you to understand that this is not a dissenting and disgruntled voice. Rather, we are sincerely concerned that if right steps are not taken soon the future of the Association may be in jeopardy. Although only a few of us have signed this letter there is a growing number of individuals in the community who share the same concerns and frustrations. Before getting into the areas of concerns, let us provide the background and cite few examples that explain why we feel the organization is headed towards the wrong direction. Since the election 2 years ago in which two teams contested – one led by you and the other by Jeet Joshee, there has been deep division within the ANA Executive Board despite sincere efforts from us to work collaboratively. While the elections results ended in a tie with 3 members from each group being selected, sincere efforts to work for the greater good of the organization by Girija Gautam, Suman Timsina and Bidya Ranjeet has been undermined time and again. Suman worked hard to get the National Heritage Master card, which so far has yielded commission donations of nearly $10,000. But Suman was unjustly questioned and accused of the use of funds at a wedding gathering in Corning. Upon your request, Girija Gautam took on the challenging task of being the Chair of National Resources Mobilization for NECC and he went out of his way to bring in pledges of over $160,000 from individuals and other Nepali organizations. But to the dismay of majority of people, this funding pledge, the largest in ANA history, was rejected due to heavy pressures from some past presidents. Further, Girija and Shyam Karki were labeled as “traitors” publicly because they spoke in favor of accepting the funds and including every Nepali organization in the NECC project. Bidya Ranjeet’s sincere efforts to publish the newsletter were publicly criticized at the DC convention by the so-called elite members of ANA. Many of us have organized and participated in fund raising events for NECC – in New York City, Connecticut, Rochester and so on. During Shyamji’s presidency he traveled all over the country to attend these fund raising events. Majority of the funds today in ANA bank account came from those fund raising events. To label these hard working people as “traitors” is simply ridiculous and uncivilized. At the DC Convention this past year all past presidents were made permanent voting members of the executive body by a margin of a mere 3 votes at the general meeting. The way this motion was passed was truly undemocratic in that it was rushed and many non-members voted. It was clear that past presidents Hari Sharma, Amar Giri, Kunjar Sharma, Kamal Pathak and Pramod Sharma used their clout to get it done in a hurry. At the same convention, NECC bylaws drafted by Girija Gautam and unanimously accepted by ANA Board in April 2002 was rescinded due to strong pressures from past presidents led by Hari Shrama. |
| ashu | Posted
on 07-Mar-03 11:02 PM
The past president voting rights was also a topic of discussion at the Fall 2002 ANA meeting in DC where Shyam Karki sent a written statement indicating that this practice is against the democratic spirit of ANA and that he will not exercise his voting right as a past president. When his statement was read at the meeting some of the other past presidents commented saying that “now the Maoists have come to ANA” labeling people who do not agree with them as Maoists. We feel that there is limit to patience and that we can no longer work in an environment where elder members of the organizations display such undemocratic and uncivil manners. It is evident to us that the group of past presidents with the exception of Shyam Karki wants to control every aspect of ANA to the fullest extent possible. This was clearly evident in the recent bylaws drafted in Kunjar Shrama’s lead and passed in the Fall 2002 meeting. In this bylaw the past presidents have ensured their control of NECC by giving lifelong founding membership to their children who were present at the first ANA gathering in Corning some 20 years ago. Some of these lifelong founding members were 6 months old at the time. It is simply unbelievable and ludicrous that ANA has adopted that NECC bylaw which ensures control of the so-called elite group and excludes those who have given so much over the years. We hope that the above examples give you a strong sense of where we are coming from. Therefore, we ask you that you address to the following concerns immediately. 1. Election 2003 should be conducted in a fair and democratic manner. To ensure the complete fairness, the following steps must be taken: · A cut off date for eligible voting membership be announced 60 days in advance · ANA membership be separate from NECC donors · ANA voters list be posted on its web site allowing 30 days deadline for corrections if needed · A representative of each candidate for president be present at the time of mailing the ballots · Ballots be mailed back to a neutral post office box 2. Active membership is the lifeblood of any organization. The number of general membership in ANA has gone down from 1200-1500 at a given time in the past 3-4 years to less than 50 in this past 2 years. This is a strong indication that the most important thing for the organization is being ignored while ANA past presidents are busy securing their role in daily ANA/NECC business. 3. We strongly believe that the past presidents voting right in the ANA executive board is principally undemocratic and that it violates the very essence of community engagement in an Association like ANA. Soon, past presidents will outnumber the elected officers thereby, making any futuristic and new change almost impossible. Past presidents should play advisory roles as good ambassadors of the organization but not as voting members. 4. The NECC bylaws are drawn so conservatively that it displays an exclusive image protecting the place for ANA past presidents and their children. It provides a very narrow inlet for active participation by the larger community and other Nepali organizations. 5. Fund raising events for NECC and ANA 3-4 years ago had taken the momentum nationwide, which has virtually died down within this last 2 years. While you have decided to reject substantial funding pledges by Nepalis and other sisterly organizations, you have not presented any other alternatives of how funds will be raised for NECC. If we continue this trend, we will never be able to build the ambitious temple in Washington. Again, we bring the above concerns to you because our commitments to ANA remain intact. We have tried our best and continued to work with you and others. We are confident that the ANA membership wants a democratic and transparent organization that works toward a common goal. If the issues above are not addressed immediately then it will be impossible to achieve any goal. Without an inclusive organization we feel that our good faith effort and contributions will be for a lost cause. In that regard, it will also be worthless to contest the upcoming elections. We sincerely anticipate your acknowledgment of the receipt of this letter and a response on the plan of action you intend to take. Sincerely, Jeet Joshee, Girija Gautam, Suman Timsina, Bidya Ranjeet, Shyam Karki, Anup Pahari, Bhagat Lal Shrestha, Saroj Prajapati, Puru Subedi, Ram Kharel, Robin Bhandari, Manish Pokhrel, Hemanta Shrestha, Chintamani Lamichhane, Sunu Pratap Kc and many other ANA members. *************************************************************************************************** This e-mail is sponsored by Hari Sharma (CPA/MSA). For you business and personal income tax return, planning, compliance and refund maximization please contact us. We do also review your prior tax return allowed by statue of limitation's period and let you know if you are qualified to recd. additional tax credit in contingency basis. Due to the fact that Tax law is the must complicated law in the USA you or someone from H&R Block's data entry clerk might have missed big deduction that you are entitled for. Your returns will be reviewed by CPA for your optimum satisfaction. Please contact: Hari Sharma (CPA/MSA) Harold Jack (CPA) Accrual Accounting Services, Inc. Washington, DC e-mail us: hsharma111@aol.com (703) 406-3514 The above information has been sent to you as a courtesy from NepalHorizons "http://www.nepalhorizons.com". The content of the message in no way, shape or form represents the views and opinions of NepalHorizons and its underwriters. Please contact the originator for any questions or comments. All remove requests automatically honored upon receipt: mailto:sunu@nepalhorizons.com?subject=remove. |
| ashu | Posted
on 12-Mar-03 07:34 PM
What follows is from the ANA President. I am posting this (and have posted the above stuff) here with the FIRM belief that the more we are all exposed to how other people air/work through and resolve their differences, the more able we all become to do the same and better in our own interconneted lives which require, among others, abilities to deal openly with people against whom we may have grievances or disagreements. Let us wish ANA all the best. oohi ashu ktm,nepal ************** Dear Friends, First of all let me thank you for your letter showing concern for the ANA. It reinforces to me that your commitment to ANA is genuine. Let me also reassure that I have never doubted your intentions; whatever disagreement we may have had had to do with the direction that ANA should take to achieve the same goal. Diversity among us is a sign of our associations’ success. One of the first actions I took upon being elected was to appoint an Executive body with members of diverse opinions including those who seem to disagree with me on everything! Before commenting on your specific concerns, let me also point out that neither ANA nor I can be held responsible for comments made by people on private functions like weddings or even at ANA meetings. Whatever ANA, officially has done so far, is in accordance with its existing rules. If these rules are antiquated, we need to change them. As a mater of fact, I also feel that our bylaws need a thorough revision to reflect the changing needs of ANA and I propose to appoint a Bylaws revision committee pretty soon. Please let me know if any of you would like to serve on this committee. Now as to your specific concerns: 1) Election: I have no problem with your suggestions. Let us see what our Election Committee and general members of ANA think about this. 2) Membership: Any suggestion to increase our membership is certainly welcome and it is everybody’s job. Although our general membership has been falling below our expectation, most of our committed members have already become life –members. We have more life members today then ever. Regular paid members are more then all previous years except election year 2001. 3) Voting rights for Past Presidents: (As I said before in the executive meeting, no past president asked me for voting rights, it was a new thought based on Loins Club Bylaws and keeping past presidents involve and active, I proposed the voting rights of past president. Frankly, I was thinking to include past vice presidents and other executive members who knows ANA much better. Let me say that most of you namely Shayamji, Girijababu in telephone, Anupbabu, Sumanji, Sunuji, Lalji and other executives were present at that meeting. No body raised any question and unanimously passed by executive Board. I disagree with you all that it was not done democratically.) Whatever my personal feeling on this matter, it was passed duly. We can certainly change it again if that is what majority wants. I think the gratuitous remark regarding our past presidents is uncalled for. Furthermore, in the NECC Bylaws that was proposed, past presidents only serve as non-voting trustees. 4) NECC bylaws: It was a draft submitted by the NECC committee that will be revisited after a full and contentious discussion. I think it a right first step towards making NECC autonomous. Again, we can always amend the bylaws if needed. 5) Fundraising: While any idea for raising fund is welcome, I deny that we refused funds from any person or any sisterly organization. While pledges are fine real checks would be much better. I am still waiting for the checks to arrive! Let me share with you we raised over $ 50,000 in this past two years and I like you to be the judge, see the record of past and then make your conclusion. Record should speak for itself. I again thank you for your thoughtful concerns and comments. I am somewhat disappointed by the letter’s constant criticisms of the past presidents. (May be because I am shortly going to join that status myself!) Who are these past presidents? These are the people who brought us here. None of them have anything, neither power nor money, nor fame to gain. If it seems at times that they don’t want to let go of ANA, it is because they love it so much. ANA is an organization of all of us. It is a dynamic organization and will continue to evolve. It is not an autocratic body, so any change has to occur only after following its rules and by-laws. The slow pace of change may be at times frustrating, but in the long run I am sure ANA will achieve its vision with the support of dedicated members like you. Let us touch our heart with fair and reasonable standard and think. Let us work towards uniting the ANA Family. Let us find the way to make good things happen. Record will speak for itself and the historian will make the judgements. I t is a thankless job and we are all trying to what is best for ANA. Thank you. Krishna Nirola President-ANA |