KACHCHHI OSWAL
JAIN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA
(KOJAIN)
June 2000 President’s Message
|
Board Members President: Tansukh Maru (732) 495-2304 Vice-president: Navin Dedhia (408) 629-1723 Secretary: Dinesh Chheda (973) 808-2661 Treasurer: Mangal Shah (203) 847-3418 Regional Directors (1) Southern California Kalyanji Mota (619) 673-9039 (2) Northern California Open (3) Texas Area Open (4) Chicago Area Open (5) Florida Area Open (6) Cleveland Area Open (7) Washington Area Open
|
Jai Jinendra!
We cordially invite you to attend the KOJAIN Sammelan-2000
sponsored by the Northeast region of KOJAIN. We have a very good
response so far (see registration list). We have an excellent facility
at the Hilton Cherry Hill wherein we can accommodate up to 1000
attendees. Therefore, we earnestly urge you to register by filling out
the attached registration form and mail it to Mangal Shah at the given
address. Your active participation is very vital to the Sammelan’s success. Your cooperation and participation in cultural program, youth activities, photography, souvenir articles, marriage bureau etc. will be appreciated. Your suggestions, support and comments are always welcome. The registration charges are less than the cost per head. Therefore, I will urge you to help us by sponsoring Dinner, Lunch or Breakfast and also advertise in our souvenir. One of the objective of this Sammelan is to get our youths involved in our culture, art, religion and heritage and it is encouraging to note that a large number of youths have registered to participate in this sammelan. We invite other youths to register and be part of this Sammelan. DROUGHT: One of the worst droughts and famines looms large in several parts of Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kachchh, Rajasthan etc. with the
|
|
advancing summer and the failure of the monsoon last year. All sources of water are said to be dried up and people face acute shortage of drinking water. Those living in towns are getting water once in two or three days. Livestock population had either perished or was dying due to lack of fodder and water. By and large, you all are aware about the drought situation, which may continue for sometime. Therefore, KOJAIN is launching a drought relief fund and on behalf of KOJAIN, I appeal to you to contribute generously to this worthy cause. Please have your check payable to KOJAIN and send it to Mangal Shah and please indicate ‘Drought Relief Fund’ on the check New
Board Members Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all our
community members for electing the Board of Directors of KOJAIN for the
period January 2000 to December 2001. We are looking forward to serving
you to the best of our abilities. We are sure that with your
cooperation, we will be able to achieve our goals. We
still do not have regional director in eight geographical areas and we
urge our members from those areas to come forward and take part in
KOJAIN’s activities by becoming a Board member. Once again, thanks for your cooperation and look forward to see you at the Sammelan. Sincerely, Youth Activities (at Sammelan2000) 3-12 years: Puzzle (Map of Kachchh)
Children should know the name of their town in Kachchh and their family
tree. They will also prepare art work to decorate dining hall |
12-17 years:
Problem solving (Details are posted on KOJAIN.com.) Career
choices, presentation and discussion.
Fabric painting. 18 and up: Discussion and debate topics
are posted on the web, please send your suggestions. For the game "Who
wants to be a Kachchhi Scholar” the questions will be
posted on the web by the second week of June. Interested contestant,
please send your name and details (E-mail address so if there is any
update we can inform you) to Vimla Chheda at vnchheda@aol.com . Photographer will be on the hand
to take your picture in Kachchhi outfit. The proceed from the T-shirt
sell, coffee mug, photographs, Kachchh map puzzles will go towards
Kachchh drought fund (Courtesy of Sudhir Shah from Connecticut). Contact:
Millennium Matchbook (Distributed at Sammelan2000) We have received a good response for the Millennium Matchbook from our eligible young adults. We would like more active participation from our young adults. We would appreciate if parents fill out the form and send it to Hema Savla. Please visit our website KOJAIN.com for the form and more information. Contact the following: Hema Savla (508)
856-9630 |
|
Creative Problem Solving Competition Purpose: This competition is designed to increase the knowledge and awareness of our ancestor's homeland, Kachchh, in the state of Gujarat in India. At the same time it will create interest in ecology, nature and today's world problems. The water problem of Kachchh today could be the water problem of modern world in not too far distant future. The process itself will challenge your problem solving skills, creativity and analytical abilities. Problem:
You have heard and read about shortage of water and frequent
droughts in Kachchh. The problem has caused drastic changes in ecology,
economy and social conditions. On one hand you see rich culture,
colorful folk art and on the other hand poverty, malnutrition, and
barren land. In your essay you are required to design and describe a
solution or solutions to this problem utilizing modern technology Rules: Everyone
is encouraged to participate. We will have three age groups.1) Six to
ten, 2) ten to sixteen, and 3) sixteen and up. A winner essay in each
group will be selected. Each essay should be minimum of 500 words and maximum of 1000 words.
Additional illustrations and art is encouraged. For younger group,
parents help is also encouraged. All the entries should be typed form
and postmarked by June 20th at the following address: Vimla
Chheda (Please do not write your name on the essay itself, write on the covering letter. Also, you don't have to be present at convention to participate in this competition. All the essays will be displayed at the convention along with any artwork you may submit.) |
Mentors for this problem solving are Amar Gala (203-239-3597) and Monica
Chheda (203-372-4958). Their email address are shivaag@aol.com and
mchheda@aol.com respectively. To support your approach and conclusions, you may want to examine one or
more of the following topics. Also few drought related articles are
posted on the web pages, KOJAIN.com and KOJAIN@egroup.com 1. Geography of Kachchh. The resources: Articles placed on Kojain.com web page and KOJAIN@egroups.com
1993 special issue of National Geographic on waterSamachar.com, Vivekanand Institute etc. Besides the essay, we will have group problem solving session on Saturday during the KOJAIN sammelan at Cherry Hill. Rajesh Sethia, Mulchand Gala, Ami Shah, Anand Kenia, Nilay Shah, Dami Rambhia, Usha Maru and Ramesh Dedhia will be working with Amar and Monica and they will be assisting anyone who might need help. Usha Maru will be the moderator for the discussion. |
|
Registration
Form KOJAIN Sammelan 2000
|
|
KOJAIN member |
Before
June 30 |
Between
July 1 and 15 |
|
Ages 14 & up |
$99 |
$105 |
|
Ages 5-14 & students on F1 Visa |
$50 |
$55 |
Please make your check payable to: “KOJAIN Sammelan” and mail to Mangal
1.
Shah, 22 Beau street, Norwalk, CT 06850.
Confirmation, food passes, registration material and program
details will be sent by July 15, 2000.
7.
Students
and families with financial hardship for Sammelan registration may
contact the conveners.
The
following children will participate in the Sammelan2000 as of May 2000.
|
ONT |
CHAMPSEE |
Sonal |
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
PA |
RAMBHIA |
Arun |
18 |
Kunal |
15 |
|
|
|
TX |
CHHEDA |
Vimal |
19 |
Dimple |
16 |
|
|
|
TX |
GADA |
Kumud |
29 |
Neela |
23 |
Ravi |
22 |
|
TX |
LALAN |
Jyoti |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
CT |
SHAH |
Kinnari |
7 |
Babo |
5 |
|
|
|
Hotel Accommodation: We have reserved a block of rooms for the Sammelan2000.at Hilton Hotel and Hampton Inn. The details are given below: Room Rate at Hilton: $99
+ tax The reservation must be made by June 30th 2000. After that date, reservation will be accepted on a space available basis. Each registrant is responsible for making their own hotel reservation. When making your reservation, indicate room reservation is for “KCT” at Hampton and “KOJAIN” at Hilton. Direction to Hilton Hotel From Philadelphia
International Airport: Take
I95 North to the Walt Whitman
bridge. From bridge follow 676 East to route 130 North to route 70
east to the hotel on your right. (approximately 12 miles from the
airport) From New York City
and North Jersey: Take the New Jersey turnpike south to Exit 7 to I295
South. Exit at 34B (Cherry Hill/Route 70 west). Proceed on route 70
west approximately 4 miles to the Cuthbert Blvd./Collingswood exit.
The Hilton is on your left. (Approx. 85 miles from new York city) From Baltimore, Washington DC and all points South: Take I95 North to Delaware Memorial bridge to I295 North to Exit 34B. From Atlantic City and South Jersey Take Atlantic city expressway to route 42 North to I295 North to exit at 34B (Cherry Hill/Route 70 west). Proceed on route 70 west approximately 4 miles to the Cuthbert Blvd./Collingswood exit. The Hilton is on your left. (Approx. 62 miles from Atlantic city) Contact Rajesh Chheda (609) 768-4442 if you need any help. |
|
|
Scholarship
Awards Objective:
The object of the scholarship program is to recognize young men and
women students, who are KOJAIN members, who have graduated from a U.S.
high school and who will obtain an undergraduate degree in an accredited
college or university. Basic Review Process:
Scholarship98 In 1998, three outstanding students were awarded a
total of $2,000. They were: Vimal
Nemchand Chheda, Houston,
TX; Palu Shamji
Dedhia, Houston, TX; and Shweta Bharat Lalka,
Bridgeport, CT. Scholarship99 In 1999, seven outstanding students were awarded a total of
$5,000. They were: 1)
Timir Dilip Chheda…………Houston, TX |
Scholarship00 KOJAIN is soliciting candidates for one or more 2000 Scholarship. In
last two years we have awarded ten scholarships, with awards totaling
$7000. Scholarship criteria
and submission requirements are:
Only KOJAIN members
and their dependent family members (spouse/children) are eligible.
Applicants must be a college first-year by fall 2000. All applicants
must: 1.
have a 3.0 Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) on a 4.0
scale. Must have a
3.0 overall, or a 3.0 for the last full year of school. 2.
be a current high school senior. Must submit a full transcript
including Fall/Winter 1999 year grades.
Photocopies are acceptable.
If mailed by school, the transcript must still must be
post-marked by July 21, 2000. 3.
provide one written recommendation and character reference from a
teacher, counselor, friend, or a KOJAIN member (not related to
applicant). Recommendation
must be submitted with application package. 4.
list and briefly describe awards and/or extracurricular services
and activities on a separate page.
Provide enough information so that the selection committee will
understand the nature of your activities. 5.
provide two self-addressed number 10 business sized stamped
envelopes. The first will
be used to acknowledge the receipt of your completed application.
The second will be used to provide the result of the competition.
All applicants will be notified by August 31, 2000. 6.
submit a typed, double-spaced essay on any topic.
Essay must be at least one page and must not exceed two pages. 7.
provide results of American College Testing (ACT) or Scholastic
Aptitude Testing (SAT), or other entrance examinations scores as
applicable. Please mail all materials and two passport size photographs (except transcript if necessary) in one package, unfolded in a 9" by 12" (or larger) envelope postmarked by July 21, 2000 to Dinesh Chheda, 9 Johnson Ave., W. Caldwell, NJ 07006. |
|
As of May 31, 2000 a total of 250 persons (85
families) have registered
for the Sammelan2000.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Invitation to Advertisers and AuthorsAs you may know we are planning a 32 page souvenir filled with information and articles of current interest to KOJAIN members in the North America. The issue will mark the occasion of sammelan to be held on July 28-30, 2000, where we expect about 500 guests to attend. We expect to distribute almost 700 copies to attendees as well as other association members. To those in business and consulting, this would represent a good opportunity to reach a wide audience. To our well wishers, this may be a way to support the Sammelan and the souvenir So, please send in your ad. Also, solicit ad from your friends and contacts. We have received several articles, but are still soliciting articles/art/poems/photos dealing with our culture, current condition in Kachchh, experience in the America, philosophy, spiritual pursuit, etc.. The ad and articles should be received by June 15, 2000 . Hans Maru, Mahendra Shah, Bhavi Vora and
Mansukh Gala Souvenir Editorial BoardKachchhi Oswal Jain Association |
Sammelan Souvenir Ad. FormPlease clip this form and send it along with a check, advertisement material and ready to print artwork payable to KOJAIN to Mahendra Shah, 9 Belgravia Terrace, Farmington, CT 06032. Please print the ad as per copy attached. Enclosing check payable to “KOJAIN Sammelan” for US $___________ Name
. |