PRESS RELEASE
For
Immediate Release
Press: please contact any of the followings
persons, if you have any queries:
Rajen Anand (703) 642-3156 ranand2@csulb.edu
Nilesh Mehta (732) 815-0462 nileshmehta@verizon.net
Piyush Agrawal (954) 389-4465 Sudhapca@aol.com
LEADING NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
JOIN TOGETHER TO SPONSOR
CONGRESSIONAL DINNER-RECEPTION
Several
leading national organizations are joining hands to sponsor a Gala Dinner
Reception in honor of the US Legislators on the Hill on June 29, 2005 at 6:00
p.m. The Indian American Forum for
Political Education (IAFPE), the National Federation of Indian American
Associations (NFIA), the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI),
the Association of Indians in America (AIA), the Global Organization of People
of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association
(IDCA) have pledged to work together on issues of common interest for the
common good of the community. The June 29th event will be their first
effort to accomplish that goal in the spirit of community unity and will be
held at the Rayburn House Office
Building in rooms B338-339.
“Many major associations have been holding these receptions for the US Congress over the past many years in isolation from other groups,” noted Nilesh Mehta, president of the IAFPE. “We have been duplicating our efforts and utterly confusing lawmakers. This year, we decided we will reach out other national associations and join with them to hold one big function. It will be a mother of all receptions”
Mehta said that the objectives of holding these events are virtually same for all these associations. They want to interact with the elected officials, bring some issues in the forefront and create a cordial relationship with them. He added that each organization has been devoting their efforts and spending money. With the unified approach, this group feels that they would have a major impact.
A number of Senators and Congressmen have already committed to attend this event. Congressmen Frank Pallone, Robert Andrews, Rush Holt, Robert Menendez and Senator Jon Corizine from New Jersey and Congressman Gary Ackerman and Joseph Crowley from New York have already confirmed their attendance. Confirmation from other legislators is being awaited.
“We are going to have at least 3 dozens of lawmakers and we would like to have a dialogue with them mainly on domestic issues such as Social Security, increasingly greater national debt, open and fair immigration policies, rising health care cost, educational opportunities for our children as well as foreign policy issues of international peace,” said Rajen Anand, president of NFIA. “We want the lawmakers to express their views openly and frankly to make it a meaningful discourse,” he added.
Plans are taking shape for a White House briefing on the same afternoon. Request has been made to the White House to arrange top Administration officials to discuss issues of interest to the community. Piyush Agrawal of the AIA has been entrusted with the responsibility of arranging this briefing. “For guests coming from out of town, it would be a great opportunity to visit White House and get to meet high ranking members of the Bush administration,” commented Agrawal.
The evening program would start at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour, during which the attendees will have a chance to converse with the lawmakers. The formal speeches will follow the cocktails. There would be plenty of opportunity to ask any question from the speakers, mentioned Mehta.
The organizers are also trying to have a mid morning reception at the Indian Embassy. The guests will be able to meet the Embassy staff, which has rapidly turned over in the past few months.
The seating is limited to about 200 people including 50 legislators and media people. The remaining 150 people would be divided amongst the various associations participating in the event.
Readers may want to get further information about the program by calling Nilesh Mehta at (732) 815-0462, Piyush Agrawal at (954) 389-4465 or Rajen Anand at (703) 642-3156.