Bernie Sanders - "I know something about immigration."

I know something about immigration because my dad came to this country from Poland at the age of 17 without a nickel in his pocket, without much of an education and without knowing the English language.

Like immigrants before and since, he worked hard to give his family a better life here in the United States. He never made much money.

We lived in a three and a half room rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn, New York, but he worked hard, my mom worked hard, and they were able to create a situation where their two kids went to college.

Their story, my story, your story, our story is the story of America, hardworking families coming to the United States to create a brighter future for their kids.

It is a story rooted in family and fueled by hope.

It is a story that continues to this day in families all across the United States.

------------------------

Vinod is Georgia State Merit Winner in 3M National Young Scientist Challenge

News Makers Section: http://www.khabar.com/magazine/community-newsmakers/georgia-merit-winner-in-3m-national-young-scientist-challenge

Edmonton Telugu Cultural Association Golden Jubilee Celebrations - Mr. Sharana Basappa's message to Community

Good evening members and guests. Thank you for joining in our golden jubilee celebrations here in Edmonton. I would like to start by thanking the TCA Executive for the opportunity to speak tonight.  

 

50 years!  That is quite a long time. If I had to tell you what the last 50 years have been like for me… well, I think you would be here for a few days never mind a few hours!  So perhaps I will just narrow this down a bit, and speak to you about what it was like for many of us older folk in what many refer to as the EARLY YEARS in the ACA.

 

Andhra Cultural Association was formally established on January 13, 1969, and was registered shortly thereafter as ACA. The primary objective of ACA was (and still is) to promote Telugu culture and language. Most of the ACA activities centered on celebrating special festival days as a group.  There were a small but HEARTY group of families here in Edmonton at that time.  But together, they were committed and helped lay the foundation for the Association for years to come.

 

A significant number of newcomers arrived in Edmonton from 1976 to 1983. With larger numbers, our activities grew from celebrating festivals to include organizing regular picnics and sports events.  We even had annual competitions for Table Tennis, Caroms, Badminton, Chess and even children sports. We also engaged in several soccer matches with other communities within the city. As we continued to grow, so did the variety of activities - we held many Telugu dramas as part of our festival celebrations, and Telugu classes were a regular event for children. Card games like Addu, Literature, and Bridge were often played during weekend gatherings and also had annual competitions.

There was slight down turn in our membership due to many people leaving Alberta in the mid 1980‘s due to the poor economic environment in the province. However, the ACA remained strong and unified.  We reached a significant milestone in 1994 – the 25th Anniversary of the ACA. We celebrated the Anniversary in grand style, inviting external delegate as Key Note speaker, and holding a formal dinner and cultural evening at the Coast Terrace Inn. We also set up a workshop that took place during the day at the Hindu Center (North side Temple).

Issues facing our community were discussed in an open forum as well as in smaller groups with input coming from Members of all ages.

I compare this to the late Vijayanagara Empire, where culture and sports were at their best, and people were generally quite content.

 

The next 25 years have been much of the same with a significant increase in membership but a slight change in activities with more focus on temple oriented activities and movement away from more social events focusing on sports and arts.  However, in the last few years we have seen a resurrection of the latter with badminton coming back in full force!  Telugu class has also been revived with increased activity and attendance largely due to the efforts of key TCA volunteer members.  All in all, things seem to be moving back into balance.

 

In closing, my family and I have benefited tremendously from the ACA and now TCA. My mother spent nearly 7 years in Edmonton and participated in all ACA functions.  She would fondly remember how connected our community was and applauded us for being that way so far from HOME.  My children had the fortune to grow up with so many of our ACA children.  They still have and cherish those relationships, considering them to be extended family more than just mere friendships – so much that my daughter flew in all the way from Milwaukee USA to be with us today. My son continues to live in Edmonton with his family, partaking in TCA activities.

 

It has been an honor to build the relationships and community that we have over the last 50 years.  I never would have thought this would be my life when I left India in 1969, little over 50 years ago. I cannot say I have any regrets given the home I have been able to build and the environment me and family have had the opportunity to thrive in.  My utmost respect to the pioneers of the ACA and as well to us who came afterwards to help create such a warm welcoming and lasting community here in Edmonton Alberta.

 

Thank you all for listening and enjoy rest of the evening.

Message from Charan Uncle

Good Morning Amma and Nana,

I came to my office this morning after one hour of exercise at YMCA.  Feel very fresh. Thank you for re-sending Charan uncle’s kind words and encouragement.  It is already 10 years since we moved to Atlanta.  Our life journey in both Edmonton and Atlanta are memorable.

              Please convey our loving wishes to Charan uncle and family.

Have a wonderful day.

Your loving daughter

Aparna

 —————-

    I met Somayya Kasani about two years ago and was deeply impressed with his commitment to the values of inclusion, sharing and social justice. He is outspoken and a person of convictions.

Then I met Mrs. Kasani – a wonderful, soft spoken and extremely caring person. Then I met Aparna and Kamalesh Babu and their children Vikram & Vinod, and since then our relations from being acquaintances have developed into friendships.

On meeting Aparna I was amazed how Somayya and Mrs. Kasani have successfully instilled their values in her – the love of learning, humanity and compassion – and blending both East and West in their lives.

During the last 12 years both Aparna and Kamalesh Babu have touched many lives and have a large number of friends. And, they are also committed to using their talents for improving the lives of others through their research in pharmaceutical sciences. 

Both of them are scientists in their own right, are published authors of many research papers, and are highly respected individuals. They are certainly very special people.

To such individuals, geographical or national boundaries are meaningless. They are citizens of the world.  Alberta and Atlanta are just next door to each other, and I know they would treasure their Edmonton’s sweet memories and stay connected with each one of us in Edmonton.

Lord Buddha said, “ In whom love dwells the world is but one family”. Aparna and Kamalesh Babu, you have made us all proud.G

o confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Our love and blessings are withyou.  

Charan Khehra

August 1, 2009 evening.

——————————-

NDP Leaders - Jagmeet Singh, Richard Feehan

Questions to reveal your life story

1)       Do you believe all religions are basically same?

2)       If 100 people your age were chosen at random, how many do you think would be leading a life more satisfying than yours?

3)       Do you think playing is more important than winning?

4)       Are you pursuing your big goals every day?

5)       Did you have to work during school / college?

6)       How important are unions in protecting the rights of workers?

7)       How can you become more knowledgeable and current in your field?

8)       As a teenager, what were your part time jobs?

9)       How might technology affect your job in 50 years?

10)     Who has helped you to up the ladder?

11)     What do you do at your home desk?

12)     Do enjoy what you do at work?

13)     Are you a better talker or listener?

14)     What are the THREE things you would most like to accomplish in the next year?

15)     When did you begin using a computer and why?

16)     Do you take initiative or just do what you are told?

17)     What motivates you most to go to work each day?

18)     What was the most creative or exciting place you have ever worked?

19)     Were you encouraged to explore all your talents and interests no matter how often they changed?

20)     If you came up with a brilliant idea, who are what might prevent you from implementing it?

21)     What is your favorite way of wasting time? What do you consider wasting time to be?

22)     Where did you grow up?

23)     Do you have any siblings?

24)     Who had the most positive influence on you?

25)     In what organization and extracurricular activities did you participate?

26)     What were your hobbies?

27)     At what age did you start school?

28)     What is something you did on Sundays?

29)     Where did your family go on vacation?

30)     What significant historic events took place during your elementary school days?

31)     What was the most difficult thing to overcome from your childhood?

32)     What is your vivid memory of your elementary school?

33)     Who was one of your most memorable teachers in elementary school?

34)     Did you have any serious accidents as a child?

35)     What were you called when you were younger and how did you feel about it?

36)     What kind of place was your village/town that you grew up in?

37)     What from your childhood proved most valuable?

38)     Were you generally popular or unpopular? Why?

39)     What did you do when you came home from school? What are your strongest memories of elementary school, junior high, and high school?

40)     Has anyone from your hometown become famous?

41)     What school books do you remember?

42)     What was the name of your high school?

43)     Do you think your school gave you a quality education?

44)     What do you do now to continue your education?

45)     What do you do now to continue your education?

46)     Did you go to college?

47)     What was your major in college and how did you pick up?

48)     What childlike quality have you maintained throughout your life?

49)     Do you have fonder memories of high school / or College?

50)     What was the toughest course you have ever taken and how did you get through it?

51)     What kind of grades did you get throughout school?

52)     How did you learn best: by listening, watching, reading, or doing?

53)     Do you raise your hand and ask questions?

54)     How many generations can you trace of your family’s heritage?

55)     What did you learn from your parents?

56)     What do you contribute to your family?

57)     How do you feel about your family? How warm is your family?

58)     Describe the ideal family?

59)     Which is better being a parent or grandparent?

60)     What family events or activities give you happy memories?

61)     Have accomplished more than your parents?

62)     What did you do during the summers as a kid?

63)     Describe your last family reunion and many family & relative attended?

64)     What were your parents’ distinguishing features?

65)     Describe each family member in one word?

66)     What THREE instructions would you leave loved ones on getting through life successfully?

67)     Tell a story you heard about one of your ancestors?

68)     How have friends enriched your life?

69)     Would you rather spend time with your family or with your friends?

70)     What is your favorite family photo?

71)     From whom have you received unconditional love and acceptance?

72)     What birthday party with friends do you remember well?

73)     What clubs, social groups and organizations do you belong to now?

74)     Would you rather have THREE very good friends or unlimited acquaintance

75)     Name 10 people you know and like?

76)     How often have you kept in touch with people you promised you would?

77)     How do you get the attention of your friends and family?

78)     Do you like constant company or to be alone at times?

79)     What’s more important to you: work and accomplishments or friends and family?

80)     Who is someone who encourages you?

81)     Are you quick or slow in making new friends?

82)     What was the kindest thing a stranger ever did for you?

83)     Do you write down your ideas?

84)     What’s something you would like to do to improve your life?

85)     In what ways you are creative?

86)     How much water do you drink every day?

87)     What is your daily routine?

88)     What websites do you go to everyday or fairly often?

89)     Are you generally on-time, early, or late-arriving?

90)     Do you have an organized wallet?

91)     Do establish routines?

92)     How much time do you spend reading each day?

93)     Do you seek out new experiences every day?

94)     What things do you do in the same order each day and how do you feel if you skip a step or miss a day?

95)     Do you enjoy writing? What type of writing?

96)     Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?

97)     What time of day do you feel more creative?

98)     What legacy would you like to leave?

99)     Do you try innovations or stick to tested methods?

100)  What are the most positive changes you have seen in your lifetime?

101)  What is your most treasured memory?     

102)  What was your most enjoyable club/ league/ team / to which you belonged?

103)  What is the most recent hobby you took up?

104)  What is your ideal hobby? How would it enrich your life?

105)  What is an activity that makes you feel alive?

106)  What significant social change would you like to see happen in your lifetime?

107)  What daily activity do you treasure more than any other?

108)  Can you manage life situations as easily as most people?

109)  In a film in your life, who would play the main characters?

110)  How can you stay one step ahead?

111)  What’s your vision for the future?

112)  Where is your largest time commitment?