1 News Letter NRI PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION Society Registration No. Gujarat / 1789 / Vadodara Dt Trust Registration No / Vadodara Dt Address: c/o Vijay Y. Khopkar, 11- Ashutosh Nagar, B / H Utkarsh Petrol Pump, Karelibaug, Vadodara Tel , M , ISSUE NO. 2 February 2010 Executive Committee President Dr. O. P. Juneja M Past President M.B.Mehta M Sr. Vice President Pravin D. Vaidya M Vice President-I I.G. Totlani M Vice President-II Pinakin M. Vaidya M Vice President-III Lakhi N. Paryani M Gen. Secretary Amritgiri Goswami M Joint Sec. –I Manharbhai Shah M Joint Sec. –II Maganbhai Mistry M Joint Sec. –III Niranjan P. Talati M Treasurer Vijay Y. Khopkar M Joint Treasurer Ramesh D. Chavda. M EC Members 1. Leela Ramnathan M Mrs. Geeta Shah M Kantibhai Naik M P.N. Sikka M B.C. Choksi M Rashmika Naik M Hon. Auditor S.N.Makhijani Ph Editor News Letter Umakant Shah M President’s Address. The month of January was full of activity for NRIPA members as some of the family members living abroad visited home and friends. It was also a month of conferences and seminars. Mr. Totlani, Vice President, represented NRIPA at the GOPIO conference and read a paper written by Mr. M. B. Mehta, the Past President concurrent with the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebrations inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India in Delhi while I participated in two such international events on Environment, Ecology, and Indian Diaspora in Ahmedabad and Udaipur respectively. We discussed the activities of NRIPA during these presentations. Our monthly meeting was very well attended at which a few new members joined NRIPA. We welcome them and implore all the Annual Members to change to Life Membership for becoming life long family members of NRIPA. February saw culmination of the idea of NRG in the form of establishment of NRG Centre at Vadodara Chamber of Commerce and Industries (VCCI) at Makarpura Baroda. Honorable Mr. Jay Narayan Vyas, Minister of Health and Tourism and Non-Resident Gujarati Division, Government of Gujarat, while inaugurating the Centre appreciated the role played by NRIPA in bringing back NRGs to Gujarat. NRIPA is particularly thankful for providing due space in this venture, which was well reflected at the Inaugural Function of the NRG Centre by Shri Jay Narayan Vyas, the honorable minister on 20 February The presence of the MLAs, M.P. and Mayor, the office bearers of VCCI and other prominent citizens of Baroda gave us a platform to reflect on how all of us can help each other. As you know we are living in the knowledge society of globalized world that works through networks of communication, friendships and affiliations. NRIPA has been developing and nourishing these networks of communication since its inception. The contribution of our children in this field of knowledge, besides financial contributions in the development of this city can be significant. Focusing on this social capital, NRIPA would like to contribute its mite to this noble cause of serving the NRG community of enlightened citizens through NRG Centre. Hence there is a need of close cooperation and coordination between the NRG Centre and NRIPA for performing day to day functions of the Centre as was discussed in the