1. religion and spirituality
2. hinduism

PRAVASI
www.iastlouis.org
Board of Directors
Sendil
K.Rathinasabapathy
President
[email protected]
Sharath Rao
President-Elect
[email protected]
Meera Jain
Secretary
[email protected]
Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju
Treasurer
[email protected]
Gayatri Chintakunta
Cultural Co-ordinator
Gsr_chintakunta@
yahoo.com
Smita Parikh
Cultural Co-ordinator
Smitaparikh2000@
yahoo.com
Sundar Varanasi
Cultural Co-ordinator
[email protected]
November 2014
indiaassociationofstlouis.com
From the President
Dear Members,
I am honored and humbled to have served you
as president of India Association of St. Louis for
the year 2014-15. On behalf of the Board of
India Association of St. Louis, please accept our
greetings and thanks for making 2014 a great
success. We have had a record participation of
old and new members for all the events, new
memberships and yearly membership renewals.
India Association would not be what it is today
without the hard work of its talented and
dedicated board members and the support, cooperation and enthusiasm of members, artists
and businesses from the local community.
At the beginning of the year, we were able to
call for the general body meeting after very long
time. This meeting was conducted along with
th
Republic day on Jan 25 2014. Many of the
India Association members attended the
meeting. The need to consolidate the land in
717 and 725 Weidman Road was elaborately
discussed and questions were answered.
Finally the motion to amend the bylaw is
proposed and it is unanimously passed.
The bylaws of the India association of St.
Louis (ARTICLE III Clause 10) will be
amended as follows.
The board of directors upon agreement of 75%
of general body membership shall sell the
property owned by India Association including
the land owned at 725 Weidman Road, St.
Louis, MO, 63011, and proceeds with be saved
invested. This is to be done by mail ballot only
by election committee. The land owned at
715,711A and the house owned at 711
Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63011 is
specifically excluded from this clause which is subject to the terms
and conditions of the land sale contract executed on xx/xx/2014.
Later the land (715,711,711A) in Weidman is purchased from the Hindu
Temple of St. Louis and necessary deeds are registered in the St. Louis
th
County on April 20 2014. The same property is leased back to The
Hindu Temple of St. Louis for 99 years. This will help to build the bigger
multi-purpose community center to serve the community.
nd
Spring festival was celebrated on March 22 , Rangoli competition and
cultural programs are conducted.
Our independence Mela was
th
celebrated on August 16 , members conducted parade of cars from the
mall in Manchester to Mahatma Gandhi Center. We invited Supreme
Court Judge Honorable George W. Draper and Associate Circuit Court
Judge Honorable Judy P. Draper as a special guest for the
Independence Day celebration. Sreenu Dandamudi was honored for his
service to the community and to the state of MO. Stalls were opened for
the whole day and the event was successful. Professional Antakshari
was conducted in September for everyone who is interested. This event
created lot of interest among the music and movie lovers.
Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi visited St. Louis for
th
th
various events on October 16 to 19 . India Association of St. Louis
honored to conduct a discussion session for the members on October
th
18 . He gave a speech on the topic “Be the Change – What I can do”,
many members had a chance to ask questions related to his life with
Mahatma, India, Gandhi’s ideals and principles.
To wrap up the year successfully, Diwali night was celebrated on
th
October 18 evening. We had vendor stalls opened for the whole day;
over 500 people visited the stalls. In the evening, the cultural programs
are enjoyed by the visitors. We had lot of new members signed up and
annual members renewed on this day. All the cultural program
participants are given appreciation certificates for their involvement.
Sweets were distributed and finally sparklers were given to the kids to
mark celebrate the festival of lights. India Association and Mahatma
Gandhi Center is discussing to merge to become a single entity to serve
the community.
Thank you and none of this is possible without you.
Sincerely,
Sendil K. Rathinasabapathy,
President, India Association of St. Louis.
Income
Booths
Food Sale
Interest Income
Membership
Non-member
$450.00
$39.00
$6.51
$2,225.00
$149.00
Total Income
$2,869.51
Expense
Ads
India Nite
Land expenses
Mail box
New year
Printing and Reproduction
Republic Day
Special Guest
Spring Festival
Web design
Total Expenses
$150.00
$922.38
$10.00
$80.00
$271.00
$305.64
$331.19
$825.25
$535.80
$117.00
$3,548.26
India Association of St. Louis
Election for Board of Directors
Nomination Form
Nominations are solicited for 3 members for IASTL Board of Directors.
Please fill the following nomination
I hereby nominate the person below to serve as a Director in the Board of India Association of
St. Louis for a three year term 2015-2017. I understand that the nominee should be an Indian
Association life member or annual member for at least past three years (2015,2016,2017) and
the nominee and the seconder should be member of the India Association of St. Louis.
Name of the Candidate__________________________________Phone_________________
Address____________________________________________________________________
Signature of the Candidate_______________________________Date__________________
Proposed by__________________________________________Phone_________________
Signature_____________________________________________Date__________________
Seconded by__________________________________________Phone ________________
Signature____________________________________________ Date __________________
Mail to:
Mail this completed nomination form (in original) to
Election Officer, India Association of St. Louis, P. O. Box: 6282,
St. Louis. MO 63006
To be received in the mailbox by the deadline of December 31, 2014
Incomplete or illegible nominations will not be accepted.
Election Officers: Ashwin Patel, M.K. Sateesha, Jitendra Parbhu
India Association of St. Louis thanks the outgoing board of directors
Sundar Varanasi and Gayatri Chintakunta for their services. We seek their
continued support for the community.
Hosted by
MAHATMA GANDHI CENTER & INDIA ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS
Come and Celebrate New Year’s Eve
December 31st Wednesday
9PM onwards
DANCE TO THE NON-STOP VIBRANT
INDIAN/AMERICAN MUSIC BY DJ
Tickets
(can get from contacts, at the door, at the store)
Adult Admission (1 person) –
Tickets , Seema, Haveli, Mayuri and
Priya. (Includes party snacks,
favors and 2 drinks)
Children (Age 12-18)
Children under 12 (entertainment at
the lower level)
$20
$10
Free
Location: Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center
717 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
Mohinder Partap
Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju
Elly Bhuyan
Ranjit Bagwe
Raghunandan Dundoo
Girdhar Sharma
Satish Kulkarni
Jiwan Singla
Anjan Roy
314-993-6520
636-207-0898
636-391-5963
314-725-8097
314-432-0281
314-256-9496
314-409-7341
314-567-1429
314-878-7354
Sendil Rathinasabapathy
Sharath Rao
Vijaya Lakshmi Buddhiraju
Gayatri Chintakunta
Sundar Varanasi
Meera Jain
Smita Parikh
314-600-4786
314-308-6584
636-207-0898
314-603-9124
314-578-2704
314-862-0645
314-567-0416
"Three random draws from the attendees will receive New Year
surprise gift".
717 Weidman Road, St. Louis, MO 63011
www.gandhicenterstlouis.org
Mohinder Partap, President
VijayaLakshmi Buddhiraju,
Treasurer 636-207-0898
Elly Bhuyan
Ranjit Bagwe
Raghunandan Dundoo
314-993-6520
Girdhar Sharma, Secretary 314-256-9496
Jiwan Singla
314-567-1429
636-391-5963
314-725-8097
314-432-0281
Satish Kulkarni
Anjan Roy
314-409-7341
314-878-7354
NOVEMBER 2014
Message from the MGC Board of Governors
Holiday Greetings! Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center board extends
warm wishes for this festive season and yearns for a very happy and
flourishing 2015 for the Indian-American community in and around the
greater St. Louis region.
Since inception in 1991, the center has been striving to serve its mission
of bringing the community together and meet the needs of the
community as envisioned by the founder members. Besides hosting
numerous cultural, social and holiday events, the center has also
sponsored a variety of humanitarian, educational and communal
activities that has forged the community together and left a significant
mark. All of these MGC efforts and activities are made possible only
because of the countless hours of hard work put forth by dedicated
selfless volunteers, generosity of the donors and continued support of
the community.
MGC makes every effort to accommodate all the regional organizations
and groups and use of the Center has continually increased to an all time
high this festive season. As with any non-profit organization, the Center
intermittently needs supplemental funds for its upkeep, repairs and
maintenance. Indian-American community of the region has always risen
to the occasion in the times of such needs. As a token of appreciation
and gratitude for the founder members and donors, pictures of those who
have donated a total of $25,000 or more to MGC will be installed in
coming weeks. The board looks forward to broaden this list of MGC
platinum members with a minimum of $25,000 total donations made to
MGC reflecting wide participation to this all inclusive institution. All are
encouraged to join this list of platinum donors by end of this year. MGC
and India Association of St. Louis are in the process of discussions to
consolidate and merge these two sister associations in near future for
better management and encourage stronger community involvement. We
urge all the users, renters of the Center to comply with the rules of
community center and use it responsibly as your own, for your own.
See you all at the New Year’s Eve party at MGC on Wednesday, 31
Dec 2014.
st
Best Regards,
Board of Governors, Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center
Rental Charges for Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center
Weekdays
Weekend rates
(Monday through
Thursday)
(Friday, Saturday,
Sunday and
American National
Holidays)
Lower Level (includes
kitchen)
$250
$450
Upper level
$355
$500
Upper level & Lower
Level (No food in the upper
level)
$450
$800
Upper level & Lower
Level (If serving food in the
upper level)
$1100
$1200
$100 (if available)
$100 (if available)
Facility
Meeting up to 4 hours
without serving food
Wedding MANDAP RENTAL IN MGC - $400 (IF USED OUTSIDE
$600)
For Reservations: contact Dundoo Raghunandan– 314-432-0281
For details and requirements contact Jiwan Singla – 314-629-2546
For All reservations full payment is required. If cancelled before 30
days prior to reservation date, total amount will be refunded.
Cancellation from 30 days to 1 week prior to reservation date will incur a
charge of $100. Upon cancellation within one week prior to reservation,
there will be no refund provided, except in unavoidable circumstance
acceptable to the MGC Board.
Please observe following:
1. Turn off all lights at the end of your function.
2. Make sure that the exhaust above the furnace in the kitchen is turned
off and keep pilot lamps on.
3. Make sure that the water is not kept running in the bath room
4. Make sure that garbage is not littered all over inside/outside and keep
in the garbage cans.
5. Make sure the entrance door is closed-once closed you cannot reenter.
6. The decorations are allowed only to the walls without damaging them.
Wedding
MANDAP
RENTAL IN MGC
- $400
(IF USED
OUTSIDE - $600)
Following is the concise financial statement of MGC for the year 2014
January 1st 2014 through
October 31st, 2014
January 1st 2014 through October
31st, 2014
Income:
Expense:
Rental
$47,635.00
New year
$1,420.00
Donations
$1,750.00
Total Income $50,805.00
Bank Charge
$12.00
Custodial-cleaning
$6,975.50
Deposit Return
$2175.00
Donations
$2000.00
Electricity
$7,122.74
Insurance
$5,105.00
Internet-service
$465.00
Laclede gas
$2,177.42
Maintenance
$9,858.30
Metropolitan Sewer
$2,529.76
New Year Expense
$3,099.22
Postage and Delivery
$9.80
Supplies, Bus
$1,355.31
Telephone
$384.47
Water
$3,758.90
Total Expenses:
$ 47,028.42
Please note that among the utilities, water, sewer, street light and lawn/parking
lot expenses are shared between the Hindu temple and MGC. Anyone
interested in more details or would like to make a yearend tax exempt
contribution to MGC please contact any board member or mail your check
to MGC, 717 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011.
Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center
Election for Board of Governors
Nomination form
Nominations are solicited for a 3 year term from 3 members to join
MGC Board of Governors.
As per the bylaws, the nominee must be a member of MGC for a period of 2 years
having contributed at least $500 to MGC. Nominator as well as Seconder must be
donors of MGC.
Following nomination form must be completely filled.
I hereby nominate the person below to serve as a Governor in the Board of Mahatma
Gandhi Cultural Center (MGC) for a three year term (2015-2017).
Name of the Candidate_________________________________ Phone_______________
Address__________________________________________________________________
Signature of the Candidate___________________________________________________
Proposed by_____________________________ ____________Phone_______________
Signature________________________________________________________________
Seconded by_________________________________________Phone _______________
Signature________________________________________________________________
Date______________________________
Mail to:
Mail this completed nomination form (in original) toSatya Sagar, Election Officer
Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center
717 Weidman Road,
Ballwin, MO 63011.
Completely filled nomination form must be received in the mailbox by the deadline of
January 15th , 2015. Incomplete or illegible nominations will not be accepted.
The Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Center Board sincerely thanks the retiring board
members: Jiwan Singla, Raghunandan Dundoo & Anjan Roy for their services.
India Association of St. Louis and Mahatma Gandhi Center
is discussing to merge together to come up with one
association to serve the community. Your suggestions are
most welcome. Please share your thoughts with any of the
board members.
Dr. Arun Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s Grandson) delivering the
th
speech “Be the change – what can I do?” (Oct 18 2014)
Independence Day mela – Aug 16th 2014. Supreme Court Judge
Honorable George W. Draper and Associate Circuit Court Judge
Honorable Judy P. Draper, Sreenu Dandamudi, John Boesch
717 Weidman Rd,St.Louis,MO,63011,USA.
(636)256-8375
www.gandhicenterstlouis.org
Mahatma Gandhi Center