Some of the important activities include a number of us are discussing this announcement to Nepalese and friends of Nepal who may not have heard about it before, discussing among ourselves ways and means how to make this effort a successful one, a presentation to a large audience in the eighth joint ANMA/NASeA convention in September 2009, completion of a draft By-Law for the Cultural Center, etc.

It is extremely encouraging to report you that I am personally approached by many friends at each and every gathering I have attended how enthusiastic they are to hear this news and are ready to offer both monetary help and other support required for it. The audiences in the ANMA/NASeA joint convention were also found very supportive for this initiative. Therefore it is my belief that we are going to receive required help just not from here but from far and wide.

I also like to inform today that ANMA executive members and ad-hoc committee members of the Cultural Center are meeting on November 7 2009 to discuss this matter further. The discussion will cover completion of the by-law with feedback from all of you, incorporate the Cultural Center in the state of Illinois, open a bank account with ANMA Fiscal-sponsorship to begin start raising fund and begin applying the process for IRS Tax Exempt status (501 (c)(3)) this year.

All of you know that there are many works still left to be done. We are just taking a small step only so far. We have many things to discuss and decide among ourselves for this endeavor. However we believe that this work is important for us and we will succeed. Therefore  I like to appeal all of you to read the proposed by-law that I already sent you, participate in this effort to provide your comments and suggestions and inform all of your family and friends that its success lies in every bodies participation.  THANK YOU !!

- By Dr. Bishnu Phuyal

John was a hot-shot just out of college working a hectic job at Microsoft. He felt like getting away…to a serene, peaceful place [Mt. Everest]. Not only did he see Mt. Everest, but he also saw a primary school in Nepal with very few resources. When he visited, the headmaster said some life-changing words:  I hope when you visit us, you will bring back some books. That got John churning more ideas than his hand could write. “What if I could bring back books by yak?”, He proposed. The situation in Nepal for learning was very poor. The library of the school had 2 books that were locked up in a security box. This was how precious books were to everyone in the village. John Wood later went on a hunt and asked friends and mutual friends for donations for books. The money starting rolling in and the charity worked. This project was a success and led to many other projects in Nepal. Mr. Wood had to leave a relationship, a job at Microsoft with a whopping six-figure salary, and the country he loved.

I made a connection with the setting because John Wood traveled to Nepal and helped hundreds of thousands of kids to have a learning opportunity. My dad wished he had a person like John Wood there to help improve the schooling in his village. Walking 10 miles just to go to school was a pain. I hope you will take this wonderful opportunity to read this book and stress how much he did to help improve the schooling system.

Do you have any Questions or Comments?

Please e-mail me at nirajpant7@gmail.com (Age: 12)

If you only talk to people after you know them well, you might be missing a lot. Not being around your own type of people means a chance to open your horizon. You will be able to establish strong networks and help your understanding of others grow by talking to different types of people.

Sometimes spending time with one of your outgoing friends may ease your burden and help you make confident eye contact.  Do not expect others to approach you; instead you can be the first one. As you pass people in the hallway smile and say hello or Namaste. You will be glad that you did.

By Jyoti Adhikari

अब दाल बाँकी छ पाक्नालाई

हरियो तरकारी पाकेपछि

आउनु तिमि चाखना लाइ

तिमि सुतेर बसिराख

या टीभीमा नाच हेरिबस

लामा काला तिम्रा केशहरु

धरिधारी कोरी बस

म रोटि मीठो पकौन्छु

त्यसमा नौनी पनि लागौन्छु

मस्यौरा भयो भुजिया पाक्यो

अब साग बाँकी छ पक्नालाई

गोलभेडाको चटनी बनेपछि

आउनु तिमि चाखना लाई

ऐनामा आफुलाई हेरिबस

या फोन मा कुरा गरिबस

सुन्दर तिम्रो त्यो मुहारमा

क्रीम पाउडर घसिबस

म कुकर मा सिटी लागौन्छु

मीठा मीठा व्यंजनहरू बनौन्छु

तरुवा तर्यो आलूदुम पाक्यो

अब दुध बाँकी छ तातना लाइ

गेदागूदी गाली गएपछि

आउनु तिमि चाखना लाई

- A poem by Bikram Niraula “Kramasha”

Prabhakant Das, an active ASNEngr member, lead an effort to fix these computers and distribute them to Nepalese students, friends of Nepal, or anyone else who would benefit from this offer. In addition to financial aid to purchase new hard drives and other peripherals, he also requested support in refurbishing these computers. So far seven new hard drives have been purchased from funds raised and donated by several people. Few more hard drives were obtained from several local area engineers. Similarly more than ten key-boards and mouse were provided by engineer Sanjeev Karmacharya. Several more pledges have also been received from different individuals to purchase more hard drives needed to fix the remaining computers.

This offer of computers was communicated to people of Nepali origin and other friends of Nepal. So far six computers have been successfully refurbished and distributed. Few more computers are almost ready and requests for  these computers have been received.

In addition to the free computers, the recipients also get free limited technical assistance for about 3 to 6 months from Mr.Das and other volunteers.

In a previous computer drive, about 5 PCs were also distributed to the Bhutanese community. The team is actively collecting information on new needy recipients.

ASNEngr members in Chicago believe that this activity to share the technological expertise for social benefit is important for the betterment of the community. To make this activity successful, Mr Das, on behalf of the team of volunteers, humbling request all to support this effort and help complete the distribution by the end of this year. Please contact any one of the following volunteers with your pledges.

Prabhakant Das, prabhakant.das@sbcglobal.net

Ankur Sharma, sharmankur@yahoo.com

Yagna Pant, ypant@yahoo.com

Kumar Mainali, mainali@hotmail.com

Deepak Khanal, dkhanal@gmail.com

Bishnu Phuyal, bishnu.phuyal@navteq.com

Pratibha Chaulagai, pchaulagai@gmail.com

Komal Dutta, komaldutta@hotmail.com

THANKING EVERYONE IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION !!!!