People Of Nepal - Blog Space

मैले सोचेको यही हो की

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:06:00 +0000

मैले सोचेको यही हो की,

मैले रोजेको यही हो की,

आखा भरी देखेको मैले सपना यही हो की /

न्यानो न्यानो अनुभब माया यही हो की

डर छैन कुनै मलाई बिस्वाश यही हो की

मैले मागेको यही हो की,

मैले पाएको यही हो की,

आखा भरी देखेको मैले सपना यही हो की /

रून पनी बिर्सिए मैले ख़ुशी यही हो की

ईश्वरको बरदान जीवन यही हो की

मैले सिकेको यही हो की,

मैले बुझेको यही हो की,

आखा भरी देखेको मैले सपना यहीहो की /

By Jyoti Adhikari

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News Flash : Nepali American Center (NAC) Updates – April 29, 2010

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:04:15 +0000

Launching of the Nepali American Center (NAC) Website

On the auspicious day of our New Year 2067, the Nepali American Center (NAC) wishes A Happy New Year to all our Nepali Community members and friends of Nepal

It is with great satisfaction that we inform you that NAC has achieved a new and important milestone today. This journey began nearly a year ago when ANMA president, Mr. Mukesh Singh, announced plans to establish a cultural center in Chicago. With that mission in mind, the NAC website www.nepaliamericancenter.org is now live from the first day of the Nepali New Year, 2067.

Within this website we present a framework of our proposed cultural center. Over time it will be enhanced and refined based on your continuing input. Now we must continue to march ahead on our journey until our vision is realized, which is to establish a Nepali identity in a suitable place in the Chicago area.

Supporting Nepali American Center

We know that the day of having our own cultural center in Chicago is nearer than yesterday, but the journey is still long and the path perhaps arduous. However, our determination and our perseverance is unwavering, and we are confident of achieving our goal. So, together let’s express our unity as ONE Nepali community to get this work done. Once complete, the cultural center will provide opportunities and activities for everyone to participate in.

To truly own it, every one of us needs to:

Donate some of our precious time and affordable contribution for NAC.
Make www.nepaliamericancenter.org as our home page from today onwards.
Volunteer your time, provide your comments and suggestions and very importantly participate to make your own contribution small or big.
Communicate to fellow Nepali community members and other friends to support it.

A bank account is already open for all of us to start putting our contribution to it. About 10 individuals have already pledged over $55000. Three checks totaling $6350 have been received and deposited in the account so far. A set of provisions on how you and your friends can contribute is given in the Support Us page (http://nepaliamericancenter.org/node/114). NAC likes to note that we are building our home. Please read and provide your suggestions for making contributions easy and transparent to all.

Nepali American Center, Chicago

“Energy and persistence conquer all things” – Benjamin Franklin

NAC recognizes the following individuals for their selfless and inspiring work in bringing the website and many other activities to reality within a matter of just few months. Angela Khanal, Ankur Sharma, Binod Dhungel, Birendra Suwal Singh, Bishnu Phuyal, Deepak Khanal, Jyoti Adhikari, Lomash Shrestha, Mukesh Singh, Piush Dahal, Rajeev Dahal, Rajendra Khatiwada, Ramakant Kharel, Roshita Mukhia, Sagar Regmi, Sharda Thapa, Shiva Hari Achet, Smarika Sitaula, Suman Wosti.

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The Nepali Family Next Door — By An American Neighbor

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:01:15 +0000

Sure, I was a little bit surprised when I first saw that they had bamboo in their refrigerator. I had never been such close friends with someone whose conversations with their family could smoothly transition between English and Nepali, the two languages intertwining naturally and reflecting the beautiful blend of two distinct cultures. But what surprised me most about my Nepali neighbors was a precious discovery I accidentally encountered by spending time in their warm and welcoming household. I had always assumed that being born in the United States made me more American than those who had to earn their citizenshipbut they unintentionally taught me that the opposite is true. Of course, there is no exact way to define what makes someone “American,” but I truly believe that they are an example of what all Americans should strive to be. Like many of their Nepali friends, the Adhikaris worked tirelessly over many years to learn English, gain citizenship, and give their children a quality education. They value and appreciate opportunity, take interest in politics, participate in American traditions, and simultaneously maintain strong Nepali roots. I have tried different kinds of Nepali foods and watched Hindi videos; I have witnessed how they cook rich-smelling foods to share with their countless Nepali friends. Their household is one of joy and celebration, of ever-present laughter and smiling Nepali conversation. And unlike most neighbors who are helpful just because they can lend you a cup of sugar or take care of your dog while you are on vacation, the Adhikari’s have helped me say things like ‘hello’ and ‘monkey’ in Nepali and have shown me the truest definition of what it means to be American.—Maggie O’Connor

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News Flash : Vipassana Meditation Center—June 30th thru July 11, 2010

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:59:28 +0000

Dhamma Pakasa in Illinois will be offering a Ten Day Vipassana Course from June 30 to July 11, 2010. A prominent Vipassana Teacher from Nepal will be conducting the course in Nepali and English languages. This course is targeted for the benefit of Nepali speakers and their families living in USA in a Nepali environment.

All old students are requested to help make this course a success; which will pave the way for such types of courses in the future in Dhamma Pakasa as well as other areas of USA where any Nepalese reside. Applications should be submitted before the end of May 2010. Applications can be sent online or in hard copies. For further information please contact: www.dhamma.org and for registration information at: www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schpakasa.shtml. You may also call Teacher in charge of Dhamma Pakasa: Van Shaffer (815) 489-0420), Bishnu P. Phuyal (773 469 0684), Binod Dhungel (312-802-1839) and Dabit Acharya (216-407-8212) for additional inquiry.

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गस्तीमा गणराज्य

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:55:45 +0000

श्री गणेशाय नम: || एकादेस हाल गणतन्त्रात्मक डेमोक्रेसीको अभ्यास गरिरहेकोछ | राष्ट्र-निर्माणका लागि सर्वप्रथम संविधान निर्माण अपरिहार्य छ भनेर पनि कुर्छी बुझिरहेकोछ | तर बुझपचाउन पनि खप्पिस छ | तथाकथित अगुवा हौं भन्नेहरूको स्वार्थमा संबिधान निर्माणले कच्छ्प गतिलिएको छ|बेला बुढो हुँदैछ,लग्न परपर सरिंदैछ | शाली ठूली हुन्जेल भिनाजुको परान भन्ने उखानझैं हुने हो कि ? एउटाले भन्दछ मेरो टोपी-गणराज्य हुनुपर्दछ | अर्कोले भन्दछ धोती-गणराज्य हुनुपर्दछ | हैन हैन भन्दै रनेले लंगौठी-गणराज्य माग्दछ | अर्को कुर्लिन्छ खुकुरी- गणराज्य हुनुपर्दछ | अर्को उफ्रिन्छ मेरो बोली-गणराज्य हुनुपर्दछ | यस्तै यस्तै खैनी गणराज्य, पानमसाला गणराज्य, ठाकुर-नाई गणराज्य,स्वर्णकार-गणराज्य,ताम्रकार गणराज्य , चुटीजनेउ-गणराज्य, हीरासमाज-गणराज्य, जीरासमाज-गणराज्य,बलात्कारी-गणराज्य, क्यासीनो- गणराज्य, मम-गणराज्य, दम-गणराज्य, मसाज-गणराज्य,धमास-गणराज्य , मनपरी-गणराज्य, लुटाहा-गणराज्य, मिचाहा-गणराज्य, गुण्डागर्दी-गणराज्य, ट्वाँट-गणराज्य, स्वाँठ-गणराज्य, हेराफेरी-गणराज्य, घुसबहार-गणराज्य, एड भेट चढाऊ-गणराज्य, कालोधन्दा-गणराज्य, शालो-धन्दागणराज्य, नामतेरो-काममेरो-गणराज्य, मुखमा रामराम बगलीमाछुरा-गणराज्य, जोगिजोगिनी-गणराज्य, भोगिभोगिनी- गणराज्य, किसन-गणराज्य, बिसन- गणराज्य , गिरि -गणराज्य , जाता-गणराज्य ,माधो -गणराज्य . चण्ड-गणराज्य, मुण्ड-गणराज्य , भट्ट- गणराज्य , राई- गणराज्य,सेर- गणराज्य ,सबासेर-गणराज्य , स्याल- गणराज्य ,तरबार-गणराज्य , दरबार -गणराज्य ,घरबार-गणराज्य , बंश-गणराज्य , अंश-गणराज्य , ब्रेन-ड्रेन गणराज्य , लुत्याहा-गणराज्य , भुत्याहा – गणराज्य , कलमकागजले तर्साई खाने -गणराज्य जस्ता कैयन कैयन गणराज्य धोती, कट्टु ,सुर्वालसम्म लगाउन बिर्सेर अहंकारको आगोमा राष्ट्रको आहुति दिन नाङ्गो नाच गरिरहेकाछन् | गर्ने होइन देख्ने लाजले भुतुक्क भइरहेकोछ | सम्बिधानको थलो आफै थला परेझैं छ | पति भएर रक्षाका टुलु-टुलु हेरिबसेकाछन् | गणराज्य गस्तीको गुफामा अड्की बसेकोछ | नेपालको बोली कहिल्यै हुन्न भोली | जनताको काम कहिले जाला घाम | मै खाउँ मै लाउँ अरु सब मरून् दुर्बलहरू मनसायका नेताले जनताकालागि ज्यानै फाल्छौ भन्दै बित्ता-बित्ता उफ्री रहेका नाटक बेडरूमदेखि रेस्टरूमसम्म, लन्चदेखि मंचसम्म, सेरदर्बारदेखि स्यालदर्बारसम्म जति हुय्या सुनेपनि हुन्छ | भोको पेटमा पटुका बाधी दिक्क भएको जनता जाल-जन्जाल बेहोर्दै बेहाल भइसकेको कुरा न नेटालाई थाहा छ,न फेटालाई थाहा छ | जनताको नामको माला फेर्दै ढुकुटी सोहर्दै जनताको बिधानलाई विपत्मा पार्दै कुर्लेका छन् कुर्लेका छन् कल बल छलले कुर्छी हत्याएकाहरू | कुर्छी घाटमा पुग्दा लासमै कुर्छिको बास होस् भनी पुरेतलाई जौतिल अर्पेकाले कुर्छीमा कोच्चिएर टास्सिन पुग्छन् | लाज त्यतै जाल भित्र लजाई रहेको देखिन्छ | यस्तै-यस्त छ एकादेसको कथा र गस्तीको शास्ती बेहोरिरहेको संबिधानको दशा | दशानानो हरेत् सीत्ताम् बन्धनम् स्यन्महोदधे | रावणले सीताको हरण गरेको बन्धन चाहिं समुद्रलाई परेको झैं भैरहेछ | जनता समुद्र नै हो ,रिसायो बनने सुनामी बन्छ |

- प्रभास आर.डी.

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दीप-शिखा झैं

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:50:59 +0000

सूर्यास्तका बेलाको सन्ध्या आफ्नै रङ्गले रन्जित भएर हो वा

क्षितिज र अम्बर एउटै रङ्गमा रमाएका देखेर हो वा

पतझड-ऋतुका सन्तापले तप्त वृक्ष-वल्लारीका टम्म र लटरम्म पीत पत्रहरू

निभ्न लागेको दीप-शिखा झैं उज्ज्वल उज्ज्वल

ऊर्ध्वगामी चकमन्न ज्योति र आभाले हो वा

अग्निको भुबुरोलाई परास्त गरेर प्रदीप्त भएको स्वर्णको लावण्यझैं सुषमा देखेर हो वा

त्यसैलाई पच्छ्याएर त्यो मधुशालाभित्र चुर्लुम्म डुब्न

रविको गति तीब्रतर हुँदैछ आफ्नो गन्तव्यतिर

औटोमनको शीत वा पालोमुनि पीताम्बर ओढेर थरथर काँपिरहेका

वृक्ष-वल्लरी र अस्तको आभामा लुक्नलागेको सूर्यलाई

म हेरिरहेको थिएँ सिकागोको त्यो चौबाटोमा निर्निमेष भएर

यता हेर्दा पनि उता हेर्दा पनि थियो चुम्बकीय आकर्षण

त्यसै तिलस्मिताको भाव मनमस्तिष्कमा लिएर घर फर्केको म

पृथक् हुनसकेन स्वप्नमा पनि त्यो मनमुग्धताबाट

भोलिपल्ट उषाको अरुणिमासंगै दगुर्दै त्यसै चौपातोमा पुगें

तरूको तिलास्मिता रविको रम्यता नदेखेर हतप्रभ भएँ

सूर्यप्रभालाई गाँसेर मेघमंडल गर्जिरहेको देखें

वृक्ष-वल्लरीहरू नाङ्गै नाङ्गै नाङ्गै थिए

मूलबाट परित्यक्त पीत पातहरू परावलम्बनमा

हावाका झोंकासंगै यता उता कता छरिएका देखें

शीतका थोपाथोपाको थप्पड खेपिरहेका देखें

वृक्षका पीताम्बरलाई स्नेह र धैर्यले धर्तीले धारण गरेको देखें

सीकागोमा औटोमन अठोटमा उभिरहेको देखें प्रभावी भएको देखें

आर.डी.प्रभास चटौत

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ASNEngr Computer Distribution Project Update – Apr 2, 2010

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:39:51 +0000

One of the activities of the Chicago area members of American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr) has been to provide their professional expertise to fellow Nepalese and others in need. In September 2009, they received some used computers from Siemens Medical (Hoffman Estates, IL). All of those computers needed hard disks and some other peripherals. ASNEngr members from Chicagoland area, the president of ASNEngr and some local Nepalese donated money to purchase necessary hardware required to bring the computers to working order. The computers were refurbished with the parts purchased by the society engineers with these donated funds. These computers were distributed to recent Bhutanese refugees and other Nepalese in the Chicagoland area. So far, 17 families have benefitted from this. There are a few more computers left to be distributed soon. News related to this activity were published in previous editions of this newsletter. ASNEngr is proud to have been able to coordinate this activity and thanks all the donors and volunteers who have helped in making this unique ASNEngr technical and community activity successful.

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Nepal American Center Update – Apr 2, 2010

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:38:08 +0000

In the month of March this year, there have been significant activities and progress made in several areas. The following is a short summary.

1. Community Participation: The most important and encouraging news to report is the ex-panded participation of community veterans joining and sharing their valuable time to accelerate the momentum for NAC establishment. They have been found to be spending several hours of their precious time for the cause of our community each and every day. The names of the partici-pants can be recognized below.

2. Web development: A major initiative is underway to bring the state of the art new Nepali American Center Website to life. It is hoped to be launched in the Nepali New Year 2067. As re-ported to you last time in this newsletter, this work is undertaken by our young professional team consisting of Deepak Khanal (coordinator), Roshita Mukhia, Ankur Sharma, Binod Dhungel, Sma-rika Sitaula, Sagar Regmi, Birendra Suwal Singh, Angela Khanal, Bishnu Phuyal and Lomash Shrestha.

3. Web content development and editing: Design for the phase 1 web framework is complete. Various materials to put in different sections of the website are being discussed, written, col-lected and are in the process of being edited. The responsibility for this work is undertaken by Rajeev Dahal (coordinator), Birendra Suwal Singh, Sharda Thapa, Shiva hari Achet and Suman Wosti. The necessary support is provided by all the above members of the web development team.

4. Bank account: We have opened a business bank account at Chase Bank on March 30, 2010 in consultation with ANMA president Mukesh Singh and Treasurer Rajendra Khatiwada. This account is currently opened under ANMA which will be the fiscal sponsor for the Cultural Center. This pro-vision allows for any immediate donation to be tax deductible until NAC receives its federal tax exemption status in the next couple of years. Mr. Sharda Thapa has assumed the responsibility of looking after this activity. Current account signatories are Mr. Rajendra Khatiwada (ANMA treas-urer), Mr. Ramakant Kharel and Dr. Bishnu Phuyal.

5. Flier: With the contents provided to Ms. Angela Khanal, she has designed a very impressive NAC flier. This flier gives main highlights of NAC that we know so far. Everybody is requested to use it to understand NAC and use it to explain NAC to others. Please do provide your suggestions. They are highly appreciated.

6. Next Plans: As stated above, website phase 1 development will be complete and will be launched on April 14, 2010 which is Nepali New Year 2067. We will notify you this via NAC website and other media. We will also notify soon in how many ways you can provide your support for funding. We also seek your input on how we can raise funds and make our activity financially vi-able in the long term. This is extremely important and we are all committed for its success.

We have just started this work. As you can imagine, there are innumerable things that are needed before we can see our dream come true. But we know that it will come true. It is only with the help of your suggestions, commitment and active involvement that we can realize it sooner rather than later. We have to begin compiling names, start reaching out to all Nepalese and friends of Nepal, start meeting with government and non-government agencies, potential individual donors, business and community leaders etc… for their support in funding as well as other matters. No matter where we go or whomever we ask for support, there is no doubt that we will first have to make a strong convincing case ourselves with our own serious commitment for this dream. Only then we can approach others. Therefore, I request us all to join this movement to show our unity and commitment in advancing our efforts.

I would like to conclude this status summary with a quote from Sherry Anderson: “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless”.

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Seven Golden Rules of Vacationing

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:32:27 +0000

With spring already in its start, sum-mer in the near horizon, the gasoline price drastically increasing at the pump and the student academic year approaching its end, we are constantly reminded that our vacationing time is nearby. In fact, most of the families that I know of are already planning for a summer vacation – whether it’s going to Nepal or Europe, or taking a trip to South Africa! Some family members are already demanding and threatening that this vacation be better than the previous year’s or else! You will hear that failure to schedule a vacation for the entire family may cause some important bones in the body to be broken; the person who did not schedule a vacation may face severe sanctions from other folks! Last weekend, we went to our park district for registering our kids for the summer camp and we have a rough schedule on what we are planning to do this summer! I presume I should be safe here.

Take a casual glance around us, there is a lot of hype about vacationing. Travel agencies are constantly promoting their deals. Most national newspa-pers have a regular section about vacation and travel. A news anchor at a popular cable station talks with some journalist who is vacationing far away in the Chilean beaches or the calm waters of the New Zealand coast, and she trumpets that she is having a wonderful time! Or take the case of a family friend you know whose siblings are living in Europe, South Africa and Australia, and are planning an international family gathering / vacationing time in Thailand.

There are a lot of time-share companies promoting vacationing time. The common theme is that you purchase time-share slices in their companies, which then entitle you to a few weeks of international vacation time every year over your entire lifetime. What else could be better than that? They truly and honestly advocate that vacationing time is the biggest innovation since the invention of sliced bread and even the most important “experience” you can possibly buy for your money! For the rest, of course, you have the Mastercard! If you don’t have the money to buy these time shares, they gladly offer financing at reasonable (once in a lifetime) annual rate of 14.99% to 24.99% per anum! According to these companies, everybody has to buy these time shares as the quality time when you connect with kids and family is more important than purchasing groceries at the local supermarket. Kid’s education and other things are lower in the priority list once you fulfill your primary responsibility of taking the entire family to an expensive vacation treat!

Not only is the vacationing time one of the prime “water cooler” talking points around our offices but also when you meet a stranger at a party. A common starting point for conversation would be their “…last vacation time” or the next one they are planning to take in future. In almost all the cases, you will hear that their vacationing time was wonderful and better than that of anybody else! They will be happy to share some pictures with big smiley faces in the pages of popular social networking sites. So, given so much hype, I have attempted to jot down some truly golden rules about vacationing:

1) Vacation is an entitlement and it must be available for everybody automatically irrespective of ones’ accomplishment in the last year. In other words, this is one of the things in life that does not need to be earned.

2) Vacation is very important for the well being of the society and therefore every body must take it at regular interval – the quicker the interval, the better the outcome. In fact if we can manage to send all the people in unstable regions of the world to a fully paid vacation for 2 days, most of the world’s problems would be over!

3) Staying around the house and visiting nearby places (day trips) is no vacation at all. One must be very far away from home to be a on a true vacation. As an example, for people living in Nepal, vacationing time means they must come overseas to the US, Australia, Europe, Switzerland, even if they have hardly explored nearby places in their own countries – for it will not be categorized as quality vacationing time. For people living in the latter countries, they must go to remote places, otherwise their fun would be somehow limited!

4) The trip must be international and must cost over tens of thousand of dollars with any additional cost (the more the better) translating directly to your enjoyment, well-being and fun! In some sense this will help spur the growth of our slowing economy. Any cheapo travel does not qualify as a true vacation at all.

5) One must take lots and lots of “smiley faces” pictures and immediately post them in the social networking web sites (of course, the sooner the better) as if you were vacationing for the people monitoring your whereabouts! By the way there are some people, including myself, who rarely post any comments in these sites, but in general know what is going on around the town!

6) Once you reach the destination, you might be better off staying in your hotel room, getting up very late and doing things casually as you would be very tired from your long international journey. Afterwards, you might flick through the TV stations to find a local news anchor interviewing another journalist from your home town, and telling the audience how beautiful your own home town, an international destination, was. And you would repent whether you should have really spent all the money, time and effort coming to your international destination.

7) Once you return back from your vacation, send a message to your manager requesting to take an additional week off from work to recuperate from fatigue and tiredness from your 5 weeks’ long vacation!

Have fun and take your next vacation quickly!!

By Yagna Pant

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Nepali American Center Update – Feb 28, 2010

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:18:46 +0000

New name: Based on general opinions including those of Honorary Ambassador Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, the name – Nepal Cultural Center Chicago has been amended to Nepali American Center (NAC) and its domain name to nepaliamericancenter.org. Any other appropriate name in future can equally be assumed and assigned if it becomes necessary.

Working Committee: Until an election can be held according to Bylaws, a Working Committee consisting of nine designated members (listed in the incorporation letter and ad-hoc committee), seven new committee members (Website, Bank and Building/Facility, etc.), thirty two requested additional members and fourteen advisors have been formed to steer for timely progress of the center. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY WORK AND ARE WELCOME TO HELP BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE. As cultural center is a CHAUTARA, everyone should contribute towards its success. An election may be possible on or before anniversary puja in June. The responsibility of coordinating the works will be shared by Bishnu Phuyal and Ankur Sharma.

Immediate tasks: Our immediate tasks at hand are: a. Compile a complete list of names in Chicagoland area and beyond, b. Collect additional names not in the list, c. Divide the list so that each of us can approach people they know, conduct meetings, inform them about cultural center initiative, listen to their opinions and request for investing or donating for the center. Other important works are holding a large gathering to pass Bylaws, conduct election, start finding appropriate properties, etc.

A Website Development Team of very talented and enthusiastic friends – Ankur Sharma, Deepak Khanal, Roshita Mukhia, Sagar Regmi, Smarika Sitaula, Angela Khanal and Binod Dhungel has also been formed. They have already conducted three meetings, formalized technical concepts, registered for domain name and distributed assignments among the team members. A new flier is also almost complete for communication.

Similarly, Leena Joshi, an architect by profession, has expressed her interest in coordinating the building design, renovation works and in preparing the samples of various facilities that will be put on the website. Please contact us if you are interested in helping as well.

In consultation with many of you and ANMA executives, we have decided to open a bank account with ANMA fiscal sponsorship, as required for tax deduction for your donation. The signatories for the account will be Chandra Chataut, Bishnu Phuyal and ANMA treasurer Rajendra Khatiwada. We will inform you when the account will be ready for your investment/donation.

Help wanted:

Cultural center logo: With center name and domain name sort of resolved, I think that it will be nice to have its logo as well. Please submit your design. If yours is selected, you will be rewarded.
Graphics designer: Website team is looking for someone who has skills and familiarity with HTML, CSS and Macromedia Flash/Fireworks. Please contact the team, if you are interested.

ESTABLISHING CULTURAL CENTER IN CHICAGO IS AN OPPURTUNITY AND WORKING FOR ITS SUCCESS IS OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

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