Sunday, November 25, 2007

2008 NetSAP Initiatives - Mentor Xchange & Community Consulting Programs

NetSAP Boston continues on its innovative initiatives in 2008. We are happy to announce that we are planning on launching 2 new programs next year.

Mentor Xchange Program:

The dinner circle series in 2007 was an overwhelming success. We hosted 3 events which connected over 60 professionals from diverse fields such as health-care, finance, technology, and social entrepreneurship with 9 mentors. We intend to expand and continue this initiative in 2008. However, as a group of successful professionals ourselves, it becomes our responsibility that in addition to getting mentored, we should in-turn go back into our community to mentor our younger generation.



Keeping this in mind, we are glad to announce a partnership with TiE-Boston which has been a great source of mentors for our dinner circle events. TiE also has a younger group within their organization called "TiE Young Entrepreneurs" or TYE. TiE-Boston is mentoring these kids between the ages of 14yrs - 18yrs to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. While some kids will undoubtedly launch their own ventures, there are many other kids who are looking for advise on career options and strategy. They need a "big brother" or "big sister" if you will... someone who can relate to them, talk to them and provide them the inspiration they are looking for. This is clearly an area where NetSAP Boston members can come in as mentors and share their experiences and advise.

Therefore, on one hand as mentoring moves down the hierarchy, we also hope that the membership will move up the hierarchy. Young members of TiE will become NetSAP members who will then go on to become members of TiE again.

Please contact our Professional Chair, Jigar Patel, at professional@netsapboston.org to learn more about this initiative and participate actively .

NetSAP Boston Community Consulting Program:

In 2007, NetSAP Boston focused a lot on the community. Through more than 4 fundraisers, we were able to donate over $3000 to different charities working on initiatives in India. We also brought teams of NetSAP volunteers together to serve local causes. All in all, we contributed over 800 man-hours of labor, through 6 volunteering events which involved farming, sorting/preparing food, working with the blind and so on... While these activities provide much value to local non-profit organizations, we at NetSAP Boston think that there is much more value in providing help in areas where core strengths of our members lie.



With the Community Consulting program in 2008, NetSAP Boston will move beyond just fundraising and providing physical help. Our goal is to build a platform where South Asian non-profit entities and our members can come together to share ideas on growth/fundraising strategy, core domains (healthcare, finance etc), streamlining administrative tasks and more. We also hope that leaders from different non-profits will join us and use this platform to share their best practices with each other.

This new initiative will not only allow our members to contribute their expertise to those who need it, but on the other hand it will allow them to learn how corporate theories can or cannot be applied in the non-profit world. More importantly, the joy in giving back to the community will supersede everything else.

The "NetSAP community consulting" program is still in the formative stages. We would like to invite members to join us in shaping this program. Please contact Siddharth Pandit at Siddharth.Pandit@netsapboston.org for more information.

There is a different kind of joy and a feeling of satisfaction, and accomplishment when you make a difference in someone's life. We are hoping that you share our sentiments and will join us in these endeavors.

Tushneem Dharmagadda
President, NetSAP Boston

Thank you for making the Annual Gala a Success!

We would like to thank you for making the NetSAP Boston Annual Gala a success. The event which was attended by over 150 professionals was sold out (second year in a row). We received some great feedback about the event. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the Stand-up Comedy by Corey Manning, Jazz Music, Dinner, Dance and not to forget the company of other elite professionals from the Boston area.

Pictures are posted on our website. If you have any feedback on the event please feel free to email us at board@netsapboston.org.


We look forward to seeing you at more NetSAP Boston events in the future.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Nominees for 2008 NetSAP Boston Board

NetSAP Boston Annual Elections

Nominations are still being accepted for chair positions. If you are interested please send in your letter of intent.

The Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston) announces nominees for the 2008 Board. NetSAP is still looking for dynamic, creative and motivated members to take up leadership positions for the Chair roles under different pillars (Social, Cultural, Professional, Political and Community Service). If you are interested in becoming part of the NetSAP Board, please read our blog article "Nominations now Open for NetSAP 2008 Executive Board!" to know more about the Job responsibilities of different positions and find one that suits your interests and talents. Elections will be held on Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at the NetSAP Annual Holiday Gala.

Volunteering on the NetSAP-Boston Board allows you to enhance your resume, expand your professional network in the Greater-Boston area and be recognized in the community for your contributions. Read our blog article "Five Great Reasons to Volunteer for NetSAP-Boston".



Position Responsibilities & Duties
The following positions on the 2008 Executive Board are contested
(Click on the Icons to read Letter of Intent)
President Tushneem Dharmagadda

Vice President Pallavi Chhabra

Treasurer Swarupa Purandare

Secretary
Sheila Rajan

National Liaison Pratyush Vaishnavi

The following positions on
the 2008 Executive Board are Nominated by the President
Website Director
Multiple Openings
Tanmay Kumar

Membership / Marketing Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Sanjay Tamhane

Sponsorship Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Munish Gupta

Social / Networking Events Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Priya Sathy
Manoshi Vin
Vijay Daryanani
Kalyan Bemalkhedkar

Professional Development Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Jigar Patel
Kiran Ganda


Cultural/Theatrics
Chair
(s)
Multiple Openings
Bharathi Patimalla
Usha Govindarajulu

Community Service Events Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Chindu Satheesh

Political Awareness Chair(s)
Multiple Openings
Open


NetSAP Forum Moderators
Multiple Openings

Open


If you are interested in any Chair Position above (including those that are filled), please send your nominations to

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the NetSAP Annual Gala. If you have questions on any of these positions or need to discuss more, email Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org

Sincerely,
The 2007 Executive Board
Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston)

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

A Memorable Year Thanks to YOU!

NetSAP Boston would like to say
A BIG THANK YOU

for your enthusiasm to mingle at our happy hours this year...

So many friends, so many smiles


for your generosity to give back to the community this year...

So many causes, so much fun


for your eagerness to learn through our seminars this year...

So much knowledge, so many contacts


for your support to our art, culture & theater this year...

So much heritage, so many values


for your guts to be adventurous this year...

So many risks, so much thrill


It has been a truly memorable year thanks to you!

Please join us at the Annual Gala & Formal on Saturday, 13th December, 2008, to share the joy and relive the memories from 2008.

The gala is
an upscale, elegant, classy night of entertainment, networking and fine dining. An experience like never before that you will cherish for long!

www.netsapboston.org/events/gala

Thank you for contributing to our community and to the success of NetSAP Boston! NetSAP-Boston was awarded the "Best Large NetIP Chapter Award for 2008", for the third consecutive year.

Sincerely,
2008 NetSAP Boston Executive Board Members

[NetSAP Boston is a volunteer run 501(c)6 Not-for-Profit organization]

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Fundraiser Thank you Note from India School Fund

NetSAP Boston thanks its members and patrons for attending the Happy Hour at Whiskey Park on October 18th and contributing to a genuine and much-needed cause. NetSAP's fourth fundraiser event this year raised $325 for India School Fund. These funds will be used for ISF initiatives in India. Below is a note from the President of ISF.

We thank you for your generosity in giving back to the community this year. In all NetSAP Boston raised over $3000 in 2007 for 4 different charities focusing on various causes. This is in addition to the hundreds of man-hours that NetSAP volunteers spent in local soup kitchens and organizations. Do read The Human Face of NetSAP Boston to know more about NetSAP Boston's community initiatives in 2007.

Thank You Note from ISF
NetSAP Boston generously dedicated its Happy Hour in October to the India School Fund (ISF), helping spread the word about a nonprofit organization recently founded by five Harvard Business School students to ensure effective delivery of education in rural India to break the vicious cycle of poverty.

For a non-profit organization like ISF, NetSAP Boston events represent a wonderful opportunity to connect with young, bright and driven professionals and explore new ideas that have a real impact on the ground! We hope that with small contributions and support from this powerful network, will not only ensure sustainability of our innovative education system but also expand education, entrepreneurship and health across rural areas over time. If you are interested in visiting our first education center in UP, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you again to the whole NetSAP Boston team.

Annie Bertrand, ISF President & Co-Founder
India School Fund (ISF), www.indiaschoolhousefund.com