Exclusive: Canada- It is my great pleasure to announce to you formally my candidacy for the position of Regional Coordinator (RC) for Americas in the International Coordination Council (ICC) of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) for the term, 2011-13.
Dear Fellow NRNs of North America,

Greetings!

It is my great pleasure to announce to you formally my candidacy for the position of Regional Coordinator (RC) for Americas in the International Coordination Council (ICC) of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) for the term, 2011-13.

I gratefully acknowledge the endorsement of my candidacy by the NRN-NCC of USA Board members during its meeting held on August 20th as well as by the earlier unanimous decision of the NRN-Canada NCC Board meeting held on July 30th and subsequently by the unanimous decision of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NRN-Canada’s Registered Members held on July 31st. I also humbly urge all the Registered NRNs in the United States to kindly support a similar endorsement through a unanimous decision by the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the NRN-NCC of the United States on September 17th.

I express my apology with a deep sense of regret that despite my passionate desire to join you, the NRNs of the United States during this very important meeting, I will not be able to do so due to my prior unavoidable commitment made more than six months ago for an academic event of the Medical Council of Canada organized by the University of Saskatchewan here in Regina city of Canada on September 16th and 17th coinciding with the date of the AGM in New York. However, if I am facilated to be able to connect with the participants of the AGM during the meeting hours some time towards the afternoon, I would like to speak with all fellow NRNs in the audience, through Skype or the phone call. It will be my pleasure to join you in that manner at the least, because, I wish to communicate with you directly and be a part of the success that will happen to this great event.

The unwritten understanding that the US and Canada would alternately get the RC position has been practiced since 2007. Accordingly, the other country gets to nominate the Deputy Regional Coordinator (DRC). This practice of electing the RC and DRC by consensus has served our two countries well, and it has helped promote the traditional good relations between the two neighbouring countries. This tradition has helped in maintaining harmonious relationship between the NCCs of the two friendly countries that not only share a long stretch of common borders, but also subscribe to common values and benefits based on mutual interests and respect. Truly, the reality of mutual interests between the two countries has been reflected in sync by the cherished mutual understanding and cooperation practised between our two NCCs by way of choosing RC and DRC, by turn, between them for alternating terms. As we have currently the existence of only two NCCs in the whole of Americas, the practice has been well received as most practical and democratically inclusive approach to reaching out to our constituent members residing in both the countries.

I believe my current two-year term as the Deputy Regional Coordinator for Americas, teaming up with our current Regional Coordinator for Americas Dr. Ambika Adhikari as well as all the NRN-NCC leaders from both the respective countries of our residences, has been highly successful. The experience has been largely rewarding, as has been evident from the fact that our leaderships at the regional as well as the national levels are regarded highly at the global stage of the NRN movement as a whole. Our North American team members have been the key players in bringing new directions, policies and programs to the world stage of the NRN movement. In particular, I am proud to be a part of the global leaders’ team that pioneered, championed and brought forward the Skills, Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (SKIE) Program and Open University of Nepal Initiative to the level of NRNA’s flagship projects among several successful initiatives that are in the various stages of development.

Recently, the Government of Nepal through the decision of its Cabinet of Ministers has recognized the Steering Committee of the Open University of Nepal initiative entrusting the NRN leaders for vital roles in establishing the University. The SKIE Program has been recognized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between NRNA-SKIE Task Force and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Both these programs put all our America-wide NRN leaderships right at the forefront of global NRN movement, posing numerous challenges ahead to deliver the outcomes of these initiatives to their ultimate beneficiaries, who are none other than the people living in Nepal as well as abroad.

At this crucial juncture, personally, I feel that it is my moral responsibility to carry on with the trust of NRNs living across Americas on me along with other NRN leaders to contribute meaningfully towards the success of all these initiatives. Certainly, knowledge exchange is the strength of American NRNs in the global NRN arena, and I believe we have been doing wonderfully well on this front thus far. Also, our American coordination team has been actively participating and contributing meaningfully to numerous other areas that concern NRNs around the world. We will continue to explore new frontiers to bring about desired outcomes that would make the differences in the lives of Nepalese people everywhere. For having all these going forward as per the aspirations of Nepalese everywhere, I sincerely aspire to work more closely with you all in my capacity as the Regional Coordinator for Americas in the coming term of 2011-13.

Highly encouraged as I am, by the manifold successes that went onto the records of my current tenure as the DRC for Americas, I strongly feel that the heightened level of my energy and enthusiasm to serve you even more is leading my way forward to take even higher responsibility. Following my current tenure of DRC, the position of RC is not only my natural choice for a step forward, but also I have been endorsed overwhelmingly by the NRNs of both the United States and Canada, whoever I have met and spoke with, in addition to the organizational support of both the NCCs that I am endowed with, by virtue of the existing unconditional mutual understanding for serving the purpose of common benefits between the two countries. I would like to express my assurance to you all that I will hold your trust on me to the best of my conscientious thinking from the core of my heart and mind.   

In the course of my RC term for the period 2011-2013, I will be basically playing a role of bridging between NCCs and ICC proactively supporting the roles of respective NCCs and empowering them both as active partners in the global NRN movement. More specifically, I would be committed to supporting ICC and North American NCCs through my coordinating role as the RC for Americas in undertaking the following tasks:

Contributing to establish our cherished value, “Once a Nepali, Always a Nepali” to the “win-win” advantage of Nepalis residing both in Nepal and abroad. (नेपालभित्र  र बाहिरका समस्त नेपालीकै हितमा "एक पटकको नेपाली, संधैको नेपाली" भन्ने हाम्रो अमूल्य मान्यतालाई स्थापित गर्न  योगदान गर्ने)

Providing strong leadership in continuing the ongoing momentum of NRNA’s global flagship projects, especially, Open University of Nepal (OUN) Initiative, Skills, Knowledge and Innovation Exchange, and NRN Professional Mentoring Program. (हाल संचालित गैर-आवासीय नेपाली संघका विश्व-ब्यापी ध्वजा-बाहक परियोजनाहरु, ख़ासगरी, नेपाल खुल्ला विश्व-विद्यालयको पहल लगायत शिप, ज्ञान र नवीनतम खोज को आदान-प्रदान तथा गैर-आवासीय नेपाली पेशागत उपादेशक कार्यक्रमको नेतृत्व प्रदान गर्ने)

Advocacy bringing North American NRN perspectives to the forefront of the global NRN movement agenda. (उत्तर-अमेरिकी गैर-आवासीय नेपाली दृष्टीकोण विश्व-ब्यापी गैर-आवासीय नेपाली आन्दोलन कार्यसूचिको अग्रपंतीमा ल्याउने)

Promoting NRN movement to the grassroots across North America. (गैर-आवासीय नेपाली आन्दोलनलाई उत्तर-अमेरिकाभर जनस्तरसम्म प्रबर्धन गर्ने)

Promoting evidence-based development of new directions and policies in new Nepal. (नयाँ नेपालको नयाँ दिशा र नीति प्रमाणीकरणका आधारमा निर्माणको प्रबर्धन गर्ने)

Promoting a special project of Fair-trade of Nepali goods in North America.  (नेपाली उत्पादनको न्याय-संगत व्यापारको एक विशेष योजनाको प्रबर्धन गर्ने)

Dear friends,

My personal and professional backgrounds have been one of humble beginnings of continued struggle and an ensuing series of eventual successes in life. Emerging from a traditional marginalization by descent in our society, I have been able to not only establish myself well as a multi-disciplinary professional, who endeavours a life-long mission to contribute to a change for a better world away from rusty status-quo. I have served in several rural and remote areas through the civil service in Nepal for over two decades, and have  studied and/or worked in several countries, including India (1974-1980), Thailand (1983), Australia (1985), Malaysia (1985), the Philippines (1988-1991), China (1996), Scotland UK (1996), Canada (since 1999) and the United States (since 2001).

I have served internationally in several positions with remarkable track records- be it a rapporteur of an international technical working group of the UN’s FAO or be it a responsible professional in government ministry of a Canadian province or be it an editorial board member for an international peer reviewed scientific journal.]

I have founded in 2003 and successfully have been moderating a vibrant  international network called Nepaldalitinfo that supports integration of Dalit movement for defining and defending the rights of the most marginalized communities of Nepal. Serving NRNs is indeed one more way in my multitude of endeavours to give back to my Nepali community, society and the motherland as whole.

All these tasks require in me not only high professional and moral competence, but also demand a high degree of compassion to undertake challenges of varied kinds to be able to serve our people based on their genuine needs. Understandably, the high energy, knowledge, expertise, talents, professional integrity and experience that I have gained thus far in the process of my dealing with the vital issues concerning people in many countries including Nepal and North America, provide me a great advantageous edge for the RC position that I am seeking to serve North American NRNs for the next two years. I am also fortunate to have my family’s unconditional support to my endeavours that are beneficial to Nepalis everywhere.

Finally, I seek the support of one and all of you, my fellow NRNs in North America in providing me with the opportunity to serve you as your next RC.

I welcome any constructive feedback and suggestions from you that would guide my future endeavours to serve NRNs proactively, as I seek your support to my desire to work ahead for the North American Community in particular and NRNA in general. I can be reached at my home phone: (306) 584-0639 during evening or weekend hours or at this email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

I am looking forward to seeing you all in person at the 5th Global NRN Conference in Kathmandu in October.

Thank you much for your support.

Sincerely,

Drona P. Rasali, PhD
Deputy Regional Coordinator for Americas, NRNA-ICC, 2009-11
Advisor, NRN-Canada, 2008-2011, 2011-2011.

Member of American College of Epidemiology. since 2006

Vice-President, Saskatchewan Public Health Association, 2010-11

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (Population Health Studies), University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2009-2014.

Provincial Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, permanent employment under the Public Service Commission. (Disclaimer: I do not represent the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health in this personal communiqué of mine.)

Formerly, Veterinary Officer to Senior Scientist (Veterinary Sciences), Government of Nepal, 1980 –2003.

Regina, Canada.

Read our exclusive reporting on:

संघीयता | राजतन्त्र? | महिला | NRN | दलित समस्या | न्यू योर्क नेपाली | प्रबास | India

Not enough of reading us? Visit our multi-media channels:

Comments

Name *
Email (For verification & Replies)
URL
Code   

Submit Comment