USA- The Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Association recently held a meeting to raise awareness about the NRN Association in the United States, encourage greater participation, and reach out to a critical mass and inform them about the upcoming 4th Regional NRN Conference to be held in the United States (May 28-30, 2010).

There were about 85 participants in Hartford at the University of Connecticut campus and about 150 at Harvard University in Boston. The event was chaired by the president of the Nepalese Association of Connecticut, Mr. Santosh Lamsal, at Hartford, and by Mr. Bhuwani Gurung, Director of NRN Community Mobilization, in Boston. HE Permanent Representative to Nepal Mission at UN Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya was a chief guest and President of NRNNCC of USA Mr. Suman Timsina was a speaker on NRNNCC. Others present were the Fmr. Chief Election Commissioner of Nepal Mr. Bhojraj Pokhrel, Vice President of NRN NCC of USA Dr. Bidya Ranjeet, Director of NRN Affairs Dr. Binod Shah, Past President Dr. Tara Niraula, President of Federation of Indigenous People of Nepal Association Mr. K! arma Sherpa, Prof Shiva Gautam and Dr. Pukar Malla.

President of FIPNA reminded those attending that the NRN Association must be inclusive in nature and consider every single suggestion. He also asked NRN NCC to hold town hall meetings in New York City. He put together a few grievances and suggestions to establish a stronger root for the NRN Association.

Mr. Timsina talked about the need to make NRN National Coordination Council a stronger organization by unity, cooperation and collaboration. He acknowledged curiosity amongst Nepalis in America about changing the name of the organization in order to align it with a NRNICC mandate. He assured that it is an organization of every NRN and therefore it is very critical to have them participate in by-laws amendment process. The by-laws are scheduled to be amended by May 31, 2010. He further emphasized that regardless of differences, we must focus on a common ground to work together for the interest of NRNS and Nepal. The reason of Nepalis’ immigrations to US is typically for four reasons: in search of education, skill, and wealth, and/or because of marriage.

NRN Association’s main goal is to channel skills, knowledge and wealth globally and participate in Nepal’s development. He appealed for NRNS to participate in US’s political process and reach out to lawmakers to make pro-Nepal policies. Examples were discussed, and he also announced that the NRN Association recently signed an MOU with Nepal Embassy, FNCCI and Nepal’s Commerce and Trade Secretary to help promote trade and commerce. He further mentioned how NRN NCC was able to bring 3 professional organizations of engineering, medical and information technology to join hands together to prepare a strategy for Earthquake Preparedness and Disaster Relief for Nepal and a number of organizations signed an MOU. A further discussion on the topic will be held at NRN R! egional Conference at Houston on May 28, 2010. A program to launch an open university in Nepal by NRN was also mentioned. A detailed plan is to be discussed at the upcoming conference. He further requested that the US step up and demonstrate global NRN leadership.

While speaking at the event, H. E. Acharya discussed NRN Laws of Nepal. His topic covered property rights for NRNS, NRN ID Card and machine readable passports. He mentioned that, for various reasons, Nepal is not able to issue machine readable passports and on an interim basis they have resumed issuing hand written passports until the issue is resolved. Dr. Binod Shah spoke about dual citizenship, saying that there is no compromise and people should not get confused between dual citizenship and a recently issued ID card.

The curious audience was fully engaged in a question and answer session. Questions included the definition of NRN and PNO (People of Nepali Origin), the status of students studying abroad, and property rights and very unclear laws of Nepal defining property rights. A good amount of time was spent discussing NRN Association’s efforts for dual citizenship. Answering questions, Mr. Timsina reminded the audience that dual citizenship is not a new phrase, but has been used and demanded by many individuals and organizations worldwide for years. But it has been campaigned in more organized and institutionalized by NRN International Coordination Council since its inception in 2003.

At Harvard University, Mr. Bibek Karki spoke on the role of youth in Nepal’s constitution-making, while Dr. Pukar Malla, Dy Coordinator NRN Youth Council, spoke on the role of NRN Youth. He further spoke of the Nepalko Yuwa movement. Mrs. Bishnu Pariyar, Regional Director of NRN, welcomed guests at Harvard and Mr. Bhuwan Gurung extended thanks to all participants.

The event in Hartford was moderated by Mr. Arjun Dahal and in Boston by Mr. D B Rai. A series of these town hall meetings are being held nationwide to bring awareness about the organization. In addition, NRNNCC has additionally adopted Promote Nepal Tourism 2011 program.


Like wise; The NRN National Coordination Council of USA Holds Town Hall Meeting in Denver In the occasion of the New Year 2067 celebrations of the Rocky Mountain Friends of Nepal (RMFN), a town hall meeting on NRN Association was organized ! in Denver Colorado on April 17, 2010. About 80 participants attended the meeting. The meeting was presided by the NACC Southwest VP Dr. Vijaya R Sharma. Nepal's Ambassador to U.S. His Excellency Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma was the Chief Guest. Mr. Gyanendra Gadal, the President of the INLS Colorado Chapter conducted the meeting. The meeting began with a welcome address by the RMFN President Ms Neelam Shrestha. Dr. Ambika Adhikari, North America Regional Coordinator of the NRN Association was the main speaker, who made a presentation on the NRNA structure, its mission and the current principal activities and issues the NRNA is handling. HE Dr. Sharma spoke on the role of NRNs in promoting tourism and investment in Nepal and on the need of Nepalis in America to work more towards building up relationships with American business organizations and the political and bureaucratic leaderships in the system of American government.

In the same occasion the President of the Rocky Mountain S! herpa Association Mr Pemba Sherpa offered his association's willingness to work for promoting tourism in Nepal. Mr. Pushpa Paudel, the Nepal Red Cross Director of Community Development Department, who is visiting Colorado, also spoke. He introduced the Red Cross organization, its mission and functions, and also suggested ways for building up organizational relationships between Nepal Red Cross and the Nepali Associations in U.S., like the RMFN. There were questions from the floor on issues like the NRN ID card, which HE Dr Sharma and Dr Adhikari answered. The meeting lasted over one and half hours and closed with the concluding remarks by Dr Vijaya Sharma.


Thank you
RK

Ram C Kharel
Media Coordinator
NRN NCC USA
www.nrnusa.org
703-926-9530

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