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GOPIO NEWS

SPECIAL BULLETIN

January 1, 2018

A Publication of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
Issue: XVI-1 January 1, 2018
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In This Issue
CONGRESS PRESIDENT RAHUL GANDHI AND CPM GENERAL SECRETARY SITARAM YECHURY TO ADDRESS GOPIO BIENNIAL CONVENTION
GOPIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - DETAILED PROGRAM
GOPIO NEWS SPONSOR
GOPIO-NEWS IS NOW PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVERTISING AMONG DIASPORA INDIANS
GOPIO INTL. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MEMBERSHIP DRIVE DISCOUNT EXTENDED TO MARCH 31, 2018
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
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GOPIO NEWS WISHES ITS READERS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.


 

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GOPIO is a community supported non-profit organization taking up issues of the Indian Diaspora and attempting to unifying the community in its common causes. Support GOPIO by becoming a Life Member or chapter member. Once can become Life Member online by visiting http://www.gopio.net/online_membership.html.
CONGRESS PRESIDENT RAHUL GANDHI AND CPM GENERAL SECRETARY SITARAM YECHURY TO ADDRESS GOPIO BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN BAHRAIN

 
Shri Rahul Gandhi



Congress President Rahul Gandhi  and CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury  will address delegates at the GOPIO Biennial Convention to be held for the first time in The Middle East, after holding conventions in New York, London, Paris, Zurich, Trinidad, South Africa, Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. GOPIO International is holding its 28th Year Anniversary and Biennial Convention 2018 in Bahrain on January 6-9, 2018 and concluding with a meeting of the new Executive Council pn Jan. 9th taking over the mantle of GOPIO. 

Shri Rahul Gandhi will speak at the Finale Plenary Session on Jan. 8th evening
 





CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury



CPM General Secretary Yechury will address the audience at the pre-luncheon plenary session. Both Gandhi and Yechury will share their thoughts on what they see India in the next two decades and how NRIs/PIOs can help India in its development. 






Invitation was also sent to BJP President Amit Shah , but has not been confirmed yet.
 
Bahrain Skyline for GOPIO Convention 2018    
GOPIO Bahrain team has picked up Gulf Hotel, Manama, Bahrain as the venue for GOPIO Biennial Convention. GOPIO will also hold its Annual General Body Meeting on Jan. 6th, which will consider many bylaws amendments.

GOPIO International Convention will be inaugurated on January 6th evening. Chief Guest at the inauguration is H.E. Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Electricity & Water, Kingdom of Bahrain. Shri Alfons Kannanthanam, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism, Government of India, has been invited to deliver the inaugural address while the Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Raj K. Purohit who also serves as GOPIO Advisor will speak at the inauguration which will be followed by the presentation of the Indian Women Achievers Samman, a collaboration of GOPIO and NRI Achievers Magazine.  

Dr. bin Alin Mirza, Minister Kannanthanam and Minister Raj Purohit
 Photo above from l to r: H.E. Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza, Minister Alfons Kannanthanam and Minister Raj K Purohit

 
Conference sessions will be inaugurated on January 7th morning at a plenary session H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Daij Al Khalifa, President. Court of H.R.H. The Crown Prince as Chief Guest. Keynote Speakers are Dr. Shashi TharoorMP, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Dr. Sam Pitroda, Inventor, Entrepreneur, Telecommunication Pioneer and Former Advisor to Prime Ministers of India. Other speakers are H.E Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, Chief Executive, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority; Dr. Anwar M. Abdulrahman, Chairman, AL HILAL GROUP, Bahrain; Mr. Chandan Mitra, Chief Editor, The Pioneer & Former BJP MP; Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, President, UAE Exchange and President of GOPIO Abu Dhabi Chapter.


Shaikh bin Daij Al Khalifa, Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Sam Pitroda
Photo above from l. to r., H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Daij Al Khalifa, Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Mr. Sam Pitroda

GOPIO community Service Awards will be presented at the Valedictory Session. This year's awardees are: Dr. M. Anirudhan (USA), Mahendrasinh C. Jadeja (UK), Pramod Kamdar (USA), Dr. Sapta Giri Varma Mudunuru (Trinidad), Kamal Vachani (Dubai), Chief Guest is Mr. Sam Pitrodaand Dr. Shashi Tharoor will deliver the special address.
 
GOPIO International will be represented by its Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham (USA), President Niraj Baxi (USA), Executive Vice President Noel Lal, Global Ambassador Sunny Kulathakal (Bahrain) and several International Coordinators and GOPIO Council Chairpersons.
 
GOPIO Officers attending the Bahrain convention
Photo above: GOPIO Officers attending the convention, from top left clockwise, Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, President Niraj Baxi, Executive VP Noel Lal, Global Ambassador and Incoming President Sunny Kulathakal, Middle East Intl. Coordinator John Issac, Chairperson of Council on Seniors Sudha Acharya, Health Council Chairperson Dr. Asha Samant, Chapter Review Committee Chairperson Dinesh Mittal, Treasurer Kewal Kanda, South Asia Intl. Coordinator Shaji Baby John, Africa Intl. Coordinator Ishwar Ramlutchman and North America Intl. Coordinator Dr. Rajeev Mehta
 
Detailed program  is shown below and as Attached file. Click  GOPIO BIENNIAL CONVENTION, BAHRAIN, JAN. 6-9, 2018

For more info, contact: Sunny Kulathakal, Global Ambassador, GOPIO International, Tel. in Bahrain +973-39441956, India +91-9845756692, E-mail: [email protected]
   
TRAVEL AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS
Regarding the travel and visa arrangements our travel partner Dadabhai Travels will do everything possible to get the special rate to any destination. You may contact Mr. Aziz Gilitwala, Managing Director E-mail [email protected] , Tel: + 973-39614499 or [email protected] ,   Tel: +973-39843283
 
UK and US Passport holders will get visa on arrival. Visit Bahrain Govt. website at https://www.evisa.gov.bh/ . Send in the passport copy (1st and last pages) to the travel agent to arrange the visa, Contact: [email protected] .
 
Near the Gulf Hotel where GOPIO Convention Team has made an agreement with a new hotel- Park Regis for rooms with $70 for single occupancy and $80 for double occupancy including tax and breakfast. The above rate will be available only up to 15th December 2017. You may book directly on line at www.parkregislotushotel.com . Should you require further assistance you can contact Asst. Director of Sales Mr. Usman Kiani, Tel: +973-36293777 (Mobile), E- mail: [email protected] or Shiju Nair, Tel: +973-39830603, E-mail: [email protected] . 

 
Delegates get free transport to the Gulf Hotel (Convention Centre) which is at a five minutes distance from Park Regis Hotel. 
 
GOPIO CONVENTION 2018 BAHRAIN - REGISTRATION FORM

Date
Event
Venue
Singe Registration (US$)
No. of Tickets
Total Amount
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2016
GOPIO Executive Council and General Body Meeting (Open Only to Members) - Includes Lunch
Park Regis Hotel
No Charge (for only EC and General Body Members)
 
 
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018
Reception and Inauguration, NRI Women Achievers Awards, Dinner, Entertainment
Gulf Hotel
50.00
 
 
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018
Conferences and Lunch
Gulf Hotel
30.00
 
 
Sunday, Jan 7, 2018
Reception, Businessmen of the Year and Dinner
Gulf Hotel
50.00
 
 
Monday, Jan. 8, 2018
Conferences and Lunch
Gulf Hotel
30.00
 
 
Monday, Jan 8, 2018
Finale Banquet and Entertainment
Gulf Hotel
50.00
 
 
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018
GOPIO Executive Council Meeting (Open Only to E.C. Members) - Includes Lunch
Park Regis Hotel
No Charge (for EC Members only)
 
 
3 Days
All Events
 
150.00
 
 
Individual Sponsorship
All Events and Listing in the Program Booklet as a Sponsor
 
250.00
 
 
GRAND TOTAL
 
 
 
 
 

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E-MAIL:                                             Tel (H):                                  Tel: (W):                          Tel (cell):                     

The total amount may be paid by a bank transfer or with a credit card using Square or PayPal as follows:
Send the money by Bank Transfer

Details on Bank Transfer to GOPIO Bank account. - Account with Bank of America, Bank of America Financial Center, 18641 S. Gridley St., Cerritos, CA 90703, USA. Account Holder: Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, 11433 Arlee Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650., USA, Tel: 562-887-6976,
To transfer money within the US: Routing No. 011900571, Account # 003851989607
To transfer money from outside the US: Swift No. BOFAUS3N, Account # 003851989607

Use Square Inc. link, i.e. Use your credit card at https://squareup.com/store/GOPIO
 
Payments Using PayPal - Go online to: www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/make-online-payments
Choose: Make online payment
Select option: Pay for items or services quickly and securely
GOPIO Email: [email protected]

GOPIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - DETAILED PROGRAM

GOPIO BIENNIAL CONVENTION 2018 & PRAVASI SAMMELAN, BAHRAIN, JAN. 6
TH TO 9
TH, 2018
 
DAY 1 
 
Saturday, January 6, 2018
 
9 am - 11 am                                                   GOPIO Executive Council Meeting
                                                                        Chaired by President Niraj Baxi
 
11 am - 12 pm                                                 Reports from International Coordinators                                                                                                                                         and GOPIO Council Chairs
 
12 pm - 1 pm                                                  GOPIO General Body Meeting (Open to Life Members and Chapter Delegates)
                                                                        Chaired by Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham
                                                                        President's Report - Mr. Niraj Baxi
                                                                        Treasurer's Report - Mr. Kewal Kanda
 
1 pm to 2 pm                                                   Lunch
 
2 pm - 5 pm                                                     GOPIO General Body Meeting (Cont'd)
                                                                        Chaired by Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham
 
                                                                        GOPIO Bylaws Amendments
                                                                        Presented by GOPIO Bylaws Committee
                                                                        Harmohan Walia, Harbachan Singh and
                                                                        Dr. Thomas Abraham
 
                                                                        Presentation on GOPIO MemberNova
                                                                        By Mr. Dinesh Mittal
 
 Announcement of Election Results (2018-'19) & Endorsement/Election of GOPIO Chairman  by Election Committee (Mr.  Inder Singh, Mr. Dhiraj Solanki and Dr. Vinod Daniel )
 
6 pm                                                                Convention Inauguration
 
National Anthems
 
Prayer Song by Playback Singer Ms Parvati Menon
 
Welcome speech by GOPIO Incoming President and Convention Convener Mr. Sunny Kulathakal
 
Presidential Address by Mr. Niraj Baxi, President, GOPIO Intl.

Lighting the Lamp Ceremony

Chief Guest - H.E. Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Electricity & Water, Kingdom of Bahrain
Inaugural Address by Honorable Shri Alfons Kannanthanam, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism, Government of India
Address by Mr. Raj K. Purohit , Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra, Mumbai, India and GOPIO Advisor
 
Chairman's Address by GOPIO Founding President Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International
 
Felicitation by:              1) Dr. B.R. Shetty, Chairman, NMC Healthcare
  2) Lord Diljit Rana, Former President, GOPIO International

  7.30 pm                                  Indian Women Achiever's Samman
(Award Recognition Ceremony)
 
Opening Remarks by GOPIO's Global Ambassador and Convention Convener Mr. Sunny Kulathakal and Mr. Rajeev Gupta, Managing Editor, NRI Achievers
 
Felicitation by Ms Arathi Krishna, Deputy Chairman, NRI Forum, Karnataka Govt.
 
Vote of Thanks by Dr. George Cheriyan, President, GOPIO-Bahrain and
CEO, American Mission Hospital
 
8.15 pm                                                                       Cultural Programme
 
9.15 pm                                                                       Dinner
 
 
DAY 2
 
Sunday, January 7, 2018
 
9.00am                                                Prayer Song

9.05am                 Session I - Conference Inaugural Session 'India 2030: An Economic Powerhouse'
 
Welcome - Mr. Sunny Kulathakal, GOPIO's Global Ambassador and Convention Convener
 
Introduction - Mr. Soman Baby, Chairman, Reception Committee
 
Chief Guest - H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Daij Al Khalifa, President. Court of H.R.H. The Crown Prince
Keynote Speakers:       Dr. Shashi Tharoor MP, Former Minister of State for External Affairs
Dr. Sam Pitroda , Inventor, Entrepreneur, Telecommunication Pioneer and Former Advisor to Prime Ministers of India
 
Address by
 
1)    H.E Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa , Chief Executive, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority
2)    Dr. Anwar M. Abdulrahman, Chairman, AL HILAL GROUP, Bahrain
3)    Mr. Chandan Mitra , Chief Editor, The Pioneer & Former BJP MP
4)    Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty , President, UAE Exchange and President, GOPIO Abu Dhabi Chapter
 
Moderated by Mr. Issac John Pattaniparambil, GOPIO Intl. Coordinator for The Middle East, Business Editor, Khaleej Times. Dubai, UAE
 
11.15 am                     Tea Break
 
 
11.30pm - 12.30 pm Session II - Opportunities for Business and Investment in India
 
Introductory Remarks Mr. Nitin Shah, Co-Chair,GOPIO Intl. Chamber of Commerce, and
Chairman, Embassy National Bank, Atlanta, USA
Speakers                    Mr. Raj K. Purohit, Cabinet Minister, Maharashtra and GOPIO Advisor
Mr. PC Cyriac IAS, Former Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu
Mr. Kurien Abraham , Editor & Publisher of business magazine 'Dhanam'
Ms. Mini Guleria , President & CEO, Macroscope Market Resourcing, Los Angeles, USA
 
Moderator                   Mr Shaji Baby John, Chairman, Kings Group, Kochi
 
 
1.30 pm-2.30 pm        Lunch
 
2.30 pm-5 pm Session III - Rehabilitation of Returning NRIs
 
 
Speakers                    Mr. Sunny Kulathakal, Global Ambassador, GOPIO Intl., Bahrain
Dr. Gan Bhukta , Professor, GITAM University, Vishakhapatnam and Director NATSAFT Corp., New Jersey, USA
Mr. P.V. Radhakrishna Pillai, President, Kerala Samajam, and Recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Bahrain 
Mr Issac John Pattaniparambil , GOPIO Intl. Coordinator, The Middle East, Business Editor, Khaleej Timesm Dubai abd Chairman World Malayalee Council
Mr Soman Baby, Recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Bahrain
Moderator                   Mr. Jacob George, Former Correspondent, India Today Magazine
 
  6.30pm           Book Release, Businessperson of the Year Award Function & Public Meeting
 
Welcome Address by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO
 
National Anthems of Both Countries
 
Address by Minister of Electricity & Water, Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Dr Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza
 
Book release of 'Advancing the Role of Executive Management' authored by Dr. Shaikh Mohamed Al Khalifa. Book released by His Excellency Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza 
 
Felicitation by Mr. Niraj Baxi, President, GOPIO Intl., San Jose, CA, USA
 
Special Address by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP, India
 
Award Ceremony coordinated by Mr. Anurag Batra, Chief Editor, Business World, New Delhi, India

Address
 
1) Mr. Raj Purohit, Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra, Mumbai, India
 
2) Mr. J. Alexander, IAS, Former Minister, Karnataka, India
 
Vote of Thanks by Mr. Noel Lal, Executive VP, GOPIO Intl.
 
8.00 pm                       Cultural Programme - Drama by Indian Women of Bahrain
 
9.00 pm                                   Dinner
 
 
DAY 3
 
Monday, January 8
 
9.00 - 10.15 am          Session IV - Political Involvement of Diaspora Indians
 
Speakers                    Ravindran Robin Nair, Officer of the Order of Fiji and Prof. Bimal Prasad, Leader, National Federation Party, Fiji
                                    Mr. Viresh Sharma, Treasurer, GOPIO-CT and President, Laser Systems, Stamford, Connecticut, USA
Ms. Nikki Kapadia , Los Angeles, California, USA
Mr. Ishwar Ramlutchman , GOPIO Intl. Coordinator and Chairman and Managing Director, Vukani and Mazulu Services PTY., Durban, South Africa
 
 
Moderator                   TBD
 
9.00 - 10.15 am          Session V - Powering Global Indian Enterprises
 
Speakers                     Mr. Jay Banerjei, President, GOPIO-Toronto,Canada
                                    Dr. J. Rajmohan Pillai, Managing Director, The Beta Group, Kollam, Kerala, India
Mr. Noel Lal , Executive VP, GOPIO Intl. and Managing Director, South Pacific Engineering and ABLEC Electric, Sydney Aus.
Mr. James Mathew , Managing Director, Crowe Horwath, Dubai
 
Moderator                   Mr. Dinesh Mittal, CEO, Vested Business Solutions, North Brunswick, NJ, USA
 
10.15 am                    Tea Break
 
10.30 -11.30 am   Session VI - India: The Healthcare Destination' - 'India Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industry Challenges & Opportunities
 
Speakers                    Dr. Muhammed Majeed, CEO, Sabinsa (USA) and Sami Labs (India)
Dr. Pramod Kamdar , Asteria Pharmaceuticals , San Diego, USA
Dr. M. Anirudhan , Essen Nutrition, Chicago, IL, USA
Dr. Sunny Kurien , Chairman, Dr . Sunny's Group, Sharjah
 
Moderator                   TBD
 
  10.30 -11.30 am   Session VII 'Seniors of Indian Origin - Evolving a Global Network, Issues and Prospects'
 
Speakers                    Sudha Acharya, Executive Director, South Asian Council for Social Services, New York, NY
Dr. J. Alexander , IAS, Former Minister, Karnataka, India
Navin Negchiani , General Manager, Mohammed Jalal Group, Bahrain
 
Moderator                   Dr. Sai Giridhar, CEO, Middle East Hospital, Bahrain
 
11.30 am                     Session VIII - India in Two Decades and Utilizing NRI/PIO Resources for India'
 
Keynote Speech by Mr. Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, Community Party of India (Marxist)
Moderator by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International
 
 
1.00 pm                       Lunch
 
2.00 pm- 3.00 pm       Session IX 'Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Start-Up India'
 
Speakers:       Mr. Vinesh Mehta , President, Federation of Association of Maharashtra, Mumbai
Ms. Rajespree Naidoo , GOPIO-Durban, South Africa
                        Mr. Mehen Poinoosawmy, GOPIO-Paris, Paris, France
Mr. Santosh Varghese ,CEO, Toshiba, Middle East & Africa, Dubai

Moderator   Mr. Nitin Shah, Co-Chair, GOPIO Intl. Chamber of Commerce & Chairman, Embassy National Bank, Atlanta, USA
 
 
2.00 am - 3.00 pm     Session XI - Health and Wellness Issues of Diaspora Indians
 
Speakers                   Dr. Asha Samant, Chair, GOPIO Health Council, NJ, USA
Dr. George Cherian President, GOPIO-Bahrain and
CEO, American Mission Hospital
Dr. Sapta Giri Varma Mudunuru , CEO, PINHANS (India) and District Medical Officer, Trinidad and Tobago
 
Moderator                   Prof. Rajeev Mehta, Rutgers RWJ Medical School, NJ, USA
 
3.00 pm - 4.00 pm     Session X - Empowering Indian Women
 
Speakers                     Ms. Molly Banerjei, Producer, Chai with Molly, Toronto
                                    Ms. Meera Devi, Editor, Salam Bahrain
                                    Ms. Michelle Michael, Durban, South Africa
                                    Ms. Shabnam Moudgil, Community Leader, Dallas, Texas
                                    Ms. Rini Johar. President, GOPIO-Redwood, California, USA
 
Moderator                   Sudha Acharya, Executive Director, SACSS, New York, NY         
 
 
4.00 pm - 4.30 pm     Session X1 - Conclusions and Resolutions
 
Chair                           Dr Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO Intl., Stamford, USA
Panelists                     Session Moderators
Resolutions Presenter - Prof. Rajeev Mehta, Rutgers RWJ Medical School, NJ, USA
 
5.00 pm-6.00 pm        Valedictory Function & Presentation GOPIO Community Service Awards
 
Chief Guest: Dr Sam Pitroda, Inventor, Entrepreneur, Telecommunication Pioneer and Former Advisor to Prime Ministers of India
 
Welcome         Sunny Kulathakal, Incoming President and Convention Convener
Remarks         1) Dr Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO Intl., Stamford, USA
3) Mr Niraj Baxi, President, GOPIO Intl, San Jose, CA, USA
4) Mr Noel Lal, Exec. VP, GOPIO Intl., Sydney, Australia
 
Special Address - Dr. Shashi Tharoor MP, Former Minister of State for External Affairs
 
 
6.30 pm to 8 p.m. Finale Session
 
Chief Guest: Shri Rahul Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress. New Delhi, India
 
 
8pm                                                                 Cultural Program and Dinner
 
 
DAY 4
Tuesday, January 9
 
9am - 10.30 am                                              GOPIO Executive Council Meeting
                                                                        Chaired by President
 
11.00 am                                                         Manama Site seeing and Desert Trip (Optional, buy tickets separately)
 

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GOPIO-NEWS IS NOW PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVERTISING AMONG DIASPORA INDIANS

GOPIO News offers display advertising in the format shown above will also be displayed in GOPIO website. This form of marketing allows you to effectively reach over 50,000 people by direct mail and further through Social Media. Thsoe inTerested may contact +1 203-32908010 or e-mail at [email protected].
GOPIO INTL. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MEMBERSHIP DRIVE DISCOUNT EXTENDED TO MARCH 31, 2018

Because of the huge interest in becoming a Life Member of GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) before Dec. 31 st , 2017, GOPIO Executive Council has extended the deadline to avail the discount of $500 to March 31 st , 2018 which will be $1,000 from April 1 st .  Those who are not GOPIO Life Members can avail a discount of $250 to become a GICC Life Member before March 31 st , i.e. $750 instead of $1,000 from April 1 st . GOPIIO member can become Sponsor Member GICC (listed as a Sponsor Member with profile) by contributing $2,000 instead of $5,000 from April 1 st . One can make the payment as follows:
 
Payments Using credit card at Square - Visit https://squareup.com/store/GOPIO 

 
GICC Membership form is attached herewith.  GICC MEMBERSHIP FORM
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
 
GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries, actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in various countries.
 
GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one- time fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life Membership and $1,500 Silver Life Membership and 2/3 of the amount for each category for those from developing countries and India.
 
GOPIO is looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world, so as to network with people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have a chapter in your city, please visit the GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). This process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee of five people or more.  For more information, contact:
 
GOPIO Chairman - Dr. Thomas Abraham, Stamford, Connecticut, USA, Tel: +1-203-329-8010, E-mail: [email protected]
 
GOPIO President - Niraj Baxi, San Jose, California, USA, Tel: 408-307-9845 , E-mail: [email protected]
 
GOPIO Executive Vice President - Noel Lal, Sydney, Australia, Tel: +61 417448293, E-mail: [email protected]
 
GOPIO Vice President - Ram Gadhavi, Wayne, New Jersey, USA, Tel: +1-973-699-8582, E-mail: [email protected]
 
Execuitve Trustee of GOPIO Foundation - Inder Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: +1-818-708-3885, E-mail: [email protected]
 
GOPIO's Global Ambassador - Sunny Kulathakal, Bahrain, +973-39441956, India +91-9845756692, E-mail: [email protected]
 
To become a Life member of GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/gopio_membership.html , print and fill up the form and send it with a check to:. GOPIO International, PO Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Chief Editor:  Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International (Stamford, CT, USA)
Editor: Nami Kaur, GOPIO Media Council Chair (New York, USA)
Associate Editors: Layla Matthew (Bangalore, India), Ila Rosengarten (Denver, CO, USA) and  Harry Walia (Australia)
Webmasters:  Abu Thomas (Ardsley, New York, USA)

Contributors Sunny Kulathakal, GOPIO's Global Ambassador (Bahrain) and Anita Bhat, President, GOPIO-CT (Stamford, CT) 

GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. 
 
Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: [email protected].

Visit GOPIO's Official site at www.gopio.net  or www.gopio.com