Sunday July 18, 2010

Message from the Acting President

Dear Lohana Community,

I am humbled and honored to have been given the opportunity to coordinate the matters of the Executive Committee, the volunteers, and our vibrant community at large. I wish to thank all the well-wishers whose unconditional support is counted on by the Committee in all its endeavors. Personally, I am delighted to work hand-in-hand with such a talented Committee and other fine volunteers, especially some of the brightest, hard working, and most courteous young adults and youths that one can find anywhere. Having come to know these young people from close range over the past few weeks, I can assure our community that our future is indeed bright and rosy! Our message to these young volunteers and all other young and not-so-young is, please stay fully engaged with community affairs since influencing change from within will give you greatest long-term satisfaction.

As we gear up for the activities this year, the just completed Youth Camp 2010 has boosted the spirits of the community at large and all the volunteers. From stories told by the young children as well as from articles included in this newsletter, it is evident that the camp was a huge success and it is very exciting to note that the venue has already been booked for next year. Congratulations to all the organizers and volunteers for a job well done!

Our Youth Committee has put in excellent efforts to organize “Laser Quest” on July 18th, for which additional details are provided in this newsletter. It is expected that it will be fully subscribed.

Another major activity already underway relates to the Lohana Samaj Directory 2010 that is proposed to be issued in the fall, hopefully with the Diwali Gala. In an effort to reset or rebase the database, all entries in the new Directory are going to be replaced and everyone is requested to submit by July 30, 2010 the template forms that were sent out to the community through various modes of communication. If necessary, please obtain the form from our website www.MyLohana.com. Incidentally, the format and labels (such as “husband”, “child”, etc.) on the form were simply based on previous versions, for expediency; if anyone’s personal situation is such that he / she needs to modify or remove such labels, such as for singles in a household, please do not hesitate to do so since these labels are not used in the Directory in any case.

Going forward, although the summer picnic is not being pursued because of time constraints and because there was lack of adequate participation last year, we do have many exciting events scheduled for the rest of the year. Please do participate in these events for which more details are provided in this newsletter:

• Gujarati Bhojan and Bhajan evening on September 11, 2010.
• “Sharad Poonam ni Raat” on October 23, 2010 with Doodh Pawa & Mumbai Chopati style dinner and Raas Garba.
• Chopda Poojan and Diwali Dinner on November 6, 2010 including the Children’s Cultural Items, Graduate Recognition, and Scholarship Award;

We are tentatively considering a New Year’s Eve Gala, subject to interest being shown by community members; we request the community to please if you are interested in it so that we may plan accordingly. Our Young adults and the Youth Committee are also planning other events that they will communicate through e-mails.

Until next time, the Executive Committee wishes everyone the best of remaining days of summer and please be safe and enjoy!

Narendra Pattani,
Acting President
 

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Upcoming Events

Please mark these dates on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you at these events!

Further details for some of the listed events are available by clicking on the event name.

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Lohana Camp Report 2010

We are pleased to report another very successful Lohana Camp!

To see PHOTOS from Lohana Camp 2010, please click on this link!

Click here for the YOUTH Camp Report! written by the Camp-Coodinators, Meesha Tanna & Sahil Radia

This is an annual event during the July Long weekend and this year we had about 90 participants in the program. We had the over 7 year olds who stayed with us for the 3 days and we had under 7 year olds who came for the day on Saturday. The combination of this program from the real young ones to the 25 year old and everyone in-between could be described as just "FANTASTIC!!".  I would like to give recognition to the many many adults who played a huge role in this event and without them there would be no camp! 

Sahil Radia and Meesha Tanna- these 2 upcoming young adults created and developed the whole 3 day camp for the youth. They spent countless hours in developing , planning and executing the program. Outstanding Leadership at work here that will bode them well into the future. Our hats off to them for putting up a fantastic show. More in their report.

Bimal Lakhani, Samir Chande, and Shamir Tanna- These three young adults who had participated in our first camp many years ago always support the Community and they really ensured major logistics of busing, trucking, helping out in the kitchen etc. More important, they are a true Role Model to the young generation on giving back and being terrific mentors.

Manisha Tanna- This young lady added a level of Pizazz to the camp that was just fabulous. She brought in 15 young couples with their kids under 7 and created a fantastic program for the little ones. Wow. that is our future and Manisha we thank you for organizing such an amazing day for them.

The kids also got a lovely loot bag kindly donated by Mehul and Alka Panchmatia. the kids really loved it!

Bhavna Radia- What can I say? She ensured 600 meals were served to all over the 3 days. The meticulous planning to ensure all meals, snacks,water breaks etc, from the moment the kids got on the bus to the time they returned to Ram Mandir was incredible.. It was just wonderful to see smiles on kids as they got to eat what they loved from Pizza to Puri and Shak with keri no rus!!!!!!!! Cannot get any better than this.

Mehul Panchmatia and Leena Thakrar- These two adults became first time camp volunteers and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts to take time off from their busy pharmaceutical operations and role up their sleeves and work with the team. Your contribution, fun, and support was nothing but outstanding.

Dipak and Sangeeta Dhrona- What can I say- This amazing couple has supported every camp since its inception and the sheer hard work they put into the camp behind the scenes is an inspiration to all. Playing cricket to Kho to gillidanda etc is just terrific fun. We thank you for your loyalty and dedication.You make us proud Raghuvanshis!

Raj Tanna- Where would we be without Raj? This young man not only contributes his time and hard work but also cares so much about the youth and their well being is just incredible. A camp without Raj would be no Camp. On behalf of the community I also thank Raj and Mayuri and the Tanna Family for donating T-shirts to all participants. Thank you Raj.

Adult volunteers- Vipin Mithia, Kamlesh thakrar, Neha Mithia, Alka Panchmatia, Daxa Shah, Ketan Shah. This group of volunteers do an absolute incredible job of helping out that is so critical to the success of a camp- they just do it whether it is cleaning up to bringing garbage bags to making mock-tails to helping serve food to lifting tables. An Incredible support cast.

Ambrishbhai and Harsh Thakkar- our New Vice President and Secretary have provided amazing support and encouragement to ensure everything ran smoothly - from attending our meetings, to providing Hot Chocolate and timbits on day one and sponsoring our Saturday gala Meal.

Nilesh Morzaria, Ashok Thakrar, for donating cutlery,& garbage bags; Navinbhai Majithia for donating sunglasses and looking after our camp stuff in his warehouse. Medications kindly provided by Prasanaben Tanna and Mehul Panchmatia. 

Ronna and Greg Cranker of Subway at Wood Chester Mall ( Dundas & Winston Churchill Mississauga) for providing fresh subs at cost value. 

Ram Mandir for allowing us to use their facilities for Registration and pick up and drop off for the campers. 

If I have forgotten anyone my deepest apologies. 

Sincerely,
Sunit Radia
 

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Directory Update

LCF is in the process of creating a 2010 Lohana Directory.

Please see Directory Input Form by clicking here.

We also have directory advertising spaces available:

If you wish to advertise in the upcoming directory, please see here

Lohana Youths! Get Involved in the Artwork Competition and have a chance to win $250! See flyer here for details.

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Lohana Samaj Bursary

We are pleased to note that, in addition to the Scholarship Program noted in this newsletter, we have also been able to obtain additional funding for a $2,000 Bursary, to be awarded on an "as-needed" basis to a student that has enrolled in a University. The Bursary program shall be managed in confidence by a limited number of elders of the Lohana Samaj after consulting with the sponsors specific to the Bursary program. For the year 2010, anyone wishing to apply for a Bursary should contact Lalitbhai Kanabar (905 820 3351) in confidence.

Thank You.
Lohana Charitable Foundation

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LCF Scholarship 2010

The LCF has established an Annual Scholarship Program to acknowledge and financially assist graduating Canadian secondary school students who have achieved academic excellence and are pursuing post-secondary education in an approved institution.

Please see the attached THREE documents below for further scholarship information. To pledge a donation please contact Lalitbhai Kanabar.

1) Scholarship Information Sheet

2) Candidate Declaration Form

3) Candidate Application Form

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Community Announcements

Congratulations...

David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, has appointed our Dolar Popat to the House of Lords. Lord Dolar is a long time friend and a Lohana. This is a significant achievement for the community. We are proud and congratulate Dolar! 

Dolar Amarshi Popat, who worked as a waiter after arriving in England from Uganda in 1971 and went on to a build a multi-million pound business empire, has been nominated by Prime Minister David Cameron to the House of Lords. Popat has donated thousands of pounds to the Conservative party. He founded the TLC Group, which owns a string of hotels and care homes across Britain. Popat’s name is included in the list of peerages confirmed by Queen Elizabeth. Born in Uganda, Popat, 55, was 17 years old when his family was forced to flee Idi Amin's regime. He arrived in England in 1971, with just 10 pounds in his pocket. Popat worked as a waiter at a Wimpy restaurant during the day to fund his business studies classes at night.
 

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Congratulations ...

Ritesh Mehta, age 8, son of  Nilesh & (Dr.) Damini Mehta, who won the First Place Trophy in the 2010 Toronto NW1 Public Speaking Competition, Primary Division. Ritesh was featured in a Toronto Sun article titled 'Students find their voices' and in the Children's Magazine 'BAPS Swaminarayan Bal-Prakash'

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Congratulations ...

Shilpi Somaya Gowda (Daughter of Raj and Rama Somaya) who published the novel “Secret Daughter”, and book readings were held during at various locations around the GTA.
Shilpi's website: www.shilpigowda.com
 

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Congratulations ...

Keya Dattani is excited to announce the arrival of her little sister Kira. Parents Doni and Kalpa Dattani are cherishing their bundle of joy, and Surendra dada, Anila dadi and Kiran nani are pampering their little princesses.

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Jai Shree Krishna,

We would like to inform with great regret about the sad demise of the brother of Subash and Yogesh Chandarana: 

Narendrabhai Madhvji Chandarana of Harlow (Formerly Lugaji) passed away at the age of 67 years 

Om shanti, Om shanti, Om shanti...

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Jai Shree Krishna & Jai Swaminarayan,

It is with deep regret that we inform you that Kiran Morzaria and Shila Vakani’s mother Muktaben Purshottam Morzaria passed away in Great Dunmow, England on Monday April 19th, 2010.
 

Om shanti, Om shanti, Om shanti...

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 Jai Shree Krishna,

With great sorrow we wish to inform of the sad demise of Muktaben Dullabhji Kotecha (formerly of Kakira, Uganda) on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) at the age of 89.

Muktaben was wife of the late Dullabhjibhai Kotecha and mother of Rajnikant D. Kotecha, Dilip D. Kotecha, Pratima S. Morjaria, Nalini P. Pavagadhi, Nayna A. Vaja, Vipula M. Savani & Surekha Jasani.

Om shanti, Om shanti, Om shanti...

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Other Community Announcements

Bone Marrow Donor Event

There will be a bone marrow donor event for Sarlaben Davda at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple on July 25th, 2010 from 2:30pm to 7:30pm. Sarlaben Davda, the sister-in-law of Jayantibhai Davda of Toronto and Jitendrabhai Davda of Calgary, has been diagnosed with Leukemia. Please click on the picture to the right to see a larger version of it.

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 Mississauga Mahila Milap

Please click here to more information regarding upcoming events

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Membership Reminder

If you have not already paid your 2010 membership fees, please send in your payment. To ensure you continue to receive the Samaj Newsletters, Auto-Dialer messages and other membership advantages, please mail your membership dues - cheques made payable to:

Lohana Charitable Foundation
P. O. Box 927
Adelaide Post Office
Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2K3

Annual Life Members Fee: $25
Annual Membership (Residents of GTA): $50
Annual Membership (Outside Greater Toronto Area): $30
Life Membership: $300
 

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Distribution - Email & Auto Dialer

If you would like to subscribe to the email distribution list, please enter your name and email information in the form on the upper left side of this newsletter. Alternatively, you can logon to www.mylohana.com and enter your name and email address in the Newsletter Section of at the bottom of the main page.

If you would like to receive auto-dialer messages, kindly send your request to lohanainfo@gmail.com with the subject "Subscribe Auto-dialer", followed by your telephone number.

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Contributions & Feedback

If you have any general community news, events or announcements to contribute for the LCF e-mails, please email all relevant details to lohanainfo@gmail.com. Items provided will be included if relevant and appropriate. The LCF Committee reserves the right to publish and make amendments if and as necessary.

Similarly, we welcome any feedback you may have - thank you for your time and support.
 

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