The OSA 2011 annual convention in Dallas, Texas just was held from 1st to 3rd July 2011. It was a gala gathering of about a thousand Odias, both diasporic as well as from Odisha.
It was held in Dallas/Plano Marriot at the Legacy Town center, Dallas, and was hosted by the south West chapter of the Odisha Society of the Americas. The theme of the convention was Our Heritage, Our Pride. Congressman Jim McDermott of Seattle, Washington, was the Chief Keynote Speaker at the Convention and Business Symposium.
He is a strong advocate for US-India trade relationship and founder co-chair of the India Caucus in the US House. Mr. Satyananda Mishra, the Chief Information Commissioner of the Government of India was the chief speaker at the convention. Ms Jagi Mangat Panda, the entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and Director of OrissaTV, regional language television channel, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, was the youth keynote speaker at the inauguration. Surya Narayan Patra, a senior minister from the Odisha Government also spoke and participated in the inauguration. Besides many dignitaries from the USA as well as Odisha also participated at the OSA 2011 convention.
Dr. Bigyani Das, the President of OSA, Mr. Pradip Mahapatra, the vice President, and Dr, Akhileswar Patel, the treasurer supervised the inauguration and distribution of various prizes. The Distinguished Odia award was presented to Sri Saradindu Mishra for his lifetime commitment to the causes of Odia Diaspora in the USA. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to two legendary cultural personalities from Odisha. They were Shri Shantanu Mahapatra, the distinguished music director and singer, and Shri Chitta Jena, the famous singer from Odisha, who regaled the audience with their mesmerizing music and songs.
On the last day of the convention at the General Body Meeting, a new set of officials -Dr. Annapurna Devi Pandey (President), Kuku Das (Vice President), Leena Mishra (Secretary), and Sushant Satpathy (treasurer) took charge of OSA administration for the next two years. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Pandey promised to revitalize the OSA by increasing its membership, preparing a database for the Odias in the Americas and renewing vital links between diasporic Odias and people back home in Odisha.
The highlight of the convention was a series of seminars devoted to issues such as Women’s empowerment in Odisha and Odiya Diaspora, Education in Odisha and its economic and social development, health and literature among other subjects. The sizzling entertainment was provided by a group of dancers and singers from Odisha as well as the local talent from various chapters of OSA. It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the Odia heritage, identity and culture and get connected with old friends from Odisha as well as the diaspora.
It provided stimulating interactions among people of various generations and regions and got them rejuvenated and recharged. It was such an uplifting experience to be part of the OSA 2011 convention – deep interaction with one another, participating in Seminar and amazing cultural activities. On behalf of OSA, I would like to thank the convener, Tapan Padhi, co-convener, Debasis Nanda, Gopal Mohapatra, the OSA South West chapter President, and hundreds of volunteers for their tireless efforts in putting together such a marvelous event.
It was held in Dallas/Plano Marriot at the Legacy Town center, Dallas, and was hosted by the south West chapter of the Odisha Society of the Americas. The theme of the convention was Our Heritage, Our Pride. Congressman Jim McDermott of Seattle, Washington, was the Chief Keynote Speaker at the Convention and Business Symposium.
He is a strong advocate for US-India trade relationship and founder co-chair of the India Caucus in the US House. Mr. Satyananda Mishra, the Chief Information Commissioner of the Government of India was the chief speaker at the convention. Ms Jagi Mangat Panda, the entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and Director of OrissaTV, regional language television channel, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, was the youth keynote speaker at the inauguration. Surya Narayan Patra, a senior minister from the Odisha Government also spoke and participated in the inauguration. Besides many dignitaries from the USA as well as Odisha also participated at the OSA 2011 convention.
Dr. Bigyani Das, the President of OSA, Mr. Pradip Mahapatra, the vice President, and Dr, Akhileswar Patel, the treasurer supervised the inauguration and distribution of various prizes. The Distinguished Odia award was presented to Sri Saradindu Mishra for his lifetime commitment to the causes of Odia Diaspora in the USA. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to two legendary cultural personalities from Odisha. They were Shri Shantanu Mahapatra, the distinguished music director and singer, and Shri Chitta Jena, the famous singer from Odisha, who regaled the audience with their mesmerizing music and songs.
On the last day of the convention at the General Body Meeting, a new set of officials -Dr. Annapurna Devi Pandey (President), Kuku Das (Vice President), Leena Mishra (Secretary), and Sushant Satpathy (treasurer) took charge of OSA administration for the next two years. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Pandey promised to revitalize the OSA by increasing its membership, preparing a database for the Odias in the Americas and renewing vital links between diasporic Odias and people back home in Odisha.
The highlight of the convention was a series of seminars devoted to issues such as Women’s empowerment in Odisha and Odiya Diaspora, Education in Odisha and its economic and social development, health and literature among other subjects. The sizzling entertainment was provided by a group of dancers and singers from Odisha as well as the local talent from various chapters of OSA. It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the Odia heritage, identity and culture and get connected with old friends from Odisha as well as the diaspora.
It provided stimulating interactions among people of various generations and regions and got them rejuvenated and recharged. It was such an uplifting experience to be part of the OSA 2011 convention – deep interaction with one another, participating in Seminar and amazing cultural activities. On behalf of OSA, I would like to thank the convener, Tapan Padhi, co-convener, Debasis Nanda, Gopal Mohapatra, the OSA South West chapter President, and hundreds of volunteers for their tireless efforts in putting together such a marvelous event.
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