Raju Shah (Joint Treasurer), Jasbir Singh (Member)
CHICAGO: The Federation of Indian Associations Chicago-IL (FIA), a group of Indian Americans headed by Sunil Shah, set up three years ago, has now elected a new executive team for the year 2014- 2015 during a meet at India House Banquet Hall in Schaumburg on December 21.
Sunil Shah, the founder president of the organization, said the elections were conducted observing all the rules. The results were unanimous and approved by all the FIA members present, he said.
The 2014-2015 team will be headed by Onkar Sangha who was the president two years ago. The founder and a Past President of FIA, Chicago, congratulated the new board and introduced them individually. He extended his fullest support to the new team and assured that the FIA mission and aim would be constantly kept in mind while organizing activities in the coming year.
He announced the new executive team which consists of President : Onkar Singh Sangha, Executive Vice President : Dhitu Bhagwakar, Vice Presidents: Mukesh Shah, Rita Shah, Surinder Kalra, Ravi Kapoor, Bharti Sheth, General Secretary : Neil Khot, Jt Secretary: Sam Azeemuddin, Treasurer: Surinder Palia, Jt Treasurer: Raju Shah, Directors: Shital Daftari, Amit Desai,.
Sunil Shah pointed out that the new team is extremely competent and is excitedly looking forward to organizing several beautiful events in the New Year. Onkar Sangha invited everyone to join in celebration of 65th Republic Day of India to be held at Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, on January 25 at 6.30 pm.
The Gala Banquet Dinner would comprise a beautiful Hindi play “Dastak,” live musical orchestra and colorful cultural entertainment programs. General Secretary Neil Khot proposed a vote of thanks.
Another election for New FIA Team held on Dec 15!
A fly in ointment was a separate announcement from erstwhile General Secretary Shahid Razvi that the FIA elections were held on December 15. A release asserted that the new FIA Board Members were elected for the year 2014 through a formal election process on December 15, 2013. “The election was conducted democratically under the supervision of an Attorney-at-Law. After screening the membership and nomination John A. Runion, Attorney at Law declared the new Executive Committee and Board of directors for 2014.” According to Razvi, the new team is headed by Eraj S. Ahmed.
The release adds that FIA (Schaumburg) will be forming a “Disciplinary Action Committee” to ensure no one should misuse FIA name for their personal benefits, holding unauthorized website, Facebook accounts for self publicity and hold any unauthorized checking accounts. The newly elected executive board will be sworn-in at the 65th India Republic Day Banquet, it said.
Ms Rita Singh, the outgoing president, in a talk to this newspaper expressed distress at the dissents within the organization and hoped that the matter would be sorted out to the satisfaction of all. She said that she was with the FIA that was founded by the group headed by Sunil Shah and others.
Ramesh Soparawala & Harish Rao
