Well, would you believe it, the Michigan India Chamber of Commerce is almost a year old. Yes, almost but not quite. It was October 2007, when I started the Chamber with the single minded purpose of fostering and promoting networking within the Asian Indian community.

The first meeting had seven participants who came just to see what this organization was all about. The next month we had 12. Month after month, participation grew to the point that after January 2008, the fewest number of participants we’ve ever had has been 25. Most of the participants are Asian Indian although we have non-Asian Indian participation as well. There were those who came only once and then those that come meeting after meeting to network and build that networking relationship that we know will bring business eventually.

Since I’ve scraped emails from everywhere and some, there are hundreds of people who receive my email. I know that because when I go to Asian India events and get introduced to someone new, people exclaim “oh, you are that Nipa, I get all your emails”. (Since I use permission based email marketing, people have the option of unsubscribing but thus far only 5% of people have taken that step, which is good news).

I’ve made so many new friends and have formed business relationships with so many that I can’t help but feel blessed. And I know that others who believe in networking and who have been supporting the chamber feel the same way.

So why am I writing this blog in August and not around October when the MIICC becomes does celebrate it’s first anniversary?

Well, as I plan the next few months for the growth of the MIICC, I can’t help but reflect back on the areas of progress and also the areas where there has been a lack of progress.

The MIICC has truly been well received by many. People tell me that they really enjoy the truly amazing networking that goes on at the monthly meetings. We have even been able to transact business between the MIICC members. So, I do believe that we are doing well in our mission to promote business. We also are working on some eye-catching programs that we’ll be able to shed light on towards the end of the year.

And although each and every member and participant is noteworthy, I have to say that India Spice, Dykema, Marx Layne, Logos Communications, and Mibazaar have been truly wonderful sponsors and supporters of the MIICC.
But lets now talk about the areas where there has been a lack of progress. What is noteworthy is that there has been not one other local Asian Indian organization that has reached out to the MIICC to form an alliance or leverage resources.

I’m a big believer in leveraging resources, forming alliances, and joining hands for the greater good. And I know that each one of the existing local Asian Indian organizations are out there to support the community.

Initially, I reached out to four local Asian Indian organizations to explore forming an alliance. Well, two of them basically ignored me and my request to explore an alliance, one blew me off saying my mission was totally different than theirs, and the fourth one took the time to meet with me but then no word from them since. And the local Asian Indian media? Barring one individual, let me say that not one of the so called Asian Indian media leaders even had the courtesy to respond to my request to discuss the MIICC.

We’ve formed alliances with Tech Town, Michigan Business and Professional Association, Inforum, and CEED but the MIICC has yet to form an alliance with another local Asian Indian organization.

Why? Why is joining hands within the community so difficult to achieve?

Alliances are good for all involved parties! They don’t take away from individual missions, they help leverage resources, and also help unite us towards a common goal for a common audience.

Now I’m not expecting that too many people are going to read this blog nor am I expecting an onslaught of alliance requests. But I thought what the heck, those who know me already know I say it like it is….. The fact of the matter is that the MIICC is here to help support and foster networking within the community. We welcome alliances and we welcome participation from all. So don’t be shy, check out one of our meetings and see how much fun networking can be!

I asked my kids what $28 would buy them and their answers range from “lunch”, “clothes”, etc. etc. related subjects. They were shocked to learn that $28 would buy a food for a child for an entire school year. Let me introduce you also to Akshaya Patra, an organization committed to ensure that no child is deprived of an education because of hunger.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the largest NGO-run school lunch program in the world. Their vision is that no child in India or the world should be deprived of education because of hunger. The program is currently distributing freshly cooked, healthy meals to over 850,000 underserved children in over 4,200 government schools every day, in five states in India. Their US office is based in the Boston area, and they are opening chapters of Akshaya Patra throughout the US to raise awareness and support for the program.

They are holding an informational event at a private residence in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Thursday, June 19^th at 6:00pm to identify community leaders who can be vital partners in advancing their mission of eradicating hunger and promoting education in India.

Akshaya Patra feeds 1,500 children, distributing freshly cooked, healthy meals to over 850,000 underserved children in over 4,200 government schools every day, in five states in India.

Akshaya Patra strives to feed one million children by 2010.

Akshaya Patra is a public-private partnership that delivers school lunch at a fraction of the cost of similar programs in other parts of the world. It costs only $28 to feed a child daily for the entire school year.

For more detailed information about Akshaya Patra, please visit www.foodforeducation.org.

Pl. email me to RSVP if you can attend the meeting on June 19^th in Ann Arbor at nipa@miicc.com. They will be serving the simple Akshaya Patra meal that the children receive each day.

I just listened to an interview between Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, and Greta Van Susteren, a Fox News Journalist.  Rumor has it that Governor Jindal is on a short list for a VP position if Senator McCain and the Republican party win the general elections this upcoming fall.

However Bobby Jindal seemed to say (in his interview with Greta) that he is not interested because he has such a historic job to perform in New Orleans, blah, blah, blah.
Bobby Jindal (as I’m sure you know) is a first generation Indian American (of South Asian descent) and one of the youngest Governor’s to be elected in the US. He is only 36 years old, turning 37 in June. He is a Rhodes scholar and smarter than a whip.

Now I don’t know about you but I find it hard to believe that a VP position would not be of interest to him. If I were in his shoes, I’d be jumping up and down saying “me, me, me”!

I mean come on, being the Governor at 36 years of age is a great position to be in, but being a VP at age 37, and that too of the most powerful country in the world, has got to be more attractive than being the Governor, no matter how you look at it.

So I for one don’t get it. Either Governor Jindal is more humble and down to earth than oh say the Dalai Lama, or he knows that he is truly not a viable candidate for the VP job, or he is completely out of his mind when he says he’d prefer to do a great job as the Governor of Louisiana. And I know that he’s not crazy and I know that he is a viable candidate.  So perhaps he is just being humble?

I hope that someday I will get the opportunity to meet Bobby Jindal because he is someone I’d love to meet.

Whether he is proud to be of Asian Indian descent or not (because again rumor has it that he is not), I (and many like me) will be rooting for him as he climbs up the political ladder and someday (perhaps) becomes the 1st Indian American (of Asian Indian descent) President of this great country called the US of A.

Are you a doctor who immigrated from India but now want to go back?

Well, here’s your chance!

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here is looking for a new director - and a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is welcome.

But before you begin packing your bags, here’s the fine print:

1. Applicants must have a “high post-graduate qualification in medicine or surgery or public health and their branches”.
2. The candidate must have at least 25 years of professional standing as well as teaching and research experience of not less than 10 years
3. Applicants must state extra-curricular activities such as medico-social work, journalistic or other literary activities
   

In case you’ve forgotten since you moved here so many moons/decades ago, The AIIMS is the best government medical college and research center in India.

So good luck and let the best doctor win!

The Michigan India Chamber of Commerce has a long list of objectives. But one of its primary objectives is featuring Asian Indians in Michigan. To that end, the MIICC offers the following opportunities for Asian Indians to get featured, known, and essentially create opportunities to generate new business:

Podcasts: If you’ve not heard one of the MIICC podcasts yet, you are missing some great interviews with individuals who have expertise in various fields including medicine, academics, coaching, Corporate America, etc. We continually seek individuals whom we can feature. As long as you are an Asian Indian, you can participate and be featured in our podcasts.

StreetBeat Program on WKBD: Once a month, we have the opportunity to showcase an Asian Indian community member on WKBD. On May 25th, Raksha Dave, a dance expert was interviewed and a segment of a cultural dance was featured. We are seeking to showcase more cultural aspects of the Asian Indian community as they relate to food, religious beliefs, cultural interactions, and other. So take advantage of this opportunity to get visibility.

Blog: This MIICC blog is a good way for you to gain visibility and demonstrating your community leadership by sharing your thoughts, ideas, and initiatives. So why not take advantage of it, it is here as a tool for your use.

MIICC meetings: Participate in the monthly networking meetings and gain new friendships, new business, and learn something new each time you participate. Our monthly meetings are fun, interesting, and are sure to keep you engaged. So come and see what they are all about and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the participation you’ll see.

In spite of all these opportunities, the Asian Indian community has been slow to take advantage of all these opportunities that can grow visibility, business, and community relationships. Ironically there are many non-Indians who want to showcase the Asian Indians in various media but no opportunity is better than the one offered by the MIICC.

We become your biggest mouth-piece when you become a member of the MIICC! So what are you waiting for? Contact us today by sending us an email to admin@miicc.com