EC seated while Dr. Aijaz Turk Recites the verses
from Shah Latif to start the GB
The 22nd Annual SANA Convention of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) successfully took place from June 30 to July 3, 2006 in Toronto, Canada. The convention was at the Marriot hotel at airport Toronto, Canada.
The three-day convention was fully packed with a variety of sessions and activities bringing love and unity within more than 400 Sindhi individuals.
The organizers had done a marvelous job to ensure every individual's console and make sure the events go along smoothly. For instance, some local organizer’s never had a chance to attend any previous SANA Convention in their lives. However, they did a wonderful job under the conditions.
The local organizing committee consisted of Khair Mohammad Kolachi (chairperson), Maqsood Soomro (vice-chairperson), Syed Shahnawaz Shah, Ms. Farzana Daudpota, M. Afzal Memon, Aijaz Qureshi, Nazir Baloch, Ashfaq Memon, Syed Jawad Shah, Ismael Daudpota, Abdbul Rahim Khatri, Zulfiqar Khowaja, Unaizah Hussain, Awais Laghari, Abdul Razzaque Khushk, Adnan Qureshi, Abdul Rasheed Soomro, Shakeel Nizamani, Inamullah Yoosufani, Imran Sheikh, Mohammad Bux Tunio, Abdul Jabbar Lashari and Dr. Rahman Soomro.
They really did a wonderful job ensuring every one's comfort and offering an unforgettable hospitality. Indeed, this event is one of the most memorable SANA Annual Conventions that will be remembered by everyone who attended.
It will be injustice, If I miss the names who work very hard behind the scenes along with Convention Organizing Committee (COC) and they are: Zafar and Adi Zeb Agha, Dr. Ajaz Turk, Dr. Mazhar Lakho, Dr. Sattar Shaikh, Adi Surriya Panhwar, Aziz Narejo, Jamil Daudi, Taj Nizamani, Sarfraz Memon, Talat Talpur , Gulam Mohiuddin Morai, Mashhood Qazi, Saleem Langha, Khalid Channa and Khalid Memon.
Here, I will give credit and gratitude to all the members of who were organizers, especially Ashfaq Memon, who organized an amazing variety of different music teams and individuals to come and perform. The young dancers and the professional singers fulfilled the expectation of audiences for the first full Music night, which ended around 2:30 am.
In addition, some students received certificates as awards for excellent academic performance and achievements. Dr. Rehman Soomro organized this and Jamil Daudi presented the certificates.
The second music night was started by a comedian, Azhar Usman (from USA), who was followed by Gope Chander, Harish G. Damwani, Anil G. Damwani and Arti R. Gurnani. (came from USA). They are the proponents of the legendary Sindhi music from Singer Master Chander. The rest of the night was entertained by a local music team consisting of Tariq Bhai, Hashim Bhai and other four musicians. The audience enjoyed their performance a lot all night along and lots of people joined in by dancing traditionally. The wonderful music night ended at around 3:00 am in the morning.
Lot of people enjoyed and participates in both session of Youth and Women’s program. Guided and coordinated by Zafar Agha, Adi Zeb Agha, Ms. Farzana Daudpota , Ms. Unaizah Hussain, Abdul Rasheed Soomro, Farhia Riaz and Adi Surriya Panhwar.
Opening GB
Discussions SANA President Aziz NarejoIn General body meeting, status, update, direction and future vision for SANA organization was given by President as well as by General Secretary of SANA, in the same venue, Ada Talat Talpur gave the financial status to audiences and urge members to come forward and help financially to non-profit community organization. Zafar Agha gave the presentation on SANA FAME fund status and the news related to student’s scholarships, which were recently selected by the FAME fund committee. Then Ms. Amber Laghari read total nine Amendments, which were then discussed, and finally passed all of them with slight addition in one amendment, which was also passed. The General Body also unanimously approved the following resolutions:
· Release Dr Safdar Sarki, other political workers
· Provinces be granted autonomy as promised in the 1940 resolution
· Sindhi be granted the status of a national language
· Solidarity with the slain and harassed journalists families
· Demolition of Sindhi villages and take-over of Historical Buildings
· Rightful share to Sindhis in employment opportunities
· Return to Democracy
· Balochistan operation/Removal of army from civilian areas
· Illegal Water projects
Thanks to Ada Mohammad. Ali Mahar (Ex-General Secretary – SANA) for coming up with these resolutions and his suggestions on these.
Many participants involved in “My Vision for SANA and my Role in it” session and spoke their views about past, present and future SANA’s roles. They offered their opinions and suggestions from their perspectives and it was well received by audiences on the very first day of SANA Convention after the General Body meeting. Speakers were Zafar Agha, Adi Zeb Agha, Ali Nawaz Memon, Dr. Tofiq Shah (from Sydney, Australia), Dr. Saghir Shaikh, Adi Pireh Ansari, Asim Kaghzi and Dr. Ajaz Turk.
Ada Waseem Baloch, president of Hidaya Foundation gave us the insight for Hidaya
Foundation as well as details on how they are operating. They are distributing the donations in different places in the world with needy people who could use more books, training, medicines, and other medical related assistance. A lot more information is on www.hidaya.org.
Besides the Medical Seminar, there were doctors at the tables to do blood screening, blood pressure tests and gave medical related suggestions. They also distributed gifts to those who were taking the free cholesterol screening. The results were given on the spots to people along with the preventive medical suggestions towards their tests screening. Organized by Dr. Valeed Shaikh, Dr. Sattar sheikh, Dr. Mazhar Lakho and many more.
In the Sindhi Adabi session, Ms. Fahimida Hussain (Chair, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Karachi University) presided the session in which Dr. Baldev Matlani (Head of Sindhi department, Mumbai University) and Hiro Thakur (Broadcaster, author, research scholar) were guests for this beautiful session. Their speeches were very informative and served as an eye opener for our young Sindhi generation. This definitely helps us be on the right direction to keep our Sindhi culture and heritage alive.
On the third day, which was Monday July 3, 2006, there was Niagara Falls Bus trip from hotel, bus was arranged for this trip and most of the USA guests were on this trip.
Here, I will urge every one of you who attended the 22nd Annual SANA Convention to please let us know what your thoughts, feelings and opinions are. You should share them with us with people who could not attend this convention.
Next, the 23rd Annual SANA Convention 2007 is going to be held in Orlando, Florida on the July 4th weekend celebration. We hope that you and your family and friends will enjoy the upcoming SANA Convention at the land of Disney World in 2007 year.
Pictures will be posted on sanalist’s web site as soon as possible.
Please email (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sanalist/post?postID=yHaCuX_okxWx5UE1d66ZGkFfqoX9g4o5ZIw6Ys1k6-XjOl7Am8yqdOyXoTGHtuN4opDoWKpK0WZC) me the photos from convention if you would like to add on sanalist web site.
Please forgive me if I missed any one or any typo in these highlights.
Thank You,
Kohsher Ahmed
GB
Treasurer holding his hand out for real help with
membership dues
Ali Nawaz
Memon Zeb Agha
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