Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons administers oath of office to new GOPIO-Connecticut team
Stamford in Connecticut state is looking for Indian companies to set up business in the city, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons told a delegation of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).
During their March 4 meeting, the GOPIO delegation, in turn, offered help to the city to attract businesses from India to start outfits in Stamford.
Simmons endorsed and thanked GOPIO-Connecticut Chapter for this effort calling it “a very important service organization for Stamford,” according to a GOPIO press release.
Read: GOPIO raises $5,000 for Building One Community for new immigrants (January 12, 2021)
The mayor also told the delegation that her administration will look into assigning a Cricket Field in Stamford to serve new immigrant groups from cricket playing countries. “New immigrant groups have always enriched Stamford,” Simmons added.
Later Simmons administered the oath of office to the new GOPIO-Connecticut team headed by Ashok Nichani as President.
Other officials of the team, introduced by GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, are: Prasad Chintalapudi, Executive Vice President; Dr. Jaya Daptardar, Vice President; Prachi Narayan, Secretary; Mahesh Jhangiani, Jt. Secretary; Srinivas Akarappu, Treasurer; Anita Bhat; Immediate Past President; Board Members: Meera Banta, Fr. Sudhir DeSouza, Prof. Ravi Dhingra, Prof. Sujata Gadkari-Wilcox, Santosh Gannu, Pradeep Govil, Ram Jhunja, Sushanth Krishnamurthy, Anita Mathur, Vikas Mathur and Ashvini Persaud; Trustees: Bhavna Juneja, Thomas Abraham (Secretary & Comptroller), Shailesh Naik, Totty Narang, Joe Simon and Shelly Nichani.
Indian Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal inaugurated the chapters’s activities for 2022.
Read: Indian community launches GOPIO-Manhattan chapter (October 2, 2020)
Complimenting GOPIO-CT for its outstanding list of activities every year, Jaiswal noted, “We have met Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and now Mayor Simmons. The Consulate will interact with them for attracting Indian businesses to Connecticut and American businesses to India.”
In his welcome address, Nichani said that last year the chapter organized some programs in person and this year most programs will be in person with the Annual Awards Banquet in June.
GOPIO Joint Secretary Mahesh Jhangiani highlighted the major events planned for this year. These include a seminar in Venture Capital Opportunities in April, Holi Festival of Color at Mill River Park in April, the Annual Awards Banquet in June, India Festival and Kite Flying on Aug 14.
Also planned are a welcome dinner for new Indian students in September, Fall Seminar in October, Diwali Festival of Lights in November, Tax and Investment Seminar in December and Annual Holiday Party along with election of new officers in December.
Special guests at the event were Connecticut State Assembly Representative Harry Arora, Women’s Mentoring Network Exec. Director Lana Gifas, Future 5 Founder Clif McFeely and Executive Director Amanda Dubois-Mwake, Children’s Learning Center of Fairfield County CEO Marc Jaffe, Building Community Deputy Director Don Strait and Grassroots Executive Director Betsy McNeil.
Read: Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons administers oath of office to GOPIO-CT 2022 team (March 20, 2022)
Others present were organization representatives including Association of Indians in America (AIA) represented by its National President Gobind Munjal and Vice President Nilima Madan, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) represented by its New York Area Vice President Gunjan Rastogi and Milan Cultural Association USA represented by its President Suresh Sharma.
The program ended with a networking dinner followed by musical evening with singers Pallavi Belwariar and Srinivas Gunupuru compered by GOPIO-CT Vice President Dr. Jaya Daptardar.