In The News...

March is NetSAP DC Members Month! Become a member before March 22nd and join us THIS WEDNESDAY for our complimentary Members Appreciation Wine & Cheese Evening (RSVP details will be sent to 2006 NetSAP DC members). In addition to our special programs and many discounts, membership provides you access to a diverse range of programming by our outstanding Committees that appeals to a wide array of interests. To learn more about our Membership Drive, follow this link.

SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS ON NETSAP EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS:

MEMBERS ONLY: Complimentary Members Appreciation Wine & Cheese Reception, March 22, 2006, 6:30-8:30pm @ Karma (RSVP details will be sent to 2006 members)

POLITICAL COMMITTEE: Chai Chat: "The Muslim Cartoon Controversy", Monday, March 27, 2006, 6:30 pm

COMMUNITY SERVICE: StreetWise Partners, Details TBD

JOIN THE NETSAP 2006 EXECUTIVE BOARD!  We have an opening for the Webmaster position. Do you want to lead NetSAP DC's online initiatives? Are you looking for a creative outlet for your website ideas? Do you want to join our team? Please e-mail vp@netsap.org for details.
CALENDAR: Check out the brand New NetSAP Calendar, which will provide you with the latest details on upcoming events! Follow this link to go to the Calendar.

MEMBERSHIP: March is NetSAP DC Members Month. Follow this link for details. Become a NetSAP-DC Member Today!

SALTAF 2006 COMMITTEE: Planning Meeting - Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 7:00pm

(1) The Asia Society: Mangoes and Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels through the Great Subcontinent, March 23, 2006, 7:00 pm

(2) Art Of Living: The Yoga of Breath

(3) Tehreema Mitha Dance Company: PERFORMANCE, March 25-26, 2006

(4) Asia Society: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, March 27, 2006, 12:30pm

(5) South Asia Studies: Language and Nation Formation: Lessons from India, March 30, 2006, 12:30 pm

(6) South Asia Studies: Finding Bin Laden, Peter Bergen in discussion with Anatol Lieven, March 30, 2006, 6:00 pm

(7) Association forIndia's Development (AID) & AIMSIndiaFoundation Present: A Benefit Concert, April 1, 2006, 5:30 pm

POLITICAL COMMITTEE: Chai Chat: "The Muslim Cartoon Controversy"

The political cartoons published in a Danish newspaper sparked protests around the world. Though mainstream newspapers in America declined to publish them, these political cartoons have generated debates around First Amendment rights of private citizens and newspapers. They have also exposed the need for a deeper understanding of Islam. Members of the Council on American Islamic Relations and a prominent First Amendment lawyer will lead this Chai Chat. Join us for this informal discourse on an issue affecting the South Asian community.

DATE: March 27, 2006

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00 pm

COST: No charge

LOCATION: Busboys & Poets coffee house, 2021 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. (14th and V). Ph: 202-587-POET.

METRO: U Street /Cardoza metro (Green Line)

PARKING: Street parking

RSVP: AN RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS. Please email Chai Shenoy at political@netsap.org if you plan to attend this event.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: StreetWise Partners

StreetWise Partners (SWP) is a non-profit organization which provides one-on-one job training and mentoring to low-income and/or unemployed individuals through weekly skills-building sessions with volunteers recruited from prominent corporations and organizations. SWP's first session in Washington, DC will begin in March and will include 10 sessions covering topics such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, resumes, interviewing skills, etc. The program requires mentors to commit three hours each Saturday from 11am - 2 pm for the program (tentatively to be held in Chinatown). To learn more about the program, please visit www.streetwisepartners.org.

Because of the varied professional skills set held by Net-SAP members, an impressive opportunity to enhance the life prospects of these individuals exists. Net-SAP members who wish to use and impart their daily professional skills to improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals should definitely apply to volunteer for this program. For more information about getting involved and the application form, please visit our webpage: http://www.netsap.org/committees_community.htm.

LOCATION: Washington DC (Exact location is TBD)

CONTACT: Email Irene Chiao (ichiao@gmail.com) or John Soleanicov (jsoleani@yahoo.com) for additional information. You may also email community@netsap.org for questions and additional information.

SALTAF 2006 COMMITTEE: Planning Meeting - Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 7:00pm

The SALTAF Committee is responsible for planning and coordinating all details involved with the phenomenally successful South Asian Literary and Theater Arts Festival. This is an annual event hosted at the Smithsonian and it features prominent South Asian writers, filmmakers and artists and draws hundreds of South Asians from across the East Coast to DC each fall. SALTAF provides authors, filmmakers, literary and theatre professionals the opportunity to interact with their audience. Bibliophiles, cinema fans and young professionals can explore the creative process with professional artists and discover outlets for their own creative aspirations. SALTAF celebrates the achievements of South Asians in the literature and arts and it has become one of NetSAP DC's most recognized and renowned flagship events.

DATE:  Tuesday, March 28, 2006

TIME: 7:00pm

LOCATION: Caribou Coffee, 1800 M St., N.W., WashingtonD.C.20036. (Corner of 18th and M.)

METRO: Farragut North orDupont Circle (Red Line) or Farragut West (Blue/Orange Lines)

PARKING: Street Parking or Parking Garages in the area.

RSVP/Questions: AN RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS MEETING. Please email Dina Khemlani at saltaf@netsap.org if you plan to attend. Contact Dina Khemlani or Sonia Punjabi at saltaf@netsap.org or 202~215~21586 if you have any questions.

Please note that the events below are listed as a service to our members. The views expressed in the following activities and by the groups listed below are not shared or endorsed byNetSAP DC.

(1) The Asia Society: Mangoes and Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels through the Great Subcontinent, March 23, 2006, 7:00 pm

Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, award-winning authors of `Hot Sour Salty Sweet Seductions of Rice and Flatbread and Flavors', will present the latest stunning compilation of their wanderings. The authors document their adventures in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives with breathtaking photography, candid story-telling and authentic recipes that are intriguing in taste but complicated in method. The chefs of the new and highly anticipated Indique Heights have designed a unique south Indian feast to accompany the culinary journey the authors will take us through. This program is being co-hosted with Politics & Prose Bookstore.

DATE: March 23, 2006

TIME: 7:00 pm Ð 9:30 pm

LOCATION: Indique Heights, 2 Wisconsin Circle, Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase, MD.

RSVP: For reservations or other information, please call the Asia Society at (202) 833-ASIA (2742).

(2) Art Of Living: The Yoga of Breath

The Art of Living Course has been enjoyed by over 4 million people of all backgrounds and traditions around the globe. It is proven to be one of the most effective courses for stress elimination worldwide. It integrates practical knowledge and techniques, ancient spiritual wisdom, and simple health practices.

The course features: a) Sudarshan Kriya - a unique healing breath technique; b) Meditation and powerful breathing techniques; c) Guided interactive processes and d) Yoga, stretching and relaxation exercises. Commonly reported results include: Greater ease and joy in personal relationships, increased enthusiasm and creativity, focus and clarity of mind and a deeper sense of community.

DATES: March 23-28, 2006

TIME: (All sessions must be attended) Thursday, Friday, Monday & Tuesday: 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

COST: $375 (and $200 for students and Senior Citizens)

LOCATION: Washington DC (Exact location is TBD)

RSVP: courses@artoflivingdc.org

CONTACT: Please contact Chris Smythe-Macaulay at 202-387-8551 for additional information.

(3) Tehreema Mitha Dance Company: PERFORMANCE, March 25-26, 2006

TMDC will be premiering the contemporary ensemble item Entree: The Main Course, along with area premieres in both the Classical and Contemporary styles, with solos and ensemble dances. To learn more about the company visit: www.tehreemamitha-dancecompany.org.

DATE: Saturday, March 25, 2006 - Sunday, March 26, 2006

TIME: Saturday, 8:00 pm. Sunday, 7:00 pm.

COST: General Admission $20 at the door, ($17 if booked early). Students & Seniors $15 at the door, ($12 if booked early).

LOCATION: The Jack Guidone Theater, Joy of Motion Dance Center, Friendship Heights, 5207 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20015. Ph: (202)276-2599

RSVP: Please visit www.joyofmotion.org/perfsched.htm or call (301) 581-9520 to purchase tickets.

(4) Asia Society: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, March 27, 2006, 12:30pm
To commemorate Women's History Month, this program will explore strategies for women's economic empowerment in Afghanistan. The program will feature panelists who have worked at both the grassroots and the policy level and will highlight fieldwork, lessons learned, challenges faced and strategies developed for encouraging female ownership of business and income generation activities. Reflecting upon these strategies showcases the important role that women are playing in Afghanistan's development process. This program is made possible with generous support from Chemonics International.

DATE: March 27, 2006

TIME: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

COST: No charge; a light lunch will be provided.

LOCATION: Chemonics International, 2nd floor, 1133 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC

METRO: Farragut North (Red Line / 3 blocks) and Farragut West (Blue / Orange Lines / 5 blocks).

PARKING: Street Parking is available.

RSVP: Please note that reservations are taken in the order received until the event is full. Reservations required by 5:00 pm, Thursday, March 23. For reservations, please telephone 202.833.ASIA (2742) or e-mail dcinfo@asiasoc.org. Members of the press are required to register in advance.

(5) South Asia Studies: Language and Nation Formation: Lessons from India, March 30, 2006, 12:30 pm

Almost every country that has emerged from colonial domination has a language problem, for example, what should be the national language? These questions are as vexed and often explosive for the countries that became independent after British and French colonialism as they are for the countries arising out of the former Soviet Empire. India offers an invaluable lesson, vis-a-vis. say whatever you want to but do as little as possible.

Robert King is Professor of Linguistics and Asian Studies at the University of Texas, where he holds the Rapoport Chair of Jewish Studies. His major current research interests are: language, nationalism, and ethnicity in South Asia; British India; Orientalism. His publications include Nehru and the Language Politics of India; Incident at Ayodhya, National Review; West from India: The Odyssey of Sir William Jones.

DATE: Friday, March 30, 2006

TIME: 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

LOCATION: Rome 806, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20036

RSVP: Please email your contact details and affiliation to southasia@jhu.edu.

(6) South Asia Studies: Finding Bin Laden, Peter Bergen in discussion with Anatol Lieven, March 30, 2006, 6:00 pm

Peter Bergen is a fellow at the New American Foundation in Washington D.C and Adjunct Professor at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. He is CNN's terrorism analyst and author of the bestselling Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Bin Laden (FreePress, 2001), which was turned into an Emmy-nominated documentary. His most recent book is "The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader" (FreePress, 2006).

Anatol Lieven is a Senior Research Fellow at the New American Foundation and was a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment in the Global Policy Program. A journalist, writer, and historian, Lieven writes on a range of security and international affairs issues. LievenÕs journalism career includes work as a correspondent for the Times (London) in the former Soviet Union from 1990 to 1996. Prior to 1990, Lieven was correspondent for the Times in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and also worked in India as a freelance journalist. His most recent book is America Right or Wrong (Oxford, 2004). Peter Bergen will comment on the themes of his recent book in discussion with Anatol Lieven. This will be followed by a question and answer period.

DATE: Friday, March 30, 2006

TIME: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; Reception 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm

LOCATION: Rome Auditorium, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20036

RSVP: Please email your contact details and affiliation to southasia@jhu.edu.

(7) Association forIndia's Development (AID) & AIMSIndiaFoundation Present: A Benefit Concert, April 1, 2006, 5:30pm

Rasika, the 20-member full orchestra band that has toured and performed all over the US, now comes to Maryland and DC to perform in a special fundraiser for AID and AIMS India. Get your Spring started off right with a rocking Hindi film music concert featuring your favorite songs - from the latest hits by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal to golden classics by Kishore and Asha!!

DATE: Saturday, April 1, 2006

TIME: 5:30 pm

COST: $15 (Students Only), $20, $30, and $50. 10% discount for Early Purchases! 20% discount on 4 or more $20, $30 and $50 tickets! Please visit http://www.mydonations.com/aidindia for online purchases.

LOCATION: Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 7601 Hanover Pkwy, Greenbelt, MD 20770

RSVP / Contact: Sadasivam 703-863-5678, Madhav 240-461-1430, Anjali 703-945-6569. Email rasika@aidindia.org for questions. For more info visit: http://maryland.aidindia.org/rasika

Proceeds go to support projects in health and women's empowerment in India. Support a good cause while you enjoy the Music and Masti! Association for India's Development (AID) is a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting rural development projects in 20 states of India in education, health, livelihoods, women's empowerment and alternative energy. Please visit www.aidindia.org . AIMS India Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting rural development projects in Tamil Nadu. Please visit www.aimsindia.net

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Do you have ideas, suggestions or questions? E-mail: info@netsap.org