March is NetSAP DC Members Month! We would like to thank all who attended our first Members Appreciation Wine & Cheese Evening last week . The event was a great success and is just one of many reasons to join NetSAP this year!Become a member today and don't miss out on savings for our events!

NetSAP DC Members will receive a total of $35 in discounts on events in April alone and have saved a total of $60 in event costs since the beginning of the year! Our April events will include a Concert by Indian Ocean, a new NetSAP DC Dinner Circle and a joint event with TiE DC. Details on each event will follow.

To learn more about our Membership Drive and the benefits of membership, please follow this link. In addition to our special programs and many discounts, membership provides you access to a diverse range of programming by our outstanding Committees, appealing to a wide array of interests.

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

CULTURAL COMMITTEE: Cherry Blossoms and Fireworks!, Saturday, April 1, 2006 at 7:45pm

BOOK CLUB: "If You Are Afraid of Heights" by Raj Kamal Jha, Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 6:30pm

INDIAN OCEAN CONCERT : Receive discounted tickets through NetSAP, Monday, April 17, 2006 at 7:30pm at the Amphitheater, Ronald Reagan Building
COMMUNITY SERVICE: StreetWise Partners, Details  here

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) Art Of Living: The Yoga of Breath

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

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

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

(5) Gandhi Memorial Center Presents: An Evening of Indian Classical Music: April 9, 2006, 5:00pm

CULTURAL COMMITTEE: Cherry Blossms and Fireworks

The 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival marks the 94th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912.  Come join the Cultural Committee for an evening of spectacular fireworks show from the Washington Channel. We will meet at the entrance of the Metro station at 7:45 pm.

DATE: April 1, 2006 
TIME:   8:15 pm - 8:45 pm
COST (Member / Non-Member): Free
LOCATION:  Southwest Waterfront Promenade - 700 Water Street, SW
METRO: Green Line (Waterfront-SEU)
PARKING: Street parking available
RSVP: Soumya Andani or Binita Naik at cultural@netsap.org

BOOK CLUB:    "If You Are Afraid of Heights" by Raj Kamal Jha, April 13, 2006 at 6:30pm

To obtain more details on the Book Club please join the listserv at: netsap-books-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

INDIAN OCEAN CONCERT: The Magical Music of Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean is a contemporary fusion music band from Northern India. Some music critics describe the Indian Ocean music as "Indo-rock fusion with jazz-spiced rhythms that integrates sufism, shlokas, environmentalism, mythology and revolution". Indian Ocean has performed over 250 concerts all over the world including several performances in London, Tokyo, Germany, Singapore, Dubai, Indonesia and cities around the U.S. In addition, the band has played at the New Zealand Arts Festival, at the Melbourne Arts Festival, the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. Check out their music at: http://www.indianoceanmusic.com. When Indian Ocean Sings, the Soul Speaks...

DATE: April 17, 2006 
TIME:  7:30pm
COST (Member / Non-Member): NetSAP has received a limited number of tickets for $25. Regular ticket prices are: $35, $50, $100 & $25 for students. Follow this link to receive the NetSAP discount: http://netsap.kintera.org/indianocean
LOCATION:  Amphitheater, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004
METRO: Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange)
PARKING: Garage & Street
RSVP: If you have questions, please e-mail vp@netsap.org.

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 - TODAY 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 by NetSAP DC.

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4)  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!

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 visitwww.aidindia.org . AIMS India Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting rural development projects in Tamil Nadu. Please visit www.aimsindia.net

(5)  Gandhi Memorial Center Presents: An Evening of Indian Classical Music: April 9, 2006, 5:00pm
The Gandhi Memorial Center presents an evening of Indian classical `Dhrupad' music featuring The Gundecha Brothers: Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha, vocals; and Akhilesh Gundecha, pakhawaj.  Shubha Sankaran will play instrumental `Dhrupad' on the surbahar, accompanied by Akhilesh Gundecha, for the opening performance.   Note: Dhrupad is the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived until today in its original form.  The Dhrupad tradition is a major heritage of Indian culture.  The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual, seeking not to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and contemplation in te listener.  It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of the Sam Veda.  One significant characteristic of Dhrupad is the emphasis on maintaining the purity of the Ragas and the Swaras.  The program at the Gandhi Center is made possible by the generous contribution of Verinder and Manjula Kumar.
DATE: April 9, 2006
TIME:  5:00pm
COST:  FREE
LOCATION:  Golden Lotus Temple, at the Gandhi Memorial Center, 4748 Western Ave., Bethesda, MD
CONTACT:  For more information, please call (301) 229-3871 or send an e-mail to resources@gandhimc.org or go to www.gandhimc.org

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