Meet Your 2010 IAM Executive Committee
President : Poonam Rajesh
Poonam Rajesh is one of those who strives to leave a mark wherever they go and in whatever they do. Her being a Leo club president in school days, a student chairman in college and an event organiser proves her calibre as a leader and also showcases her urge to give back to the community she is part off. Poonam and Rajesh moved to Memphis 6 years back and since then have been actively involved in regional as well as IAM events. Poonam has been a popular MC at IAM functions and her friends know her as a dancer and a creative choreographer. Despite being a busy mother of two beautiful daughters Sanjana (6) and Tamanna (3), Poonam is currently consulting with FedEx as a Sr.Business Analyst.
Vice President : Aparna Bhatla
Aparna Bhatla
If you or your kids have ever shown an interest in dancing or singing, chances are that you already know our vice president Aparna. Many are amazed at the energy and focus that she exhibits in juggling multiple roles while being a mother to Abhinay (4) and Spandana (3). This is in addition to her role as an Analyst at FedEx Services. She has lived with her husband Jay in Memphis for the last 7 years and has been a very active member of the Telugu Association of Memphis during this time. With Aparna and Poonam at the helm of IAM, we can expect an explosion of creativity in all that IAM does this year.
Secretary : Showry Kocherla
Showry Kocherla
Often times you hear of that one person who can get something done. Well, within this group, it has to be Showry Prasad. If there is a way to do it, he is aware of it. That should serve us well at IAM. Proud parents of two, Teja(6) and Keya(2), Showry and Padmaja have made Memphis their home since 2002. The fact that he is a SAP Consultant at International Paper, pursuing Phd studies and is a Secretary at IAM speaks volumes about his abilities. Fear not, we seem to be in good hands!
Treasurer : Philji Johns
Some people say, others do. We are ecstatic over here since Philji hasn’t said a word since the IAM executive committee election in December! It serves us well that we have such an action oriented person in our group. His novel ideas are already putting smiles on faces around here. Your AT&T cell phones work so well because of his role as an RF Engineer at AT&T. His enterprising wife Priya (who is putting together the first IAM workshop for 2010) and he have lived here for the past 16 years. In nature, things even out. Daughters Georgina(13) and Hannah(11) compensate for all the words that Philji doesn’t speak!
In addition to the Executive Committee above, we have the following adhoc committee members:
Sports Secretary: Vikram Narayana
The youngest ,fittest and most energetic within the group, it is only natural that Vikram has shouldered the responsibility of getting IAM members into shape! An Oracle applications consultant, Vikram contracts for the City of Memphis and has lived in Memphis for the past five years. It worries his wife Priya that his regular work and IAM responsibilities may hinder her plans of starting a family. Vikram’s dedication and vision towards sports is evident by reading his article in Jan 2010′s issue of Samachar on his plans for the year. And his six-pack of course!
Editor : Bryan D’Souza
Bryan is a Sr. Operations Research Advisor at FedEx Express and has lived in Memphis for the past seven years. His wife Thresi and he are usually seen scampering after their kids Keith (4) and Isabel (0.5). Bryan’s current interests include reading, writing, soccer, college football, hiding department store flyers from his wife and changing diapers. I could write more about Bryan, but then, I would be writing about myself! Around here we are prohibited from blowing our own horns. Perhaps the others could do it for me. If you wish to get your articles published on Samachar, please contact him at iam.committee@gmail.com
Themocracy
As per bylaws and IAM charter only President, Vice=President, Secretary and Treasurer are the Executve committee members. Please do not identify others as a part of Executive committee.
I agree. I shall make the correction to the post to differentiate between the EC and the others. Thank you for the feedback.
Nice Wrk/info…keep updating site with loads of info …good luck to new team and have a great year.
Bryan, I enjoyed reading the news along with your sense of humor. Looking forward to reading IAM news-letters this year. Meera
@Srini – Thank you. We will try to bring you the latest and greatest
@Meera – Thank you. It’s easier to blog. I am learning that it is hard to goof off in the newsletter! The articles I have received thus far all address rather serious topics. Do you write? Maybe you can send in something on the lighter side?
Great Job with the website! Waiting for the first event of the year!
@Shanti – Thank you for your enthusiastic endorsement! We will continue to provide fresh content.
Hi Poonam and team,
You guys are doing an awesome job already…’Dil maange more’ I have begun to expect nothing short of ‘brilliance’ in all your undertakings and look forward to consume everything you have to offer…
Murali
2010 is like new Millennium for IAM website.. Nice to see its getting more interactive and i commend Bryan’s work with sense of humor. I know how much time it needs to be a blogger to blog the blogs and make it interesting. Bryan, hope you will be able to spend more time to bring more audiences to IAM. Great job by the whole team and good luck.
Ananth
The team looks like they’re going to take India Fest 2010 by the horns and run all the way to India with it. Thanks for the very interesting updates, Bryan!
I think it’s a bit overdue for someone to blow Bryan’s horns actually. In charge of this ridiculously fantastic website, the equally ridiculously awesome newsletter, and basically every cool piece of witty writing about IAM, Bryan is a major influence on 16-year-olds who want to write better by reading his work. Thanks to this wordsmith, all of us will know what’s going on, be able to throw in something about ourselves, and generally enjoy a laugh every time we read about our Indian community.
Sandhya, Phew! Someone finally got around to doing it
. Thank you for all the nice things you said!
Well, to be honest, it’s a little unfair to my team that my name gets associated with what is visible the most. You have no idea how hard Poonam, Philji, Aparna, Showry and Vicky have been working behind the scenes. A prime example would be the Republic Day event. You witnessed how classy and how well it was organized. That was thanks to all of them. My contribution is probably minuscule compared to theirs. It always feels great when the whole team is given credit and not just one person
As for me being an influence on anyone…well..I’m not so sure that’s a good thing! Just look at my unkempt hair and shaggy goatee. That should be warning enough. However, I do love to write. So I am always encouraging others to do so too. So in that one area I would be more than willing to be an influence. Alright, now send me your articles all of you!!! Get published!
Hats off to Poonam, Aparna, & the entire team for giving so much to the society.