2nd Annual Conference at ANA 2009 Convention
Members Present:
Bineet Sharma (BKS), Deepak Neupane (DN), Sanjeev Shreshtha (SS), Pukar Malla (PM), Nabin Acharya (NA)
On the phone: Bijay Niraula (BN), Anata Risal (AR), Prajesh Shrestha (PS), Ksheetij Thapalia (KT), Nabin Khanal (NK)
ANA Representative: Govind Sahi (GS), Sandeep Puri (SP), Sajesh Giri (SG),Simon Dhungana (SD), Nabin Dutta (ND)
BKS: Govinda dai joined right on time.
Our next agenda item is to talk about
CAN-USA ANA working together for our 2nd Annual ICT Development Conference. Handing over to PM to facilitate next agenda.
Just want to add one or two items from my side before I hand over to him: This is really exciting opportunity for both the organizations for simple reason that the ANA convention is happening in silicon valley which is hub of the technology development and Nepal is trying hard to do economic development and it becomes so good for “CAN-USA to show our faceless community, this is way to show our critical mass to show case in front of silicon valley crowd and whole USA and ANA venue is perfect. In my opinion this kind of opportunity doesn’t come very easily. While there is a caution also for both ANA and CAN-USA if one of them don’t do good work during convention there will be a backlash for other organization in the mean time we should not think negative and think of positive it will be a good venue for both of these organizations to take it to next level. With that I would like to hand over the mike to Pukar Ji who is the bridge between ANA and CAN-USA he has done tremendous work in this community infrastructure and like that and he is the right person to fuse youth and human energy and technology.
PM: Bineet ji gave a speech … Nonetheless it was powerful one. We have an hour. Let us go around and introduce.
GS: currently ANA convener for 2009. Happy to be here. I was briefed by PM other day, and happy to know that what CAN-USA wants to do along with ANA conference 2009 is commendable from all of your side .
ND: Namaste from Denver Colorado. Pukar sent me an email and called me asked me to join the meeting they liked to do couple of sessions during ANA convention I think is all good and last year also we did it and I am optimistic we will do great work this year also.
PM: for those of you don’t know, Nabin Dutta is ANA president.
AR: NJ. I am working for a startup company. Knowledge Management.
PS: MBA student, work for a S/W company and CAN-USA member
KT: Recent Graduate. Berkeley, CAN-USA member
BN: Let us have a theme based on Technology. Green Technology
SD: Simon Dhunghana. ANA convention of chair-person and working with SP and SG. Look forward to get the solid proposal to talk about.
BKS: working on a startup, leading CAN-USA with other elders. Exciting to let you know that we are going to have 2nd Annual ICT Development conference of CAN-USA within ANA convention 2009. Simon Ji your email was instrumental also stating what is good about having CAN-USA conference at ANA.
SG: Co-convener of ANA 2009. Nasa Aimes. Sr Enginer
SP: One of the co-convener. Work at Cicso system.
PK: Looking forward to high visibility high impact CAN-USA conference.
SS: Looking forward to work with CAN-USA
PM: Main goal is to be in same page for the ICT conference vision and then spend some time in some of the logistics. I hope you have seen the concept paper about ANA convention CAN-USA conference. Last year we had in UC Berkeley. Our goal is Professional networking for our members and ICT development of Nepal this was the theme of our past conference and also reach a broader concession for some of the policy. Going forward we thought of doing this year’s conference in summer. As Bineet ji mentioned there is lots of interest from both sides to organize the ict conference in ana
This years theme is technology and entrepreunership in general. What is your thought?
SD: I can only stay another five minutes. Previously I have already discussed modalities with SG and SP. And what else can be done, of course you know as well that I am CAN-USA member as well and was involved last year Bineet ji was there. First and foremost is excellent idea, two three hours format basically we have to look for right time and we have to maximize attendance and people should know that CAN-USA’ conference is happening. The documentation you have sent is excellent. If we can do all those that will be excellent. If you guys don’t have any immediate question I will drop out and Sandepe and Sajesh will take over.
ND: I have told Pukar as well that American Society of Nepali Engineers are also trying to do something so GS, SG, and SP should be aware of other parties, and they want some resources from us, so keep them in mind when we decide all of these but absolutely CAN-USA will be there and we will provide full support of ours.
SD: Oh Ok. Yes, Pukar have been to many ANA conventions. We will have CAN-USA conference, but, have you guys thought about how CAN-USA members can have synergy with ANA convention as well.
PM: As a larger network, ANA brings hoards of Nepali. ANA provides ample entertainment and social network. Our thought about this year’s conference is it will further strengthen the professional networking. Simon dai, students and professional might not find substantial things, but they might find more interesting if say they have mentorship for students (forum), it grabs them more. Students will be closer to ANA when they can say I could hand over my resume, this is just an example.
SD: Excellent. This is something tangible. These are good objective. CAN-USA’s professional involvement can achieve lots of things. Having said that what else are we discussing in today’s agenda?
PM: In general we all want to be in same page that what we are trying accomplish here. Agreement on vision and some of the logistics.
AR: One thing we might have to think in CAN-USA is while we are all sentimental about Nepal ICT projects we should think of networking in US as well. We don’t even know who is doing what in US professionally, can this be furthered in ANA convention as well? How to bring more membership in ANA, how to involve more professional in US. Then transfer that knowledge to Nepal. Like for US students writing resume.
BKS: Excellent point. That is why our main vision of CAN-USA is professional development of it’s members and technological progress of Nepal. The fruits of our professional development is evident from Sanjeev Raj Bhandari providing us the infrastructure of Video Conference. He was very impressed when he visited west coast last time. We still have lots of work to do to reach out. Definitely ANA is right place.
SP: Couple of points everyone made. 2009 is happening in the Bay Area. Pretty dense in Technical area. Unique opportunity we can show case what Nepalese are involved in tech field. Education or engineer. CAN-USA’s vision fits right in. It makes perfect sense for CAN-USA to hold its conference in ANA. One thought is in we need to show case something unique about Bay Area in ANA convention. Beauty is one thing but there is another thing going on that is technology. What we could do is not only have the ICT conference going by CAN-USA and we saw the agenda sent by Pukarji where career management, what is happening in Nepal, brain storming what can be done professionally with ideas lots of these are technology based areas, convention’s one portion however we want to do three hours in one day or two days it can be labeled ICT Conference by CAN-USA does not really matter somehow also give the tone that since it is happening as the part of the ANA and this happening from ANA as ell what are doing give it a platform as well theme of Technology. This year it is Technology, next year it could be something else.
BKS: Yes, that is the poing Kiran Joshi also said last time,,t he them for this year should be ‘Technology’ as many years back when it happened in LA the them was ‘entertainment’ and rightly so. So put together what Bijay ji was saying about the Green theme. Let us imagine showing the live video feed of melting glacier something live from NamcheBazaar. Which will be good to show case our prowess.
PM: We are taking professional networking to the next level. By providing opportunity for students and professionals to meet and share ideas to next level, find a contact in Nepal and when the student and professionals adherence increases then tnext thing is memberships and membership at emotional level, they will be connected to ANA. My membership has a value. They go home they can think of going to ANA and be able to do something concrete.
DN: Will the conference be run independently or within some forum? We might be inside ANA but the ICT conference is one its own right?
SS: Younger generation usually take it as social fun events. Social networking. If we can use CAN-USA to give a professional branding, somehow there is not interest among Nepali as is there in Indian community who has strong professional networking. Not sure why, is this because the organization like CAN-USA has not done anything for them (at least they might be thinking of that?).
Professional is non-existing in Nepali community. Just wanted to bring this to the attention.
PK: Any questions before we go to logistics?
SP: Side of caution. While there is excitement about the theme in ANA, let us not forget that ANA is all about entertainment and Sports is big part of it. Which is biggest crowd drawer, and evening events and forums and like not as when dynamic people like Pukar is there it is crowd pleasure. So, yet we can mail the theme, we need to be little bit careful on theme and not decide ourselves and open up to the public that what is the theme of this year, that these were what we are thinking around so what is your opinion. But saying that there were some themes which came out couple of months back, some of themes are conducive for having some technology type like progress. Other caution as ND dai was saying that there are other organizations which has come forward that they want to have there conference in ANA e.g. American Society of Nepali Engineers. Actually they have not approached us with the details but they has shown lots of interest. It is co-operative environment. Actually if that engineering society and CAN-USA can work together for something else who knows.
This is first time that we are having convention in a convention center in Oakland Marriott. Pukar has seen it there is plenty of room. We have reserved some room for Forum, we can expand that. 50/100 persons room are upstairs, convention halls are downstairs. Projectors and other things have to be paid extra. We have to figure it out.
DN: Scheduling is the key. We want people to participate in CAN-USA conference. But due to sports etc there are hardly anyone in the day time but there is crowd during evening. I have seen this issue in LA, Baltimore ANA and Omaha Naesa. I talked regarding this with Rita didi and Bineet dai as well.
GS: We talked about it among advisory board as well, this year we are planning to keep sports in the afternoon so that forums and others can happen in the morning. Not sure where CAN-USA will fit in the morning or afternoon.
PM: We don’t want to clash.
All; Mumble
ND: Sports crowd may not make whole lots of difference in your forum, ,may be 10%.
PM: Nabin dai, I ….
ND: Feel free to chime in if you disagree
AR: Is it possible, to provide technology for Sports, bring inside the convention? Is that going to be attractive? Is it possible to attract people and tell them what is happening in different rooms etc?
BKS: That is possible but I don’t think it is going to fly as sports people want live audience. Nabin Ji I beg to differ from you that we want students and young professionals in workshop etc.
I just wanted to conclude on agreement on vision first before going to logistics
ND and all: Absolutely.
SS: If we need to attract sports crowd then we must have some interesting items for them like if you are going to be ready for job market in a year here are the internship opportunities or resume writing workhops etc.
ALL: Yes
DN: But when kids go to sports, they even take their parents. So, sport is big crowd puller.
BKS: Are we all in sync with broader idea of the vision and CAN and CAN-USA is going to be very flexible in next 4/5 months during planning stage to be able to pull it off without going in lots of details (which can be worked out later). What we want to agree on broader vision, rather than details. In the vision side we all agree, CAN-USA has already agreed on doing the conference, we are all excited about this will be benefit to both of our memberships. Do we have a ye and ne here because we have all important organizers from ANA side:
ND: We all agree
ALL: We all agree
BN: Starting now, create a facebook or u tube and have a website. Create sports video clips and make them interested, put the sports, dance practice video clips. That will interest people in technology. Theme will be build up. May be they are interested in job more this time. In this CAN should volunteer on creating this momentum
PM: Bijay ji I agree with you. These two things are in sync. There has never been events to strengthen Professional platform development Garnet Event planning. From CAN-USA perspective this is important to deliver this message ahead of time and ANA can be instrumental on that. We need ANA support for making sure that this vision is given before so that the people coming in ANA have that expectation. CAN-USA is very ready and willing and we want to do this year as well equally from other side we need ANA support and willingness.
BKS: In the mean time we do not want to diminish what ANA already does best social networking, entertainment rather we can enhance that by implementing what BN said.
SP: We have to figure out in next few months, how many people are expected. Facebook or website, if you can garner that interest you would know. Second thing if we expect 100 people for each event.
BKS: We are expecting lots of people even in Nepal and we have given blank invitation during CAN InfoTech. There is lot of buzz, you can expect from Nepal. AT least who is who of big company.
Just to answer some of the question. Engineering association had their conference, where our time was overlapped with their while I was interested to attend their conference. While we should make sure to stagger with Sports, other forum is important as well to stagger; there is very difficult choice for ANA organizers
ND: You touched exact problem, you caught the bull by the horn. That is what exactly the problem. Everyone want the prime time. It becomes very challenging. Everyone wants to make sure that time slot is not given to others.
BKS: Pukar Ji please go ahead with the schedule. I just want to add that we are planning well ahead this year and know lots of folks in ANA and Engineering association and we can schedule more efficiently so that we can work together. If any hour has to be overlapped it can be something just Engineering or CAN-USA pertinent so that we don’t compete with the audience.
PM: We did two full whole day last year. Initial proposal is to two three hours session. One three hour session and another in another day. And one hour social networking day, like business talk. PPT going on but it is like happy hour. So, generally what we are thinking we will do two days, three hours in each day and one social hour.
SP: There are 7 items, and some of them are very interesting to me as well. So, we may like to prioritize it. Resource is important, everyone have to work together. May be social hour is with banquent. This year looks like forum is going to be dynamic as well, Rita didi is leading and going great job. There are multiple things they are interesting this year. May be do core part in two days and non-core part you can spread it out. Just to keep in mind.
We have Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
PK: Generally two time three hours.
BKS: May be these details can be talked about later. Anyone has any point regarding logistics? I wanted to add one point on Vision.
ND: Chaina dai, kei pani chaina.
BKS: Since we are all about technological progress of Nepal, we need to be able to showcase Nepali companies as well. I am not sure Deepak has taken booth. Say if Mercantile wants a booth; say Mahabir pun wants a booth. Say he wants to show the Show Case of Nepali technology progress. So how ANA can provide this, how can we impart that information in Nepal? We may want to promote IT park. What kind of logistics or support we get from ANA
SP: So many things are going on in ANA. From organization point of view there are different bucket, like Vendor bucket. For Vendor jewelry shop and non-profit is a vendor, IT park or Nepali Businesses are vendors. They can keep that. It is just matter of communication, if you get enquiry, just let us know.
ND: What SP said is good, but for non-profit like Mahabir, we did not charge anything. But, we have to be careful if there are 20 non-profit we will be sensitive as we will not get any revenue. But, we will see how we can accommodate.
SP: Regarding vision, we can use RFID in the ticket to find out who is participating in events. ANA does not have real data in planning well. There are some vendors who have approached us to do that. Even in logistics we can use technology.
PM: We will see if CAN-USA pulls we will definitely let them know.
Summarizing: We agreed on doing 2nd Annual ICT conference of CAN-USA in ANA 2009 – unanimously in Vision of Professional development of members and technological progress of Nepal. We can strengthen ANA membership in ANA, other thing we talked about how to work with other association like engineering association. We will collaborate with them for time allotments. Lastly we agreed on three hours two day event and one social hour, totally 7 hours of CAN-USA events. Actual content of the three hour sessions will be decided later.
PM: Thank you everyone, do anyone have closing thoughts? And what’s next.
SP: Next we need to know the numbers. This will help us in room allotment. Once you figure out with more concrete plan, it will show up in convention schedule as well. We will work with pukar on link.
GS: Sandeep why not we plan on meeting between CAN/CAN-USA in the Marriott to show them the venue within next month?
SP: Actually Simon dai is coming in third week of February and we can schedule a meeting. There will be a meeting of convening council.
GS: We can meet with CAN-USA that time
PM: Another thing let us start talking about this in ANA portal to make it official.
SP: Completely agree. We can add that.
PM: I will send you a paragraph to put in there. Another thing point of contact.
BKS: You are the point of contact; you are in Advisory council of ANA convention
ALL: Laugh
PM: I think this is good, anything else? On the phone?
ND: No, I think we covered everything.
GS: Yes, I think we covered everything.
Thank you all.
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