Dear Members,
First of all, thank you to all members of the Panchal Samaj of Ontario for electing me as President for 2014 and 2015. I am greatly honoured.
Congratulations to the newly elected Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and Youth Committee. I look forward to working with you in the coming years. The dedicated individuals in the committee, youth committee, and volunteers of the past years have worked hard to place the Samaj on solid footings with a secure membership base and strong finances. We hope to continue and build on their hard work.
In the 28th year of the Samaj, we now have an opportunity to look forward and imagine how to grow and enrich this organization and also the communities in which we live. We would like to focus on a few key ideas as a vision for the future:
Youth
The Samaj has always fostered the education and ambitions of its youth. Increasingly they are taking active roles and changing the shape of the Samaj for the better. This is the first year in which we have elected representatives for the Youth Committee. In the coming years, we hope to have many more activities and events so our young members can find ways to participate in the Samaj. A new education fund will be established to recognize and support academic achievements.
Cultural Initiatives
We hope to have more events in which to showcase works of art, music, or performance which our members are taking part in. We also aspire to learn about and educate other in the beneficial aspects of our Gujarati and Indian heritage.
Community Service
We wish to look beyond our own Samaj, and find ways to put energy into the communities in which we live, both in Canada and India. This includes participating in charity work, environmental projects, such as tree planting, and services for the elderly and disadvantaged.
Business
Our community has a history of entrepreneurship and business pursuits. We should find ways to support businesses within our community, especially for our members who are new to Canada.
This may seem like a lot to attempt, but with your personal involvement we can go a long way to achieving these goals. Any other ideas and initiatives are welcome!
We have come a long way in the past 27 years. Let us pave the path for the next generation to embrace our roots and explore the full potential of our community.
Yours truly,
Rekha Panchal
President, 2014-2015
Panchal Samaj of Ontario