The members of the New Executive Committee whose names are listed on the last page of this Newsletter join me in wishing all of you. the members and friends of the A1A. the best for the rest of me year 2000. The NEC takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to all AIA members for electing them and giving them the pleasure of serving AIA for the next two years: 2000-2001.

Communication: Though the Newsletters usually are written in the third person. I will take the liberty of writing this communication both in first person and third person. First person, since I believe that it gives me an opportunity of directly communicating with you.

Since March 2000 when the Election results of the New NEC were announced. I have communicated with the Chapter Presidents and the NEC members almost on a monthly basis through my Monthly Letters. So mv plan is to continue communicating with them on a monthly basis and directly communicating with all me members of the AIA via Quarterly Newsletters: Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring informing them of the highlights of the previous three months.

Whereas I feel that it is important for me and the NEC to communicate with you on a regular basis, you should also feel free to communicate with us. Two-way communication will not only strengthen the organization, it will provide appropriate impetus for its growth. I want the oldest Indian organization (AlA) to be the largest and best-serving organization of the (Asian) Indian Community in the United States.

Therefore, please make sure that (i) your address label is correct, especially if it has been redirected: (ii) vou give your e-mail address to us: (iii) if another member of AIA does not receive this newsletter, let us know; (iv) if this newsletter gives you an idea that your Association is moving in the right direction, please consider becoming a life member and/or enroll a friend to be a life member. Please remember that Life Member funds are not used for Operational Expenses. They become a Fixed Asset of the AIA and are maintained in a separate account.

Goals & Objectives: The President, in consultation with the four Vice Presidents and the Treasurer developed a set of Goals and Objectives for the Years 2000-2001 and beyond. I fondly call them VISION 2000. Some of these are to be implemented on a Short-Term basis while others will be on a Lone-Term course. For example; Census 2000 Initiative had a short time frame March -May 2000 whereas Election 2000 Initiative would be more focussed during March - November 2000. But, other initiatives may extend up to 10 years or beyond.

As part of the VISION 2000, the following 5 Centers are in the process of being put in operation. The Center for Public Policy; The Center for Responsible Citizenship; The Center for Developmental Leadership; The Center for Unity and Diversity; and The Center for South Asian Studies.

The Center for Public Policy: Under this initiative, a One-Day Conference at the U.S. State Department is being organized in cooperation with two other national organizations on September 15 during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit. Some of the details are as follows: