Karnataka Flood Funds - Nov. Update

Sharanu,
   

    Ref: BOD meeting Nov.18.2009 – Karnataka Flood Victims Fund Raising

Many of you and chapters have taken important steps in raising funds or working with other entities to help Karnataka flood victims.  From the time Shiva Maganahalli' s email communique on Karnataka flood victim's help, few things have happened and we are trying to move ahead as quickly as possible to send the financial help needed.

Maryland chapter has pledged or raised more than $13K and expressed strong interest in using JSS, Mysore Mutt's auspice.  Furthermore, JSS Suttur Swamiji Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji and VSNA president Sundresh Siddiah communicated on ways of working out the disbursement of these funds to the victims.  Though there are other NGOs that currently helping in Karnataka, the missions of VSNA and JSS align well and JSS was one of the organization that got involved in the relief from the beginning. A JSS video related to their effort can be seen here.

Though in the BOD meeting it was agreed to short list a NGO and then proceed, with the above developments and to expedite the help to flood victims, executive body now asks BOD to approve of sending the funds to JSS at the earliest.  In fact one of the BOD member is possibly heading to India and hand over the check to Swamiji.  In the next two days, if you have any concern on this you can reply to this email (vsna_officers@ yahoogroups. com) with details. Otherwise, this overrides the earlier BOD decision.

Any chapter or member who is interested in donating through VSNA, please make a check payable to VSNA and send it to:
Latha Mallikarjuna
214 Leaside Drive
Monroeville, PA 15146

Make your check payable to "VSNA" with note “Karnataka Flood Victims Fund” and a donation receipt will be sent to each donor.

Also, for any VSNA family or member that makes $2000 (two thousand dollars) their family name will be inscribed on the house built using that donation.

Local chapters should continue to make all efforts in raising the funds through VSNA in their coming functions/meetings and a presentation can be downloaded from Yahoo group under folder “Karnataka Flood Victims” to present to local members.

Regards,
VSNA Executive Committee 

Inti,

Shiva M.

Life Time Achievements Award to Dr.Mahadevappa

Dear All,
VSNA is proud of the the achievements and award recently conferred to Dr.Mahadevappa. He is the father of two of long time members of VSNA, North California Chapter.  His daughter Mamatha Shekar and son Rajendra Mahadevappa live in the bay area and have been active in VSNA activities.

CONGRATULATIONS DR. Mahadevappa on your multiple awards!
Central VSNA

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The Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee has conferred upon Dr. Madappa Mahadevappa the Life Time Achievements Award for 2009 for your strong contributions through research, education, extension, HRD and new project initiatives, spanning over four decades, which greatly helped the cause of agriculture in India and positively impacted the lives of millions of farmers.

Agriculture Leadership Awards were started in 2008 to recognize the leadership roles played by individuals and institutions, which are positively impacting the lives of farmers and rural masses. The Awards were introduced in the areas of Policy, Research, Farming, Industry, Development and State Leaderships. Two new areas; Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility Awards have been added this year.

Dr. Madappa Mahadevappa was awarded this honor on 4 Sep., 2009 at 7.30 pm at Taj Palace, New Delhi.

In 2008, Dr. RS Paroda, Dr. KL Chadha and Dr. V Kurien were conferred upon the Life Time Achievements Awards.

Citation: Dr. Madappa Mahadevappa, an accomplished plant breeder, geneticist and seed scientist of international repute, has also proved himself as an able administrator by heading Agricultural University, Dharwad and ASRB, GOI. He has made significant contributions to green revolution in India particularly to rice improvement - his varieties adding laudably to state and national exchequer. Known as "Father of Hybrid Rice" in India, he was responsible for developing first hybrid that paved the way to intensify hybrid research in India. A scientist par excellence, his research in IRRI, Philippines on frontier areas like Rice-Ratoon Cropping Pattern, developing varieties for adverse soils opened up untilled areas to cropping. He elevated UAS, Dharwad to bag ICAR's Outstanding Institution Award-2000. His Eco-friendly Parthenium Weed Management Technology is widely adopted.

He is associated and has brought radical changes in national institutes such as ICAR, CSIR, DBT, Commodity Boards, etc. Presently, as Director of JSS Rural Development Foundation, Karnataka, he is implementing high-value rural-development projects focusing on livelihood generation to BPL farmers and rural drop-outs. His recently completed "Seed Village" project impacted 21 districts of Karnataka enhancing the income of more than 5000 farmers and obviating their dependence on spurious and costly seeds.

He has authored twenty books in English/Kannada which have transmitted technology knowledge to the scientific/farming communities. The recent innovative book with 45 poems is considered effective in reaching even the illiterates.

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