Many Voices One Vision

PCS News Release: 3/3/03    
Contact: Rajinder Singh Mago, 708-865-3031-W; 630-377-5893-H;
630-440-7730-cell

---

POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT A KEY NOTE AT ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION OF CHICAGO

1300 ATTENDED THE STAR STUDDED DINNER, AWARDS, AND CULTURAL SHOWCASE WITH
POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT UNDERPINNINGS

PUNJABI BHANGRA PERFORMANCE A MOMENT OF PRIDE AND JOY FOR INDIANS

CHICAGO, IL - - The Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) hosted its
20th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, March 1, 2003 at the
Hyatt Regency O'Hare, the theme was "Many Voices, One Vision."

The event was hosted by the Indian American community to celebrate the
achievements of Asian Americans and to reflect on where do you go from here.


The festivities began with a seminar, exhibit booths, silent auction and
political forum followed by dinner, awards, cultural entertainment and a
live band.

More than 1300 attended this gala celebration. This is the single largest
organized annual event in Chicago's Asian American community. Every year a
different Asian American community takes turn playing host. This year's
hosts were: Alliance of Midwest India Associations (AMIA); the Punjabi
Cultural Society of Chicago  (PCS) www.PCSChicago.org ; the Sikh American
Heritage Organization (SAHO) www.SikhAmerican.org , and the Alliance of
Sindhi Associations of Americas Inc. (ASAA).

Second term Minnesota State Senator Satveer Chaudhry, gave the key note
address encouraging political participation of Asian Americans. "You have to
go out there, get involved and assert yourself," said State Senator
Chaudhry, who at 32 is the youngest member of the Minnesota senate.

Swati Dandekar, a freshman legislator from Iowa State, the first Asian
American woman to be elected as a state legislator was the chief guest, who
urged the Asian Americans to get involved and serve the community they live
in.  

Many local elected and civic leaders including the Illinois Lt. Governor Pat
Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White,
Comptroller Dan Hynes, Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Mayor of Palatine Rita
Mullin, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, Lincolnwood Mayor Peter Moy, and Kane
County States Attorney Meg Gorecki also attended the festivities.
The guest list included many other federal, state, county, municipal
officers, governmental liaisons, and consular corps.

T.V. luminaries Linda Yu, and Judy Hsu of ABC channel 7 TV News, Nesita
Kwan, NBC channel 5; Anupy Singla, Reporter, Bloomberg News (WGN-TV News);
Nancy Loo, FOX Chicago TV; and Judy Wang, of CLTV News took turns being the
masters of ceremonies for different segments of the program.

A well attended "Political Empowerment" seminar conducted by Iowa State
representative Swati Dandekar, and coordinated by Purab Kaur turned up a
lively Q&A discussion session. Rep. Dandekar, a democrat, spoke about her
journey to victory in a majority republican district in Iowa with a handful
of minority voters and only 12 registered Indian American voters.
"Success comes in small steps and you have to be persistent keeping a
positive mind," said Swati Dandekar.

An open mike political forum in the Hyatt's lobby during the cocktail hour
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, coordinated by Neera Walsh and assisted by Aileen
Bhandari and Simeren Kaur Mago provided opportunity to the political
candidates and elected officials to say a few words to the community.
The consular corps, elected officials, candidates, dignitaries and special
guests were recognized.

The program was produced by Mohinderjit Singh Saini, and directed by Irene
Cualoping.

"We are fortunate to utilize a hi-tech audio video equipment, large overhead
screens for power point and DVD presentations, and a nice stage setup in the
grand ball room," said Mohinderjit Singh Saini the program chair who also
introduced the T.V. celebrities to the stage.

Punjabi Dhol (Drum) led a cultural parade of couples dressed up in their
ethnic Asian dress to the grand ball room, proceeding on to the stage to
sing the American national anthem.

ROTC boys color guard from Senn High School Chicago posted the colors.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the tragic loss of the space
shuttle Columbia and it's crew. Along with all others, Kalpana Chawla, a
graduate of Punjab University was in everyone's thoughts.

A fabulous fashion show by more than 30 models organized by Navice spiced up
the dinner hour.    Click here: Navice.com http://www.navice.com/default.htm
The entertainment program coordinated by Maria Kuriakos and Sunny Kular
included
Punjabi Bhangra sponsored by P.C.S., a fusion unity dance number by the
Loyola University students group "Conscious", and colorful group dances
presented by the Korean, Thai, Filipino and Indonesian American community
artists.

State treasurer Judy Baar Topinka was honored with the "Grand Asian" Award.
Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar received "Friend of the Asians", and Suchitra
Surapiboonchai of Thai American community received the "Pan Asian of the
Decade" award.

Chicago businessman Ray Chin was honored with the Ping Tom Memorial "Pan
Asian American" award, given by the Asian American Coalition of Chicago
chairs Prem Lalvani and co-chair Rajinder Singh Mago, aided by the awards
chair Dr. Rama Dandamudi, Moh Saini, and TV hostess Linda Yu.

The community service awards, given to one winner from each participating
Asian American community, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Indian, Pakistani,
Filipino, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese, were presented by Palatine Mayor
Rita Mullins.

Mr. Pethinaidu Veluchami from Indian American community, and Ms. Farhat Khan
from Pakistani American community were honored with community service
awards.

"Funkadesi" a Chicago live music band played at the after event party.

"It's time for Asian Americans to go beyond the successes we have achieved
in other areas to the world of politics," said Prem lalvani event chair.
" I am ecstatic about the presence of our own elected officials, Satveer
Chaudhry and Swati Dandekar this year to mark AACC's 20th anniversary, when
we are hosting it," said Rajinder Singh Mago, 2003 co-chairman of the Asian
American Coalition of Chicago.

"This year the event was the best I have ever seen," said Dr. Birinder Singh
Marwah, P.C.S. chairman, "we are proud that P.C.S. is part of the core
organizing team for this mainstream event,"
"It is great to see Indian Americans coming up in the mainstream," said
Balvinder Singh a Chicago businessman.
"Punjabi Bhangra dance was an electrifying presentation," said Sunny Kular,
president of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago and co-chair entertainment
committee.
"The whole program ran so smooth without any incident," said Onkar Singh
Sangha the security committee chairman.
There were several exhibit booths, and silent auction items in the lobby
throughout the program.
A souvenir program book was also published.
The program was sponsored by American Family Insurance, Prudential Financial
Services, McDonald's Corporation, Harris Bank, Magellan Development Group,
and Granite Innovation, Inc.

for info contact
PUNJABI Cultural Society of Chicago,
P.O. Box 1244, Palatine, IL 60078
Ph: 847-359-5727, Fax: 847-359-1107
e-mail to info@PCSChicago.org
PCS website www.PCSChicago.org
Click here: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago
or
SIKH AMERICAN Heritage Organization
P. O. Box 63, Wayne, IL. 60184
Ph: (630 377-5893, Fax: (630) 377-5893
E-mail: SikhAmerican@aol.com
SAHO website www.SikhAmerican.org
Click here: Sikh American Heritage Organization