Registration:

The convention was kicked off on Friday, the July 1st with guest registrations at 4:00 PM. Hospitality and Registration committee members were there to receive the convention guests. The whole registration process was managed very professionally with pre-made registration packages. Every family was given a contemporary designed VPA bag stuffed with many goodies such as music CDs, Calendar, Incense sticks, Detroit magazine, etc.

Socializing:

Following the registration, guests took portrait pictures, greeted their families and friends that they have not seen in a long time and took family reunion pictures. As the evening progressed, guests enjoyed the cocktail hour with scrumptious appetizers while mellowing the melodious music (compiled by MI VPA team) in the foyer area of the beautiful Renaissance Ballroom. The entrance of the ballroom was a treat in itself -decorated with large deepas, flowers, grains (photoA, photoB) banners, and many paraphernalia. There was an exhibit area in the entrance with beautiful art sketches of the prominent Vokkaligas including Kuvempu, Kengal Hanumathaiah, Deve Gowda, S.M. Krisha, Aishwarya Rai, and many others from various fields. Volunteers made fresh flower centerpiece for each dining table to provide an elegant ambiances.

Entertainment, Dinner & DJ Dance

The audience were entertained by light music followed by dinner (Potato green peas cauliflower kootu, Soppina Saru, Kheema, green peas & potato with Poori, Rasam, Dry Salad, Fruits & Hesar belle Paysa). All prepared authentically by our own community professional chefs Vittal & Raja from New Jersey. Masala buttermilk was served followed by Beetle leaves.

Following dinner, guests danced to DJ's vibrant music . Since guests traveled from far, they called it a day around midnight. However, some of the VPA members participated in the 1st VPA Rummy Tournament

Breakfast:

With a much needed rest, guests woke up for a spectacular morning view of the Detroit River separating Canada and US and connected by the Ambassador bridge. Breakfast with Kesaribath and Uppitu, Doughnuts, filtered coffle, tea was served in the morning. Women wore traditional mysore silk sarees and displayed their braided hair decorated with flowers (photoA, photoB), hands with mehendi and men wore silk panche and shalya (photoA, photoB).

Procession:

The Saturday's morning program began with a grand color procession lead by VPA children, members and dignitaries (photoA, PhotoB, PhotoC, PhotoD, PhotoE) walking through Marriott Corridor to the Banquet Hall for a music video of Kuvempu song on a giant screen. A VPA member carried a negilu to lead the procession. The procession brought memories of a typical village jathre.

Inauguration& Keynote Speeches:

Following the procession, dignitaries settled on the main stage. VPA Michigan members were performed a Devaranama and Inaugural song followed by Indian and US National anthems. The dignitaries inaugurated the 9th VPA Convention by lighting the traditional depa. The convention chairman Ramesh Gowda greeted the guests to the Convention, followed by the VPA President Amarnath Gowda's remarks on Vokkaligas. Dignitaries from India B.Saroja Devi, D.K. Shivakumar, Hon. Minister Cheluvarayaswamy, H.D. Kumaraswamy and others gave a inspiring speeches praising VPA organization for the remarkable job we are doing in preserving and promoting Vokkaligas heritage in this foreign land without forgetting our roots of our community.

Following the address by dignitaries, Publisher of eSanje newspaper Sri. Venkatesh released the 8th Edition of Vishwamanava Souvenir. The Souvenir will be sent to VPA members in the month of September.

The morning MC was managed by Veena Gowda

Morning Program:

VPA members from Chicago entertained the audience with their electrifying Fishermen Dance followed by scintillating Dandiya Dance. Youth VPA members entertained the guests with film song dance performances (Dance1, Dance2)

Lunch:

Following the morning program, scrumptious lunch including Shavige-kayalu, Averekalu Potato Eggplant kootu, Kadle Kal Saru, Chicken Curry, Lamb Kurma, Jamun and Fresh Fruits prepared authentically. Masala buttermilk was served followed by Beetle leaves.

Thanks to Food Committee and many volunteers who orchestrated all food aspects very professionally.

Register your Business here

Breakout Sessions:

CME Session:
For the first time in the history of VPA convention, we held a CME session with very interesting topics and eminent speakers. The attendees earned CME credits toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award accredited by Indian State University. The CME was session was sponsored by Pharmaceutical companies who also exhibited their products at the convention. CME Session was a good revenue source for our convention.

Business Session:
Business session with a theme “Progress through Partnership” was a huge success with standing room only audience. Prominent speakers from Karnataka (Shankarlige Gowda - IT& BT Secretary, D.K. Shivakumar, MLA, eSanje Venkatesh, and Sai Prakash) and Vokkaliga entrepreneurs addressed the session with very interesting topics. At the end of the session, there was a panel of discussion.
We will be taking this successful endeavor to build a Vokkaliga Business Network as we go forward.

Youth Session:
Youth members of VPA had a blast at the convention in just mingling, participated in pie eating contest (photA, photoB, photoC) , music chair contests and other games.

Evening Program:

Evening started off with spicy appetizers including chukli, chilly chicken with cocktails. The evening entertainment program kicked off with a melodious Hindi songs from VPA east members put the audience in a mood. Comedy skit "Uppittu" by Nagamani & Yashasvi of Michigan energized the audience with laughter. A surprise visit by a Balegara (by VPA President Amarnath Gowda) weaving through the audience giving bangles was a crowd pleaser. A show and tell presentation about Vokkaliga history by Prabhudev of Michigan was enlightening. Then came the highly touted Fashion Show titled "Vibrant Vokkaligas" (photoA, photoB) - a shear display of Vokkaliga culture and heritage from past to present. The Fashion show performance captured the audience by surprise with the colorful dress, vibrant music. Guests praised how ingeniously the team used the the fashion show to po tray Vokkaligas, one guest said "It's simply Marvelous". At the end of the Fashion Show, there was a surprise appearance by the VPA President and The Convention Chair as "Gowda in Black".

Breakfast:

Guests were served Idli, Vade Sambar and coconut chutney. Idlis were as soft as the flower petals, Sambar and chutney reminded the Darshan restaurants in Karnataka. Aroma of the filter coffee invigorated the guests for another full-day of activities.

Morning Program:

Sunday morning program started with a brief talk on social services carried out by by Sai Prakash (ERIN Foundation) C. Chikkanna and Thimme Gowda of Krishik Sarvodaya Foundation. The speakers gave highlights of their coordinated social services being done in Karnataka and about their forum at the convention later in the morning. Youth VPA members entertained the audience with scintillating Bharathanatyam dances (photoA, photoB) and upbeat dance to film songs.

The Sunday morning keynote address was delivered by Hon. Minister Shri. H.D.Revanna - Minister for Public Works and Energy department, Karnataka.

Halase Shivanna from Chikmagalur delivered a message of Universal Man - Kuvempu. Following this was the "Adarsha Dampathugalu" a family game show which inv loved many VPA families from the audience. The game show was informative, hilarious, and entertaining keeping the audience on their toes.

The morning program MC was managed by Jay Gowda &
Prabhu Gowda

Lunch:

Once again, the guests treated with the real authentic food highlighted by Ragi Mudde & Lamb Curry along with Veg Fried rice, Sprouted moong dal curry, Cabbage, Beans Palya, Lamb Curry, Chicken Chettinad, Mango Mouse, etc. and of course the the masala buttermilk.

VPA General Body Meeting:

More than 120 people attended VPA General Body meeting. Announcement was made for new VPA office bearers for the term 2005-2007. B.J. Arun, CA as President, Sumanth Venugpal, CA as Secretary, and Vasanthi Gowda, IL will continue as Treasurer. Dr, Lalitha Swamy, MI as Joint-Treasurer. H.N.Vishwamithra, TX will be the VPA president for the term 2007-2009. Also at the meeting, following by-laws were amended:

• VPA Convention Guidelines
• Any funds transferred through VPA for Charitable causes, VPA will retain 5% or max $200 of the funds to cover any expenses to transfer the funds.

National VPA Accounts for 2003-2005 was presented to the members as well.

Evening Program:

As usual, the evening started with scrumptious snacks and cocktail. The entertainment was kicked off with vibrant dance titled "Habba" by Michigan VPA women (photoA, photoB, photoC, photoD). The dance was very well choreographed with members displaying colorful sarees and kolata moves to vibrant music. The audience enjoyed the dazzling and dashing performance by gorgeous gowdthis of Michigan.

The current VPA office bearers introduced the new VPA office bearer for the 2005-2007 term and transferred the responsibilities with a traditional exchange of the Petas.

Then came surprising all, the chairman himself posed as a Halli Gowda dancing for the popular movie song "Ayyaayyo Hallimukha, Yavag Bande Detroit Pakka" (photoA, photoB)

The "Bharatha Darshana" by VPA mothers and daughters (photA, PhotoB, photoC, photoD) dressed in various costumes depicting cultures of different states of India. Costumes ranged from Kerala to Kashmir and Maharashtra to Bengal. This was a truly a well coordinated and choreographed show as some participants of the show were from other parts of the US.

Thanks!:

Last but not least, all the 2005 VPA Convention Committee members were thanked for their dedication and hard work for last 7 months who made this event a memorable one.

The Convention's last dinner included Chicken Chops, Lamb Biryani, Bisi Bele Bath, Yogurt Rice, Papad, Pickle, Carrot Halwa and many more. After the DJ dance, many took group photos and bid good bye to the 9th VPA Convention

We could not have executed this event in such organized manner without the MC Committee members, The Food Committee members , the Audio/Video/Lighting Committee members and the Volunteers who all worked tirelessly behind the scene during the entire event.

The evening program MC was managed by Yashasvi Shankar & Nagamani Vishwanath

All in all, the 9th VPA Convention received a Thumbs up!