Dear VPA Family,

First and foremost, my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for entrusting me and my executive team with the noble responsibility of leading this wonderful organization for the next two years. We are deeply indebted to you all for the immense love and support you have showered on us, and will make every effort to live up to the expectations that you have confidently placed on us. VPA undeniably is a wonderful organization. It’s truly a home away from home for all of us. When I look back at the path our VPA has traversed in the last three decades, my heart swells with pride. I am awed by the stellar accomplishments of this community and the extraordinary contributions this organization has made to the societies, both in India and the US. We must be thankful to all the eminent leaders who built, nurtured and elevated this organization to be the powerful abode that it is for all of us today.

I must say that we all are extremely fortunate to be here at this juncture, where we are reaping immense benefits from such a robust platform. At the same time, I would also like us all to reckon that it is on us to take this organization to its next phase. With the increased organization capability, ever-growing talent and advancement in technology, the time is ripe for us to propel VPA into a higher orbit.

Easier said than done though. Such an upswing is possible only when all critical building blocks – the vision and direction, the passion, and the execution – fall into place perfectly. That is precisely why we have put together a tremendously passionate, high-performing VPA national team whose energy and enthusiasm, I fondly hope, will rub off on each one of you.

With the help of our core team and a few well-wishing, visionary thought leaders, we have also put together a framework that clearly communicates our vision and direction. This framework stands on four key pillars of Expansion, Transformation, Inclusion and Celebration. Elements of these pillars – their definition, objectives and mechanics – will be communicated to you in detail by our team at various stages of our journey together.

That brings us to the execution – which is where each one of us will have a crucial role to play. It’s our strong belief that every single member of the organization is a flagbearer of our noble values and our rich cultural heritage. Whether you choose to be a leader or a follower, a committee member or a volunteer, an advisor or a silent well-wisher, a program owner, a performer or a cheering member of the audience – we ask that you be an ambassador of VPA and the great Vokkaliga tradition that it represents in the US.

When you see yourself as an ambassador, you will be intrinsically motivated and energized to further the cause of VPA. We have set numerous lofty goals for the next two years – breaking the 1000-mark barrier in convention attendance and taking the convention to the world stage as Vishwa Vokkaligara Sammelana, aggrandizing the scope and reach of our VPA, increasing involvement of the first-generation American Vokkaligas, utilizing the technological advancements to the organization’s benefit are but just a few examples of the ambitious goals that we have in front of us. These can be accomplished only when each one of you become a brand ambassador of our organization.

On behalf of my entire team, I will make a pledge today to all of you that we will make every reasonable effort to create opportunities, support our members’ needs and further promote a positive, vibrant environment.

We would love for each one of you to join hands with us in this journey and make this. Please strive to understand the vision and align in the execution so that we can make VPA a perfect and happy home for all Vokkaligas for generations to come.

Should you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email at president@myvpa.org.

With Thanks & Regards,
Dhananjaya Kengaiah
President, VPA