EWCA Blog

EWCA Hawaii Chapter Picnic

Saturday- August 22nd at 11 am

Each year, the EWC Alumni Association Hawaii Chapter Board organizes and co-hosts a welcoming barbecue picnic at Kapiolani Park for all incoming East-West Center Students. This event is always enthusiastically attended and anticipated each year and is a fitting conclusion to the student orientation week.

As a member of the EWC Hawaii Alumni Chapter, we would like to invite you to and your family (children are welcome) to join us for this picnic. The picnic will be held on Saturday, August 22nd at 11 am at area 14 of Kapiolani Park under the big Banyan trees (across from the tennis courts on Paki Avenue). Please join us and bring along your favorite potluck dish to share.

The Hawaii Chapter co-sponsors the picnic and each year donates about $800 towards this event. If you are not able to attend, but would like to help support this special event for the EWC students, we would gladly welcome any contributions from the Hawaii alumni. Please make your checks out to:

• EWCA-Hawaii Chapter
• Mail to East West Center Associates Office 1601 East West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601, Attention: Noreen Tanouye

If you have any questions, please email Alumni@eastwestcenter.org or call (808) 944-7506.

Please join us to renew old friendships and meet the new students. We hope to see you all there!

Aloha,
EWCA Hawaii Chapter

Congratulations to Dr. Sharma on his appointment as Nepalese Ambassador to the United States by the Government of Nepal this August 3rd, 2009.

Dr. Sharma (middle), Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission in 2004

Source: United Nations ESCAP

Dr. Sharma is the President of the EWCA Nepal Chapter with headquarters in Kathmandu. He is a prominent economist and former Hon. Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission in Nepal.

Karen Knudsen (EWC Director of External Affairs) and Mary Hammond (EWC Dean of Students) are planning to visit Kathmandu in September 2009 and will be meeting with representatives of the EWCA Nepal (Kathmandu) Chapter to talk about the chapter’s plans for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the East-West Center in July 2010 and congratulate Dr. Sharma on his distinguished appointment.

Links:

• View the list of contacts from the EWCA Nepal (Kathmandu) Chapter
• View pictures from past activities of the EWCA Nepal (Kathmandu) Chapter

The Chennai Chapter of the EWCA celebrated EWC Day on May 28, 2009 at the Madras Boat Club, with a ‘Talk’ on “Indo-US Relations Today” by the Chief Guest, Mr. Fred Kaplan, Consul for Public Affairs, US Consulate General, Chennai. It was a ‘hat-trick’ event. We were fortunate to have him participate in our EWC Day celebrations for three years consecutive years! The alumni attended in good strength and distinguished invitees were equally thrilled to be there on this happy occasion. The ‘Talk’ was followed by Fellowship and dinner.

Continue Reading »

The EWCA New York Chapter has created and official blog to provide information to those in the New York area and anyone interested in reading what they are doing.

To view the blog please see http://ewcany.blogspot.com/.

By U Maung Maung (ISI 62-64)

East-West Center Day was celebrated on the 16th of May 2009 at Dolphin Restaurant, Myepadaytha Kyun. It was attended by the following alumni:

1. Daw Pwa Yin (88 years) – CLI 1979
2. U Than Oo (82 years) – ISI ED ADMIN 1962-63
3. U Maung Maung – ISI PL PATH 1962-64
4. U Soe Win – ISI AGE 1963-67
5. Ms Colin Talbot – CAPE 1990
6. Swe Swe Myint – EW Sem PA 2002
7. Dr Pa Pa Win Htin – HELP 2003, SUMMER SEMINAR 2006 Continue Reading »

By Karen Nunan (ISI 67-68, OG 70-72)

Photo by Bishna Bajracharya

Here’s a photo of our group at our May 14 dinner commemorating EWC Day, held at Jakarta Indonesian Restaurant, Brisbane. From the left around the table: Karen Nunan, Trish Byrne, Jeremy Webb, Iraphne Childs, Ralph Carlisle, Tim McInerny, Edilyn Bajracharya, Bhishna Bajracharya and Peter Nunan.

We are happy to welcome a new member, Tim McInerny, who did the Asia Pacific Leadership Program in 2007, and brings fresh energy to our group.

By Jonathan Jacobs (APLP 03-04)

The EWCA Ontario Chapter inaugural event is officially in the books. On Saturday, May 9, alumni met at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto to attend the Chapter’s first event. The diverse group of alumni in attendance included those who studied at the East-West Center during its formative years in the 1960s and alumni who graduated within the past five years.

Chapter Leader Jonathan Jacobs with Dr. Alfred Chan

The group was honoured to have Dr. Alfred Chan speak at the event. We were fortunate to have him lead an engaging discussion on the political and economic future of China, which contemplated a variety of current academic perspectives. Dr. Chan is a professor of Political Science at Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario. His research interests focus on Chinese politics and China’s international relations. Dr. Chan was responsible for encouraging many Chapter members to participate in the Asia Pacific Leadership Programs at the East-West Center.

After the lecture, the group discussed EWCA Ontario Chapter goals and potential activities. Some suggested ideas included annual reunions, providing a forum to discuss Asia Pacific issues and building professional, educational and social networks. We would like you opinion on what you would like to get out of the Chapter.

Thank you to all the members who were able to attend the Chapter inaugural event and to all of you that have expressed an interest in being a part of the Chapter.

By Dr. Ekramul Ahsan (ISI 67-69, FI 76, et al.)

The East West Center Day (14th May) was celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh by the EWCA Bangladesh Chapter on Thursday, the 14th May 2009.

The Chapter organized the EWC Alumni Evening which was attended by a number of EWCA alumni in Bangladesh. The activities included the following.

1. Discussion on selected topic relevant to East West Center
2. Community Services Projects
3. Chapter Development Activities
4. Participation of Bangladesh Chapter at the EWC 50th Anniversary Celebration in Honolulu, Hawaii in July 2010
5. Alumni Dinner Continue Reading »

By Dr. Rajesh Aggarwal (POP 96)

The Chandigarh Chapter of East-West Center Association celebrated the East-West Center Day on 14 May 2009 and organised an informal get together over dinner. Six out of the current eight members attended the dinner.

During the dinner meeting, the chapter members discussed various activities that the Chandigarh Chapter can undertake at its level keeping in view the charter of the EWC.

The chapter members also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating political situation in South Asia, especially Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka that has a large number of alumni from the EWC.

It was further discussed that due to the prevailing political condition in Pakistan, it may not be immediately feasible to have a collaborative effort with Pakistan Lahore Chapter. It was earlier decided that since the chapter is very small, we should collaborate with alumni in neighbouring regions to enhance the EWC mandate. The members felt that the attempts for a collaborative effort should be revived as soon as things improve in Pakistan.

Further, it was decided that the Hawaii Conference should be used as an opportunity to meet with other chapter leaders in neighbouring regions to start a group that keeps in touch and involves in collaborative effort to further enhance the activities mutually beneficial to all.

It was reiterated that since Chandigarh is one of the very active chapters, despite being a small group (only 8), the EWC should be requested to facilitate participation of more than one chapter leader at the Hawaii Conference. This will only be possible with some financial support from the EWC.

Further, the members thought it prudent to ask the EWC of providing it with a list of alumni of the EWC in the region, along with their contact details, so that the group could be expanded to expand the scope of the chapter.

May 14, also known as East-West Center Day, commemorates the founding of the East-West Center in 1960. Each year, people from around the world celebrate East-West Center Day in their own way.

The EWCA Shanghai Chapter met at a restaurant in Shanghai on May 14 to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the founding of the EWC.

Left to right: restaurant staff (in front), Larry Foster, colleague of Vicky Shambaugh from Hawaii, Vicky Shambaugh, Brenda Foster, Ren Xiao, Aynne Kokas, wife of Vicky’s colleague, restaurant staff.