gama news reporter september 2013
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Greater Austin Malayalee Association News Letter September, 2013TRANSCRIPT
President’s Message.
We are well past the mid point of 2013 but from the perspective of
GAMA, things are beginning to heat up. As I write this report, hundreds
of volunteers are working hard to make this year’s Onam a grand suc-
cess. But before that, let us take a step back to the activities GAMA or-
ganized till now.
We started the year by organizing SaReGAMA, the annual talent show. SaReGAMA is slowly
gaining popularity among the local Indian community as one of the finest talent shows organ-
ized. Thanks to the sponsors, we are able to offer handsome rewards to the winners! Soon
after, we organized picnic which saw record number of participants. The venue was pictur-
esque, the weather was perfect, and the food was yummy! I don’t think we could ask for any-
thing more! Instead of taking the usual summer break, we organized GAME DAY for both chil-
dren and adults. Great number of kids and adults participated in various games. Free snacks to
the participants were the highlight of the day!
Cover Photo by
Hema Rao
In this Issue
Poem: Yathra by Sreevidhya Ajayan
Poem: Onam Varavayi by Moni
Poem: Amma by Jane Joseph
Cover Photo Competition
Game day by Ullas Pazhayaveettil
Chithra in Austin by Noel Thomas
Kidz Korner
Informative
Changes in Immigration Laws by
Adv Mathew Vairamon.
Raising cavity free kids by
Dr.Satish Thirumalai.
Reporter September, 2013
cont on page#2..
First of all "Happy Onam" to all the
readers of the Newsletter. With the
festive atmosphere in the air and
Onam preparations under full swing,
we hope you find this Newsletter,
thought provoking and enjoyable. As
you read this Newsletter, you will
find that the quality of Austin Mala-
yalee literary scene is maturing. This
edition has several informative arti-
cles from people working in differ-
ent fields. We want to thank every
one who have contributed to make
this Onam edition of News Reporter
happen.
Thank you all for reading this as well.
Without readers, there is no point in
producing this newsletter!. Now that
we have excellent quality materials
coming our way, we want the read-
ers to take a moment to congratu-
late the contributors for their effort.
This could be as simple as a Face-
book post or a 'like' or couple of
words on an Email to the editor.
Your kind words will be a huge en-
couragement to our creative writers.
If you have a comment, please do
send them to
Your mail could end up in the next
edition of news reporter, under the
“Letters to the editor” section.
Thank you and enjoy reading original
materials from our community
members
Editors:
PG Ramachandran & Sajan Lukose
The Malayalam classes we started last year
are still going on, children are reading and
writing small passages and stories. We ex-
panded the classes to start two new batches
this year, and we have some people from the
community stepped up to volunteer for the
classes. Without the help of these volunteers,
we wouldn't be able to run these classes
week after week. I hope these classes will
continue to enrich our children in the future
too.So we were able to screen three Malaya-
lam movies; all of them were appreciated by
large number of audience. We hope to restart
the movie activity after the summer rush.
Every event we organized was enthusiastically
supported by our sponsors. Without their
support, we wouldn’t be able to organize
these events cost effectively. On behalf of the
entire GAMA board, I would like to extend
our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors.
Call for Volunteers
I want to take a moment and appreciate
the time and effort taken by the GAMA
board members and volunteers. Organizing
events at this scale is not an easy task and
is impossible without the help of such vol-
unteers. But an organization like GAMA
cannot be run by few people who are al-
ready stretched thin. We need larger par-
ticipation of the community to continue the
activities we have been doing so far. I un-
derstand that different people will have
different commitments and the availability
will be different for most of you. But if you
like what you see at GAMA events or have
been benefited by GAMA in any way, I re-
quest you to consider given back to the
community.
From the Editor’s Desk
..continuing from page
Sreevidhya Ajayan
Sreevidhya is from
Angamali, Ernaku-
lam. She started
writing Malayalam
poems from 7th
grade after being
encouraged by her
mother and her
Malayalam teacher.
Since then, she has
participated in sev-
eral competitions
and won prizes for
poem and essay
writing. She is also
one of our Malaya-
lam teachers and
teaching has been
her dream job.
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We all know Moni for quiet
some time; and we have seen
him in a variety of roles. We
seen him as an actor, writer
and director in many of our
past Onam celebrations. But
this time we are introduced to
the poet in him. Congratula-
tions and we are hoping to see
more of this stuff in the com-
ing months.
Did you know?
GAMA Board wishes a very
happy Onam to All Malayalees in
Austin,TX
King Mahabali (Maveli)
Kerala was the capital of king Ma-
habali. He was one of the greatest
devotees of Lord Vishnu on Earth
as he sacrificed his kingdom for the
Lord. The King was greatly re-
spected in his kingdom and was
considered to be wise, judicious
and extremely generous. It is said
that Kerala witnessed its golden era
in the reign of King Mahabali. Eve-
rybody in his kingdom was happy in
the kingdom, there was no dis-
crimination on the basis of caste or
class. There was neither crime, nor
corruption. People did not even
lock their doors, as there were no
thieves in that kingdom. There was
no poverty, sorrow or disease in
the reign of King Mahabali and eve-
rybody was happy.
Did you know that Mahabali was the king of
the world? Not just Kerala. Of course, his capi-
tal was Kerala. In fact Kerala was not even fully
formed until several years later, when the next
Avatar of Vishnu (Parasurama) decided to do
the finishing touches with his Axe. Mahabali
loved Kerala people (who doesn't?) and he visits
us every year.
If you think, this is not accurate, share your
thoughts. ([email protected])
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The U.S. government has proposed
drastic reformations in the American
immigration laws. These proposals
were passed by the Senate for 68-32
votes and now it is time for the House
to take action and pass comprehen-
sive reform. It is estimated that11 million undocumented im-
migrants reside in the United States, as well as a huge line of
persons waiting to get visas or full citizenship. These resi-
dents’ unclear legal status has led to them being treated as
second-class citizens, exploited and discriminated them. Many
Republicans now support a path to citizenship for undocu-
mented immigrants, a position previously deplored by many
House GOP members as “amnesty. The White House has sent
indications it approves of the bipartisan group’s proposal, but
its previous blueprints for immigration reform were more
liberal. The President Obama will likely propose a more direct
path to citizenship that skips “probationary legal status” on
the belief that the Senate proposal creates an uncertain legal
grey area for persons in the program. Republicans get a guar-
antee that the federal government will be required to certify
the border is secure, as well as loosen their image.
The proposed immigration reform allows for Registered Provi-
sional immigrant status for individuals here before Dec. 31,
2011. Under the Senate bill, most unauthorized immigrants
will face a waiting period of 13 years or more before they
become citizens; a criminal background check; work require-
ments; documentation demands; English-language and citi-
zenship exams; and employment eligibility verification.
In addition, they will be required to pay significant fees and
penalties that could total more than a month’s worth of their
gross yearly income. After a ruling by the US Supreme Court in
June 2013, the US Immigration Service and the US Consuls will
recognize Same Sex marriages for immigration and visa pur-
poses. The marriage must be legal where it was made and all
requirements for Visa issuance or Green Card approval must
be met.
Immigration laws don’t limit the number of petitions for spouses,
minor children and parents of United States citizens. But the gov-
ernment does set thresholds for other kinds of relatives including
the siblings and adult and married children of U.S. citizens, and the
spouses and children of green-card holders. As it currently stands,
BSEOIMA proposes some very significant changes to both family
and employment based immigration. Overall, it expands, the op-
portunities for immigration through employment while eliminating
certain options for sponsorship for relatives. It is the best time to
file 1-130 Immigration Petition for a sibling or a married adult child
over 30, because if the new law passes in the House, you may not
be able to file 1-30 for them after the laws come into existence.
Once the new law has been in place for 18 months, the only immi-
gration option left for these family members would be a new
points-based merit system that favors education, employment and
job skills. The new system would grant only a few points for a close
relationship with a U.S. citizen. Despite these positive develop-
ments, the loss of the F-4 category and the age cap on the F-3
category will come as a blow to many families. While there is no
certainty that the BSEOIMA will be approved by both chambers of
Congress and signed into law, the continued forward momentum
in Washington is certainly encouraging. In recent years, some U.S.
citizens have hesitated to file petitions for sibling or married sons
and daughters due to the very long wait for visa availability. Eligi-
ble Green Card holders who have not taken steps to naturalize can
only sponsor spouses and minor or unmarried children. Now there
is a strong possibility that certain relatives previously able to immi-
grate will no longer have that option in future. To keep the door
open for these family members, I advise eligible permanent resi-
dents to file immediately for their citizenship. Those who are al-
ready U.S. citizens should move forward with 1-130 petitions for
these relatives as soon as possible
Disclaimer: The author is an Immigration attorney and the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author . The GAMA
director board or the editorial board cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the views expressed in this article.
Dr.Adv.Mathew Vairamon, M.S., LL.M., Ph.D
Attorney at Law, Notary and Mediator
Area of Practice: Immigration, Citizenship, Social Security, Taxa-
tion, Wills, Power of Attorney, Adoption.
Email: [email protected]
New Changes Coming in American Immigration Laws
As most of you all know, we did a photo contest for this edition of the News Reporter and we are proud to say that it
was well received by the community. We have received pictures taken from all around the world and really had a
tough time deciding on the best.
Congratulations to Hema Rao and her family. The picture they took while vacationing in Alaska has been chosen
as the best picture and you can see the picture on the cover (front) page.
Winner: Hema Rao.
Hema, her husband Raghu and their kids
Deepti & Aditi Rao are living in Austin since
2006 and they love Austin!
“One of the most Incredible and breath taking
attractions in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska,
is the Marjorie Glacier. It is a 21 mile long gla-
cier, inaccessible by land . Despite the lack of
roads, there are over 400,000 visitors each year
most of whom arrive via cruise ship. This pic-
ture was shot from the deck of Norwegian Sun
during the 1st week of July 2013. The pristine
environment of Alaska cannot be expressed in
words, only by experience is its true beauty re-
vealed.” - Hema
(The winning picture is ion page #1)
Cover page Competition
GAMA's annual Game day was held on July 27th at the Clay Madsen
Recreation Center between 2pm and 6pm and consisted of competitive
games such as caroms, and poker for adults, and chess for both adults
and kids. With a turnout of about 70 participants, the event was filled
with playful banter, a healthy competitive spirit, and an all round fam-
ily experience. The final showdowns were well contested with cash
prizes on the line. The event was made possible by generous contribu-
tions from our sponsors. PSG Investments and Matthew & Associates
sponsored the prize money. Prizes and certificates will be distributed
during GAMA's Onam 2013 function.
Adults Chess
1st Place - Benny John
2nd Place - Ullas Pazhayaveetil
Kids Chess
1st Place - Jacob Lijoy
2nd Place - Malavika Perinchery
Caroms Doubles
1st Place - Ullas Pazhayaveetil / Suresh Warrier
2nd Place - Govindan Namboothiry / Deepa Sethumadhavan
Texas Hold'em Poker
1st Place - Govindan Namboothiry
2nd Place - Gayatri Jayaram
By Ullas Pazhayaveetil
Onam by Shruthi Nampoothiri
Maveli by Leah Sajan
Art work by Sruti
Ramachandran
Kidz Korne
r
Send us the art works by your kids for
our Kids Corner. Any artworks from 2 to
12 years are welcome.
I was lucky to be a part of the Oreswaram musical symphony performed by Mr.
M.G. Sreekumar and Mrs. K.S. Chitra in Austin on August 23rd. When I was given
the opportunity to host the show, I was reluctant to do it, but I am glad I changed
my mind. I was able to meet the artists in person and discover a lot about their
lives. To my surprise they were very friendly, contrary to what I was expecting.
Both Sri. M.G. Sreekumar and Smt. K.S. Chirta are prominent playback singers and
have played a vital role in shaping the South Indian music industry.
They have recorded over thousands of songs, most of
which have become classics. There were lot of people
present for the occasion and I was a bit nervous to be
on stage. But the friendly crowd and the harmonious
orchestra eased my anxiety. I really enjoyed the show.
The melodious music and beautiful songs gave me
chills. The crowd was very energetic. Keeping up with
flow of music, they danced and sang along. I was
reminded that regardless of our difference, we have
the gift to enjoy good music. Music is often called the
universal language. It has no boundaries; it can whisk
us away on a journey, bring back memories or even
make us emotional. And from the radiant faces I saw
after the show, I must admit that this beautiful ex-
perience will resonate in our hearts for days to come.
Smt. K.S. Chithra and Sri M.G. Sreekumar were honored by the various India associations in Austin, for completing 35 years
in the music industry. Mrs. Janaki Nagarajan, president of Indian Fines Arts (IFA), Mr. PG Ramachandran on behalf of the
Tamil Sangam and Mr. Animon Jose, representing the Greater Austin Malayalee Association (GAMA) handed over mementos
during this occasion.
By Noel Sunny
I want to share some valuable information with you that will prove very
helpful in teaching your children about caring for the teeth and gums.
The common misconception is that since children have baby teeth it is
not as important to take good care of them, but that could not be further
from the truth. First of all, instilling proper oral health techniques at an
early age lays the groundwork for proper oral health care later in life.
Second, the baby teeth and gums serve as the framework for what will
later become permanent adult teeth. They must be cared for properly to
ensure that there will be no problems when the adult teeth start to come
in.
1. START EARLY! The earlier you begin caring for your child’s teeth and
gums the healthier they will be. We recommend starting to clean your
baby’s gums with soft gauze shortly after they are released from the hos-
pital. There are no teeth to clean, but this will remove any bacteria or
residue in their mouth, and also begin to train them and get used to
cleaning their mouth.
2. Introduce your child to brushing at about 18 months of age, or when
their first molars start to come in. There are small toothbrushes available
and toothpastes made especially for young children. Again, teaching
good habits early makes them easier to incorporate into a daily routine.
3. Your child should first see a dentist at around 3 years old. This will
allow the dentist to evaluate the overall health of the teeth and gums,
progress of the baby teeth, and make any recommendations. Also, this is
a great time for a child to be introduced to the dental experience. By
school age, kids begin to talk about trips to the dentist and scare their
friends. Dentists even get a bad rap in some cartoons! By bringing your
child to the dentist early you can show them that there is nothing to be
afraid of.
4. Thumb sucking and pacifiers are a part of infancy, but they should be
stopped at a fairly early age. The repeated motion can cause the position
of the developing teeth and dental arches to change. If the habit is not
stopped before the adult teeth start to develop, it can cause problems
that will require braces and possibly other procedures to correct.
5. You should also refrain from giving your child a bottle of
juice or milk while in bed. The liquid can rest in the mouth
without being swallowed, which can quicken the process of
tooth decay. If they need something to help them go to
sleep we recommend a bottle with water or a pacifier in-
stead.
6. After your child’s initial visit to the dentist you should
bring them in every 6 months for a check-up. This will al-
low the dentist to monitor the health of their teeth and
gums, and also check for cavities and other dental problems
and fix them at an early stage.
7. If your child uses a pacifier, don’t dip it in sweetener or
sugary juices. This was recommended in the past but it is
not good for your child’s teeth.
8. If your child is under the age of 7, you should help them
brush their teeth. They do not have the advanced dexterity
at that age to reach all their teeth and properly clean them.
Teach them how to brush their teeth and let them try them-
selves so they learn, but also make sure you clean their
teeth properly.
9. Let’s face it – kids love candy. In a perfect world I would
tell you to have your children avoid candy and they would,
but that isn’t going to happen. The best we can do is limit
the amount of candy they eat, avoid some of the chewier
candies that can stick to teeth and leave residue behind,
and try to brush after eating candy.
10. Set a good example. Your children look up to you, so if
they see you brushing and flossing with them as they get
ready for bed or when they get up in the morning, they will
be more likely to do it. It can be a fun activity for them to
do side-by-side with mom or dad.
I hope that you have found these tips to be helpful. Baby
teeth are temporary, but once they are gone, we are left
with one set of teeth for the rest of our lives. Educating your
children about proper oral hygiene at an early age will en-
sure that those teeth last for a long time. If your child is
getting ready for their first visit with us, or if it is time for a
check-up, please give us a call to schedule your appoint-
ment. We take pride in our ability to work with children
and try to make their dental experience as enjoyable as
possible.
Dr. Satish Thirumalai, D.M.D.
La Frontera Dental, PLLC
website: www.lafronteradental.com
10 Secrets for Raising Cavity Free Kids
A Guide to Instilling Good Oral Healthcare During Childhood
“You don't have to brush all your teeth- just the ones you want to keep.” - Anonymous.
GAMA News Reporter
September 2013
Date: Sept 14, 2013, 4:00 pm
Venue: Klett Performing Arts Center, 2211 N. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78626
GAMA Onam Celebrations.
Upcoming Events
Greater Austin Malayalee Association
Please support our
Sponsors
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