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NATA golf tournament and membership drive

(Photos: Nikhil Rachakonda)

The NATA (North America Telugu Association) Atlanta team organized its 3rd annual golf tournament on May 5, 2019 at Bears Best Golf Club, Suwanee, Georgia. Led by Srini Vangimalla, it had 80 players and 19 team sponsors. As part of the membership drive NATA Atlanta team signed up 355 families as members including one Diamond, 6 Gold, 10 Silver, and 338 new life members.

Chief guest Consul General Swati Kulkarni spoke about the 400 thousand Indian Americans living in the Southeast. A large number are of Telugu origin and most are IT professionals. Among the 120 thousand Indian Americans around Atlanta, many are Telugus and Gujaratis. “I have seen many organizations,” she said, “and NATA is doing phenomenally good work,” including much community service. The Farmington University scandal is an example. With the help of NATA, the consulate staff redressed that issue so nicely. Now, only two students remain and that will also be addressed quickly. The Consulate was thankful for the lawyers that the community provided. Two or three people from NATA worked diligently with the Consulate. Families in Andhra and Telangana and NATA representatives complimented the Consulate on the work, and in turn she applauded the work of NATA. She exhorted the audience to help in spreading awareness, so that Indian Americans keep our good reputation, as we are the top most country sending top most graduates, top most IT graduates here. She also encouraged NATA’s good work in giving back to the homeland in projects such as health, water purification, etc.

On a lighter note, Consul General Kulkarni joked, saying, “I don’t know anything about golf. I am not in golf dress. It is an expensive way of playing marbles, as someone says.”

She also spoke at length about the Consulate’s celebrations, along with the Gandhi Foundation USA, of the yearlong commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as the 90th birth anniversary of Dr. MLK Jr, and 60th anniversary of MLK’s visit to India when he said “To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India I come as a pilgrim.”

You can always learn something new about Gandhi, she said, and his message will always inspire a new global audience. When Richard Attenborough’s movie Gandhi was released in Chile in 1983, it inspired antifa movement to overthrow the Pinochet regime. It also inspired people to overthrow the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. His message is so profound and electrifying.

She also invited the community to attend the International Day of Yoga celebration on June 23. Yoga is one of the stress busters, she said, so let us make sure that our soft diplomacy works.

After rounds of golf, the attendees sat down to a fantastic dinner sponsored by ADDA Indian Cuisine and Sports Pub. NATA Executive Vice President Bala Reddy Indurti thanked all those who supported and especially thanked those companies who had sponsored Foursome teams and title sponsor Patel Brothers. He also thanked all RVPs, RCs, and standing committee chairs who made the membership drive successful by adding a record number of new memberships.

Awards were presented by chief guest Dr. Swati Kulkarni, NATA president Dr. Raghava Reddy Ghosala, Advisory Council member Dr. Adisesha Reddy, and President Elect Dr. Sridhar Reddy Korsapati.
Winners of the tournament: Quantum Bank team with 11 under par,
runner up Ravi Devulapalli team with 7 under par.
Putting contest winner: Jagadeesh Gangireddy.
Longest drive winner: Sunny J.
Closest to the pin winner: Srinivas Pulakandam.

Team sponsors were Serenity Infotech, Rapid IT, Everest Technologies, ITT Star, Wissen Infotech, C-Vision, Quantum Bank, HC Robotics, GVR Realty, 27th Investments, Jhalak.com, Orpine, Cake World, Unicorn Tek, Suvidha, Infosmart Tech, Murli Reddy, Compass Property, and Edward Jones Investments.

Website Bonus Feature

Photo Gallery By Nikhil Rachakonda:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xwTtR5liOCtnpYca8FZAm0MNKpWilQH-?usp=sharing

Video Coverage By Niranjan Prodduturi:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JAannmtHVV4Xvu0wKepGngjpbVH_YMox?usp=sharing

Thanks:
Golf Organizing Committee lead by Srini Vangimalla, Ramesh Chaparala, Rajasekhar Aila, and Sudhir Edara helped put together a great event and the amazing help of Kodandaram Reddy Devarapalli, Rajesh Tadikamalla, Venkat Meesala who worked the check in table, set up the banners and awards presentation.

The following members have taken upgrades as part of NATA mebership drive. Dr. Adisesha Reddy upgraded to Diamond. Upender Reddy Rachupally, Rajasekhar Reddy Aila, Prabhakar Reddy, Ramesh Chaparala, Prashant Kollipara, & Vishwanath Dasari upgraded to Gold. Guru Paradarami, Dr. Kishore Reddy Rasamallu, Venkat Rao Chundi, Naveen Konreddy, Kodandarami Reddy Devarapalli, Raju Padigala, Srinivas, Ramesh Valluri, Jayakiran Pagadala, & Dr. GV Rao upgraded to Silver.

Thanks are due to Atlanta Team members Bala Reddy Indurti (EVP), Sreenivas Kotlure (ED), Srini Reddy Vangimalla (BOD), Ravi Kandimalla (BOD), Nanda Gopinath Reddy (BOD), Upender Reddy Rachupally (SEVA Days Coordinator), Venkat Mondeddu (SC), Dr. Dhanunjaya Reddy Gaddam (SC), Ram Bhupal Reddy (RVP), Rajesh Tadikamalla (RVP), Venkat Meesala (RVP), Neelima Gaddamanugu (RVP), Raghu Reddy Sagili (RVP), Karan Boynapalli (RC), Archana Reddy (RC), Pushyami Lanka (RC), Srivalli Sridhar, & Srinivas Kukkadapu (RC).

The following NATA Team members participated in the Golf Tournament: Jayakiran Pagadala (RVP), Naveen Konreddy (RC), Pavan Devalapalli (RC), Jaya Prakash Bitra (RC), Krishna Narsapalle (RC).

[The article above contains additional material not in the print and digital issues.]

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