Charming, United and Enlightening: Cocktail Reception with Delegate Kumar Barve

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few weekends ago, I had the privilege to attend a wonderful cocktail that embraces the good deeds that Majority House Leader Delegate Kumar Barve has been doing for not only Marylanders but for Indian Americans since 1991. 

 The cocktail reception, hosted by Neil Dhillon, Bikram Bakshi and Dr. Ram Peruvemba, was overflowing with prominent Indian American doctors, and esteemed with special appearances by Delegate Sam Arora. 

Prior to this event, Delegate Kumar Barve was one of several prominent officials who embarked on a six-day trade mission to India, spearheaded by Governor Martin O’Malley. 

 The November trip sparked strong business relationships between businesses in Hyderabad,  New Delhi and Mumbai and has also helped promote Maryland as a U.S. headquarters for Indian companies, especially  those in biotech and cyber security. 

 If it weren’t for this momentous trip, Maryland wouldn’t have this threshold  for International trade for our small and mid-sized businesses.

 The trip to Hyderabad, was especially important to Delegate Barve,  as noted in his website:

“After a successful visit to Hyderabad, the trade mission spent some time in Mumbai before traveling to New Delhi, the Indian capital.  Traveling to Mumbai was a particular thrill for me.  As I previously mentioned, it was a century ago this year that my grandfather emigrated from the Mumbai-area and now I return as part of Governor Martin O’Malley’s historic trade delegation.

During our time in Mumbai, the delegation met with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan.  Governor O’Malley and Chief Minister Chavan agreed to work towards a sister state relationship between Maryland and Maharashtra.  Of all the states in India, Maharashtra has the largest gross domestic product and finalizing our sister state relationship will lay the groundwork for future trade and investment by both sides. 

While our partnership with the state of Maharashtra will undoubtedly grow… READ THE REST HERE

Aside from highlights about the  trip, Delegate Barve talked in great lengths about how far Indian Americans have succeeded in this nation pertaining to equality, success and education. It’s also important to mention that the  open dialogue between the doctors and the delegate spawned a lively conversation about Delegate  Barve’s aspirations for a better healthcare system that works with both doctors and patients.

The creme de la creme of night was when the delegate formally announce that he plans on running for comptroller in 2014. As soon as he announced his future candidacy, a sea of smiles emerged across the room. How could anyone not smile? The Delegate has had a very succesful track record as Majority House Leader, and has helped propell Maryland far amidst this biting recession.

Everyone was not only charmed by the news, but there was a united front for Delegate Barve’s candidacy that could only enlighten us all to a more auspiscious future, in 2014.

Want to assist the campaign? Check out Delegate Barve’s website here and feel free to like his Facebook page, follow him on Twitter and especially donate what you can to his campaign!

Women’s History Month:Acknowledging Indian American Women

Women’s history month is a celebration of what American women have contributed to U.S. culture. When most people think of American women and their contributions to women’s history, they may switch between African American or Caucasian role models like Rosa Parks, Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Susan B. Anthony.
 
Though these and several other African American and Caucasian women have contributed a multitude to American culture — they are not the only ones.

The United States is full of successful Asian American, Hispanic and Indian American women who have enhanced the fabric of American culture with bright hues. From politics to entertainment, these women have cracked the glass ceiling.

It’s quite shocking, really, that they haven’t been as widely recognized. This is especially true for Indian American women, who.. Read the rest at Tavis Smiley’s website.

Moving Maryland Forward:Congratulations To Our 2010 Winners

This year’s election was contentious, on a national level ,due to the House being overtaken by the GOP but for Maryland, it has dovetailed our state into a better direction since Governor Martin O’Malley will serve a second term. 

  Republican contendor Bob Ehrlich’s second loss ( remember 2006?) could possibly cement the party’s minority status but who can truly predict that at this point.

Our state is still the brightest shade of cobalt blue that it has ever been because our state has not only retained some of our veteran star players but it  has gained rookies who are drenched with valuable experience. 

This blog has endorsed  and wishes the best of luck to incumbants U.S Senator Barbara Mikulski, Governor Martin O’Malley and Delegate Al Carr for their consecutive terms and to  newly minted Delegates Eric Luedtke and Aruna Miller for winning their first term.

Our state will definitely progress with these major players spearheading Maryland forward.

James Ward Morrow:Bold New Leadership

Click here for Youtube Clip

James Ward Morrow simply adds a new perspective to Baltimore and Harford County. In 3 minutes, you get a candid view of what he plans to bring to residents of District 7 but what the video doesn’t detail is his past accolades and achievements.

Morrow graduated Johns Hopkins with a Bachelors in Political Science  and received his JD from Maryland Univeristy’s School of Law.  He has also:

• Been a Member of the United State’s Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Bar  from 1996-current.
• Is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar.
• Is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel’s Knights of Columbus (4th degree), and Loyal Order of the Moose ( Essex Chapter).
• Is a member of the Sierra Club-Md Chapter and  Local 2-OPEIU, AFL-CIO,
• Is an active community member in the Hopewell Pointe Condominium Association( former Board member), Hopewell Pt.Homeowners Association, and current Board Member of the Hopewell Pt. Marina Slip Owners Association.
• Served the Baltimore area as a Board member of the South-East Community Organization-SECO from 1997-2003; Chair of the Board 1998-2000.
• Gained economic development experience while serving on the Southest Community Development Corporation, Inc-SECDC, Board of Directors from 1998-2002.
• Previously served on the Maryland State Democratic Central Committee from1985-1986 and 2002-2005.
• Been active in the legal community serving on the American Bar Association-Labor and Employment Law Section, Administrative Law Section, Lawyers Coordinating Committee of the AFL-CIO, the Labor Law, Administrative Law and previously the Criminal Law sections of the Md State Bar Association, and is a member of the American Constitution Society
• Been a Member of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland Bar from1990-current.

Besides Morrow’s cornucopia of accomplishments, he also has new media prowess.  He holds a weekly one-hour radio show in the D.C area that focuses on federal government issues and regularly updates his Twitter and Facebook Group page.

 His bold new leadership is evident in his use of Youtube, legal past, new media prowess and especially with his ardent views on how to shape Baltimore County. A vote for Morrow is a vote for a better To-Morrow.

Roger Manno:Leadership Takes Teamwork

For the past four years, Delegate Roger Manno has served Maryland’s 19th legislative district. As a delegate, he has received the highest legislative rating in the state by the Progressive Maryland Education Fund and is only one of two legislators in the state to receive a a perfect score from both Environment Maryland and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

It’s transparent to any constituent from the area that Manno puts forth 100 percent into all of his  initiatives.

With a stellar track like that, why not vote him into the senate? Why not extol  at this prospect? Besides the fact that Manno has the ingenuity and the drive to raise constituents concerns at the Maryland State Senate, he’s dealt with something that not all candidates have dealt with, a childhood wrought with broken health care promises.

As a young child, his entire family faced a slew of health problems and like millions of Americans in the past, suffered through shaky health care. Lack of health care not only cost his father his own life, but it left his mother in thousands of dollars of debt.

It was bad enough dealing with hard pressed bill collectors; but it was doubly worse when young Manno suffered from an atrial defect and his own mother had to battle cervical cancer, without health insurance.

Without  insurance, it was close to impossible for his family to afford necessary procedures to sustain his and his mother’s lives.  They had to resort to tertiary attempts,(sans skilled physicians, modern medical tools and proper facilities) as a way to deal. It was sheer luck that his mother ran into a local pediatric cardiologist who felt for the small family’s dire health and economic status, thus,  regularly took care of him for free.

Altruism, in free medical form, is quite uncommon.  Young Manno was lucky and knew, since then, to take it upon himself to correct social injustices like this.

Manno personally knew that American healthcare was flawed and has always worked towards comprehensive health care reform so no one else would ever go through what he went through. Losing a father, and almost being penniless at a young age.

His campaign’s motto is: leadership takes teamwork. This is true, especially since it takes a supportive coalition of votes to pass legislature that will ensure families affordable healthcare.

Manno is one vote that truly encompasses what several residents in district 19 have faced due to lackluster health care. With your teamwork(votes) and his leadership (fighting for you), district 19 may not face what Manno faced, as a young boy.

Martin O’Malley Expands College Readiness Plan

Governor Martin O’ Malley has always “Moved Maryland Forward” through his job creation, environmental protection, and health-care initiatives.

Yet, what Marylanders should also  know is that education is his baby and that he wants to nurture it until it grows up healthy and strong.

Therefore, the governor plans to spearhead his ” Building Maryland Schools Plan” by waiving advanced placement test fees as a way to thwart extra costs for Maryland Families. 

 Basically, this “AP Access and Success Plan” will increase  AP enrollments and save the state  from shelling out extra cash in taking superfluous developmental classes.

This is only one step in his  “Building Maryland Schools” plan, since he will also commit an additional $1 billion over the next four years to fortify Maryland’s Public Education system.

Well, I guess there is a reason why Maryland has the number one best education system in the United States. With a governor who pours his own  blood, sweat and tears for Maryland students to excel, wouldn’t you, as a voter, want to see him in office for the next  four years onwards?

O’Malley & Brown stop by PG Community College

April 26, 2010, Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown stopped by Prince George’s Community College to rile up student’s spirits about the upcoming elections this Fall.

  I volunteered that day by corralling students, brightening  spirits with free stickers and by sticking posters across the campus.

It was worth the effort just to hear how the O’Malley Administration reduced crime rates, improved education and helped flourish the bay with blue craps galore. 

It was a moderate crowd, but it seemed to have expanded when the PG  County dancers motivated everyone to jiggle and  jive to the Eurythmythics  ” Sweet Dreams”.

I ‘greened’ myself up with a shirt and a few stickers speckled on both sides to show my Irish side, though I don’t think I have Irish in me?

As I watched the Governor press the crowd on about the importance of this upcoming election, I really thought about how there are people my age who don’t really seem to care. They rather ditch the event and sip some Starbucks on their down time instead of getting politically involved.

I guess if it was the seventies,  we may have seen a massive crowd with lighters and peace signs flailing  in the air. But  it’s 2010, maybe down the road, we’ll see I-phones in the air?

Maryland Democratic Party Legislative Luncheon

 The Maryland Democratic Party Legislative Luncheon  was a watershed in my life.

It’s  not everyday an average person can have lunch with two Senators, a few Delegates and various other politicians in the area–unless they roll high G’s.

When you read about the luncheon in The Washington Post or other media outlets, you don’t always feel the spirit of the event due to time and print space restrictions. 

But by being physically there to hear Governor Martin O’ Malley raise Democratic officials spirits, the day before the General Assembly session, is something one can’t truly put to print.