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Dear “ATMA” friends,
I am excited and greatly honored to serve ATMA as the President. Recently, one of
our members asked me, “ATMA is interested in giving back to our motherland in form
of charity and health care needs, what does ATMA do for Tamil health care professionals
who would need help here- in this country?” This reminded me of my situation 35
years ago, in 1973 when I landed in NY, I was not stunned by the wealth or glamor
of NY city, on contrary, I was intimidated by the loneliness and helplessness. It
was not easy to settle down in an alien nation with a young family- a toddler son
and another on the way. I and my wife were desperate and longing to meet another
Indian. It took a while before we felt America as our home.
It appears, even now, for the new doctor immigrants though there is some help from
their extended family members, for many still they need guidance and moral support
for their professional enhancement. If only organizations like ATMA was there at
that time to assist the new immigrants from Tamil Nadu I and my family would have
had a better life and adapted to America much faster. As the old saying goes, “charity
starts at home”, ATMA should make sure to help the needy in this country along with
helping the poor in Tamil Nadu, Pondichery and other places.
Therefore, my appeal to you is
a) Join the organization
b) Participate in conventions to network
c) Volunteer your time to help in various committees
d) Help other Tamil health care professionals in this country
e) Serve in health care needs in Tamil Nadu, Pondichery and other places.
Our biggest asset is not our wealth, but our expertise and ability to help
in relation to health care needs. So I request every one of you to join ATMA, have
others join with you and come in large numbers to our annual convention once a year,
wherever it would be and net work, initiate projects that will help our fellow human
here and elsewhere.
ATMA is all of us
ATMA is in all of us
ATMA is invisible
But ATMA’s deeds will be always visible
I thank you all.
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