North Carolina Bengali Association

Sept. 16, 1998

Dear member:

Our last and most important newsletter of the year contains all details of the upcoming Durga Puja, the biggest and happiest event for Bengalis. We have also focused on some other areas that every member needs to be aware of as we conduct our yearly events.

On August 15th, NCBA held its yearly picnic and, preparations for the Bengali play, at Lake Wheeler Park. A big "thank you" to all those who helped in the barbecue. We had a big turnout at the picnic this year. The Executive Committee also sincerely thanks all those who helped in sponsoring, preparing and successfully staging the play "Gotraheen" by Nandikar of Calcutta. It was the first of its kind in North Carolina.

The Executive Committee Meeting was held at Sudha Moy and Suchitra Dutta's house on Sunday, Sept. 13th. and was as usual open to all members. Thanks to all attendees and for their co-operation in forming the Puja Committees.

This year, after much effort, the Millbrook Baptist Church of North Raleigh has been fixed as the venue for Durga Puja on Oct.3rd. It is very important that all adult members take the responsibility of keeping the Church premises clean and orderly and guiding their children to do the same. From time to time please supervise your children's activities and see that they stay only in designated areas of the Church. In the past, there have been complaints of breaking and dirtying Church property as well as wastage of food and paper products. Let each and everyone of us pitch in and not leave this task to a handful of hard workers alone.

Formation of the Puja Committees: According to the NCBA Constitution, five members outside the Executive Committee should form the Puja Committees. Accordingly, Subhash Banerjee, Anupam Basu, Amalendu Chatterjee, Dibyendu Paul and Paritosh Biswas have volunteered to form the Puja Committee. Amalendu Chatterjee has agreed to be the chief priest. Sinha Babu will be requested to serve as back-up. Subhash Banerjee and Rita Chatterjee has taken the responsibility of all puja arrangements.

Decoration Committee: Tushar Ghosh will be in charge of decorating our pratimas. Ashoke Chatterjee and Dulal Chatterjee will help in the decoration.

Stage decoration and arrangements will be taken care of by Apan Basu, Subroto Bhattacharya and Dibyendu Paul.

Food Committee: We will need volunteers at the Church on Saturday morning and noon, Oct. 3rd., for food-preparation, distribution and cleaning. Also, please co-operate in cooking food when contacted by your Member-At-Large and inform them if you wish to volunteer in the kitchen.

Stage management: Gouri Dutta, Ranjana Banerjee and Deb Chatterjee will see that the cultural program is conducted in an orderly fashion without unnecessary delays since timing is important.

Cleaning: The lesser the mess, the lesser the cleaning. Please do not smoke in the Church premises. Please dispose all garbage in trash cans and nowhere else.

Among other important tasks, two are of significance to each member. One, please renew your membership by Oct.31st 1998, in order to be eligible in the nominations for upcoming elections. In order to vote, you must be a member before election date in Nov/Dec. You can turn in your membership dues along with your puja subscription to the treasurer at the Church on Oct.3rd. Secondly, Pujas donations are necessary for bearing the expenses of Durga Puja and for catered dinner.

The subscriptions are as follows:
We expect per family	to	contribute	$65
Single person	"	"	$25
Students with family	"	"	$30
Student (single)	"	"	$15

We gladly welcome donations of above $65.00 from members.

The Executive Committee thanks all members for making every event held this year a success. We eagerly look forward to celebrate our Durga Puja happily with you all.

Sincerely,

The Executive Committee