TANA Governing Board met in Chicago on October 25 and 26 at the O’Hare Hyatt in Rosemont, which is the site of the 17th TANA Conference. Jayaram Komati, Interim President of TANA, briefed the TANA officers on the initiatives by concerned members of the Telugu community to resolve the current crisis in TANA. The Governing Board unanimously authorized Mr. Komati to represent TANA in a proactive manner and to pursue all reasonable solutions to restore unity and the organization’s dignity. Prasad Thotakura, Secretary of TANA, briefed the Board regarding the recent initiatives of TANA.

TANA will continue its support of the very successful Telugu courses at University of Austin, TX. After running a successful International Internship Program last year, TANA has decided to conduct the same program next year summer in Hyderabad giving an opportunity to 10 Indian American students to pursue projects of their choice. More details will be posted on TANA website very soon. The TEAM (TANA Emergency Assistance and Management) Initiative: TANA has set up a $100,000 fund to proactively help Telugu people in North America during personal or natural calamities. Volunteer teams are formed in all regions. The fund got off to a good start with all the Governing Board members pledging substantial donations.

Mohan Nannapaneni, Treasurer of TANA, presented the financial statement for the first three quarters of the year and briefed the Board on the various attempts by the former President to hijack the bank accounts and to disrupt the functioning of the organization using the illegal resolutions from the phony general body meeting. The Board thanked Mr. Nannapaneni for his diligent and prompt efforts to safeguard the finances and other assets of the association. Mohan Nannapaneni, Prasad Thotakura and Ram Yalamanchili briefed the Board on the expanded backpack distribution program for disadvantaged children in the Boston, Houston and Dallas cities conducted in early September.

The Governing Board unanimously approved the finalized guidelines for the verification of new applicants, presented by Janaki Rao, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. The membership verification committee will implement the guidelines and finalize the approval process by mid- December. Lokeswara Rao Edara, Chairperson of TANA Foundation, briefed the Board regarding the successful activities of the Foundation including the recent matching corporate grants received in support of Operation Envision.

The Governing Board commended the Foundation Trustees for the many excellent charitable projects they have taken up in Andhra Pradesh. The Board reviewed the preparations and budget for the biennial TANA Folk Arts Festival in Eluru and Vijayawada during the last week of December. In addition to this festival, TANA would also conduct the Annamacharya 600th Birthday Celebrations at Tallapaka. The programs would conclude with a Grand Finale at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on December 28 with a special focus on the talents of disabled children. Dr. Hema Prasad Yadla, the Coordinator of the 16th TANA Conference in Washington, DC, presented the final financial report from the Conference.

The Board congratulated Dr. Yadla and his team of volunteers from the Washington area for a memorable and magnificent Conference that they have organized. The Board members also expressed their regrets over the mudslinging against the conference by the former president to serve his selfinterests. Yugandhar Yadlapati, Coordinator for the 17th TANA Conference in Chicago in July 2009, along with many members of his Conference Committee, briefed the Board on the ongoing preparations for the Conference.

After inspecting the recent additions to the Rosemont Convention Center and the Hyatt O’Hare Hotel, the sites of the Conference, the Board expressed its happiness at the facilities and its confidence in the Chicago team to host a memorable TANA Conference in Chicago. The Board expressed its resolve in meeting the challenges ahead with the clear goal of safeguarding the future of TANA, preserving and propagating the Telugu language and culture, and to help and support members of Telugu community in North America at times of need