A note I sent to the SAJA e-mail lists....
Folks:
It's been another busy, newsy year at SAJA - our 15th. Sure, our achievements, as outlined below by SANDEEP JUNNARKAR, our president, are very impressive. But what might be most miraculous is that a desi organization made it to 15 years without spinning off any rival groups!
Thank you for everything you have done to support us. A reminder of several things you can do right now to continue to help SAJA (many not involving money!):* READ SANDEEP'S NOTE BELOW: Am sure he'd appreciate your feedback - sandeep@saja.org
* MAKE A DONATION TO SAJA, PLEASE: Yes, your inbox is filled with year-end requests for donations, but we hope you will keep us in mind, too. The amount isn't as important as getting as much participation as possible from all of you. You can pay online or by check at http://bit.ly/saja2009
* BECOME A PAID MEMBER, OR RENEW: If you haven't paid or renewed, please do so - the best rates for any journo org in the U.S. and Canada.
$10/year for students;
$20/year for journalists;
$40/year for non-journalists
Lifetime membership for journalists is just $250! Non-journalists: $400.
SIGN UP OR RENEW TODAY: http://www.saja.org/membership
Membership questions to sajamember@gmail.com
* SHARE YOUR IDEAS, PLEASE: We've just elected a new board, with fresh blood infusing our leadership: DC-based writer Ambreen Ali and MSNBC "Morning Joe" producer Sovy Azhath (more to come on the 2010 office bearers at the end of January, after our first board meeting). We need your ideas for events, programming, speakers - please e-mail saja@columbia.edu
* VOLUNTEER, PLEASE: SAJA needs volunteers throughout the year for various projects. Most volunteers can help coordinate our online projects (including our webcasts, Facebook groups, SAJAforum.org, stylebook - http://www.saja.org/resources/
* TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT SAJA, PLEASE: Another easy, no-money way you can help SAJA is by telling your friends about SAJA and what we do. Please send them this link and ask them to sign up for one or more of our lists: http://www.saja.org/resources/
* FOLLOW OUR WORK, PLEASE: In addition to SAJA's presence on SAJA.org and SAJAforum.org, we are also on Facebook and Twitter. Please join us:
Main SAJA group: events, convention info and more
http://www.facebook.com/group.
SAJA Students group: discuss jobs, schools and more
http://www.facebook.com/group.
SAJA Professors group: for profs of journalism and mass communications and those who'd like to teach one day
http://www.facebook.com/group.
SAJA Toronto group: events, networking and more
http://www.facebook.com/group.
7. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Just go to http://www.twitter.com/sajahq and hit "follow"
Sandeep's letter is below. Thanks, everyone - and have a great new year! //sree//
Dear SAJAers and Friends of SAJA:
During this season of giving, I ask you to support the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), which represents journalists of South Asian origin in North America. Your year-end donation would not only help you reduce how much taxes you pay for 2009, but it would also help support the invaluable work the organization does.
SAJA -— now in its 15th year -- has established many important programs. Here is a short list:
1. Our scholarships support students interested in studying journalism.
2. Our fellowship program allows journalists to cover issues about South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora that have not received attention in the mainstream press.
3. We provide skills workshops to journalists at various stages of their careers.
4. We have panels and discussions (and a Web radio show) with newsmakers whose work is related South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.
5. We monitor coverage of South Asians in the U.S. and Canada - and of South Asia - in the U.S. and Canadian press.
6. We work with chapters all over the country, including groups in the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto, and others.
7. We provide journalists of South Asian backgrounds and journalists with an interest in South Asia with opportunities to network and search for employment opportunities, which will be even more important to maintain in today's struggling economy.
I know how tough these economic times are, so I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think this is an important cause.
HEY, NON-JOURNALISTS: You might ask why you should support us if you are not a journalist? The answer is simple: apart from the great work listed, SAJA plays a critical role as the world increasingly focuses on events in South Asia. News organizations across North America and world turn to SAJA for contacts and guidance on covering the region. I am sure you would agree that this role is of critical importance today. During the Mumbai attacks in 2008, SAJA received scores of requests from major news organizations like NPR and CBS asking for help. We also covered the attacks by interviewing experts via the Web. The New York Times noted this excellent coverage. Furthermore, as the political and economic presence of South Asians increases in North America, SAJA plays an important role guiding that domestic coverage.
One last point that might surprise you: SAJA has accomplished all of this without a single full-time employee. SAJA’s all-volunteer broad members direct and implement all its plans. This allows SAJA to plow the donations it receives back into scholarships, programs and services.
I do hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to SAJA Group, Inc. during this calendar year.
Donating is easy. (please see below)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sandeep@saja.org.
Best regards,
Sandeep Junnarkar
SAJA President
Two quick ways to make a contribution:
1. VIA CREDIT CARD or PAYPAL (you do NOT need a Paypal account):
http://bit.ly/saja2009 (scroll to the credit card links there)
2. VIA CHECK: If you'd like to pay by check, please mail a check payable to "SAJA Group Inc" ("2009 donation" in the memo line) to SAJA Group, Inc, c/o John Laxmi, Treasurer, 19 Einsehower Road, Closter, NJ 07624; e-mail: johnlaxmisaja@gmail.com. TAX-RELATED INFO BELOW.
SAJA Group, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to SAJA Group, Inc., net of any consideration received are deductible as charitable contributions. Please consult your financial or tax adviser concerning tax-deductibility of your contributions and payments. SAJA Group, Inc.'s EIN Number is 55-0844632 and New York State ID Number is 20-70-28. For information on SAJA Group, Inc., an affiliate of SAJA, please see: http://saja.org/sajagroup.html
o o o o o o
Prof. Sree Sreenivasan | sree@sree.net
Dean of Student Affairs, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
http://www.sree.net | http://www.sreetips.com
Contributing editor, DNAinfo: http://DNAinfo.com
TWITTER: @sreenet - http://twitter.com/sreenet
