Dear organizers

ANA event is viewed as the biggest event for the Nepali diaspora in North America. Nepalese take a day off just to attend the 3-4 days events and a pure, memorable event is expected by the visitors. We understand that ANA, like any other organizations, needs cash flow to run; however, being a not-for-profit organization the focus shouldn’t be in making money but to deliver the promise that ANA was found upon:

"The purpose of the exclusively educational and charitable Association of Nepalis in the Americas is to promote preservation of Nepali identity and culture in the Americas, to foster cordial relations among Nepalis and Americans, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the participation of Nepali-Americans in the communities they live in."

The primary focus of this year's event were:

1. Keep the cost as low as possible

2. Curb the crowd as much as possible.

By doing this the result was:

Shows:

1. Low grade performance of the Audio/Visual system. Frequent technical difficulties etc.

2. Most of the performers had already entertained the crowd on numerous occasions. All stale, nothing new. This might have saved money on bringing the artist from Nepal, but how can you justify 30-35 dollars for a show that can be easily seen every night in NYC Nepali restaurants.

3. Long lines were ridiculous. Not getting any chairs in Cultural show while people still selling tickets outside is unfathomable..

4. What happened to E4 express lane? Where were the organizers when there were questions. Poor volunteers were exposed to so many complaints and questions, people would feel bad for them.

Sports:

1. How can you organize a soccer tournament and not have more than one ball and no ball boys?

2. No certificates for the sports winner. Very low investment in trophies (medals were okay).

3. What happened to the little league? Another promise not fulfilled or just not enough participation?

Registration/ Venue selection

1. It was commendable that the organizers were able to get so many registrations, but what is the point of selling a DJ ticket for higher cost if not registered, and later not allowing the visitors who don't have registration???

2. Very bad choice of the venue. Knowing such a huge crowd, a bigger hotel should have been picked, with bigger lobbies and party halls.

3. Condasecending hotel security. Need I say more?

4. Far sports venues. Sports, accesibility to the airport and party hall should be the main focus on picking a venue.

Having said all this, the volunteers should be highly commended for all the work they did and complaints they put up with. If the Organizers focus more on the value and quality than cost/profit, it could have been much much better. This shouldn't be treated as the opportunity to make money only. We all know that the only place ANA makes money is in the tickets and registration (hotel room profits/ bar sales go to the Hotel), but don't cut cost so that the quality is completely sacrificed.

We still haven't given the hopes for ANA. We know the money doesn't goto your pocket; please respect the visitors and preserve this tradition.

A visitor and long time ANA member.

hahahaha..we never cease to complain now do we? and still don't shy away from attending the show every year!...ahem..

for me, ANA is just "a" reason to gather with my amigos and if time/mood permits, of course, to hit on cutie pies from the homeland (which, BTW, i have been disappointed at time and AGAIN! ). talking of nepalese girls, where are all the "beautiful" ones? where they hiding? barring a handful, all i get to see in ANA are kalis, neptis, pokchis, dallis... not to mention their easily perceivable fake bosoms, 5 inch hills to cover their height (or the lack of it) and what not. even all those superlatives from nepali sabdakosh will run out of words in the honor of our so-called beautiful ladies to be really honest hahahahahaha. nothing new or exciting. really an utter disappointment for an "incredible hulk" (supposedly) like myself ke garne? hahaha

anyways, back to being a lil more serious, i have few things that I would like them organizers to focus their attention upon:

1) from next time on, please please please start the show ON TIME and finish it ON TIME according to the schedule. If you can't start at 8PM, don't mention it on the tickets and fliers. it was pretty offending to wait for HOURS for the show to start. STOP FOOLING US!
(BTW, i found a flier which read something like: Time and venues for the events are subject to change. What BS is that? That itself explains how unprepared the crews/organizers are for the show...thank god they didn't shift the shows from baltimore to timbucktoo in the last hour hahaha). that would have been pretty exasperating now wouldn't it?

2) tell them DJs, musicians and artists to REHEARSE umpteen times before showing up for the show. BE PROFESSIONAL ON THE SHOW! technical excuses are NOT tolerated especially when peeps have spent $$$$ and precious time from their busy schedule to attend the freaking show.  That DJ in the cultural show (i repeat: cultural show) played made in india by alisha chinoy to our utter disgrace and humiliation. Would you believe that?  What happened to the dude's common sense, let alone professionalism??? Nepali cultural show re. BULL!

3) STOP LYING! DJ Raju will dj the DJ night re! Where was he? A newbie was in his place rather who couldn't even play two good dance numbers in tandem during the entire show. Again, dearth of professionalism and common sense was clearly evident. What's more, Malvika Subba will judge the fashion show re!  Didn't see her either. If you cannot make them attend/judge, don't mention their names. STOP this foul marketing.

4) Food festival re hahaha...Couldn't resist momos ke garne. Bought a plate for 10 bucks. Didn't taste even remotely like momo. Heck, I myself can make better momos by miles than those tasteless uncooked flour pouches hahaha....Their luck that it didn't bring forth stomach upset for me (it nearly did BTW), else i was all up to sue them! :P

5) Same goes to sports organizer. Start the games ON TIME. Set the venues closer to the main hotel (especially with the fuel price hike). I liked all (almost) the athletes though. Their passion, competitiveness and energy for the game was pretty commendable at that standard. Keep it up! (On a personal note, it was sports which made my trip to the place worthwhile.)

*****
Having spitted it all, I do understand that it's easier to complain but hard to perform.  But c'mon man! this was the 26th convention. We are 26 years old already. High time we got mature and more professional.

BTW, I give my plaudits to the security. After having gone through series of brawls in the past, the organizers had the security intact in all possible holes of the events. Those bouncers did a pretty good job IMHO. BRAVO!


(PS. BTW, I still love Karishma. It's another thing that beautiful girls are either taken or already married :P)

It doesn't surprise me a bit if the a single ANA official/organizer sees this and doesn't reply.

That was pretty much what happened to the complaints during the event. Hope they realize these are constructive criticism.