My Dear Knanaya Community Members, 

It is with a lot of pride and gratitude I am writing this note.  KCCNA convention is around the corner and I am extremely proud to inform you that, KCCNA, Tampa Unit and the convention committee have withstood all kinds of storms that came our way during past several months.  A fine combination of programs awaits those who have registered for the convention.  As we promised in the past every one is working hard to provide a great convention experience for every age group in our community. We sincerely request those who could not attend this convention for your sincere prayers and good wishes for the smooth and safe conduct of the event.  

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, 2012 convention have a very challenging story.  For the first time, we had to change the venue of the convention, and as a result we ended up having the shortest planning horizon for the event this time.  Yet our brothers and sisters across the network 

especially from Tampa were able to rise up to the challenge.  For the first time in history, modern communication media (anonymous Blogs) were born to try to fail the convention at any cost, yet community loving brothers and sisters rose up to ensure the community is successful with their time, talent, and hard earned resources.  For the first time in our history, we are unsure about the 

participation of our own Bishops at the convention up until now, yet the planning for the convention is going ahead with full spirit.  For the first time in our convention history, we faced financial challenges, yet we are able to fund lot of new activities, more than ever before, especially focused on our young generation.   

You will see Traditional Vallam Kali, Professional comedy shows, Music concert for English speaking and Malayalam speaking community members, beauty pageant for both youth and our young women above 35, youth seminars focusing on career and resume building, events organized by women's forum that is focused on family and finally we will have the much awaited symposium on the current issues facing the community to come up with constructive solutions to address them without sacrificing our fundamentals.  All of these were possible only because of the hard work of so many community loving members.      

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge: 

Our youngsters, who are in the leadership positions, worked tirelessly over the past 6 months to help plan events that are of interest to their generation of all ages.  They spent a lot of hours and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of them especially Mohan Kaduthodil, Anish Nadakuzakkal and Vipin Chalunkal who provided the leadership to their teams.    

The Women's Forum in the planning of the convention.   Lead by Gracy Vachachira, they were in the forefront in offering constructive and practical solutions to various challenges faced by the convention committee.  In addition, they have organized multiple events at this convention, that is focused on FAMILY.  I sincerely appreciate their contributions as well.   

Tampa association for all their hard work for the success of the convention.  It is always a lot of work and sacrifice required from the hosting association to make a convention successful.  However this time, it was especially tough due to short planning time frame as well as the location being about 70 miles away from Tampa.  I sincerely appreciate the commitment and contributions of the Tampa EC lead by Joseph Uppoottil, NC members, convention committee Chairs/cohairs/committee members, and convention leadership (James Illickal, Tomy Myalkarapurathu, Denny Uralil and Jomy Cherukara) for their hard work for the success of this convention.   

All the member association leadership who came forward to support us through registrations, encouragements when things were not going right early on.   They came on several teleconferences with us to help offer suggestions and ideas.  I want to appreciate all your help making this convention possible.   

My fellow EC members who stood together with me as a rock to wither all storms that came our way.  I could not ask for better group of people, in spite coming from different backgrounds, they all had one aim – to run the organization in the most transparent manner, focusing on what is best for 

the community especially our next generation Knanites.   They used EC meeting to debate issues rather than public media, they compromised from their positions when needed, and always respected majority decisions at the end of passionate debate.  I want specifically acknowledge our spiritual director, Fr. Thomas Mulavanal, who was always there to support , and to guide us through when dealing with difficult issues and was never afraid or hesitant to voice his views or opinions.   

Our fellow community members and spiritual directors, who always came up with suggestions and ideas to enhance the convention experience.  They were a source of encouragement and motivation when we faced tough challenges in the planning of this convention.  

Finally I want to let those who worked equally hard to defeat the purpose of KCCNA and KCCNA convention through blogs, know that – YOU WILL BE THOROUGLY DISSAPOINTED.  1700 years of history cannot be easily erased with the efforts of few cowards sitting behind their computers in some remote corners of this country and India harping for watering down of our small community.   

I am confidant that KCCNA and North American Knanaya Community will be here to celebrate 50 years when our children will rise up to carry the torch by maintaining a community and community organizations, that is true to its core values, identity, culture, history and mission.   

Dear brothers and sisters, lets celebrate the silver jubilee of our great organization, together, wherever we are. KCCNA has done things over the past 25 years, which not only brought our community together here in North America, but also was instrumental in the community development projects initiated by the Diocese of Kottayam over the years. Let us not develop a 

culture that conveniently forgets the path we travelled on for short term gains of a few.  Let's not cave into the politics of division in our community and reject those causing such division from our midst.     

I am looking forward to seeing many of you in Orlando in 2 weeks.  God Bless Knanaya Community.   

Love 

Shiens Akasala 

President, KCC