Epaper
Many NRIs play active role in both ATA and TANA on event times and are members of both the organisations.
Unlike TANA, where elections are conducted to elect the leaders, ATA is known more for internal discssions and understanding in selecting/ electing the leaders including the President position.
However, things happening in recent times indicate that ATA is also internally going through some deliberations on continueing the Nomination procedure instead of conducting elections. The reason for this kind of change is growing membership and members’ aspirations on oneside, not doing a proper job in processing the nomination procedures. This is slowly coming out from internal meetings to conference calls and email exchanges to gossip among some members to open discussions.
For example, ATA has a structure of nominating 14 or 13 members as Trustees ever two years for a 4 year term and there is a 5 Member Nominating Committee. Some people say that one Member has moved to India and the Committee is only 4 member team now. The Committee has invited Nominations for TRUSTEE positions and has received Nominations and is processing the same. The initial indications (not announced yet officially )indicate that only people with closeness to Top Leaders are considered and people who put in sincere work are sidelined.
Every one knows that 10th ATA Conference was held in New Jersey in July 08 in which over 400 people worked very hard for $ 2.8 M event that closed with a surplus. ATA Conference Fund raising activity raised over $300,000 from NJ where individuals donated $1000 to $5000. This entire activity happened because centain individuals who inspired telugu people of NJ. These individuals not only contributed to all these events to make them successful but also made significant efforts to drive ATA membership and spread ATA spirit. It seems the Nominating Committee is considering names who has little or no contribution towards above activities and ignoring the efforts from poineering members who worked day and night very hard for ATA success. Some Members who worked very hard for the conference, and are popular in the community locally are not considered by the Nominating Committee. Some of them are even asking the top leadership to conduct elections so that they get elected based on their popularity and service.
These selections indicate that ATA is also following TANA and very soon the bubble will be burst and internal things will come OUT. Seeing TANA crisis, som serious ATA members are urging ATA Leadership to follow the guidelines properly in selections and not to give room to desidence that will lead to protests etc which finally spoil the image of the organisation.
