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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 05, 2025 | The Indian Eye 22

GOPIO OC (Orange County) Chapter Re-launched

in Southern California; Raises awareness about

its mission and achievements

OUR BUREAU
Irvine, CA
OPIO International, the Global Organiza-
tion of People of Indian Origin, welcomed
Gthe re-launch of its new chapter GO-
PIO-OC (Orange County) California, to a house
full of 55 guests, on Nov 16, 2025 at the India Gate
Restaurant, Tustin, CA.
Hosted by its former president, now Chairman
Amrit Bhandari, current president Hark Vasa, and
GOPIO Orange County Executive Committee,
there was much pent-up excitement and celebra-
tion as in the opening of a new chapter. GOPIO
OC, with its brand-new Executive Committee wel-
comed the guests in an initial meet and greet hour
with tea and refreshments, prior to the formal in-
formation exchange session, followed by lunch and
continued networking.
The key objectives of this gathering were to:
Raise awareness of what GOPIO is, its mission,
and goals; Introduce the newly invigorated Exec-
utive Team, and Invite guests to become members
to further GOPIO’s work.
Attending as speakers were top three of GO-
PIO International Executive Team, namely: - - -
Mr. Prakash Shah, President , along with his wife
Rajul Shah Mr. Kewal Kanda, Vice President and
local community leader, and Ms. J Nami Kaur,
Global Ambassador.
The event opened with a Welcome address by
Amrit Bhandari, Chairman of GOPIO-OC, intro-
ducing the above dignitaries and setting the tone
of the meeting. He was the original initiator of this
chapter, encouraged by previous Southern Cali-
fornia GOPIO leaders as the late Inder Singh and
Dilip Bhutani. Next, Co-host Hark Vasa, President
of GOPIO-OC introduced his newly formed ex-
ecutive committee members, detailing their track
record and experience serving the community in
Southern California. Vasa inspired and expressed
his commitment, along with his GOPIO-OC team,
to further the goals and mission of GOPIO for the fornia and making the Indian Diaspora community tries they come from, and India. The First Global
wellbeing of the Indian Diaspora. aware of how GOPIO is helping them. He men- Convention of PIOs in New York in August 1989
Led by J. Nami Kaur, the GOPIO International tioned and bestowed the title of Honorary Chair provided an opportunity for sharing the experience
part of the meeting followed next. Nami started as a of GOPIO-OC to J. Nami Kaur for energizing the of international Indian communities on a com-
junior volunteer with GOPIO when it was founded newly formed committee, and sharing her vision for mon forum and to foster harmony with a feeling
in 1989, and currently serves as its Global Ambassa- GOPIO. He thanked the newly formed executive of brotherhood and fellowship amongst the PIOs.
dor, as well as the Chair of the GOPIO Foundation. committee for their enthusiasm and commitment With over 3000 participants, the convention identi-
She shared with the audience how GOPIO started, to the GOPIO cause. Final vote of thanks went to fied and discussed problems facing people of Indi-
its mission, history, major achievements, and her the audience for their time to attend, and encour- an origin. It also provided a necessary forum at the
vision for the next few years. Nami introduced the aged them to become members of GOPIO-OC to national and international level to voice the PIO
GOPIO International president Prakash Shah, who serve the mission of GOPIO. concerns. A book on Migration of Indians around
addressed the audience as the keynote speaker. GOPIO has expanded its mission and set its the World was published and 26 resolutions per-
In closing, Amrit Bhandari thanked the digni- priorities to pool global resources, both financial taining to the various issues and interests of the
taries for taking time and initiative to come to Cali- and professional, for the benefit of PIOs, the coun- PIO community were adopted.

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