Newsletter – March 2020

It is a pleasure to write this update. This is the month during which Holi – a festival of colors and family bonding is celebrated by Indians throughout the world. March 9th is the day of celebration for this year. In many ways it has been a subdued event across the world given the current concerns related to COVID-19 infection. As a community based organization we need to tread responsibly during these times and the primary preventive strategy for any infectious disease continues to be fastidious personal hygiene with frequent handwashing, staying indoors and isolated when having an acute illness and practice prudent personal space etiquette.

LOTUS will be celebrating this festival for both children and adults at the Ka’ala Neighborhood park in Wahiawa immediately after the Pooja at the Shiva temple and a luncheon hosted by volunteers. Given the current circumstances we would be advising and limiting the smearing of color on each other. If you plan to attend and also join for lunch, please RSVP with number of people attending using the organizational email or through the LOTUS website.
Our goal is also reach all age groups to participate in our activities. Our Community Advisory Board is actively looking for volunteer activities in the broader community. We would like to engage all ages starting with youth in middle school, young adults in the Universities and early professionals to partake in these activities. We also hope to get some recurring events such a Gita classes or Music training or other similar activities under the guidance of interested mentors. Please use https://Lotushawaii.org to provide feedback and suggestions on these activities.

On another positive note the Community Advisory Board unanimously recommended the nomination of Saguna Verma to fill the vacant position of Vice-President and she has graciously accepted this.  It is my distinct pleasure on behalf of the LOTUS leadership in welcoming her to this position.

Venkataraman Balaraman
President

LOTUS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization