| Association of Kannada Kootas
of America (AKKA) was formed in February 1998 at the Kannada
Sammelana held in Phoenix, Arizona. Its main purpose is to integrate,
coordinate, network and unite the activities of all Kannadigas
in North America. To accomplish this, one of the events that
AKKA organizes is the bi-annual World Kannada Conferences with
the help of a Kannada Koota which is a Charter member of AKKA.
AKKA World Kannada Conferences provide a variety of opportunities
for all kinds of people. In addition to organizing the Literary
Forum wherein well known literary figures of our beloved Kannada
language are going to participate, there will be other forums
such as Women’s Forum, Youth Forum, Business Forum and
Continued Medical Education (CME). There will be a variety
of cultural programs consisting of music, dance and drama
from both amateur and professional artists. Also there will
be many types of vendor booths for shopping.
So far AKKA has successfully organized four World Kannada
Conferences (WKC). The first AKKA WKC2000 was held in Houston,
the second AKKA WKC2002 was held in Detroit, the third AKKA
WKC2004 was held in Orlando and the fourth AKKA WKC2006 was
held in Baltimore. Now to host the fifth AKKA WKC2008 which
coincides with AKKA’s 10th year anniversary, AKKA has
selected Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta of Chicago, Illinois (VKK).
VKK has selected us to lead this conference and we thank VKK
members for their confidence in us.
On behalf of VKK and AKKA, we take great pleasure in inviting
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Kannadigas worldwide to attend
the 5th AKKA WKC2008 to be hosted in Chicago, Illinois. We promise
to give you in this VKK hosted event, three memorable days in
this great city of Chicago during the Labor Day week end, August
28th, 29th and 30th of 2008. VKK is one of the oldest and
dynamic Kannada Kutas in America and as such expectations
will be high. VKK has outstanding track record of contributions
to Kannadigas and Karnataka by way of:
- Establishing the first Kannada Kuta Charitable Foundation
to help the deserving in Karnataka.
- Publishing twice annually ‘Sangama’, a magazine
acclaimed by one and all.
- Hosting Midwest Kannada Kutas Conference way back in
1992 and many more.
We will make every effort to see that your expectations are
met. The 5th AKKA WKC 2008 will be Theme based. The theme
is “Showcasing the Talents and Heritage of World Kannadigas”.
The conference will endeavor to truly reflect this theme.
We will showcase one thousand years of Karnataka’s glorious
past with an exhibition of audio/video displays, paintings,
artifacts, photographs, etc which will take you through the
Cholas to the great Vijayanagar Empire to the present Technology
revolution in the silicon valley of India. We want to make
all Kannadigas, especially the youth, proud of their heritage
and learn a lot about their roots. As far as celebrating the
talents, you will meet talented people in every walk of life
displaying their amazing talents whether it is in dance, music,
painting, acting and many more Fine Arts or people who have
excelled in |
the field of technology, management,
medicine, science, literature, social science and a host of
other fields. Then of course, we will give pride of place to
our youth in this conference. We want them to get to know the
abundant talents and knowledge available in Kannadigas all over
and also display their own talents by arranging programs of
their own. No Kannada Conference can be termed successful
without that delicious Karnataka food from all parts of Karnataka
and of course, plenty of coffee. You will be treated to quality
and tasty food which we hope will make you say “reminds
me of Amma’s cooking!’. A request. Please leave
your dieting at home for this week end please!
It will not just be a treat to your body and mind. The Charitable
events will tug your heart with outstanding social service
leaders telling you the amazing work that is being done to
uplift the poor in Karnataka by a lot of people both from
Karnataka and Kannadigas all across the world.
We are sure, the name of Chicago evokes the memory of that
great Swami Vivekananda. Chicago has a lot to offer by way
of sight seeing. Please do take this opportunity to make this
a vacation and try to spend a full week enjoying the sights
of this beautiful city. The web site gives you major attractions
in and around Chicago for young and adults alike.
So dear friends, we hope to see you all come in record numbers
to enjoy the hospitality of the VKK Kannadigas and experience
three days of entertaining, educative and illuminating fun
filled days here in this windy city of Chicago. You will have
a time of your life!
Thank You!!
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