The most commonly asked question when approached for ICA membership is 'What does it do for me', 'What do I get out of it?'. The usual answers are 'You get reduced rates to our events. You get our newsletter' etc. ICA membership is not about you or me. It is about us. It is about a community. Once you shift your focus in this way, you will no longer ask, 'What can my community do for me?', but rather, 'What can I do for my community?'.
To continue with the sentiments of our High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr.Bhudhwar, at our recent Farewell Dinner to him: A community is as successful or unsuccessful as it's members. The President is one person. The executive are a few people. But the success of the community will depend on you! You are the community. So when we ask you to become a member. We are not simply asking you for your money. We are asking for your SUPPORT. We are asking you for your participation. We are asking you for ideas. We are asking you to become involved. We are asking you to invest in you. To invest in your future, in the future of your children, of our children. We are the community. It is all we have... It is all we are.
If we ignore the real importance of what is at stake here, we will loose much more than the membership fee. We will loose our future. We will loose a place where Indo-Canadians can come together and share ideas, dance, music, culture, philosophy, experiences and support. We will not have future generations who know what Diwali is, what a mela is, when India became a Republic, what cricket is, what Bhangara/Bharat Natyam/ Raas-Garba is, what joy there is wearing the splendid colours of our national dress, how to put on a sari or lengah, savour a bhel puri, wear a bindi, dance to our national songs, sing our national anthem, pray our many prayers, or watch the biggest film industry in the world in action. We will not have a forum for our children and our children's children to explore, share and celebrate their unique experiences as Indo-Canadians. Your time and money directly makes all of these things happen.
The challenge is to develop a sense of identity, a sense of community like we have never had before. Why is this important for our generation and generations to come? The answer is simple; If you do not know where you are from, you do not know where you are going. A tree without it's roots will not grow. You may ask, 'Why should I give to ICA as opposed to another organization'? Give as much as you can to everyone. But always remember as our High Commissioner pointed out, ICA is the umbrella organization. We are such a divided people. We break ourselves up unnecessarily and for individual groups. There is power in numbers. There is power in unity. Our whole is greater than the sum of our parts my friends.
This year we want to do more than ever before. Half our executive is youth. Youth with ideas bigger and better than ever before. Show them you believe in them. Thank you for your time. We look forward to seeing you at all the ICA functions this year!
When you look into your heart, there are truly a million and one reasons to join ICA. |
