Past President Message

Dear SMCians,

First of all a very Happy New Year to all of you. I would like to start with welcoming the new Executive Committee headed by Rukhshinda Hameedi. This is my last newsletter for 2011 – in which I want to give you the updates of all the projects we worked on last year.

I would like to start with the great news that we have registered SMCAANA as a non-profit corporation and are currently pending approval from IRS for our 501-C status. Our registration number is 0400453579 – I would like everyone to save this number, as this number will also be our 501-C number.

Our new website has been completed and it will be launched tomorrow. I would appreciate if you have any news or updates to share, please forward to our Executive Director – Mansoor Alam. I would also like the Executive Committee and the Class Presidents to give their messages with their photographs for posting on the website.

As a follow-up from our last newsletter, the new by-laws have been drafted. However, the By-laws Committee have decided to discuss the changes in the new by-laws at the next General Body Meeting before sending to the membership for approval. So please try to attend the next General Body Meeting in New York City so we can come to a conclusion.

Additionally, please see attached the link for the first ever electronic newsletter:

Also, I would like to invite and encourage everybody to attend the 2nd SMCAANA Annual Retreat from March 30 through April 1 in New York. It promises to be a fun, family event including a Broadway show, educational programs, Pakistani entertainment, and tasty meals.

Just a reminder, the 1987 SMC batch Silver Jubilee will be in July in Washnigton, DC and in December in Karachi, Pakistan. All 1987 Graduates, please do your best to attend and make it a success.

Another good news is that our fellow SMCIAN Shabbir Dharmasey (from 1986 SMC batch) has created a $100,000 trust in his parents’ name. Annually, all income from this trust will be used on a project or a scholarship for SMC graduates after approval from a committee consisting of President, SMCAANA, President, SMC Alumni Pakistan and Shabbir himself. Kudos to Shabbir !

2011 has been a great year financially for SMCAANA – we had a surplus for the year. A financial report for 2011 will be available on the website and will be presented at the General Body meeeting.

And finally, I would like to thank all the SMCIANS for a fantastic 2011. I have appreciated your support, encouragement, and feedback. However, I would like to single out a few people without whom I would not have had a successful year. These are: I. Zafar Hamid, Mansoor Alam, Umar Murad, Saeed Akhtar, Asif Chaudry, and APPNA President-Elect Javed Suleman.

2012 promises to be another great year for SMCAANA. We are in good hands with our new Executive Committee – please continue to actively contribute to your organization.

Kind Regards,
Aftab Ahmed, MD
President, SMCAANA