NetIP: Of speed dating and motivational speeches - Conference Coverage by Rediff & India Abroad

From speed dating to listening to thought provoking talks by professor Tarun Khanna of the Harvard Business School, over 800 members of the Network of Indian Professionals recently spent three days in Boston.

The 2008 Conference theme, 'Explore, Dream, Discover,' was aimed at inspiring and encouraging professionals to think and act beyond their perceived boundaries, conference leaders said. The conference sought to highlight the greater issues within the Indian Diaspora and in India, including the plight of malnourished children and the efforts of Akshay Patra to feed and empower them by ensuring that they stay in the schools.

The participants also heard a raft of entrepreneurs including Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande who in recent years has passionately committed himself to social entrepreneurship even while continuing to start new businesses year after year.

They marveled at 29-year-old Abhi Shah who spurned the traditional Harvard MBA route to Wall Street and runs a legal outsourcing company that he founded two years ago and which today has over 300 attorneys, legal aids and other workers in America and India.

And they admired Vikram Akula, who despite the opposition of traditional moneylenders and political forces, apart from Naxalites, runs across India a for-profit micro-financing organisation that makes out small loans of about $100 to thousands of women each month.

READ MORE ON REDIFF.COM

South Asians still few in law trades - NetIP Conference Article by India New England

By MARK CONNORS

When Judge Sabita Singh recently presided over a case tried by public defender Radha Natarajan, one of a small number of South Asian litigators in Massachusetts, Singh couldn’t help but feel the need to step in and help the attorney when law enforcement officials she was questioning became hostile.

“Look at [Natarajan], she’s tiny, and these [witnesses] were these big, broad guys who became borderline hostile, borderline disrespectful. And part of me wanted to step in and help her,” said Singh, who added that seeing powerful South Asian lawyers practicing in her courtroom is “an incredible experience.”

But Singh restrained herself. “I thought, what would that do to her credibility?” she said. “And so I didn’t do anything.”

Both Singh and Natarajan participated in the panel discussion, “South Asian Lawyers in the Public Eye,” as part of the 17th annual Network of Indian Professionals, or NetIP, conference, a national event held Aug. 29-31 at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel in Boston. Other panelists included: Manisha Bhatt, senior attorney for Greater Boston Legal Services; Tejal Mehta, assistant district attorney at the Middlesex County district attorney’s office; and Anuradha Yadav, a corporate attorney based in Atlanta.

Panelists agreed that South Asians are not well represented in the American legal community. “A lot of times when I walk into court, the first thing they ask me is if I’m the interpreter,” Natarajan said.

READ MORE ON INDIA NEW ENGLAND

2008 Conference Pictures are up on our website!

Pictures from the 2008 NetIP Conference in Boston are up on our conference website www.netipconference.org. Videos will be posted soon. Meanwhile if you want to share your own picture albums and/or videos you can do so on our conference forum. Discuss about Conference pictures and share your interesting, and funny moments at the conference!

Congratulations to our 2008 Boscar Winners

At the 17th Annual NetIP Conference this year, a new tradition was started. Boscar Awards were given as part of a red-carpet themed gala to recognize the remarkable achievements of our organization’s finest leaders and celebrate the true spirit of NetIP. Our chapter leaders often go unnoticed while tirelessly preparing events across North America and constructing NetIP’s reputation as a positive and meaningful organization. However, these chapter leaders are the primary reason for our success as a non-profit voluntary organization that has slowly and steadily expanded to have a presence in 23 cities across the US and Canada.

It was NetIP North America’s honor this year to realize the accomplishments of individuals that often times go unnoticed as we strive to be a united and high-performing community. This year, we brought the style, glamour and flair of Bollywood and the dignity, sophistication, and inspiration of the Oscars, and united them into one magnificent event: The BOSCARS.

As many of us have learned over the course of the 17th Annual Conference, if we can find time to develop our professional skills, build on important personal connections, and make a positive difference in our communities, we will find life much more exciting, and ultimately, more rewarding and fulfilling. The leaders and chapters recognized at this year’s first ever BOSCARS ceremony have demonstrated these important values.

Please join us in congratulating our 2008 BOSCAR winners:

• Best Community Service Event – Community Service Day by NetIP NY
• Best Overall Event – “Rape, Regret & Retribution”: a socio-cultural theatrical event by NetSAP Bosto
• Best Individual Officer (three-way tie): Purti Bali/NetSAP DC, Pallavi Chhabra/NetSAP Boston, Debashish Das/NetIP NY
• Best Large Chapter President – Seema Tejura & Samrat Kulkarni, Co-Presidents, NetIP NY
• Best Small Chapter President – Santosh Perla, President, NetIP Pittsburgh
• Best Officer Board - NetSAP DC
• Best Emerging Chapter – NetIP Phoenix
• Best Small Chapter – NetIP Pittsburgh (two-time consecutive winners of this award)
• Best Large Chapter – NetSAP Boston (three-time consecutive winners of this award)

The Many Firsts at the 2008 NetIP Conference

The 2008 NetIP conference showcased diversity and many firsts among South Asian organizations throughout North America.

The conference raised awareness about several causes in the community through a range of topics and speakers. One of the highlights of the conference was the Born Into Brothel - Kids with Cameras exhibition on Friday night (August 29th, 2008) for which NetIP raised over $1000 in just 2 hours. Apart from knowing about the conditions of children in the red light districts in India, supporting these children financially showed how serious the organization is about helping them.

Comments Rebecca Burton from Kids with Cameras, "Kids with Cameras was delighted to participate in the NetSAP Conference in Boston. It was a pleasure to see the attendees' response to the Calcutta Workshop exhibit and the Born Into Brothels screening. It was a pleasure to hear stories of the attendees' own relationship to India and to hear how the movie touched them. We are so appreciative that we were invited to participate in such a dynamic, organized and impactful conference. A special thanks goes out to Usha Govindarajulu for her organization of the event, to the conference committee for all of their help throughout the evening, and to all of the attendees who made a financial contribution."

Another volunteering event for hope foundation had over 100 conference attendees assembling toiletry kits for a local homeless shelter. Participation of over 8 non-profits at the alliance partner luncheon at the conference on Saturday, August 30th, signified the influential role of NetIP and NetSAP in bringing all these organizations together and its committment to the betterment of the community. Moreover keynote speakers and several panelists stressed on the importance of giving back to the community.

Gayathri, Associate Director of Development at The Immigrant Learning Center, who was attending a NetIP event after almost 10 years commented - "the weekend was a wonderful surprise- I felt a true sense of community and made new friends and re-connected with some old friends. What really struck me was how diverse a group the attendees all were and how many other artists I met, and how much of a focus on non-profits there was at the conference." Gayathri is now inspired to volunteer with NetSAP Boston and help grow the organization.

Movie screenings based on social issues and cultural chai chat panels on relationships, and identity brought many important issues to the fore. Attendees were engrossed, shared their personal stories and interacted with the panelists to learn their views. The conference was perhaps the first mainstream conference ever to bring awareness about the GLBT community. As Sarav Chitambaram, CEO of Mediafactory LLC and the first Gay to participate in an Indian Conference puts it "This is one more step towards achieving equality for the GLBT community and one more step closer to integration the Straight and GLBT South Asian communities."

Focus was also laid on mainstream topics such as finance, healthcare, law, politics, media and music which on the other hand also showed how certain speakers followed unconventional paths to follow their passion.

All these initiatives and several others at this conference have helped differentiate the 2008 Conference from the conferences in the past and have added value to the NetIP brand.

As Vivek Agrawal, another attendee from the conference says "NetIP just put on what will go down in Indian-American history as one of the seminal events of the early 21st century. The energy, professionalism, and networking, both social and professional, will inspire all other South Asian events in future!"

NetIP conference in Boston to draw industry stalwarts - Preview Article by Rediff

With the mantras 'Explore, Dream, Discover,' the 17th edition of the three-day Network of Indian Professionals in North America (NetIP) conference to be held in Boston offers to the 800 participants opportunities to hear industry leaders and stalwart professors, including Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande of Sycamore Networks; Tarun Khanna, professor at Harvard University Business School; and Vikram Akula of SKS Microfinance.

The August 29-31 event also has a strong dose of cultural activities featuring stand-up comics, the screening of socially conscious films such as Vanaja (whose producer and director Rajneesh Domalpalli is attending the event) and Anita Jain, the author of the comical and life-affirming memoir, Marrying Anita.

The event is organized by The Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP) and the national body NetIP.

"One of the things the speakers and discussions will emphasize on this year is how one can be cross-functional," said Tushneem Dharmagadda, the president of NetSAP and the co-chairman of the convention.

Read more at: http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/aug/25net.htm

Acting Workshop: Become a Superstar

Watch out for an acting workshop for beginning actors who are looking for a fun tutorial in basic acting skills! It will be held during the conference on Sunday, August 31 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. There will be 3 sessions held in parallel, each hosted by a different group or instructor: SAATh, SETU, and Naveen Naveen.

SAATh and SETU are both Boston-based South Asian theater groups who have each been in the area over 5 years putting on plays. Naveen Naveen is a professor of theater arts in Santa Monica, CA and has many years of theatre experience. Each group offers its own unique compilation of a beginner's acting workshop.

Each workshop can accomodate up to 16 people maximum so please check out the description of each on the website (www.netipconference.org) and decide which one fits you the best. Then come on Sunday as admittance to each workshop is on a first come, first serve basis. Don't miss out on your chance to become the next superstar!

Familiarize yourself with Parking and other Locations in & around the Venue

Please look at the Map below to familiarize yourselves with the Directions and the Parking information around the venue - Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

Ballrooms and Registration are located on the 3rd Floor in the Hotel

Click on the markers on the map below or view larger map for details about the locations.


View Larger Map

Press Release: 17th Annual NetIP Conference in Boston aims to bring the Indian Community together and inspire them to attain the pinnacle of success

Boston MA, August 24th, 2008 – The Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston is proud to host the 17th Annual Conference to be held in Boston, MA from Friday August 29th through Sunday August 31st, 2008. The conference is NetIP’s annual premier event and draws people from all over North America. The conference theme - “Explore. Dream. Discover.” will offer a unique experience for the South Asian professional community and inspire people to try something out of the ordinary.

This year, NetSAP Boston which is a two time winner of the best large chapter award and has a strong reputation and credibility in executing high-caliber quality events will partner with NetIP North America to execute this conference. The upscale conference will take place at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel off the Boston Harbor in the Seaport District.

Over 55 top-notch speakers from diverse backgrounds in Technology to Politics to the Arts will help drive the sessions at the conference. Some notable speakers include Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks, Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor from Harvard Business School, Vikram Akula, CEO and founder of SKS Microfinance, and Tim Murray, Lieutenant Governor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition to engaging the audience with their insights and experiences, these distinguished speakers will serve to inspire the professionals to go beyond perceived boundaries and reach new heights.

The keynotes at the conference will be interspersed with over 12 different breakout sessions and other entertainment segments. The breakout sessions are ideal in that they provide ample options for attendees to choose from whether they seek to grow professionally or entertain a field or sector they are interested in pursuing or are passionate about. Moreover, the conference has clearly incorporated the Explore, Dream, Discover themes in its programming by incorporating various hands-on workshops, a mini- film festival and numerous creative networking opportunities. These sessions at the conference include Art exhibitions, Documentary screenings, and panels on Finance, Healthcare, Social Entrepreneurship, Socio-Cultural issues and Global opportunities.

Apart from the intellectually stimulating sessions, the conference also boasts of the best entertainment options including a Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey on Saturday and a Red Carpet themed gala on Sunday which will have entertainers like Rajiv Satyal and Rasika Mathur doing Stand-up comedy, Boston Bhangra, and other renowned groups. Optional events such as Wine n Greet, Duck Tour and the exclusive tour of Institute of Contemporary Arts will provide more options to attendees.

The conference has already created lot of excitement in the community and registrations have already been sold out early. Kishore Mosaliganti, an attendee who registered early for the conference says, "The distinguished speakers are the most exciting thing for me. I am interested in knowing what their ideas are and what they are upto. The conference is also a melting pot where you can meet people from different walks of life.”

“I am excited about the conference and would definitely recommend it to others! I attended the NetIP Conference in Boston in 2002 and found it to be a wonderful experience. I think the unique combination of Boston's great cultural and social opportunities combined with NetSAP Boston's strengths as a chapter will make this a great conference!” commented Prema Srinivasan, another attendee who registered for the conference.

Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks and a philanthropist, who is a keynote speaker at the conference, commended NetSAP Boston on its effort – “NetIP and NetSAP have fostered lasting friendships among its members. This friendship has formed a strong foundation for building a national network to support each other professionally and socially. NetSAP members have demonstrated the spirit of giving back to the communities in which they live and work. I wish them success in their endeavors to establish a legacy for present and future generations of young South Asians.”

The 17th Annual NetIP Conference would not be possible with the support of the many volunteers and partner organizations who are dedicated to making a difference in their community. The conference team is led by Tushneem Dharmagadda who is the Conference Co-Chair and President of NetSAP Boston, and Sundip Arora who is the Conference Co-Chair and VP Events for NetIP North America. The core team that includes Shobhit Chugh for Content, Swarupa Purandare for Sponsorship, Pallavi Chhabra for Logistics and Aruna Paramasivam for Marketing are supported by over 45 volunteers in their efforts. Conference partners include Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE), South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (SABA), US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) and Boston Bhangra.

The conference promises to bring many South Asians together and focus on key relevant issues that we face today – something that everyone from the community should be looking forward to participate in. More information about the conference can be found at www.netipconference.org

India New England: Network of Indian Professionals brings national event to Hub

A recent preview article of the conference by India New England!

The Network of Indian Professionals is bringing its national conference back to Boston. NetIP, which represents South Asian professionals living throughout North America, will hold its 17th annual conference in Boston August 29-31, the first time the event has been in the Hub since 2002.

The conference is organized for the first time in equal partnership with the group’s local chapter, the Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston, or NetSAP. The event will feature the theme “Explore. Dream. Discover.” Organizers said they hope to inspire attendees to try something out of the ordinary.

“We touch on wildly different topics like technology, art and social entrepreneurship,” said NetSAP President Tushneem Dharmagadda. “Our goal is to expose attendees to different things.”

Read more here

Register Only for CME, CPE and CLE Accredited Panels for $30

Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston and the Network of Indian Professionals of North America invite you to join us for an afternoon of interactive accredited sessions at the NetIP Conference.

CME, CPE and CLE Accredited Panels
2:30pm – 6:30pm, Friday, 29th August
Presenters:
Dr. Sam Shekhar, Ajay Gohil, Jim Magner, Peter Quinn, Dr. JoAnne M. Foody, Dr. Ami Parekh

In partnership with Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE ), and South Asian Bar Association (SABA), NetIP Conference hosts Continued Medical Education (CME), Continued Professional Education (CPE), and Continued Legal Education (CLE) Accredited Sessions.

These sessions will be followed by an *exclusive networking event.*

Listed below are the various CME/CPE/CLE topics & sessions at the conference.
• What Every Physician Needs to Know to Set up Their Practice (CME/CPE/CLE)
• Healthcare Law & Policy Update 2008 (CME)
• Executive Benefits & Programs (CPE)
• Risk Management and Professional Ethics (CLE/CME)
• Diabetes & CardioVascular Health in South Asians (CME)
• Protecting Public Health in the US (CME)

More details about these sessions at http://www.netipconference.org/schedule.php

Come network with other professionals, learn and enhance your resume.

Register ONLY for these sessions for $30
http://www.netipconference.org/continued-education

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

THESE SESSIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR REGISTERED CONFERENCE ATTENDEES

"Born into Brothels" - Kids with Cameras art exhibition and fundraiser

Come see this amazing art exhibition and participate in the fundraiser for "Kids with Cameras" from the documentary film, Born into Brothels. A rare opportunity to see the artwork from the children in Calcutta supported by the Kids with Cameras project. The art exhibition and fundraiser will be held on Friday, August 29 beginning at 7:30 pm during the Annual NetIP 2008 conference.

Background
Zana Briski had no intention of teaching anybody anything when she went to live among the women and children of Calcutta's red-light district. But from the start, the kids in the brothels were wildly curious about her camera. Zana set aside her own project of photographing the women in the brothels and, over the course of a three-year period, led a photography workshop attended by sometimes eight, sometimes nine children. This exhibition represents the work produced during that time. The goal of the workshop was to provide a safe place for the kids to be themselves, to learn, to have a lot of fun and, in the process, to come to believe in their own worth. Slowly, they came to recognize and accept the permission they'd been given "to be as big as they really are," she says. The workshops and the children are the subject of Born into Brothels, directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman. Born into Brothels won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Kids with Cameras
In 2002, Zana founded Kids with Cameras just as the Calcutta workshop was coming to an end. As a non-profi t organization, it exists to carry on the legacy of that first group, igniting kids imaginations through photography and empowering marginalized children to explore and celebrate the fullness of who they are. Kids with Cameras has provided support to gifted photographers to lead children? workshops in other parts of the world. The organization is also sponsoring the development of a home for children in the red-light district.To learn more about the work Kids with Cameras is doing to educate and empower children, and to buy prints from this show, please visit http://www.kids-with-cameras.org. All proceeds from purchases go to support the children's education.

REGISTRATION CLOSING EARLY!

WE ARE LOOKING AT CLOSING CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AS SOON AS WE SELL OUT TONIGHT!

As of now, please be advised that we are close to selling out so registration would most likely close at 9 PM tonight!

Dress Code For Conference Attendees

Here are the dress codes for Conference Attendees. Make sure you pack the clothing when you head out to the conference!

DRESS CODE
The NetIP conference team reserves the right to refuse admission for non-adherence of the below suggested dress code for the weekend.

Daytime Sessions:
In an effort to maintain a professional atmosphere, we require Business Casual attire for all daytime sessions. Please refrain from wearing shorts, baseball caps, flip flops, halter cut tops, sun dresses, torn/frayed denim, club wear and any other inappropriate workplace attire.

Friday Night:
Dress to Impress with an emphasis on a Tropical Theme to kick off the conference in high spirits and vivid colors to mark the end of the summer.

Saturday Optional Events Attire:
Trendy Casual where the choice to be comfortable or elegant is yours to make!

Saturday Night:
Cocktail Attire with a strong recommendation toward jackets for men and dresses for women.

Sunday Evening:
Black Tie Optional or Eastern/Western Formal with an emphasis on a Maharaja-Maharani Theme.

Wine N' Greet (Speed Dating) is Sold Out! ICA & Duck Tour still open!

The Wine N' Greet at the Conference is SOLD OUT for Ladies. We have very few slots open for guys and these will sell out soon. So if you have not registered yet we encourage you to do it soon.

There will not be any sign ups for Wine N' Greet at the door since this is a limited seating optional event (for 200 Only).

Try other Optional Events where you may have better opportunity to meet people! 400 other attendees will make it to these optional events on Saturday. Thats over 3/4ths of the total attendees!

Registration for the Duck Tour or the Exclusive Tour of the Institute of Contemporary Arts is still open. These events provide an opportunity for you to network with like-minded individuals in a setting where you will also enjoy Boston or the Art work by Anish Kapoor!

REGISTER NOW FOR DUCK TOUR OR ICA TOUR!
Before they are sold out!

Grand Duck Tour
Experience the exclusive tour of Boston by land and water aboard the legendary "DUCKS", a World War II amphibious landing vehicle.

The fun begins as soon as you board your DUCK. First, you'll be greeted by one of the legendary tour ConDUCKtors, who'll be narrating your tour. Then you're off on a journey like you've never had before. You'll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill and the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig, Government Center to fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and more. And, as the best of Boston unfolds before your eyes, your ConDUCKtor will be giving you lots of little known facts and interesting insights about our unique and wonderful city.

Exclusive Tour of Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is an engineering marvel! Located on Boston's waterfront, the ICA has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for seventy years. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas.

Anish Kapoor's Thrilling and Seductive Sculptures
On Display at the ICA
Anish Kapoor: Past, Present, Future assembles 14 works made since 1980, a period in which Kapoor's sculptures and installations have grown increasingly ambitious and complex. An exclusive tour of the ICA has been arranged for the NetIP conference attendees and can be purchased as an optional event.

Know the Team behind this Conference!

Thousands of man-hours have gone into creating this conference and a number of people have worked hard to make this a reality. Learn more about the Team behind this conference.

All these individuals are very passionate about contributing back to the community i.e. you!

Registration Packages Mailed Out

The first set of registration passes were mailed out last week. For those of you who registered before August 7th and had selected & paid for the "mail package" option, please expect to receive the registration materials this week.

For everyone else, you'll receive your registration materials later this week or early next week (August 25th)

Please note that today (August 17th) is the last day to sign up for the mailing option. For those of you arriving later on Friday evening, we highly recommend that you select to have your conference registration materials mailed to your home ahead of time for your convenience. This will ensure that you will be able to participate in Friday evening activities and also reduce the time and hassle of waiting in lines at the hotel upon arrival. This option is available to you until Sun, Aug 17th, for a small fee of $6. If you've signed up for the conference and would like to now sign up for the mailing option, please email me at conferenceinfo@netip.org


We have almost sold out the conference and are excited to see such enthusiasm for the "best" NetIP conference ever.

Sundip

Watch the Official Conference Promo Videos

These promos are also running on Sahara One South Asian channel




Video with Burlington Taiko:



Have you registered yet? Registration closes in a few days and prices go up to $349 this weekend!

Anita Jain gets rave reviews!!

Anita Jain, our speaker at the Marrying Anita: Book Reading by Anita Jain panel on Sunday morning, has been getting rave reviews from the press for her book. Here are some places to read more about her:

1. Anita was featured in NPR's radio show "On Point" program August 5 (11:00 am-12 EST). You can read more about it here

2. She appeared recently on the Southern California's "Airtalk with Larry Mantle" August 11 (11:40-12 PST)

3. She was also featured on BBC, appearing in BBC World Asia Today program

More blog references can be found here. Or best - come to the 17th Annual NetIP Conference 2008, and meet her live, in-person

Will you be the one to miss out? Win BadKarma Tees and iPod by registering this weekend!

Don't Be The One at Home Receiving the Text Messages.....

Don't Be the One At Home Looking at the Photos on Facebook.....

For all registrations received this weekend, qualify for a chance to win trendy and cool BadKarma Tees worn by South Asian celebs like Russell Peters, Jay Sean, Kal Penn & Raghav

Or a win a hip iPod to listen to your favorite Bollywood tunes...

Experience the 2008 NetIP Conference

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Join 850 other professionals this labor day weekend to Explore. Dream. Discover.

Registrations are selling out, so register now!

Prices go up on AUG 8th, So Hurry Up

Thank you to our Sponsors - State Farm Insurance and Sun Microsystems. More NetIP Sponsorship Opportunities!

We would like to thank State Farm for supporting the NetIP Conference once again as a Gold Sponsor this year!



We would also like to thank Sun Microsystems for coming back to sponsor the NetIP Conference as a Silver Sponsor!


Also thanks to all our other Silver Sponsors at the NetIP Conference this year!


We are still seeking Sponsors and several Sponsorship opportunities are available! More details at http://www.netipconference.org/sponsors.php

Announcing Program Brochure Sponsorships

Quarter Page Ad - $400
Half Page Ad - $700
Full Page Ad - $1200

Last date to sign up for Brochure Sponsorship is August 5th 2008. Contact us today at sponsorship@netipconference.org . Take advantage of this opportunity!

Special Price Promotion Extended to Monday (7/21) Midnight

We apologize to those who could not register on Sunday as the website was down for a very short period due to the overwhelming registration response that we received. We are extending our weekend promotion one more day to end on Monday (7/21) at midnight PST.

Register for the 'weekend-only sale' price here

PRICES GO UP TONIGHT - REGISTER NOW

Our Weekend-only price break ends tonight (Sunday, 7/20) at midnight

Don't miss your opportunity to save even more $$ by taking advantage of this weekend-only promotion. We have added even more classy entertainment, more speakers and more networking opportunities -- more than ever before -- take a look at the updated schedule

PRICES WILL GO UP SO REGISTER NOW

Anish Kapoor's thrilling and seductive sculptures at display at the ICA in Boston, an optional event at the conference

The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston is proud to present "Anish Kapoor: Past, Present, Future" This hugely popular piece assembles 14 works made since 1980, a period in which Kapoor's sculptures and installations have grown increasingly ambitious and complex.

An exclusive tour of the ICA has been arranged for the NetIP conference attendees and can be purchased as an optional event. Spots are limited so please register early!

ICA is the first U.S. museum survey of Kapoor's art in more than 15 years, and the first ever to be seen on the East Coast, the exhibition premieres a new resin sculpture and features many pieces on view for the first time in this country.

In the hands of sculptor Anish Kapoor, forms become at once monumental and evanescent, present and absent, physical and ethereal. Whether using the materials of classical sculpture like stone and bronze or newly applied forms of aluminum, pigment, enamel, resin, polymer, and PVC, Kapoor's sculpture seems to disappear, dissolve, levitate, or extend beyond a space the viewer can perceive.

The sculptor, born in Bombay and based in London, is perhaps best known in the U.S. for Cloud Gate, a permanent 110-ton sculpture of highly-polished stainless steel created for Chicago's Millennium Park, and Sky Mirror, a breathtaking, 35-foot-diameter concave mirror that was shown in 2006 at Rockefeller Center in New York. Kapoor emerged as one of a highly inventive generation of British sculptors during the 1980s, and since then has created a body of work that has married a modernist sense of pure materiality with a fascination for the manipulation of form and the perception of space.

Registration for the conference and optional events available here

Rohan Sippy + Early Bird Registration SOLD OUT! + Rasika Mathur + Want Free Registrations? + Thank You Team

Folks - These are hectic yet exciting times for the 2008 NetIP Conference team and with the conference less than 6 weeks away, there are a lot of thrilling updates to report!


Rohan Sippy to Keynote at Conference


Rohan Sippy, Bollywood director of hits such as 'Kuch Naa Kahoo' & 'Bluffmaster' will be attending and keynoting the NetIP Conference. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet this dynamic Director and Producer

Stay tuned or check out the official conference website for more information


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Early Bird Registration SOLD OUT & "Trend-Setter" Priced Registrations Selling Out Fast!

For the first time in the 17 year history of the conference, we sold out the early bird registration this quickly. There are three more pricing levels and the "Trend-Setter" registration prices are only valid for the next 150 registrants.. this is already down to less than 50 remaining! Check out the registration page and lock your spot now

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MTV's Rasika Mathur at the NetIP Conference!


Rasika Mathur is known for breaking stereotypes and I think is one of the funniest Indian female comics on the planet! She features on MTV's Wild n' Out show and was most recently seen in a cameo role on NBC's 'My Name is Earl'.. we are pleased to announce that Rasika will be joining us at the conference... I'll fill you in on more details later! In the meantime, check her website out - http://www.rasikamathur.com/


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That's just the beginning! Over 55 other brilliant speakers including Sharad Devarajan, CEO of Virgin Comics; Chitra Banerjee, Award-Winning Author; Prassana, Famous Guitarist & Composer; Vivek Kundra, CTO; Tarun Khanna from Harvard Business School; Desh Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks; Tim Murray, Lt. Governor of Massachusetts.... and many many more!

**Exciting panels that are engaging and thought provoking; hands-on workshops

** FREE Accredited sessions for CPE/CME/CLE

** Entertainment into the wee hours including a cruise on the luxurious Odyssey, a Salsa Band, a Jazz Band, Stand-up comedy by Rajiv Satyal and Rasika Mathur, a TAIKO Drums Band (YES!! will post details once confirmed), an Oscars-like night called Boscars, after parties at the best Boston Nightclubs and of course Bhangra by the one and only Boston Bhangra :)

** Unique networking opportunities including a singles meet event called Wine n Greet, pre-conference happy hours, exclusive networking sessions for CPE/CME attendees

** Enjoy everything Boston has to offer! Stay at the ultra-chic, modern and newly constructed Renaissance by the Waterfront for a special discounted rate for registrants

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If we've still not convinced you, let's try this - Want Free Registration and Hotel Stays at the Conference?
check this out - http://netipna.blogspot.com/2008/06/get-free-conference-registrations-and.html

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A Big Thank You to the Team!

There are over 35 volunteers helping put together one of the best conferences in NetIP's history.. they make it all possible. Check the entire team out at our website

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More reasons to attend - "Where do you want to spend your next holiday"

If you are looking for sponsorship opportunity, contact sponsorship@netipconference.org or visit our sponsorship page

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Tim Murray, Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, to kick-off the NetIP Conference

The NetIP conference team proudly announces that Tim Murray, the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will kick off the conference with a keynote address on Saturday, August 30th. Lt. Governor Murray, alongside Governor Deval Patrick have been at the cornerstone of various initiatives creating jobs, improving public education and protecting our environment in Massachusetts.

Throughout his public career, Tim Murray has taken on the tough challenges of economic development, improving public education, protecting the environment and making government more responsive to every citizen.
Prior to his election as Lieutenant Governor, Tim was first elected to the Worcester City Council in 1997 and became mayor in 2001. He served as mayor of Massachusetts’ second largest city for three terms. Under Tim’s leadership, Worcester experienced unprecedented progress, with $1 billion of new economic development projects that are helping to transform an older industrial city into one that is well-positioned to lead and grow in the new economy.
As mayor, Tim chaired the Worcester School Committee and helped make that city’s schools among the best urban school systems in the nation. Tim built community partnerships to lower drop-out rates, launch school-based health initiatives and expand after-school programs to support working families. As Lieutenant Governor, Tim works closely with Governor Patrick on the important issues facing our Commonwealth.

Visit the Lt. Governor's page here

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In addition to the Lt. Governor, the conference boasts over 55 top-notch speakers, a cerative schedule, hands-on workshops and truly unique networking opportunities! Check out the schedule and list of speakers here

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Interested in sponsoring opportunities at the 17th Annual NetIP Conference?

Visit the sponsorship page orcontact the sponsorship chair at sponsorship@netipconference.org for more information

Announcing Rajiv Satyal, "the funny Indian", to entertain at the Boscar themed Gala!

Hot off the press! Rajiv Satyal, the super funny stand-up/MC extraordinaire will be hosting the red carpet gala event at the conference.

Rajiv Satyal is the small, bespectacled Indian guy from Ohio whose witty, universal, and TV-clean act resonates with Middle America by covering everything from racial issues to soap bottles to his favorite topic – himself. This former engineer and P&G marketer has repeatedly opened for Dave Chappelle, Kevin Nealon, and also for Russell Peters in sold-out auditoriums across the U.S.A. Peters recently named Rajiv as 1 of only 2 Indian American “comics to watch.” You can find Rajiv acting in commercials, doing improv, on Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes?, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, co-headlining the Hindu-Muslim comedy tour “Make Chai Not War,” and online managing comedic content for DesiYou.com, admiring himself on his Funny Indian Fan Club on Facebook, or at http://www.myspace.com/funnyindian and http://www.funnyindian.com/.

United Airlines and Amtrak discounts for registrants

We are pleased to announce additional discounts for travellers to Boston for the conference -

Airline : United Airlines
Discount code : 584CI
Discount provided : upto 15%
How to book : Purchase your ticket online at www.united.com and receive a 5% discount off the lowest applicable fares. After you link to www.united.com, enter your origin and destination, travel dates. Click on more search options and enter your promotion code number 584CI; then we will display the available flights. There are no fees for booking on line at www.united.com when you use the special promotion code. Code is case sensitive so please use capital letters.

Amtrak Discount
Discount code : X34T-940
Discount provided : 10% off lowest price
How to book : To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1 (800) 872-7245 or contact your local travel agent. Conventions cannot be booked via Internet. Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. Ensure the lowest registration prices and best travel deals by registering today!

Early Bird Registration NOW OPEN & Other Updates

As promised, early bird registration has opened for the member-only 17th Annual NetIP Conference.

These extra special registration prices are only valid for the first 100 registrants. Prices will go up after the initial phase, so avail of these discounts --- REGISTER NOW

Benefits of registering early

• Heavily discounted early bird pricing reserved for the first 100 registrants.
• In addition to these heavily discounted prices, the first 50 people to register will get a complimentary copy of Tarun Khanna's Billions of Entrepreneurs which gives you THE INSIDE STORY About Today's Fiercest Competitors, China & India.
• Make sure you register for the optional events- 'Wine n Greet', Duck Tours, ICA tours. With limited space, these optional events are sure to sell out soon. Register now and get yourself locked in with one of these optional events
• Plan early and get great airfares -- take a look at our exclusive airline discounts

With over 55 excellent speakers, sessions and workshops in addition to a host of quality entertainment and networking options, you cannot afford to miss this conference.

REMEMBER: Registration prices will go up after the first 100 early bird registrants! Don't miss the huge discount --- REGISTER NOW

Get FREE Conference Registrations and Hotel Stays

Registration for one of the most anticipated NetIP Conference ever will be opening soon! Check our website and continue to monitor our blog for the latest updates.


Want COMPLIMENTARY registrations and hotel stays in Boston?

You can get one FREE registration and two nights hotel OR two FREE registrations by helping out with the conference.

Simply help us secure a Silver or higher sponsor for the 2008 Conference and your registration and hotel stay is on us! You can get all the information on conference sponsorship options at http://www.netipconference.org/sponsors.php. Reach out to the sponsorship team NOW at sponsorship@netipconference.org

Airline discounts established for conference registrants

We are pleased to announce that we've established relationships with major airlines for discounts to conference registrants. Details below -

Airline : American Airlines
Discount code : A5288AX
Discount provided : 5%
How to book : http://www.aa.com/ or by phone: 1-800-433-1790

Airline : Continental
Discount codes : Refer to Z Code ZEFW and Agreement Code AHBFTY if booking through a travel professional or MeetingWorks OR insert ZEFWAHBFTY in the Offer Code box if booking on http://www.continental.com/
Discount provided : 2% - 15%
How to book : Call your travel professional or Continental MeetingWorks at 800-468-7022 for reservations. Save an additional 3% off by booking your own reservations at http://www.continental.com/. Choose your flight times and access your meeting discounts by inserting ZEFWAHBFTY in the Offer Code box

Our goal is to get pricing discounts from other major airlines such as Delta, Northwest, United, etc. as well. We will publish those as soon as they are arranged. Book your travel early!
Thanks to Arvind Raghavan and the sponsorship team for spearheading this effort.

Conference registration opens on Thursday, June 12th! Be sure to avail of very special and limited early bird pricing and complimentary copies of "Billions of Entrepreneurs" by Tarun Khanna . Come back on June 12th and register early to avail of all these benefits.

Visit our website, subscribe to our blog or sign up for our newsletter to be informed about all the updates

Thanking our Sponsors & Partners so far...

With less than three months to go to the "Best NetIP Conference ever", I wanted to take a moment to thank sponsors and partners that have signed up so far to support our cause. Sponsoring the NetIP conference is a great way to show your support for the strong South Asian professional community in America and benefit from the visibility gained throughout the year.

Silver Sponsors:

Bharat Matrimony

BharatMatrimony.com, the world’s leading matrimony portal, has a network to over 10 million registered members around the globe including the US, India, Dubai, Canada and the UK. The company won a place in the Limca Book of Records for arranging the highest number of marriages online. Beyond matrimony, the BharatMatrimony.com group also operates clickjobs.com, Indianproperty.com, Indianautomobile.com, Indialist.com and Bharatbloodbank.com.

August Properties Pvt. Ltd

Based in Bangalore, India, August Properties offers premier properties exhibiting high levels of quality, detailing and comfort. Their developments are distinguished by good workmanship, timely construction and modern features.

August Ventures Pvt. Ltd is part of a business group with interest in Coffee plantations, Beverages, Hospitality etc..., in addition to causes like Education. This company under this group will focus on property development. The company is based at Bangalore.

Media Partner:

Sahara One

Sahara One provides the best in South Asian entertainment (Filmy, Samay), reaching over 100,000 households worldwide. Sahara One featuring programming of all types including non-fiction, mega events, children’s shows and feature films. It also broadcasts special programs such as Health & Fitness, community-based news and sports. Sahara One is available 24 hours a day in the US, Canada and Europe.

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More Sponsorship Packages Available! If you would like to support the organization and have your company or product marketed to over 500,000 patrons, please visit the official conference sponsorship webpage for more details or write to sponsorship@netipconference.org. The NetIP Conference represents the largest gathering of young South Asian Professionals in America. Don't miss this opportunity - BE THERE!

NetIP Conference website is launched...

We just launched the NetIP Conference website www.netipconference.org a week ago. The website has tons of information on it and we are constantly updating it. The registration is expected to open in the 1st week of June. Meanwhile, sign up for our newsletter so that you can be updated about the latest.

Shabana Azmi to speak at the NetIP Conference in Boston

Yes, you read it right! We are delighted to announce that Shabana Azmi will be speaking at the 17th Annual NetIP Conference this year. Shabana Azmi is one of the most accomplished actresses in parallel cinema, a social activist - winner of the Gandhi International Peace Prize, and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House in Indian Parliament).


With Desh Deshpande, Tarun Khanna, Shabana Azmi and 50 other prominent speakers, the NetIP Conference promises to be more exciting than ever. Not to forget, we also have a Dinner Cruise and other fabulous entertainment options for our attendees.

This is not all. Our content team is working hard to shape some interesting topics with top-notch speakers. So be ready for more interesting announcements as we get closer to the conference!

If you have any suggestions for topics, speakers that you'd like to see or generic comments about content feel free to contact Shobhit Chugh at shobhit.chugh@netsapboston.org or Tushneem Dharmagadda at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org

We are also looking for sponsors to support this conference. Read more about sponsorship opportunities and reach out to us!

Subscribe to our blog or sign up for our newsletter to be informed about these happening updates!

Calling All Sponsors - take advantage of the unique visibility opportunity to a key South Asian demographic

• Would you like to showcase your products and/or services to an elite audience of upwards of 850 South Asian professionals?
• Do you want to have unsurpassed visibility with highly educated and upwardly mobile young Indian professionals, who earn an average of the $75,000-$100,000 a year?
• Would you like to support the vibrant South Asian community?
• Would you like year-long visibility on conference website, conference program book and sponsor recognition in NetIP National Conference newsletters sent to over 50,000+ members?
• Would you like to 'Explore.Dream.Discover.' in 2008 at the largest gathering of young South Asian professionals in North America?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, we want to talk with you/your organization about sponsorship and partnership opportunities at the 17th Annual NetIP Conference in Boston.

With 23 chapters, almost 5000 members, and over 50,000 patrons throughout North America’s largest cities, NetIP is the leading non-profit South Asian professional organization with which sponsors can partner. Come support the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the overall achievement of young South Asian professionals.

There are plenty of unique sponsorship opportunities and levels still available. Contact sponsorship@netipconference.org or sundip@netip.org and let's TALK!


About the Conference

The Annual NetIP Conferences draw over 1000 people every year and are supported by small to large global companies from across various sectors. This year over 55 top-notch speakers and interactive programming categorized by corporate, professional, community, cultural, and political themes will engage the minds and ideas of 850 diverse participants over three days.
Moreover, this year, the conference is being led by a dynamic team of top community leaders who bring enormous experience and a track record of execution. Not surprisingly, the 17th Annual conference is touted to be recognized as one of the best NetIP conferences’ in recent history.

Sponsorship Chair : Swarupa Purandare
Conference Co-Chairs: Sundip Arora and Tushneem Dharmagadda

Conference Registration Update

As excitement grows for one of the year's biggest conference for South Asian professionals, we are receiving many enquiries regarding registration. The 2008 conference team is working overtime to ensure that we provide unmatched value to registrants through exceptional programming, unique networking opportunities and rich entertainment options. We expect to open general early bird registration by the last week of May or early June. The coming weeks will help us refine and finalize registration price levels and ensure the best value!

more to follow...

Odyssey Cruise with Entertainment & Dining - An Unforgetable Experience!

It is with great excitement that we announce the Odyssey Cruise on Saturday, 30th August at the 17th Annual NetIP Conference in Boston.

This 3 hour cruise starting from the historic Boston Harbor will provide a total entertainment experience with a menu of creative hors d'euvres, appetizers, entrees and desserts, spacious dance floors and live music, and spectacular views of Boston.

The cruise comes at no extra cost and is included in your conference registration. Join over 800 fellow conference attendees on this cruise to celebrate and rejoice!

Get ready for the most amazing experience of your lifetime!

Conference Hotel - The Renaissance Boston Waterfront - Opens as Scheduled

The luxurious Renaissance Boston Waterfront , the official conference hotel opened its doors on 18th February, 2008 as scheduled.

"As the newest addition to the Boston Harbor, this sophisticated downtown Boston hotel stylishly reflects the vibrancy and aqua-elegance of the ocean. The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel blends contemporary design with state-of-the-art technological enhancements, setting a new industry standard in innovation. Inspired by the sea, this newly acclaimed Boston Harbor hotel boasts luxurious guestrooms with the latest amenities and offers breathtaking ocean vistas."

The conference logistics team visited this spectacular hotel last week and was duly impressed by its elegant/chic decor and everything the hotel has to offer including meeting facilities, luxurious rooms and a wealth of amenities. Located less than 3 miles from Boston Logan Airport at the historic Boston Seaport District, the Conference attendees will have easy access to the best Boston has to offer like Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Logan Airport, and the Financial District.

Brand new luxurious hotel + Highly discounted rates for Conference registrants + Brilliant views of the city and Boston Harbor + Central location = The absolute best location to host the 17th Annual NetIP Conference in Boston!!

The excitement builds....

Dr. Tarun Khanna from Harvard Business School to Keynote at the Conference

We are glad to announce that Dr. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, will be a keynote speaker at the NetIP Conference on Saturday, 30th August.
Dr. Khanna works with entrepreneurs, companies and NGOs in emerging markets worldwide. In 2007, he was elected a Young Global Leader (under 40) by the World Economic Forum.

Dr. Khanna has served as course head of the required Strategy course in the Harvard MBA program, and chaired the executive education program on Strategy, Leadership & Governance. Currently, he teaches in Harvard’s comprehensive general management executive education programs. His current research focuses on understanding the drivers of entrepreneurship worldwide. As part of the Emerging Giants project, he seeks to understand how to build world-class companies from emerging markets worldwide.

Professor Khanna’s work has been profiled in news-magazines around the world, including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, the Far Eastern Economic Review, and newspapers in China, India, and elsewhere in Asia and Latin America. He has been a frequent commentator on ‘Competing in, and from, China and India’ and ‘Building the Developing country Multinational’ on several TV and radio programs recently (NPR, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Voice of America, Bloomberg and local channels).

In his recently published book Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and India Are Reshaping Their Futures and Yours, Professor Khanna explores the likely evolution of the Chinese and Indian models and the implications for the world.

China, India, and Your Future

China and India are home to one-third of the world's population. And they're undergoing social and economic revolutions that are capturing the best minds and money of Western business. In Billions of Entrepreneurs, Tarun Khanna examines the entrepreneurial forces driving China's and India's trajectories of development. He shows where these trajectories overlap and complement one another--and where they diverge and compete. He also reveals how Western companies can participate in this development.

Through intriguing comparisons, the author probes important differences between China and India in areas such as information and transparency, the roles of capital markets and talent, public and private property rights, social constraints on market forces, attitudes toward expatriates abroad and foreigners at home, entrepreneurial and corporate opportunities, and the importance of urban and rural communities. He explains how these differences will influence China's and India's future development, what the two countries can learn from each other, and how they will ultimately reshape business, politics, and society in the world around them.

Engaging and incisive, this book is a critical resource for anyone working in China or India or planning to do business in these two countries.

Seeking help with Sponsors for the Conference

Our conference team is busy planning various aspects of the conference from content to marketing to logistics. Moreover, our Finance and Sponsorship teams are working very hard to keep the costs low (including the registration prices) and secure sponsors to offset many expenses...

The NetIP conference which attracts over 850 attendees from across the US and Canada, provides many benefits for sponsors, big or small. Be it corporate branding and visibility, diversity initiatives and outreach, or talent acquisition, our member demography is an ideal target that Corporations can tap into. While our sponsorship packet (email us to get it) lists several packages, we are more than happy to create customized packages based on the needs of the sponsor. We are committed to delivering the best value to companies for their sponsorship dollars.

In this endeavor, we seek your help in bringing more sponsors to the 2008 NetIP Conference. If you know potential sponsors or if you are a potential sponsor yourself please contact Swarupa Purandare, Sponsorship Chair or Sundip Arora, Conference Co-Chair at sponsorship@netipconference.org

There are quite a few incentives for you to help us with sponsorship. Contact us to discuss more.

Announcing Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande as Keynote Speaker

We are glad to announce that Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande will be our opening keynote speaker at the 2008 NetIP Conference.

Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande is co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks, Inc. Dr. Deshpande is an influential technology entrepreneur and visionary whose companies and ideas often reshape entire industries. Led by Dr. Deshpande's vision and direction, Sycamore has helped create a fundamental paradigm shift in the role and architecture of the optical network.

Dr. Deshpande is also widely respected for his contributions to education and the greater community. Dr. Deshpande serves as a member of the MIT Corporation, and his generous donations have made possible MIT's Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation. On the community front, The Deshpande Foundation, which is the family foundation of Gururaj (“Desh”) and Jaishree Deshpande is a leading philanthropic foundation in Massachusetts and India in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and international development.

Prior to co-founding Sycamore Networks, Dr. Deshpande was founder and chairman of Cascade Communications Corp. Between 1991 and 1997, Cascade grew from a one-person startup to a company with $500 million in revenue and 900 employees. In June of 1997, Cascade was acquired by Ascend Communications for $3.7 billion.

We are in the process of confirming more speakers. Subscribe to our Mailing list and our Blog RSS feed to stay tuned on the progress of the 2008 conference planning.