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