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(Note: both groups accuse that emalayalee is siding with the other group. Is that true? We have no special group or agenda. We only want a united, vibrant Fokana. At the same time, we will not support those who want to take advantage of the organization for their personal gains. Is that meant fishing in troubled waters?)

Fokana: the story so far

A general council of Fokana will be held possibly on September 29, Aniyan George indicated. Officials of more than 40 member organizations have asked for a general council meeting so far.

But who will call the general council meeting? TS Chacko, who heads one of the trustee boards, says George Koshy has no power to do so. He notes that George Koshy filed a case against the board headed by him, but it was not accepted by the court. Chacko says that itself indicates that the board headed by him is the real one which has the power to convene the council.

Though former Fokana president J Mathew suggested a possible postponement of the Houston convention, Sasidharan Nair indicated otherwise. He said that the hotel was already booked and there is a financial commitment of almost 150,000  dollars. So it is not easy to postpone the convention.

Sasidharan Nair, who is recovering from surgery said, he might be back in action in a week. But he is much upset about the current situation. He said, Thampy Chacko or the other group have not benefited in any way from the case. The case resulted only in the weakening of the organization. Many people promised huge amounts for the convention because of the reputation of Fokana. They are all in confusion now.

He said he has no enmity or ill will towards any one. He only wants the good of the organization. Many of the works that began are in disarray because of the negative publicity. The construction of houses for the poor as promised is continuing. So is the work for the airport. But Fokana cannot take an active part now.

He said the other group is adamant on the three people elected to the trustee board.

He feels the other group won the case through the backdoor and also is upset with the behavior of TS Chacko and Dr Aniruddhan.

Yet he said he is not angry at anyone and hopes for the best only. He firmly believes things will change for the better.

His each word showed the sagacity and wisdom of a true leader. His sincerity and good intentions were also evident.

Former secretary John Issac said that responsible persons should speak about the convention. He noted that J Mathew is not a current official, so his statement is only his personal opinion.

He too waits for Sasidharan Nair to come forward to take a leadership role to end the crisis. He feels that the crisis will continue till then.

Meanwhile, Dr Parthasaradhy Pillai is most upset with the propaganda and allegations against him that he has not given the court papers to the Sasidharan Nair group officials. He said he does not care about the allegations and termed them as totally untrue.

He said he has not sided with anyone and he has no ambitions for the future also. He recieved only the initial court papers as the resident agent for Fokana in Maryland. He did not receive any papers about the date of a possible verdict. He said he too was surprised when he got the papers nullifying the election. He called Aniyan George to inform that.

All the records about the case are available in the court docket and also in the court records. Will an American court take a decision without informing the attorney of the other party? he asked.

He said his only wish is to see the organizattion going strong. ‘People like me worked for it without any selfish motive. We paid money from our pockets when we organized conventions. Is it the same today,? he asked.

He said he showed the accounts of the Washington convention three months after it. But the account for the New Jersey convention is not shown yet. Such people are disqualified to hold official posts by the constitution itslef, he noted.

Any way, he said he is only hurt by these baseless allegations.

Meanwhile, former tresurer, Mathew Varghese said that he has not recieved any details of the account in the name of Fokana in Kerala. He said he is not ready to accept the account when it is placed later this month.

John Issac said the account was audited by auditors and Mathew Varghese had no objection then.

send comments to; editor@emalayalee.com

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Best question is – who does Kuttappan remind all of you of? I can think of three people, minimum. But they shall remain unnamed to protect the not-so-innocent.
*Kuttappan was bragging to his boss one day, “You know that I know everyone there is to know in this world. Just name someone, I mean anyone and I know them.”**

Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Kuttappan how about Tom Cruise?”
“Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it.”
So Kuttappan and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts,”Kuttapa! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!”

Although impressed, Kuttappan’s boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Kuttappan that he thinks Kuttappan’s knowing Cruise was just lucky.
“No, no, just name anyone else”, Kuttappan says.

“President Bush,” his boss quickly retorts.
“Yes,” Kuttappan says, “I know him, let’s fly out toWashington.” And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Kuttappan on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, “Kutts! , what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.”

Well, the boss is much shaken by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Kuttappan who again implores him to name anyone else.

“The Pope,” his boss replies. “Sure!” says Kuttappan. Kuttappan and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Kuttappan says, ‘This will never work. I can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards, so let me just go upstairs and I’ll come out on the balcony with the Pope.’
So he disappears into the crowd, headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Kuttappan emerges with the Pope on the balcony.

But by the time Kuttappan returns, he finds that his boss has had a minor heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.

Working his way to his boss’ side, Kuttappan asks him, “what happened?” His boss looks up and says, “I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, ” Who’s that on the balcony with Kuttappan?

Moral of the story -
**NEVER underestimate a Malayalee !!!*

J. Mathew, former Fokana president and also a leader aligned with the Sasidharan Nair-Aniyan George team says that the Houston convention scheduled for next July may be postponed, possibly for another year.

He says that the thinking is that the current team has lost much time due to the case. So let the case take its own course, they feel. After the verdict, a general council can be convened to take a decision on the postponement as well as giving more time to the current leaders.

Even if a compromise is arrived at now, a convention may be difficult as it needs much preparation.

But Sasidharan Nair mentioned on Sunday that there is a commitment with the hotel for the convention next July.

Anyway, with the case continuing, the convention may be in jeopardy. Already, the Kottayam convention is postponed.

Folks,

How to end the crisis in Fokana, the most important organization of the American Malayalees? Here are a few suggestions for your response.

(Dont use bad language, fake names etc. Why fear? Speak frankly)

Suggestions

1) Thampy Chacko should withdraw the case now. He has already achieved his aim. He won it initially. Now what is he or his supporters will get prolonging the fight? Nothing at all.

2) Thampy Chacko and NG Mathew should submit a request to the court saying that they are withdrawing the case for a compromise.

3) The compromise could be calling the General Council or Managing Committee. Calling the General Council may be time consuming. So call a meeting of the presidents and secretaries of the 47 member organizations. Let them take a decision. They may endorse those elected last year; or they may ask for a general council; or they may decide for a new election.

Whatever decision they take, let everybody accept it.

4) Both groups should tell clearly that they will not support litigation, if somebody goes to court after this.

5) The trustee board or boards are now the real problem. George Koshy and TS Chacko claims each one one as the legitimate chair.

Leave that decision too to the managing committee meeting. A non-controversial leader should be the board chair.

6) Till the next election everyone should work together. Thampy Chacko and his supporters should be accommodated with respect.

7) A change in sections of the constitution should be drafted and published for wide discussion. After that a general council can meet to discuss and ratify it.

Fokana lost much of its name already. The member organizations are also not doing anything because of the controversy. Nobody will get anything from this state of limbo.

As immediate past president and secretary, George Korath and John Issac have a special responsibility to keep the organization strong. It was they who made Fokana strong again after two conventions failed.

But the suggestion that Sasidharan Nair and Aniyan George should work for the convention as chairman or convener is unrealistic.

We need elected leaders, not appointees. Can’t we organize an election in America? Is that such a difficult thing at this age?

Imagine this…You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it’s raining
heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?
He simply answered: “I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let
him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.”Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to “Think Outside of the Box.”

Folks,

Fokana quarrel is no more news. Yeah, it is an irritation now. Tired of hearing the same thing, same arguments, and again a court case.

Who has time for all these? Who wants all these?

We all want Fokana as the most important secular organization of Malayalees in America. So we need a vibrant organization. If two groups will continue to fight for ever what shall we do?

We need closure! Issues will come. Then we have to find a solution also.

What is the solution here? Simple. Leaders of the two groups should sit at one place and speak to each other. Take five leaders each from each side.

It seems a lack of communication is the problem. Every leader said no one from the other camp has called him.

What a shame. Are we enemies to fight for ever? What are we going to gain other than creating some news for web sites? (emalayalee is of course a beneficiary!)

If the leaders speak to each other and call a general council, things will end there. Let the general council elect the leaders. Nobody will accept positions like chairman or convener, that too as a charity. Why should they?

Those who have the majority support in the organization should rule. After all, the leadership is not forever.

Any way people need closure. We cannot continue like this.

As a first step to resolve the problems in Fokana, two meetings have been called by the Trustee Board headed by George Koshy and Kuriakose Varghese. The meeting on July 7, 5 pm at Kerala Center will be attended by the officials of member organizations in the New York Region.

The meeting of the officials of the New Jersey Region will be held at the MAP center in Philadelphia on July 14.

The aim is get the endorsement of the member organizations for a general council meeting.

Sources at the official group noted that they wanted to move forward with popular support only. With the support of the member organizations, convening a general council will be easy.

Meetings are planned only in these two regions. Associations in other regions are overwhelmingly in support of the official group. Even in New Jersey Region (Region-3) only one association among the six, supports the opponents of the official group.

Though it is a little time consuming, things will move forward and the problem will be solved after these meetings and the general council, current leaders feel.