The 11th North American Tibetan Associations conference concluded successfully on February 27th.
The two-day conference took place at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, NY, on Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27.
The conference organized by the Office of Tibet was attended by the delegates from 25 Tibetan Associations in North America and they included Tibetan associations from Ontario in Canada to New York, Minnesota to New Mexico, and British Columbia in Canada to California.
The conference discussed a wide range of issues from advocacy on Tibet to ways and means of challenging PRC’s effort to sow dissension among the Tibetans; from Chinese outreach to outreach to Mongolian and Himalayan peoples; from preservation of Tibetan culture and language among the younger generation to cultural activities during the upcoming Kalachakra Sermon in July this year in Washington DC.
In his inaugural speech, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, commented that the main responsibilities of the Tibetan Associations are to preserve Tibetan cultural identity, look after the welfare of the Tibetans under their respective jurisdiction, and create better political awareness among the Tibetans as well as others on the Tibetan issue.
Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Mr. Lodi Gyari traveled from Washington D.C. to hold a Q&A session with the conference delegates on the dialogue process.
The conference delegates finally resolved, among others, to strengthen Tibetan advocacy including lobbying among the State legislatures as well national legislatures in both Canada and United States; to organize workshops for the executives of the Tibetan Associations on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach; and to widen Chinese outreach with special emphasis on promoting joint programs between Tibetan and Chinese college students.
The delegates also resolved to create an apex committee to streamline curriculum and functioning of the Weekend Tibetan language and cultural schools in the North American Tibetan communities, and to offer an award of thanks and appreciation to Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche for his many achievements and contributions as Chairman of the Kashag.
Both the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey and Office of Tibet hosted dinner receptions for the delegates attending the conference.
After the conclusion of the conference, the delegates departed for Washington D.C. to participate in the National Tibet Lobby Day activities.
