About this time last year I had written a somewhat critical account of the first ever Sevathon Walk/Run. What a change a year brings!

The Sevathon is an annual walk/run organized by the India Community Center to foster a spirit of service among the members of the Bay Area community. Last year participants pledged to their favorite charities while signing up for the run. This year the team behind the Sevathon brought the non-profits in as partners. Over 40 non-profits partnered with ICC this time, not only underscoring the spirit of service that was Sevathon’s mission, but also providing the marketing muscle by aggressively publicizing the event among their own friends and donors.

As a result about 2,000 people gathered on Sunday July 18, 2010, to participate in what truly felt like a call to service. The 5K/10K walk/run started promptly at 8:30 as planned, with the route neatly marked out and plenty of volunteers with water and bananas along the route. A giant timer at the finish allowed runners to check their times, making the event much more professionally run than last year.

Many more booths dotted the Baylands Park this year, and the health fair returned from last year. I did not linger aftr the event, but a real effort was put in for a mela feel, with food booths and a few game booths for the kids courtesy of the non-profit partners. A stage was set up for musical performances by local musicians and an area for kids offered face-painting and games to entertain the kids.

The idea to coopt local charities was just a terrific one, as I got several emails ahead of the event informing me about the Sevathon. There was quite a buzz in the Bay Area breeze about what is, after all, yet another walk/run event. To separate an event from the herd of other similar ones is not an easy task; ICC accomplished it very well. The improvement was dramatic and I think a new tradition just got established.

The Save Fremont Students (SFS) campaign is still going strong and we’d like to let you know about some major special events happening THIS WEEK!

To date, the campaign has raised over $333,000 and saved 3 teachers!

There are several key events coming up that we would like you to be aware of and to spread the word about to all of your friends, school groups, sports groups, and other community groups.  Community participation in these events and activities will  DIRECTLY help to save more teachers.   Support our students by participating in the events below.

This Thursday, July 8th

Shop for Our Students Day

60 businesses will contribute anywhere from 5% to 50% of sales made on July 8th to Save Fremont Students.   Businesses both big and small are participating! Some businesses have extended their offers for multiple days including July 8th and beyond!

Click on this link  to see all the businesses participating: http://www.savefremontstudents.org/wp-content/files/Support_Business_Sponsors_6-24-10.pdf. Businesses that require a flyer to present at checkout are shown with an asterisk on the list.

If a business requires a flyer you can print one out on our webpage by looking at:  http://www.savefremontstudents.org/shopforstudentsday.   From restaurants, books, spas, sports items, and fun at Chuck E Cheese…the options are limitless and there is something for all ages!  Go out and shop and have fun with your family while also helping our students!

This Saturday, July 10th at 4:30 pm

California State Open – Drum and Bugle Corps Competition

at Tak Fudenna Stadium (38442 Fremont Blvd)

Some of the most talented musicians and performance ensembles from California, Washington and Oregon compete in this drum and bugle corps competition.

See detailed information at:   http://www.savefremontstudents.org/wp-content/files/TAK-event-10Jul10.pdf.   If you purchase a ticket by this Thursday, July 8th, a sizable portion of the $15 advance ticket purchase will go to Save Fremont Students.  If you’d like to purchase a ticket please contact Subra Nathan at subravnathan@gmail.com.  Volunteers will also be at this event to sell food and other items that will benefit SFS, so come on out to enjoy great musical performances as well as support SFS!

Our Campaign has gone mobile!

Yes!  You can now send a text message to be added  to our “alert and information” text messaging database!   What a great way to stay “in-the-know”.  Receive reminders about events or info about shopping partners.

Plus….if you haven’t already made a donation you can also complete your donation with your mobile phone.  To either join the database or to make a donation of any amount with your cell phone simply send the text message:  “SAVEKIDS” to the phone number “67777”.     Try it out now…tell your friends and family….it’s easy and painless!

New DropN-Go Effort Needs Volunteers

In an attempt to get the word out about our campaign to all parts of Fremont we have started a new effort called “DropN-Go” where volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods with flyers and pre-addressed envelopes and leaving them on doorsteps.   We need many volunteers to make this successful.   We supply the materials and assign you a few streets at a time.   You pick a time that is convenient for you to do the drop offs.  If you (or your kids) are interested in helping with this effort over the next 1-2 weeks please contact Christina Broadwin asap at cubwired@comcast.net

Finally….It’s Not Too Late to Make A Donation!

If you haven’t yet donated, we would appreciate your donation by July 15th.  There are several ways to make your tax deductible donation:

Complete the District letter/form http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/gomes/lib/gomes/SFS_District_Letter.pdf and make a check payable to FEF-SFS  and mail to:

FEF-SFS Campaign
P.O. Box 3526
Fremont, CA  94539

*Please include Elementary or Secondary on the memo line of your check and on the donation form.  If none is listed, your donation will be split equally between the two.

or donate with your cell phone using the texting info shown above or online  (small 2.1% processing fee is deducted from your donation)  by clicking the “DONATE NOW” link:  http://www.SaveFremontStudents.org

Your donation may be eligible for Company Matching.  Please go to this link for more information:  http://www.savefremontstudents.org/donate

Together we can make a REAL difference!

There’s something strange going on with the portrayal of Indians in American media.

First there was the crazy Metro PCS ad, featuring “Ranjit” and “Chad,” two buffoonish characters who evoke the most ridiculous desi stereotypes you can think of.

I laughed that one off.

Then there was the AP article that wondered of politicians like Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal were disowning their heritage by anglicizing their names and changing their religions.

I didn’t think it was a big deal.

Now comes an offensive article by Joel Stein in Time magazine about the changing face of Edison NJ. An excerpt –

..my townsfolk started calling the new Edisonians “dot heads.” One kid I knew in high school drove down an Indian-dense street yelling for its residents to “go home to India.” In retrospect, I question just how good our schools were if “dot heads” was the best racist insult we could come up with for a group of people whose gods have multiple arms and an elephant nose.

I’d like to vent my spleen on the author, but I’m just going to link to Sandip Roy’s excellent piece in the new America Media’s Ethnoblog entitled “Joel Stein and the Curry Problem.”

..this American anxiety about its browning will not change. A recent study said white birthrates in California were declining faster than expected. Expect the backlash to rise. There’ll be no chai served at this Tea Party.

I’m not laughing anymore.

Now, that is not funny.