The Perfect Holiday Gift!

Have you been wondering what to get a friend or business associate for New Year's? What about a Nationalities Council of Indiana calendar for 2011!

It's filled with photos of the ethnic organizations that make up the council (and stage the annual International Festival in the Indiana State Fairgrounds).

If one of them represents your ethnic heritage, great! If not, it's a reminder of the world in Indiana!

Groups featured are:
January: Barangay Club of Indiana (Filipino)
February: ATA-IN (Turkish)
March: Italian Heritage Society of Indiana
April: Indiana Partners of the Americas (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
May: Estonian Society of Indianapolis
June: American Indian Center of Indiana (Native American)
July: Society for the Promotion of Persian Culture (Iranian)
August: Indiana State Association of Middle Eastern Teachers and Dancers
September: Indianapolis Latvian Community Center
October: Circle City Lodge of Sons of Norway
November: Czech and Slovak Society of Indiana
December: Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis

(Yes, there are more than 30 other groups -- those selected for the 2011 calendar were drawn in a lottery!)

There are a few calendars left for holiday giving! Just send a check for $12 (payable to the Nationalities Council of Indiana) to NCI, PO Box 1623, Indianapolis, IN 46206, and we'll wing one out to you -- or to whomever you'd prefer it be delivered! If you enclose a gift card, we'll send that on as well.

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Festival Award Winners Announced

Here are the award winners for this year's International Festival, hosted by the Nationalities Council of Indiana.

Cultural Booths of NCI Group Members are judged in the following four categories:

1. THEME: Include in cultural booth historical, geographical, culinary, social or educational aspects of the particular culture. 2010 theme: Food for Thought - Tradition, Culture and Cuisine.
2. EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Provide relevant information about the culture.
3. CREATIVITY: Demonstrate an effective and enjoyable method to attract visitors.
4. QUALITY: Overall excellence. Examples would be people in native costumes and friendly approach to visitors.

First and second place winners for theme:
Society for Promotion of Persian Culture and Swedish American Order of VASA

First and second place winners for educational value:
Sons of Norway and German Heritage Society

First and second place winners for creativity:
Korean American Women’s Association and Hungarian Club of Indianapolis

First and second place winners for quality:
Camp Mabuhay (Filipino) and Swiss Club of Central Indiana

In addition, the Best Overall Cultural Booth, recipient of “The Betty” trophy for 2010:
Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis

Food Booths of NCI Group Members are evaluated for quality and authenticity of ethnic food, appearance and sanitary conditions and overall assessment.
First Place: Indonesian Association of Indianapolis
Second Place: German American Klub

Finally (but not insignificantly), the NCI's Volunteer Service award (also known as “The Steve” trophy) is presented to the individual(s) who have demonstrated commitment to the goals of NCI and have actively worked toward their achievement. This year, for the first time, three volunteers were honored:
Josef Laposa and Frances Russell (pictured), and Charles Lindgren (deceased).

Mark your calendars for next year's festival, to be held 17-20 November.

(Photo courtesy of Ming Russell)

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Classical Persian Music by Silk Road Ensemble

1st- and 2nd-Generation Iranian-Americans

The 2009 Danesh Conference, "First- and Second-Generation Iranian-Americans: The Significance of Mutual Understanding and Support" will be held 23 October on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Presenters at the conference include Ali Akbar Mahdi, Ohio Wesleyan University; and Reza Varjavand and Mitra Fallahi, Saint Xavier University.

Chaired by Irene Queiro-Tajalli, president of the Danesh Institute, the conference planning committee includes Sara Allaei, Cyrus Behroozi, Shayda Bradley, Mary Hegland, Patricia Higgins, Yahya Kamalipour, and John Walbridge.

Established in 1994, the Danesh Institute is a nonpolitical, independent, not-for-profit educational organization. The Institute is incorporated in the State of Indiana and recognized as a 501(c)(3) corporation by the United States Internal Revenue Service.

The purpose of the Institute is to stimulate and promote scholarly studies related to contemporary Iranian society and to Iranian communities abroad, particularly the United States. The Institute has pursued this purpose by offering annual conferences, sponsoring special projects, and publishing newsletters and bulletins.

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International Festival 2008 is History

It's all over for 2008 -- and the award winners have been announced for Indy's International Festival.

First and second place awards are given to cultural booths of Nationalities Council of Indiana Group members. In addition, the best overall culture booth wins "The Betty" trophy for 2008.

1. THEME: Include in cultural booth historical, geographical, culinary, social or educational aspects of the particular culture.
First: Russian-Speaking Students at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis; second: Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis.

2. EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Provide relevant information to visitors about the culture.
First: International Tibet Independence Movement; second: Barangay Club of Indiana.

3. CREATIVITY: Demonstrate an effective and enjoyable method to attract visitors.
First: Scottish Society of Indianapolis; second: Indonesian Community of Indianapolis

4. QUALITY: Overall excellence. Examples would be people in native costumes and friendly approach to visitors.
First: Indiana Okinawa Kenjinkai; second: Swiss Club Of Central Indiana.

The Betty was awarded to Society for Promotion of Persian Culture (see photo).

Food Booths of NCI Group Members are evaluated for 1) quality and authenticity of food and 2) appearance and sanitary conditions of the booth.
First: Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis; second, German American Klub,

Volunteer Service award (“The Steve”) is presented to the individual who has demonstrated commitment to the goals of NCI and has actively worked toward their achievement. It was awarded to Susan McKee.

Celebrate Mehregan in Indy

The Persian Association of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and IU Bloomington are sponsoring a Mehregan from 4-6 p.m. 4 October to celebrate Persian culture.

There'll be Persian dance and music plus food in the first floor auditorium of the IT Building on the IUPUI campus, 535 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis. Suggested donation is $10.

On the program: Rags-e-Sama by Ferdoce Group, Rags-e-Kurdi by Aftab Persian Dancers, Shomaly Dance by Ferdoce Group, Persian Music by Aftab Musicians, Persian songs by Nasrin (Iranian singer), Youth dance from Indianapolis Persian School and Sorood by Indianapolis Persian School.

Even though the event benefits orphaned children through Mercy for All, you've got to be at least 6 years old to attend. Because seating is limited, please make a reservation with Maryam Haji Ali Akbari, 812:679-8718.

From Iran to South Africa in one Indiana evening

On 30 March, two completely different films will be screened at two different Hoosier universities.

"Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony", a film from South Africa, starts at 6 p.m. in IT 152, Informatics Auditorium, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Directed by Lee Hirsch, this award-winning 2002 documentary tells the story of black South African freedom music and the central role it played in the struggle against apartheid. Includes extensive interview footage with South African musical giants such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Abdullah Ibrahim.

It´s part of 'South Africa on Film', an IUPUI Public Film Series organized by David Hoegberg in conjunction with I300: South African Literature and Society Spring 2007.

Meanwhile, in the northern part of Indiana, "Children of Heaven (Bacheha-Ye aseman)", a film in Persian with English subtitles, begins at 7 p.m. in 234 Neils Sciencenter Valparaiso University, Valparaiso. Part of Valpo´s International Film Series, tickets are $6.