KOA
Zone 9 Director
|
My name is Vinod Moza. I along with my wife Dimple
and two kids (Kaju and Vasuman),
have been part of the KOA zone 9 community for the last 11 years. Working
as an executive in the EDA industry, my background is IT, Marketing
and Operations.
I have great passion for community service and have been
participating in several KOA sponsored programs and activities.
I have sponsored on an average 3-4
kids every year for the last 10 years through KOA's
Sponsor-A-Child program.
As a volunteer and chapter president:
- Almost
all bay
area functions have
been supported by me - booking, logistics, coordination,
calling people / invitations, MC,
hosting Kashmiri artists from
India.
- Participated in
several discussions involving Kashmir and Kashmiri pandits, with
luminaries including Dr.
Agnishekhar, Dr. Karan Singh, etc.
- On every visit to
India, made it a point to visit our deprived members in various
camps in Jammu, to get first
hand information.
- Recognized at
several KOA functions, as a selfless worker.
It has been my earnest endeavor to promote our
Kashmiri culture in the Bay area. I strongly
believe that our collective efforts can help us promote and preserve
our culture and traditions for our future generations. I would like
our children to be proud of their heritage.
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Contact Information:
Vinod Moza
178 Racoon Ct.
Fremont CA - 94539
e-mail: moza_vinod@yahoo.com
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KOA ZONE
9 ACTIVITIES
Shivratri
2010:
2010 started
with a bang for the KOA Zone 9 community. In its first gathering of
the year this past Saturday, over 260 community members regaled for
over 5 hours in a hall that gradually became a little stuffy. The
array of authentic Kashmiri food and the variety of traditional and
contemporary entertainment added a major flavor to this ‘Shivratri’
event.
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/ KOAZone9Shivratr i2010#
->
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Mn9_y6Inhz0
Kashmiri Language and Culture Class –
Season 2010 got off to a great start in KOA Zone 9 – Northern
California .
Twenty two
children have registered for the classes this season. After the
success of 2009 session, KOA Zone 9 Volunteer team has been building
on the curriculum and keeping children engaged through the two hour
class held every Sunday.
This season
children are also required to complete a project on Kashmir. Children
will be writing a paper in Kashmiri. Children will present the paper
in Kashmiri at the West Coast Camp in September – 2010 and can win
prizes / scholarships upto $200.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab2jfGeYTPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTVOVcMZvSY
Havan
2010:
Here are the
pictures and videos from the community Navreh and Havan. Many thanks
to our sponsors and volunteers.
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/ KOAZone9NavrehHa
vanMarch282010
http://www.youtube. com/user/ Zone9KOA#
p/a/u/0/jrejP1PI B84
Picnic
2010:
Zone 9
Community had a great day outdoors – Led by Rajesh Ji Khazanchi, the
event was very well planned and offered opportunity for community
members to mingle and have fun in an exquisite setting.
Pictures of the
event:
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/ KOAZone9Picnic20 10#
KOA West Coast National Camp 2010:
They all attain perfection when they find joy in their work
Camps
like these unite us and help in preserving our heritage – Wishes KOA
success!!
That’s what KOA
Zone 9 volunteer team demonstrated while ensuring a pleasurable
experience for all attendees at the KOA West Coast National Camp –
2010.
The highlight
of the camp was also the presentation of projects by children in
Kashmiri. These children who participate in Zone 9 Kashmir classes
shared their Kashmir language prowess in the competition where they
were all recognized and won cash prizes. Sandhya Tickoo and Simran
Moza won $300 and $250 for 1st and 2nd place respectively.
And having fun
wasn’t all we had - in less than 5 minutes; we raised about $8000 for
various KOA programs. We are a giving community – no question about
it… Thank you all.
Rind Posh maal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCrm2Lw3A0
http://picasaweb.google.com/Zone9KOA/KOAWestCoast2010Camp#
Shivratri
2009: (Don't miss video of
kids Shivratri Song and Chakri.)
Pictures
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/
ShivratriFunctio n2009#.
Videos:
http://video. google.com/ videoplay?
docid=-133754726 7834077521&hl=en -->
Dance by kids
Kashmiri Classes – Zone 9 Takes the Lead:
KOA Zone 9 conducted Kashmiri Language and Culture Classes, targeted
at children over the ages of 4. The class format was designed to
provide variety and keep the children engaged while going through the
learning process.
Classes started
with Yoga for 20 Minutes. It would be followed by Language Classes for
40 Minutes. Children would be encouraged to participate and take turns
in reading lessons and leading the class in Kashmiri.
The last
session focused on cultural aspects – 15 Minutes. A theme was picked
for each class and children would be introduced to the topic in detail
and encouraged to have the discussion.
Various themes
included – Festivals, Kashmiri Dishes, Life Style – Dress, Religion
etc
Class in
progress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45noNGDxmpo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypPy9TPon2I
Class Pictures
and Graduation Ceremony
http://picasaweb.google.com/Zone9KOA/KashmiriClasses#
Navreh /
Havan 2009:
Community
celebrated navreh by conducting Havan. Ladies were given gifts
including Kashmiri Kulcha, Noon and AtGath
Havan, Navreh &
Zang Trai Pictures
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/
ZangTrai2009#
Havan, Navreh &
Zang Trai Pictures
http://video. google.com/ videoplay?
docid=6704696985 956254747
Picnic
2009:
It felt as if
we were back in Nishat Bagh
for a Sunday afternoon – now, that was getting back to one’s roots and
feeling great about it!
http://picasaweb. google.com/ Zone9KOA/
KOAZone9Picnic20 09PartII#
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Dx8n_T2nyoU
Independence Day Celebrations- 2009:
http://picasaweb. google.com/ renukhar67/
15thAugust2009KO A?feat=email#
http://www.youtube. com/watch?
v=rH7MUD9eGhE
Camp 2009: (KOA National West Coast Camp):
It was a great culmination to an eventful summer. 160+ Biradari
members got together for
three days of carefree mingling, sharing, canoeing, hiking, doing
yoga, visiting riverhead/falls/ rivers, cooking and enjoying authentic
Koshur dishes, playing chess, entertaining themselves with
skits/charades/ kids &adult talent shows, enjoying ‘roth’ and ‘kahwa’,
‘roffing’ away while relating nostalgically to Lalded, old Kashmiri
psalms and songs, and a mixture of popular music vocalized by the up
and coming Deepali Wattal, …
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=xnkk_aec6r8
KOA Camp
2009 Day 2 - Concert Part 5
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=BzF9hfK_ MtU
Group Activity 3 - Part 1
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=30atjhgfNl8
Kashmiri Balidaan Divas – In
Fremont - 2009
In the San
Francisco Bay area, over hundred people gathered in the Fremont Temple
to observe this day on Sunday, September 13. Kashmiri Pandits paid
homage to their community members, whose lives were cut short by the
barbaric militants.
Diwali
2009:
Community got
together and had a fun evening. Kashmiri and Hindi songs by adults and
kids were a highlight of the event.
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=VHH6TLSub78 -- KOA
Zone9 Diwali 2009 Part 1
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=6RgUx7YBBlU -- KOA
Zone9 Diwali 2009 Part 2
http://picasaweb. google.com/ renukhar67/ KOADiwaliFunctio
n?feat=email#
From: Vinod Moza <moza_vinod@yahoo.com>
Subject: [KOAZone9] KOA Diwali Function -
To: koazone9@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008, 11:33 AM
Dear Community Members,
Namaskar.
I would like to thank you all for braving the rains and sharing your spirits with each other at this event. It was heartening to see such big turn out and members of all ages engaging and enjoying every moment. We need a bigger hall next time !!
I would like to thank all members for sharing the delicious dishes / sweets and appreciate their efforts to make this event so Kashmiri.
I would also like to thank all volunteers (including kids), who managed the registration desk, helped with the setup / décor, Aarti, kitchen, MC’s, Sports/Arts center, and last but not the least Cleanup.
Special thanks also to all the participants of the Cultural Program & Kashmiri Quiz. Kashmiri Ramayan was quite an experience for members of all ages. Kids did a great job.
Thanks to the Ramayan Director, the commentator, Cinematographer / Quiz Master, DJ of the evening, and the camera crew.
The much awaited pictures and videos are available now. Pl. follow the links below:
Pl. also mark your calendar for next two KOA Zone 9 events:
New Year Party on Dec 31st - Evite and details will follow soon.
Shivratri Celebration on Feb 28th,2009.
The link to Diwali picture album is
http://picasaweb.google.com/Zone9KOA/DiwaliFunction2008#
Link to Diwali Videos:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6752937984804987336
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6943016214607740082
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5059173169312460058
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5841628874798158013
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8420060925494038462
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2805771133673965943
With Best Wishes
Vinod Moza