C.O.M.A Newsletter Aug-Sep, 2018

A BIG THANK YOU!!!

Kerala Flood Relief Donations: As communicated in the previous newsletter, the support we received from our Malayalee Community and other Indian Communities in Central Ohio to our Fund for supporting flood relief efforts in Kerala was overwhelming. With your generous donations, our target of 25K was achieved in two days! The executive committee and trustee board of C.O.M.A cannot thank you enough for all the support we received. We have sent $43,571.38 till date to CMDRF.
The following Organizations/Business also has contributed to C.O.M.A for our flood relief efforts:

• H2O -Help to Others
• TNF – Tamil Nadu Foundation
• FIA – Fedaration of Indian Associations
• Vizualads
• SVTCO – Sri Venkateswara Temple of Central Ohio
• Manas Restauarant
• Best Brains
• Dhvani, India Performing Arts Society of Central Ohio

Upcoming Events – Mark your calendar

1. Halloween Costume Competition
   Bawarchi Indian Restaurant
   Saturday October 27th, 7 PM
   .
2. C.O.M.A Christmas and 10 Year Anniversary Finale
   Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center, Powell
   Saturday December 8th, 6-10 PM

(Registration Details and Links will be sent out Tuesday)

YWCA Host a Meal 2018

Volunteering is a wonderful start to connecting with new people of a community. Helping out at a program or simply volunteering doesn’t just give a reputation or some service hours that are mandatory for college – they allow you to view life through several perspectives and take a break from your busy, daily life. All it takes is a few hours out of your day. A few weeks ago, a couple members (youth and adult) took part in volunteering at the YWCA, an organization that focuses on eliminating racism, empowering women, helping and strengthening families and communities, and keeping up with significant social movements. The volunteering began early morning at 5 and ended at around noon. There, after pre-ordering bulk food products, we prepared a simple breakfast for the people of the area. We split up, having the members cook and serve the food, serve drinks, clean and show all their interest and support. Sure, this may seem like a long amount of time on a weekend. During that time you could sleep, study or even watch a movie. However, the satisfying feeling that you get after that rare shift…it’s a different feeling – a rewarding one. Helping out has a special power and warmth that really shows that you care. To see the happiness in the eyes of our community is truly a blessing. So, maybe on a later weekend, the next time COMA helps out at YWCA, you should come out and help. You may never know how great of an experience it will turn out to be!
-Report by Anju Anilkumar

Check out more pics at  https://photos.app.goo.gl/HcKBZEePDhxNiAMHA

Step out of the Bubble – Megha Rajesh

It starts off with our first steps into red hot ground. The pungent air filling up our airways. And the sun boiling the ground. We had reached Pune, a  land of mixed cultures and a land of self discovery. But, my story didn’t begin just yet. It all began the first week when I started to go to Jyothirmayi International School. The bell had just rung with a terrorizing buzz and my stomach had still not settled to the food in India. My principal led me into a sun lit room, where I sat contemplating how many ways this would go wrong.  Few minutes after the second bell rang the kids started walking into class. They looked at me with confusion. They would ask me a question in English, then a few seconds later they would converse among themselves in Hindi. For the first few weeks, classes were more confusing than ever. My teachers would speak in English for the first five minutes then switch to Hindi for the other 40 minutes.  I kept myself in a bubble for a while. My English teacher especially tried to correct my written words several times. On the playground, kids would whisper things in Hindi and then resume with their typical games. Most scariest part of it all was Sandeep sir — his stare made Medusa look like a mouse.  For a while, I didn’t try to communicate with any of my classmates. I just wasn’t willing to adjust to this new life setting.  I thought the food was strange, the kids were mean, and that all the teachers hated me. All I could think about was when are we going home back to Ohio where you can get a nice can of pop. Few months into school, a girl sat across from me struggling to eat her food too. I took a gulp and took my tray to the other side of the room. That’s when I met Anu.

There is actually a saying in Malayalam that no matter what corner of the world you go to you will always find another Malayalee. And well, Anu was my Malayalee in this alien land. For a few months, we started growing closer and creating inside jokes about each of the teachers. By the time we were done every teacher in the school had a pet name.  But, still the thought of what else is there still nagged at the back of my head. Then the famous Mayan end of the world came along in December. Anu and I ran to the top of the roof and waited for the end of the world to come.  After waiting an hour or so, we realized that there was no end of the world going to come anytime soon. And that’s when it hit me, I shouldn’t just stay in my corner and avoid people. I should start to open up to new experiences.  Within a month, I met 6 more characters in my life. They taught me how to speak Hindi, they started including me in the field games, and the best thing of all was the vada pav stand down the room. By the time I left, they knew what the phrase “finger licking good meant” and I knew all the lyrics to Badtameez  Dil. Although my bubble was still the most comfortable place on earth, I learned that stepping out of that circle can invite you to new experiences that can be quite enjoyable.

RADIANT Toastmasters Club

Hello Friends!  Welcome to the Toastmasters community update

I heard, we have a new Toastmasters club in town. Whats is it?

Yes, some volunteers from our community formed Radiant Toastmasters Club few months ago with the help of our own seasoned Toastmaster, ‘Jacob Vengal’. We have 18 paid members, as of today and we meet bi-weekly in a library for an hour. Activities include prepared speeches, feedback, Table Topics and other roles required to run a vibrant Toastmasters Club meeting.

What are the benefits of becoming a Toastmaster?

Taking your confidence, leadership skills, public speaking and communication skills to greater height is vital for you to excel in your personal and professional life. Members of Radiant Toastmasters Club find unlimited opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. Joining Toastmasters could change your life.

Got it. But how are you supporting the community?

As you know, the theme of COMA this year is to ‘support & provide value to the community’. On the same path our goal is to help the community (youth included), with the benefits of the Toastmasters, but not limited to COMA patrons. Anyone is welcome.

What next?

We are planning a have an Open house on 10/25 (Thursday) to showcase the benefits of the club, answer any questions and get interested people enrolled. Free pizza will be served to your entire family.  All are welcome!  Feel free to spread the word to anyone who may be interested.

1. Open House Date: 10/25/2018 (Thursday)
2. Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
3. Venue: Friends Theater, Upper Arlington library, 2800 Tremont Rd OH 43221

Please text Vinay Ramachandran @614-323-8057 or contact coma.officials@gmail.com on or before 10/20, if you are interested in coming to the event. This will help us plan the event better.

– Vinay Ramachandran, President, Radiant Toastmasters club

An Appeal:

Most of you may know the Malayalee chef, Vijesh who worked at Kohinoor and prepared Sadya for Onam couple of years ago. Vijesh’s brother has a medical situation that the family is looking for some help. Both his kidneys failed and needs transplant. Please help!

Meals on Wheels –Updates

Please note that we are still welcoming volunteers to the COMA volunteer pool. A typical Meals on Wheels delivery involves about 4 hours of your time. We deliver two routes every month, on 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. If you’d like to volunteer, please get in touch with the EC team via coma.officials@gmail.com.

• Meals-on-Wheels route on Sunday, August 12^th :
  • Manoj Thomas
  • Melissa Thomas
  • Gopi Haridass

• Meals-on-Wheels route on Sunday, August 26^th :
  • Nish Nishant
  • Ashish Muthiraparambath
  • Sangeetha Muthiraparambath

• Meals-on-Wheels route on Sunday, Septermber 9th :
  • Sunil Balkrishnan
  • Valsan Palika
  • Hrishikesh Namboodiri

• Meals-on-Wheels route on Sunday, September 23rd^th :
  • Thomas Pullumpallil
  • Rachel Varughese
  • Arun Kumar

COMA Executive Committee Member and Treasurer Harshan Pisharath and Family are moving out of Columbus towards the end of October. Harshan has accepted a new position at St. Jude Children’s Research hospital and is moving to Memphis. We wish all the best for Harshan and Family! We will miss you!

This year the classes have begun on August 19th.

• Timing: 11:00-12:00pm
• Venue: Lazalle Woods Community center
• 8140 Sancus Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
• Registration Fees is $120 for the entire academic year starting from August to May. Membership in COMA is a pre requisite.

For more information, please visit http://www.comaohio.org/index.php/malayalam-classes/

• Chitra Mega Musical Event ->Link
• Mcube – A Magical Evening With Gopinath Muthukad->Link

VISA Camp

COMA has a whatsapp group to socialize coma events, community news and so on. Please use the following link to join the group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/67hzscBz4Su8fQmpFtodpJ

Please let us know at coma.officials@gmail.com if you would like to get involved with any of the following

• Malayalam Class
• Youth Wing
• Meals on Wheels