INDIAN AMERICAN KERALA CULTURAL & CIVIC CENTER
(THE KERALA CENTER)
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![]() Kerala Center
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ABOUT US
With the enormous growth of the Community in the US, Particular in New York, the Kerala Community had long felt the need for a Community Center. Such a Center could serve to promote the civic and other social service activities among the Indian American Community and also to serve as a focal point to coordinate the activities and services to the Kerala Community. Under the leadership of Mr. E.M.Stephen, the founder President Mrs. Mariamma Thekkekara, Mr. Mukal Babykutty, Mr. Jose P Thayil, Mr. C.S. Menon, Dr. E.K. Kuriakose, Mr. Jose Chummar, Mr. Thambi Thalappillil, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Mr. Rajan Menon, Mr. Alex Thampan, Mr. Abraham Mammen, Mr. M.G. John, Mrs. Thresiamma Sebastian, Dr. Sreedhar Kavil, Mr. Varghese Chandy, the INDIAN AMERICAN KERALA CULTURAL and CIVIC CENTER – THE KERALA CENTER was formed as a non profit organization in 1990. With three years of fund raising campaign The Kerala Center bought a former YMCA building as its Center. It was inaugurated in 1993 by Padmashri Dr. Yesudas. The Kerala Center has become a focal point to coordinate activities and services to the Indian American Kerala Community. There are Malayalam language, Music and Dance classes for children, SAT coaching for youngsters, Senior Club. Various seminars are conducted ranging from political to investment in addition to many Civic and Cultural activities taking place on a regular basis at the Center. The Center has also been providing platform for various, political leaders to have Town Hall meeting with the Indian Community. Also the Center provides its facilities for various religious activities and celebration for the members of the Center which include Hindu, Muslim and different denominations of Christians. The place like The Kerala Center is where the Community moulds its image. The Kerala Center is the place from where the Community radiates its Character and is where the Community seek information. The Kerala Center is where the friendship and harmony among members of the Community emerge. ![]() AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To Establish a Community Center. To publish a monthly news letter for the Kerala Community. To identify and discuss the problems facing Keralities settled in different parts of the United States of America. To educate the Keralites in recognizing their individual and social responsibilities by involving them in public affairs which would affect their lives and that of the community in general here and Kerala. To identify and honor the outstanding individuals in various field settled in US from Kerala Community. To provide cultural educational opportunities to the Children of Indian American Keralaites. To provide opportunities for learning through educational sessions on contemporary, civic, economic, political, social and cultural issues affecting the lives of Kerala Community in the United States of America. To facilitate two-way informal exchanges of ideas between members of Kerala Center and political leaders, including elected government officials and to develop an atmosphere of mutual respect, goodwill and understanding and also to encourage them to learn about major issues here and in kerala. THE CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP Patrons, Benefactors, Regular, Donor and Association membership GOVERNING BODY OF THE CENTER Executive Committee of Six members elected from the entire membership except Donor Board of Directors consisting fifteen members – Elected five members from each Categories, and one member from each member association. Previous Executive Committee Members and Board Chairman 1990 President - E.M. Stephen Vice President - Mariamma Thekkaekara General Secretary - Mukal Baby Kutty Associate Secretary - Idichandy Kuttykattu Treasurer - Jose P Thayil Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1991 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Mariamma Thekkaekara General Secretary - Jose Chummar Associate Secretary - Thambi Thalappillil Treasurer - Jose P Thayil Executive Director - CS Menon Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1992 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Mariamma Thekkaekara General Secretary - Jose Chummar Associate Secretary - Thambi Thalappillit Treasurer - Jose P Thayil Executive Director - CS Menon Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1993 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Mariamma Thekkaekara General Secretary - Jose Chummar Associate Secretary - Thambi Thalappillil Treasurer - Jose P Thayil Executive Director - CS Menon Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1994 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Dr. Sreedhar Kavil General Secretary - Thambi Thalappillil Associate Secretary - Mariamma Thekkaekare Treasurer - Jose P Thayil Executive Director - CS Menon Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1995 President - Dr. Shreedhar Kavil Vice President - Alex Abraham General Secretary - Thambi Thalappillil Associate Secretary - Joyan Mathew Treasurer - Gopalan Nair Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1996 President - Dr. Shreedhar Kavil Vice President - Appen Menon Esq. General Secretary - MN Jayarajan Associate Secretary - Joyan Mathew Treasurer - Cyriac Thottam Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1997 President - Thambi Thalappillil Vice President - Andrew Pappachen General Secretary - Stephen Kuriakose Associate Secretary - Mariamma Thekkekara Treasurer - Alex Thampan Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1998 President - Andrew Pappachen Vice President - Thomas Thomas General Secretary - Mukal Baby kutty Associate Secretary - Varghese Thekkekara Treasurer - Alex Thampan Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 1999 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Mani N Mani General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Treasurer - Alex Thampan Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2000 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Luke Malika General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Treasurer - Alex Thampan Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2001 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Luke Malika General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2002 President - EM Stephen Vice President - James Thottam General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Treasurer - Thambi Thalappilil Executive Direct - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2003 President - EM Stephen Vice President - James Thottam General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Treasurer - Thambi Thalappillil Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2004 President - EM Stephen Vice President - Dr. Cecily Anto General Secretary - Alexander Kidarathil Associate Secretary - Raju Thomas Treasurer - Thambi Thalappillil Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Dr. Thomas Abraham 2005 to 2007 President - Jose Chummar Vice President - Dr. Cecily Anto General Secretary - Raju Thomas Associate Secretary - Joyan Mathew Treasurer - Peter Neendoor Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Gopalan Nair 2008 to 2010 President - Jose Chummar Vice President - Dr. Cecily Anto General Secretary - Raju Thomas Associate Secretary - Joyan Mathew Treasurer - Thambi Thalappillil Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Gopalan Nair 2011 to 2013 President - Thambi Thalappillil Vice President - Dr. Cecily Anto General Secretary - Raju Thomas Associate Secretary - Joyan Mathew Treasurer - Thomas Thottam Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Gopalan Nair 2014 to 2016 President - Thambi Thalappillil Vice President - Alex Esthappan General Secretary - Jimmy John Treasurer - Thomas Thottam Executive Director - EM Stephen Chairman Board of Directors - Gopalan Nair |