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INDIAN AMERICAN KERALA CULTURAL & CIVIC CENTER
(THE KERALA CENTER)
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1824 FAIRFAX STREET, ELMONT, NEW YORK 11003
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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
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