Previous Consulate Programs - January 2008

January 2008

U.S. Small Business Expert Highlights The Importance Of Small Business And Entrepreneurship In The U.S. And India

“The first rule of doing business is to not make mistakes; the second rule is, don’t forget rule number one.”  So said entrepreneurship expert Phil Holland during his South India tour, which included stops in Madurai and Chennai from January 27-30, 2008.  In India to help Indian entrepreneurs avoid the “pitfalls” of doing business and thus “not make mistakes,” Mr. Holland is the Chairman of My Own Business Inc., a non-profit organization which helps entrepreneurs all over the world start and grow their businesses.  Sponsored by the U.S. Consulate, Mr. Holland spoke on “How to Turn Small Businesses into a Successful Ventures,” quoting examples from his successes and failures as well as from the My Own Business Inc. free Internet course.  Mr. Holland suggested that audience members, whether they be students or established small business owners, take this course, which the World Bank has translated into 6 languages (including Hindi) to foster economic growth around the world.  In South India, Mr. Holland interacted with students and entrepreneurs at the Tata-Dhan Academy, Loyola Institute of Business Adminstration, Madurai Kamaraj University’s School of Business Studies, the Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSA) and the Tamil Nadue Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA).  Additional information about the course is available at www.myownbusiness.org.

STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
BY THE PRESIDENT

Chamber of the United States House of Representatives
United States Capitol

9:09 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:

Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum.  In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined.  We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens.  These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call.  Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose.  And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government. (more)

From Boston to Dandi

What do the Boston Tea Party of 1773 and the Salt March to Dandi in 1930 have in common?  Both were acts of protest that helped give birth to great democratic nations.  And both were reenacted by the children of the Chennai Corporation Middle School – Thousand Lights in an imaginatively conceived skit at the Consul General’s residence.  The Republic Day (January 26) performance, celebrating India’s freedom struggle and showing the influence of America’s fight for independence, concluded with the question: “What is there on earth that America and India cannot achieve together?”

Following the performance, more than 100 Corporation School children joined the employees of the Consulate General for a sunny afternoon of games, crafts and a delicious picnic lunch.  In bidding the children farewell, Consul General David Hopper commented:  “We have seen today that America’s red, white and blue mix very well with India’s saffron, white and green.”

American Library Stall at Chennai Book Fair a Huge Success

Marking 60 years of service in south India, the Chennai American Library participated in the annual Chennai Book Fair, January 4-17, 2008.  The stall at the fair had a displayed a sample of books and journals as well as information about Library resources and services.  There was also a poster show and displays of SPAN and English Teaching Forum.  More than 700,000 people visited the book fair and over 8,000 people visited the Library stall.  Visitors were impressed with the many offerings of the American Library, which include more than 14,000 books, 140 scholarly journals, U.S. Government publications, think-tank reports, newspapers, movies and access to electronic databases.

Consulate Information Officer Wes Robertson remarked, “I am pleased with the great response we received at the Chennai Book Fair and hope we are able to make this an annual event.  Even if you were unable to attend the book fair, please come by and pay us a visit in the Library.”

Please remember to bring a valid and original photo identification which will enable easy access to the Consulate.  Acceptable IDs are passport, driver’s license, voter cards, Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, government employer issued ID, or college/university issued ID.

Library Information:

The American Library
United States Consulate General
Gemini Circle, Chennai 600 006
Telephone: 044-2857-4000
Fax: 044-2857-4307
chennairefdesk@state.gov
http://chennai.usconsulate.gov
Hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm
Monday through Friday
Online Catalog: http://americanlibrary.in.library.net

 

Forging connections through dance

U.S. Cultural Envoy Dana Tai Soon Burgess’s residency and training program at the John Britto Dance Company in Chennai culminated in a joint, collaborative work, publicly performed by Mr. Burgess, the John Britto Dance Company and visiting dancers from Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. on January 13^th at Image Auditorium. Titled “Dance Connect – Chennai’s First Indo-US Dance Production”, the performance was a huge success, and helped to connect local audiences with the very latest in modern dance in the U.S.

From December 26 – January 14, noted American modern dancer Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Founder and Artistic Director of the dance troupe “Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co.”, participated in a teaching and residency program at the John Britto Dance Company in Chennai. As a “Cultural Envoy” of the U.S. State Department, Mr. Burgess conducted workshops and master classes and taught dance students, professional dancers and teachers of modern dance. For more information...

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt Visits South India

From January 6 to 9, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt traveled to Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi, after which he went to New Delhi for the last leg of his India tour.  Among his many stops and meetings in South India, sometimes accompanied by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, were an HIV/AIDS clinic at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine in Tambaram, Loyola College in Chennai, pharmaceutical manufacturers in Hyderabad, and food and spice producers in Kochi.  The Secretary sought ways to increase Indo-U.S. collaboration to combat disease, and he noted the interest on the part of both countries to ensure the safety and quality of food and drug imports. 

American Basketball Coach Pays Homage to Harry Buck

J.D. Walsh, American basketball coach and former professional player, in cooperation with the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association, came to Chennai December 12-14 to conduct a series of basketball workshops with school, college and state teams.  As part of his visit, he placed a garland over the bust of the American Harry Crowe Buck, who is widely credited with introducing basketball to Tamil Nadu after founding the YMCA Training School of Physical Education in Madras in 1920.  Mr. Buck also played a crucial role in starting the Indian Olympic Association and was responsible for selecting team members to represent India in the 1924 and subsequent Olympic Games.  Mr. Buck died of leukemia in 1943, and his bust was presented by YMCA alumni and unveiled at the YMCA in 1955.  Mr. Walsh today is carrying on the nearly century-old tradition of Indo-U.S. cooperation in the area of sports.

Consul General David Hopper Opens Student AIDS March Entitled “Take The Lead” On World AIDS Day

On December 1, 2007, Consul General David Hopper flagged off a student AIDS rally and walk organized by the Madras Christian Council of Social Studies, a faith based organization addressing HIV issues.  Over 1,000 high school students from 10 schools wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Take the Lead” walked over 2 miles through the city of Chennai to create awareness about HIV/AIDS.  In his address, the Consul General congratulated the Government of Tamil Nadu in taking the lead to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and reiterated the need to continue the fight to combat the disease. The walk ended with students performing skits and the Consulate showing the documentary film “A Closer Walk.” 

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