ANA - The Association of the Nepalis in the Americas

ANA Update
12.16.11

Closure of ANA Case- Legal Counsel Response

K.C, Adhikari, Shrestha, Basnet, Joshi vs

Dhungana, Sherpalama, Shrestha, Gurung

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To: ANA Members

Re: ANA Legal and Financial Affairs

Dear Members,

As many are aware our office served as legal counsel for the Association of the Nepalis in the Americas (Hereafter ANA) in the

K.C. et al v. Dhungana et al

matter filed in the Circuit Court of the state of Maryland. In the process complying with court orders to make an accounting for ANA resources (real property, personal property, financials etc.) our office discovered significant issues regarding the structure and operations of ANA and its affiliates. These issues were in the area of the legal and financial compliance of ANA and its affiliates over the past 10 years. Though ANA is primarily a volunteer run organization, the organization and its members, officers and affiliates MUST comply with state and federal rules or the organization may be forced to dissolve and officers be held liable.

Pursuant to the advice of the court, the Trustee and the lawyers involved, a settlement was entered into and approved by the Trustee that required several things but two major things in particular

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Return to the status quo by placing Mr. Tseweng Sherpalama back in the position of interim President of which he held prior to the lawsuit

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Charge Mr. Sherpalama with the obligation of bringing ANA and its affiliates into legal and financial compliance prior to a subsequent election being held

I will address both below:

Sherpalama as Interim President

Mr. Sherpalama shall serve as the interim President of ANA until ANA is brought in legal and financial compliance. He has the ability to create ad hoc committees and will be supported by an influential committee of three members. It is required he bring ANA into financial and legal compliance prior to an election in order for ANA not to pass on any potential liability to the new board members.

Mr. Sherpalama will be an officer of ANA and will be charged to make decisions that are legally mandated and in the best interest of ANA. He and the appointed team will handle the day to day operations of ANA while it is being brought into compliance. Our office has been retained by ANA to ensure all decisions are in compliance with the law.

Mr. Sherpalama will not be acting in his own personal capacity. He will be taking this role on as a volunteer; therefore if there are any public inquiries from members regarding ANA, NECC or any affiliates, those inquiries MUST be made in writing via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Phone calls are not permitted. Mr. Sherpalama will then forward those inquire necessary for compliance to our office or the office of the designated financial advisor.

All ANA affiliates including past and current officers, volunteers and members are on notice to provide any and all information upon request to Mr. Sherpalama and my office. No one should be acting on any activity regarding ANA and its affliates without EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT BY MR. SHERPALAMA which will be run by my office. Such action is tantamount to fraud, embezzlement and breach of fiduciary and will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted. Affiliates include but not limited to ANA, NECC, ANY person or organization that has financials or works alongside ANA concerning scholarship, spending, retirement, and public assistance. State and federal law are very clear that the assets of a company, here ANA and its affiliates, are for the benefits of the membership as a whole and therefore it will be the interim President with the help of advisors and legal counsel to ensure that the property is being used for ANA’s benefit.

Legal Compliance

ANA must be brought in legal compliance as soon as possible. ANA has failed to stay in compliance in many areas and it will require ANA to make financial investments to retain professionals who can help correct the legal compliance issues it has over had the past 10 years. Our office has been retained to assist in but not limited to the following areas; 1) Business Status in the District of Columbia 2) Contract reviews; 3) Federal law compliance; 4) IRS Compliance.

Our office has also been charged to help correct any and all operational issues that ANA has suffered from to ensure that those issues do not occur in the future.

One of the major issues that ANA will have to address will be the sale of the NECC property. ANA has requested and the court approved that the Trustee negotiate the sale of the property. The property price will have to be re-negotiated specifically due to 1) the delay in delivering the property to the buyers and 2) the process of how the property was transferred. Due to the negligent handling of this matter, there is a very real chance that ANA will not be able to get its contracted price. The Trustee will attempt to negotiate the best price for the property; The alternative to not negotiating could be a very expensive lawsuit that will derail ANA and force it to dissolve. The Trustee is skilled in the selling of real property and we are confident he will negotiate the best price possible under these circumstances. Therefore I ask you to be supportive and provide if asked any documentation requested in handling this matter and any other legal matter.

Financial Compliance

ANA and its affiliates currently are not in compliance with state and federal financial requirements. Similar to legal compliance, ANA and its affiliates MUST embark on becoming financially compliant as soon as possible or it may not be forced to dissolve.

Financial compliance will require ANA and its affiliates to contract with an accounting professional who can perform forensic audits and reconcile the financials for the last ten years. This will include but is not limited to locating all real and personal property including financials that were in the possession of ANA or being held on behalf of ANA and making an accounting of it.

Closing

The steps outlined are steps that were strongly suggested by the court, the trustee and the attorneys who were involved in the lawsuit. Mr. Sherpalama’s number one duty is to bring ANA to a position that it can be successful in its mission of providing services, support and celebration to the Nepalis community. He will be required to rely on the professional advice of attorneys, accountants and the Trustee. This process will require ANA and its affiliates to invest in hiring these professionals to fix the legal and financial issues; however these issues must be addressed by those who know how to fix them in order for ANA to continue to be a shining beacon for the Nepalis in the Americas.

This process will not inhibit ANA from carrying out its other operational functions such as the annual convention. I would request that members not contact any of the professionals or the Trustee directly unless they contact you. Each time any of the professionals are contacted, ANA will be billed for it and that will take away resources that can be used directly on the Nepalis community. Make sure to direct all questions in writing to Mr. Sherpalama at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you for your time.

Very truly yours,

/s/Dipo Akin-Deko

Dipo Akin-Deko

Managing Attorney

Akin-Deko & Puig P.L.L.C.

Akin-Deko & Puig PLLC 1629 K Street Suite 300 Washington DC 20006. 202-508-1066 www.abpfirm.com

एएनएका आदरणीय सदस्य तथा पत्रकार मित्रहरु,

द एसोसिएसन अफ नेप्लीज इन अमेरिका (एएनए) अमेरिका र क्यानडामा क्रियाशील हजारौ नेपाली संघ-संस्था बिच ओजस्वी परिचय बोकेको संस्था हो l अहिलेको समयमा यस क्षेत्रमा रहेका संघ-संस्था मध्ये निक्कै ठुल्ठुला चोट सहन बाध्य भएको संस्था पनि हो – एएनए l हामी सबै नै एएनएलाइ मायाँ गर्छौ l यसको कारण स्पष्ट र सरल छ l एएनएको बिचमा रहेको ‘ N ‘ ले ‘नेप्लिज’ को प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दछ जसमा हामी गर्व गर्छौ, हामी को कहाँ र कता छौ भन्ने कुराको यसमा कुनै तुक छैन l

कुनै विषयमा सहमत अथवा असहमत हुन पाउने अधिकार हामीलाई प्रजातान्त्रिक पद्दतिले प्रदान गरेको छ l कानुनी राज्यमा आफ्नो अधिकारको रक्षा गर्नु र न्यायको अपेक्षा गर्नु राज्यद्वारा सबैलाई प्रदत्त अधिकार हो l हामी हाम्रा सम्पूर्ण समर्थक शुभचिन्तक साथीहरुलाई गौरवकासाथ जानकारी गराउन चाहन्छौ अदालतमा रहेको एएनएको मुद्धा यहि डिसेम्वर ८ तारिखका दिन किनारा लागि सकेको छ l यस मुद्दाका कारण एएनए र मुद्धासंग जोडिएका व्यक्तिहरुले केही मात्रामा आर्थिक क्षती भने व्यहोर्नु पर्यो l

अब अदालतले मुद्धा किनारा लगाई सकेको छ, हामीले एएनएको भविष्य हेर्दै अगाडी बढ्नै पर्ने हुन्छ l विगतबाट निर्दिष्ट र वर्तमानको दृष्टिकोणलाइ समेटेर एएनएको नौलो भविष्य निर्माणका हामी सबै ऐक्यवद्द भएर अगाडी बढ्नै पर्ने हुन्छ l एएनएमा सबै नेपाली समानरुपले अटाउन सक्ने वातावरण निर्माणका लागि हामी सबै ऐक्यवद्द हुनै पर्ने हुन्छ l अहिलेको महत्वपूर्ण काम भनेको हामीले एएनएलाइ आर्थिक – कानुनी विषयमा नाफारहित सामुदायिक संस्थाको परिधिमा पूर्ण रुपले ल्याउनु पर्ने हुन्छ, ऐन-नियमका विषयलाई चुस्त तन्दुरुस्त बनाउनु पर्ने छ l

एएनएका कानुनी परामर्शदाता (वकिल) संग हामी आर्थिक – कानुनी विषयमा केहि दिनमा सल्लाह गर्ने छौ l म र मेरो समूहले एएनएलाइ यसवेला आवश्यक परेको आर्थिक – कानुनी विषयलाई चुस्त तन्दुरुस्त बनाउने प्रकृया पूरा गराउने छ l म एएनएका सदस्य साथीहरु,पूर्व तथा वर्तमान पदाधिकारीहरु, एएनएसंग सम्वन्धित संघ-संस्था तथा यसका कमिटिका पदाधिकारीहरु, एएनएका विगतका सम्मेलनका पदाधिकारीहरु लगायत सरोकारवाला सम्पूर्ण महानुभावहरुसंग पूर्ण सहयोगको अपेक्षा राख्दछु l

जब हामी एएनएका सामु रहेको आवश्यक कानुनी तथा आर्थिक अनुशासनको विषयलाई सहि ठाउमा ल्याई पुर्याउने छौ त्यसको लगत्तै सरोकारवाला निकायबाट स्वीकृत गरिएको विधान अनुसार एएनएको नयाँ नेत्तृत्वकालागि निर्वाचन गराउने छौ l हामी हाम्रा कानुनी परामर्शदातासंग परामर्श गरि समयमानै एएनए सम्वन्धि सूचना तथा जानकारीहरु एएनएको ‘वेभ साइट’ मा ‘पोष्ट’ गर्ने छौ l

एएनए अदालतमा भएको वेला असहमतिलाई सहमतिमा ल्याउन अहम भूमिका निर्वाह गर्नुहुने अमेरिकाका लागि नेपाली राजदूत डा. शंकर प्रसाद शर्मालाई उहाले पुर्याउनु भएको योगदानका लागि हामी आभार व्यक्त नगरी रहन सक्दैनौ l एएनएको स्थापना गरेर यसलाई जीवन्त राख्न पुर्याएको योगदानका कारण यसका संस्थापक तथा पूर्व पदाधिकारीहरुलाइ म सलाम गर्न चाहन्छु l एएनएलाई दु:ख-सुखका समयमा साथ दिने अमेरिका तथा क्यानडामा बस्ने हजारौ नेपाली दाजु – भाई, दिदि-बहिनीहरुलाई यस साथका लागि प्रणाम नगरी रहन सकिन्न l आउदो एएनएले सकारात्मक सोच राख्ने र रचनात्मक काम गर्नेलाई सलाम गर्ने नै छ l

अदालतले एएनएका लागि खटाएका ट्रष्टि अनुज सुद र एएनएका लागि कानुनी परामर्शदाता (वकिल) डिपो अकिन-डेक एएनएका लागि उहाहरुले पुर्याउनु भएको योगदानका कारण धन्यवादका पात्र हुनुहुन्छ l एएनएको मुद्धा अदालतमा रहेको बेला सामुदायिक भावनामा रही मुद्धाको विषयलाई शान्त रुपमा रहन दिएर अदालती निर्णय पर्खिदिनु भएकोमा पत्रकार मित्रहरुप्रति पनि हामी आभारी छौ l

‘ Lone Star state ‘ का नामले चिनिने टेक्सास एएनएको ३० औँ सम्मेलन जुलाई ४, २०१२ को तयारीमा जुटेको छ l ” भिमकाय राज्य टेक्सास ” मा बस्नुहुने नेपाली दाजु – भाई, दिदि-बहिनीहरुले एएनएको आउँदो सम्मेलन अविष्मरणीय बनाउनु हुनेछ भन्नेमा हामी पूर्ण विश्वस्त छौ l बिभिन्न क्षेत्र र पेशामा रहनु भएका सम्पूर्ण नेपालीहरुलाई द एसोसिएसन अफ नेप्लीज इन अमेरिका (एएनए) एउटै छाता मूनी अटाउने वातावरण सृजना गर्न म र मेरो समूहमा रहनु भएका एएनएका पदाधिकारीहरु पूर्ण रुपमा प्रतिवद्द छौ l

धन्यवाद
छेवाङ शेर्पा लामा
अध्यक्ष
(अन्तरिम कार्यसमिति)
द एसोसिएसन अफ नेप्लीज इन अमेरिका (एएनए)
डिसेम्वर १४, २०११

English

Press Release from the Association of Nepalis in the Americas (ANA)

Dear respected Members of the ANA Nepali media friends,

Season’s Greetings,

 ANA, the association of Nepalis in the Americas has been the most recognized name amongst thousands of non-profit Nepalis community organization in the USA and Canada. ANA also has been known as the most victimized Nepali community association in the USA, in times. Yet, we all love ANA, for a simple reason that the middle initial ‘N” in “ANA” stands for “Nepalis”, that we all are so proud of being, no matter who and where we may be.

In a democracy, we agree to disagree. In a lawful nation, everyone has equal right to exercise and protect his/her rights, and seek justice Justice has prevailed, and it is our pleasure to inform to all the supporters of ANA that the lawsuit was resolved on December 8, 2011. This idle litigation caused some financial drain to ANA and all the individuals involved; however, we are confident in the strength and future of ANA and its members.

Now that lawsuit has been resolved in the court of law, we must see and move forward. We must move forward together, in solidarity to build a new ANA guided by past, with vision from present and for the future. We must together, in solidarity build an ANA where each and every Nepali fit-in, equally. Most importantly, we must build an ANA with full financial and legal compliance guided by the non-profit corporation laws.

In the next few days ahead, we shall consult with ANA attorney to discuss all financial and legal compliance issues that needs addressing immediately. Me, and my team of ANA officers intend to bring the ANA to 100% financial and legal compliance, as required under the law. Therefore, in these regards, I seek full cooperation from members, all past ANA officers, past,/currant officers of ANA affiliate organizations, committees, Past ANA convention officers and other past/currant associates.

Once ANA is brought to full financial and legal compliance, we shall conduct election for the next ANA Executive Officers as per ANA bylaws approved and stamped by the authority.  We shall periodically post ANA related notices and other information on ANA website after consulting with the ANA attorney.

We are greatful to Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, the honorable ambassador of Nepal to the USA, for his constructive contribution while this case was in the court. The founder and the past officers of ANA deserve an “ANA salute” for giving birth to ANA and keeping it existed. The utmost “ANA salute” must be extended to thousands of Nepalis residing in the USA and Canada for supporting ANA, in good times and bad times. The future ANA salute must be earned by those creative minds that shall carry on the torch of the ANA to next generations to come.

ANA shall appreciate court appointed trustee Mr. Anuj Sud and ANA attorney Mr. Dipo Akin-Deko deserves commendations for their works in guiding this litigation in the best interest of ANA. We thank the friends in Nepali media in their thoughtful co-operation in keeping mute (peaceful) while this case was in court, waiting for the verdict.

Preparation for the 30^th ANA July 4^th Convention in the “Lone Star State” of Texas is underway. We are confident that our Nepalis sisters/brothers residing in the “Jumbo State” of Texas shall present a gigantic ANA July 4^th Convention ever. Me, and my team of ANA officers are looking forward to bond all Nepalis from different backgrounds, under one umbrella of ANA, the association of Nepalies in the Americas.

Thank you,

Tsewang Sherpalama

President

Interim board of executive officers

ANA, the Association of Nepalis in the Americas (ANA)

December 14-2011