By Karma Gyatsho Zurkhang and Dorji Kunthup
WASHINGTON DC and NEW YORK, November 1, 2004—The Eighth Conference of North American Tibetan Associations, held at the historic and idyllic site of Tolstoy Foundation in Upstate New York, from October 23-24, concluded with the election of the first National Executive Committee (NEC) comprising of seven members.
The seven members elected by the conference are: Karma Gyatsho Zurkhang and Tenzin Dolkar Gorap from Washington DC., Tashi Lhadar and Dorjee Kunthup from New York and New Jersey, Tinley Woeser from Minnesota, Tashi Namgyal from Seattle, and Thupten Wangyal from Ontario, Canada.
The Committee nominated Karma Gyatsho Zurkhang of US Capital Area Tibetan Association as president of the newly formed apex body. Dorjee Kunthup of the Office of Tibet was nominated its secretary.
The North American Tibetan Chitue (deputy) and the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in New York would sit on the committee as permanent members, but without portfolios.
The Committee is expected to place a draft of Rules and Regulations for adoption by the next conference of Tibetan Associations.
About 65 delegates from 18 Tibetan Associations and other organizations attended the two-day meeting, and discussed the role of Tibetan Americans in Tibet’s struggle, action plans for preserving Tibetan language and culture, and for building a closer working relationship between the Tibetan associations and the Office of Tibet.
North American deputy Tenzin Chonden laid out a plan to reform the collection of Green-book contribution so that it is collected in the currency of the country of residence.
The conference strongly suggested increasing the number of North American deputy in the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples’ Deputies from one to three.
A delegate from Canada proposed a separate Office of Tibet in Canada.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy Gyari Lodi Gyaltsen briefed the conference about his recent visit to China and Tibet. He said fundamental differences with China remained, and that both sides expressed the need for more meetings to narrow down the differences.
The conference resolved to organize special events to celebrate the 70th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in July 2005.
