Background

Nepali Community in Oregon is growing faster. More and more Nepali individuals and the Nepali families are moving in Oregon . We have experienced a significant growth in Nepali community in the later part of 1990s. There are both first and second-generation Nepali families living in Oregon . In addition, large number of Nepali youths is coming in for the higher education in the four-year college and universities across the state. Many Nepali are married to Americans and many American from Oregon have visited Nepal and have special bond with Nepali people and culture.

Currently, there are over 325 Nepali residents and their families live primarily in Portland , Salem , Corvallis and Eugene areas in Oregon . Our growth as a community has presented a need for establishing a formal organization to foster and maintain fellowship among us and represent our causes in America . We understand that individually and as a family we are all trying to succeed in our professional pursuits in this new land. And we also understand the hardships and struggles we have to endure in the process of making this new land our home. It is a challenge to begin anew away from the homeland, and away from the support of families and friends. A network of community support and social interaction among fellow Nepali will help us to deal with such challenges positively. To this end, the formal organization presents a forum for reinforcing our common and shared values of Nepali culture and heritage. Therefore, we have formed an organization called Nepali Association in Oregon (NAO). This body will encompass the interest of all Nepali and our American friends.

NAO is registered as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization under the IRS Code 501(c)(3).

Formation of Nepali Association of Oregon

A seven member executive committee of NAO was formed under the leadership of Raju Mali in the fall of 2000. On the Nepali New Year Day celebration (April 22, 2001), the nine members of NAO executive committee were elected by the members of the Nepali community. The founding NAO executive members are:

• Raju Mali (President)
• Kush Shrestha (Vice President)
• Anupama Shrestha (Secretary)
• Darshan Rauniyar (Treasurer)
• Bal Joshi (Member)
• Daya Shakya (Member)
• Girish Ghimire (Member)
• Purna Ranjitkar (Member).
• Urmila Mali (Member)