- Orissa Society of the Americas
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Orissa Society of the Americas 
Abbreviation OSA Formation 1969 Legal status Voluntary association Purpose/focus Awareness of Oriya Language and Culture Location USA Official languages Oriya
EnglishWebsite www.orissasociety.org The Orissa Society of the Americas, or OSA, is an organization whose stated goals are to promote the culture of the Indian state of Orissa (officially Odisha) in the United States and Canada, and to facilitate the exchange of information between Orissa and North America.[1] Founded in 1969, OSA is registered as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States. The main event of the organization is an annual convention which aims to bring members of the Oriya diaspora together to celebrate their ethnic culture. It held an annual get-together called convention, where people of Oriya origin from different parts of USA and Canada mingled and shared experiences of ethnic living.
Contents
Current Status
Today OSA is a strong organization with 900 or more individual and family members. This is due to individuals stepping forward to support different activities of OSA with innovative ideas which, when implemented, benefit us all. The organization has now spread into thirteen regional chapters, which operate as a social umbrella for different regions in the US and Canada. The chapters arrange various activities such as religious festivals, social get together, cultural events and participate in the cultural life of the local community as representatives of Oriya culture. Besides these the annual convention is known as the centerpiece of the OSA's activities.
Vision
The vision of OSA is to promote and propagate Oriya culture in Americas by bringing together all the people interested in Orissa.
Mission Goals
The mission goals of The Orissa Society of Americas(OSA) are:
· To provide a mutually supportive environment for the better interaction of Oriya immigrants of North American countries through socio-cultural growth, friendship and fellowship.
· To enhance the awareness of Orissa and Oriya traditions in North America through cultural promotion, social events, and developmental activities.
· To facilitate the exchange of information between Orissa and the United States/Canada.
OSA Chapters in USA & Canada
There are 14 chapters in USA and 1 chapter in Canada. A new chapter, California chapter is under formation.
Chapter Name Chapter Serving Area Formation Year Chicago Illinois, Wisconsin NA Grand Canyon Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico 2009 Maryland - Virginia Maryland, Virginia 1995 Michigan Michigan 1988 North West Minnesota 1990 New England Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire NA New York/New Jersey New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania 1970 as OSANY 2005 as OSANYNJ Ohio Ohio NA Ozark (central) Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri NA Pacific Northwest Oregon, Washington, British Columbia & Neighboring States 2011 South East North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia NA Southern Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi. Alabama, Kentucky NA South-West Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma NA Washington, DC Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, West Virginia 1984 Canada Canada 1971 Events
OSA Convention
The annual convention of The Orissa Society of the Americas takes place during the July 4th weekend every year. The main responsibility of hosting the convention rests with the local chapters of OSA. At times when local chapters do not bid for the convention, Oriya communities under the leadership of an OSA life member and with 15 or more OSA members do take charge of organizing the convention. The convention serves to bring together people with roots in Orissa to share the pride in Oriya culture and heritage and pass it on to the next generation. Convention is the centerpiece of OSA's activities. The 43rd annual OSA Convention will be held in Seattle, Washington. The 42nd OSA annual convention was held in Dallas, Texas from 1 to 4 July 2011.[2]
Past/Future OSA Conventions
Year Place 2012 Seattle, DC 2011 Dallas, TX 2010 Redwood City, CA 2009 Trenton, New Jersey 2008 Toronto, ONT 2007 Detroit, MI 2006 Columbia, MD 2005 Newport Beach, CA 2004 Dallas, TX 2003 Princeton, NJ 2002 Greenbelt, MD 2001 Chicago, IL 1999 Toronto, Canada 1998 Monterey, CA 1997 Houston, TX 1996 Washington, DC 1995 Minneapolis, MN 1994 Pomona, NJ 1993 Troy, MI 1992 Atlanta, GA 1991 Chicago, IL 1990 Washington, DC 1989 Nashville, TN 1988 Saginaw, MI 1987 Stanford, CA 1986 Toronto, Canada 1985 Kent, OH 1984 Glassboro, NJ 1983 Bowie, MD 1982 Minneapolis, MN 1981 Chicago, IL 1980 Detroit, MI 1979 New Brunswick, NJ 1978 Wheaton, MD 1977 Riverdale, NJ 1976 Toronto, Canada 1975 Riverdale, NJ 1974 College Park, MD 1973 Riverdale, NJ 1972 Riverdale, NJ 1971 Hartford, CT 1970 Hartford, CT OSA Regional Oriya Drama Festival
OSA Drama Festival started in 2009 for the first time. Dr Gopal Mohanty was the festival coordinator. The concept of regional drama festival went into effect during the month of April 2009 at 3 sites, Texas, Michigan and Washington DC. OSA is planning to continue the tradition in its present form or in an improved form (combining music and dances) for the future.
Year Region Drama Chapter 2009 South-West Region Athacha Chanakya(ଅଥଚ ଚାଣକ୍ୟ) Dallas Sahitya Gadia Manthana(ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଗଡିଆ ମନ୍ଥନ ) Austin E ki Nataka(ଏ କି ନାଟକ ) Arkansas Mom, Ma Aau Madam(ମୋମ୍, ମା ଆଉ ମାଡାମ୍) Houston Eastern Region Gitinatya Sri Ganesha(ଗୀତିନାଟ୍ୟ ଶ୍ରୀ ଗଣେଶ) DC Pathoi Bohu(ପାଠୋଇ ବୋହୁ) DC Gua Nimantran(ଗୁଆ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ) NY/NJ Northern Region Banna Nasika(ବନ ନାଶିକ) Canada Gitinatya Mahisa Mardini(ଗୀତିନାଟ୍ୟ ମହିଶା ମର୍ଦିନୀ) MI 2010 South-West Region Kalakara Natabara Babunkara Nata(କଳାକାର ନଟବର ବାବୁନକର ନାଟ) Dallas Saur Jagatare Ulka Pata(ସୌର ଜଗତରେ ଉଲ୍କା ପାତ) Arkansas Habani Na, Habana Aau(ହବନୀ ନା, ହବନା ଆଉ ) Houston Eastern Region Kanchi Abhijan(କାଂଚୀ ଅଭିଯାନ) OSNE Junior artists Dasanana: Naka Kata Upakhyana(ଦସାନନ : ନାକ କଟା ଉପାଖ୍ୟାନ) NY/NJ Dinu Kaka Thiika Kahuthile(ଦିନୁ କାକା ଠିକ୍ କହୁଥିଲେ ) OSNE Senior artists North-Central Region Uchit Charcha(ଉଚିତ୍ ଚର୍ଚା) Milwaukee Gosein Mahatma(ଗୋସେଇଁ ମହାତ୍ମା) Detroit Jaha Hale Hau(ଯାହା ହେଲେ ହଉ) Unknown Northern Region Unknown Canada Unknwon MI References
Categories:- International cultural organizations
- Oriya diaspora
- Organization stubs
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