| 10 | 16 | | |
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| 11 | 17 | | |
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| 12 | 18 | | |
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| 13 | 19 | | WHEREAS, the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America is a prominent nonprofit organization that serves as an umbrella body for more than 85 member associations across the United States and Canada, representing approximately one million nonresident Indians of Kerala origin; and |
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| 14 | 20 | | |
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| 15 | 21 | | WHEREAS, established in 1983, the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA) has a rich history of promoting Kerala's culture and heritage while advocating for nonresident Indian (NRI) causes; and |
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| 16 | 22 | | |
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| 17 | 23 | | WHEREAS, FOKANA is dedicated to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Kerala among the Malayalee diaspora in North America, engaging in various community service initiatives to support and uplift the Malayalee community, and advocating for the rights and interests of NRIs; and |
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| 18 | 24 | | |
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| 19 | 25 | | WHEREAS, since its inception, FOKANA has organized biennial conventions that serve as a platform for cultural exchange, networking, and discussion of pertinent issues affecting the Kerala community, initiated programs like the Indian Youth Leadership Conference to foster leadership skills among young Malayalees, and advocated for the reinstatement of inflation-adjusted tax benefits for NRIs in real estate transactions; now, therefore, be it |
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| 20 | 26 | | |
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| 21 | 27 | | RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America hereby be commended for its legacy of service; and, be it |
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| 22 | 28 | | |
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| 23 | 29 | | RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the organization's contributions to the Kerala community in the Commonwealth and beyond. |
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