10 Glorious years
Once upon a time, a few Goans sat around
and talked of hosting a dance in New Jersey.
So, with that germ of an idea, Maria & Agnelo Gomes, Wilma &
Bambino Martins and Valerie Moniz met, to discuss the logistics. It started out as one small function that
led to sharing our heritage & culture and bonding in friendship with fellow
Goans and their friends.
That
first Christmas dance was in 1991, and was held at the VFW Hall in Cherry
Hill. Spread by word of mouth to other
Goans in the area, about 80 people attended and the above small committee provided
the financial backing as well as the planning and organization. It was a huge success. This success propelled the committee to add
other events to the calendar and the Goan Association of New Jersey, Inc. was
born. Shortly after, the ‘GOAN Connection’ was launched to establish a link with
members and keep them abreast of Association news.
As
social events were perfected and financial coffers grew, the Association
started to branch out with social concerns.
A prayer chain was recently started to pray for special intentions of
friends and families of members. Also monetary donations to worthwhile causes
in Goa are distributed annually and a partnership with the Salvation Army in
New Brunswick, NJ was formed to assist in their clothing and food drives.
We
thank those few people who, ten years ago, believed that a network of friends
sharing the same Goan heritage would be a rewarding undertaking and a chance to
forge an extended family, which we are today, The Goan Association of New
Jersey, Inc. members are grateful for their efforts.
This
year marks the 10th anniversary and we plan to celebrate in grand style on
December 15 at our annual Holiday Ball, held at the Ukranian Cultural Center in
Somerset New Jersey. This traditional
event starts at 6 pm and winds up at 2 am, with a band, a D.J., fabulous food
and fun to last the whole evening. We
have been blessed with ten years of growth, adventure, and new
friendships. We welcome you to join
us and be a part of this celebration in honoring this tradition.
Visit our website at: https://members.tripod.com/~goanj/