Hi folks!

Welcome to the AASRA April E-news! Thanks for your enthusiastic response! We appreciate your support for our mission to serve as a support and resource network for the well-being of South Asian women in Greater Boston. With your involvement, we can ensure that every woman has a chance to realize their inherent right to self-worth, self-sufficiency and personal autonomy.

AASRA 2004 is off to a very strong start! As we forge ahead to implement our vision, we encounter project issues-- creative, tactical, and resources. We need your help. As members of our AASRA family, we want to keep you abreast of our progress and invite your collaboration. We welcome your counsel on upcoming AASRA initiatives to support and serve any South Asian women in our Greater Boston community. We invite you to get involved with our many exciting 2004 initiatives. We want you on our team!

Our key project — The AASRA Center continues to respond to women seeking support and resources with complete confidentiality. The Center is a comforting and supportive walk-in facility located at 54 Cummings Park , Suite 316 , Woburn , MA , and is open every Sat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. , and by appointment. You can contact us on the Toll Free Hot-line at 1-866-92AASRA or write to aasra@aasranewengland.com.

April Dateline —

•  AASRA 2004 Contribution Campaign is on! Complete your AASRA-2004 contribution before June 30, and win a very special prize:

Dinner for 4 at Boston 's premier Indian restaurant
The Bombay Club at Harvard Square
Open Drawing on July 4, 2004 !

Winner's names will be posted on the AASRA website: www.aasranewengland.com 

•  The AASRA Women's Well-being Initiative — On March 20, 2004 , AASRA presented “Take Charge of Your Health”— a very informative women's health issues seminar. It was well attended by an enthusiastic audience who listened attentively, took notes, and asked many questions of the two capable health-care experts — Dr. Purnima Sangal and Sangeeta Pradhan RD , Clinical Dietitian.  Dr. Sangal provided definition for the diagnosis of diseases related to acute and chronic pelvic pain, elaborating on endometriosis and its treatment.  Dr. Sangal also addressed the cardio-vascular impact of menopause, and osteoperosis; and made treatment recommendations for both health issues. Sangeeta Pradhan's very relevant presentation entitled "Take Nutrition to Heart" addressed heart plaque formation —  risk factors and plaque accumulation process, the role of dietary factors in cardio-vascular disease, and a comprehensive review of nutritional basics related to weight loss — separating fact from fallacy.

The AASRA 2004 Women's Well-being Initiative is intended to address the complete welfare of South Asian women by promoting an interdisciplinary, community-focused program of research, education, and action. Stay tuned for our next session!

•  AASRA Outreach Initiative — The next free community info-clinic is on June 5 in Lowell.

Title: "Take Charge of Your Personal Health" — Women's Well-Being
On  Saturday, June 5, 2004      from  1-4 p.m.
at The  Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack St. , Lowell , MA 01852
FREE EVENT:  Open to women of ALL ages.
Speakers are well-known professionals practicing in the Lowell-Chelmsford community.

•  AASRA Mentoring Initiative — Self-paced sessions for women at the AASRA Center, scheduled by appointment, conducted by AASRA Resources, and addresses basic requirements for Conversational English, PC skills, Resume-writing/Interviewing, Driving, Job/Small Business development. Please contact AASRA for Session sign-up which is in the first week of every Month.

Mark your calendars for AASRA events. Spread the word to any women who might be seeking support and services resources. Join the AASRA team!

Visit the AASRA website today: http://www.aasranewengland.com/

Become an AASRA volunteer/member: http://www.aasranewengland.com/membership.html