ANAHEIM, CA: GOPIO-LA Chapter elected a new Executive Committee that will serve for next two years – 2026-2027. The following officers were elected;
- President – Baljinder Tahim
- Vice President – Aparna Hande
- Secretary – Yatri Shukla
- Treasurer – Meeta Gupta
- Jt. Secretary – Priya Kumar
- Chairman: Charu Shivakumar
Baljinder Tahim has been a GOPIO-LA member from the inception and has been actively involved in each and every project that GOPIO-LA has undertaken. He was unanimously elected as President. Previously he has been a Vice President for two years.
The newly elected officers were sworn in on December 15, 2025. Their term will be effective from January 01, 2026. The Oath of Office was administered by Trustee Rajinder Dhunna in front of all GOPIO-LA members who had gathered in a beautiful Banquet Hall of TAWA restaurant in Anaheim. There were around 15 new members who joined GOPIO-LA after learning about its activities and initiatives.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Kewal Kanda, GOPIO-International Vice President and GOPIO-LA Trustee setting the tone for collaboration, growth, and alignment with the global mission of GOPIO International. This was followed by a message of gratitude from Chairman Charu Shivakumar, who acknowledged the dedication of trustees, committee members, and volunteers during her tenure. Ashok Madan, a GOPIO-International Life Member and current GOPIO-LA treasurer gave a brief summary and overview of GOPIO-International activities and accomplishments. He also gave a financial report of GOPIO-LA accounts. The newly elected executive committee then appointed the following people as trustees of GOPIO-LA for next two years;
Kewal Kanda, Ashok Madan, Rajinder Dhunna, Kalika Gupta, Navin Gupta, and Anju Garg. Trustees were administered the Oath of Office by the newly elected President Baljinder Tahim.
Membership Highlights and Benefits
Kewal Kanda elaborated on the benefits of GOPIO International membership, including global networking, advocacy, and collaboration opportunities. The Silver Life Membership fees were outlined as $1500, $1,000, a discounted fee for people over 60 years of age, and $500 for 5 years membership. Four members expressed the desire to become GOPIO-Int’l life members. He also explained the fee structure for GOPIO–LA chapter members. The yearly dues are $100 for individuals and $125 for couples. The dues include chapter fee of $50 and the other $50 are for meeting expenses including food.
Collaborative Vision and Transparency
Aparna Hande presented strategies for supporting and collaborating with other local GOPIO chapters, reinforcing that every member has a meaningful role to play. Meeta Gupta outlined the proposed process for efficient collection of membership dues and fund management, including plans to open a dedicated Zelle account for transparency. She emphasized maintaining an updated membership list for streamlined operations.
Conclusion and Action Items
The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation to all trustees, office bearers, committee chairs, and members for their active participation. Members were encouraged to engage fully in their committees and support upcoming programs in line with GOPIO’s mission at both local and international levels.
