LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life Membership is the highest award available to recognise individuals who have provided exemplary service and contribution to the Central Districts Indian Association (CDIA). Our Life Membership Policy outlines the criteria and process to nominate, award and recognise individuals for this award.
Any CDIA member can nominate another CDIA member, as long as they have a been a financial member for the past five years. All nominations are to be sent to the Secretary by 31st December of each year, at which time nominations will be evaluated and voted on at the next AGM.
Life membership is a great honour and therefore will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances. We hope members carefully consider who they would like to nominate, and view the criteria required for potential nominees.
If you have any queries regarding the Life Membership Policy, please email us.
LIFE MEMBERS
Paul (Nanubhai) Patel QSM - Awarded 2019
Nanubhai Patel has served our local Indian community with dedication and commitment over the past 35 years. Under Nanubhai’s leadership, the Central Districts Indian Association has been recognised within our local community and throughout the Indian communities of New Zealand.
SUMMARY OF OFFICE BEARING POSITIONS HELD:
1982 - 1996 President of the Central Districts Indian Sports Club (CDISC)
1996 - 2016 Committee Member of the CDISC
1989 - 2016 President of the Central Districts Indian Association (CDIA)
1987 - 2016 Executive member of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA)
1995 - 2016 CDIA Representative on the Manawatu Multicultural Centre Inc.
2004 - 2010 NZICA Youth Committee
2011 - 2013 Member of the NZICA Honours Award and Life Membership Committee
2014 - 2016 Chairperson of the NZICA Indian High Commission Liaison Committee
2016 - 2018 NZICA Vice-President
2016 - Current CDIA Vice-President
2019 - Current NZICA President
Dhirubhai Ranchhod – Awarded 2021
Positions Held: Treasurer 1990 to Current
Dhirubhai has made a huge contribution to our Association and is an extremely valuable member of CDIA. He has held the position of Treasurer since 1990 and is very thorough in maintaining our financial records, our membership list and compiling and submitting our funding applications.
CDIA has been very fortunate to have a person of his calibre taking on such an important role with CDIA. It has led CDIA to be recognised in the wider community benefiting by his handling of all our financial matters. This has been very important when CDIA have been dealing with outside organisations such as the local Palmerston North City Council, funding agencies and NZICA.
Dhirubhai was recognised for his services to our local community by NZICA in 2019 when he was awarded the NZICA Community Service Award.
Dhirubhai is well respected in our community and he is a deserving recipient of CDIA Life Membership Award for his many years of voluntary service to the people of our community and region