Chicago: The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-Chicago), one of the largest umbrella organizations representing the Indian American community conducted its annual General Council meeting on Sunday, March 29, followed by elections and leadership appointments. The event was marked by a professional, disciplined, and corporate-style approach, setting a strong example for attending representatives.
President Hemant Patel opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and outlining the organization’s mission. He then invited Election Chair Dr. Bharatbhai Barai and committee member Bhailalbhai to oversee the election proceedings. The third committee member, Kantibhai S. Patel, was absent due to health reasons. The elections and subsequent appointments were conducted under the supervision of the election committee.
During the program, FIA Trustees, Ex-Official members, Executives, Directors, and delegates were invited to the stage individually. Patel highlighted 22 events organized over the past 11 months, noting that several were new initiatives. Treasurer Amar Upadhyay presented the financial report, which indicated reduced expenses and increased savings despite the extensive programming.
Dr. Bharatbhai Barai was unanimously re-elected as Trustee-Director for the 2026–27 term, with support from the Board of Directors, trustees, executives, delegates, and association representatives.
Hemant Patel was also re-elected as President, along with the following executive team:
- Hemant Patel – President
- Anil Singh – Executive Vice President
- Rohit Joshi – Vice President
- Joy Shah – Vice President
- Bhavesh Patel – Vice President
- Arvind Ankleshwaria – Secretary
- Amar Upadhyay – Treasurer
- Yashaswini Desai – Joint Treasurer
- Vira Adimulam – Joint Secretary
Dr. Barai administered the oath of office to the newly elected executives. Following the elections, the leadership appointed Directors and Delegates representing various organizations.
The council also reviewed and unanimously approved Amendment 4.0, with two corrections. Community leaders proposed several upcoming initiatives, including a health fair, an OCI visa camp, a health clinic, and enhancements to the organization’s website.
FIA-Chicago leadership reaffirmed its commitment to serving both Indian and American communities and expressed its intention to collaborate closely with member associations and community leaders in the coming year.
