UAAA General Assembly 2006- 8 September 2006

A delegation under the leadership of NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa participated in the General Assembly of Union of Asian Alpine Association (UAAA) held in Beijing, China 16-17 September 2006. The following board members of NMA participated in the assembly.

1. Mr. Khadanada Dhakal- Under Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
2. Mr. Deebas Bickram Shah- General Secretary
3. Mr. Narhari Bhandari- Secretary
4. Mr. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa- Executive Board Member
5. Dr. Hari Prasad Shrestha - Executive Board Member
6. Mr. Santa Bir Lama - Executive Board Member
7. Mr. Sarki Tamang- Executive Board Member
8. Mr. Diwas Pokhrel- Executive Board Member
9. Mr. Vijaya Gurung- Executive Board Member

Mrs. Hu Jiayan- Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of Chinese Olympic Committe was the chief guest for the meeting chaired by Fumio Tanaka, UAAA President. Mr. Pierre Humblet, Acting President, UIAA and Mr. Lenselink Reindert, General Secretary, UIAA Climbing Council were also present in the meeting. The meeting discussed in various agendas on UAAA Future Activity, Report's, UIAA New Delhi Meeting report. The meeting approved on the UAAA Council Meeting in 8 May 2008 in Nepal. Hong Kong has taken up the responsibility of treasury and Taiwan as an accountant of UAAA. All the NMA Members traveled overland to Beizing from Kathmandu and returned on 24 September 2006.

Tourism minister at IMM- 21 September 2006

Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali visited International Mountain Museum (IMM), Pokhara, on 21 September 2006. Hon'ble Minister highly appreciated NMA's role in the development and management of the museum and urged all the tourism entrepreneurs to develop IMM as a new tourism product for Pokhara. He also advised regarding the possibility of developing IMM as international center for the study of mountain, mountaineering and mountain environment.

Helicopter Crash - 23 September 2006

Shree Airlines helicopter with 24 high profile passengers on board disappeared at Ghunsa, Taplejung district on 23 September 2006, Saturday morning in which we lost our Chief Advisor Dr. Harka Gurung and General Members Mr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa and Mr. Mingma Sherpa. A massive rescue operation was coordinated by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) along with NMA, HRA and local people of the area. Mr. Nawang Nima Sherpa led the mountain rescue squad of NMA, while our Treasurer Mr. Ang Kaji Sherpa coordinated with MoCTCA.

Nepal-Japan Diplomatic Relationship Golden Jubilee Nangpai Gosum Expedition 2006- 25 September 2006

A flag handover ceremony was organized on 25 September 2006, to give a warm sent off to the participating members of Nepal-Japan Diplomatic Relationship Golden Jubilee Friendship Expedition, Nangpai Gosum (7321m), 2006. The chief guest for the program was Hon'ble Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. His Excellency Ambassador of Japan Tsutumo Hiraoka, Mr. Masuo Moriya, President of Japan Worker's Alpine Federation (JWAF) were also honored in the program. Hon'ble Minister and Japanese Ambassador handed over the flag to the General Expedition Leaders Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa and Mr. Masuo Moriya. Then after General Expedition Leaders handed over the flag to the Expedition leaders Mr. Da Gombu Sherpa of Nepal and Mr. Mr. Kozuyoshi Kondo of Japan.

Following the handover program, the Chief Guest gave away certificates to the successful trainees of Basic Mountaineering Course 2006 carried out in Kathmandu and Langtang. There were thirty four Nepalese students and three foreign students.

French Senators at NMA Secretariat- 27 September 2006

High ranking officials of France Republic along with Senator Mr. Collin visited NMA Secretariat on 27 September 2006. NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa welcomed them in the NMA premises. NMA officials Ist Vice President Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, IInd Vice President Mr. Bhumi Lal Lama, General Secretary Mr. Deebas Bickram Shah, and Secretary Mr. Narhari Bhandari were also present for the meeting.

During the meeting, NMA President expressed gratefulness towards the visiting delegates for their support they have provided us in building artificial climbing wall at International Mountaineers' Memorial Park, Kakani, and International Mountain Museum, Pokhara. He also remembered the contribution of ENSA in upgrading the mountaineering skills of Nepalese mountaineers and requested them towards further strengthening the relation between the two nations. He also thanked France for their contribution in overall development of tourism in whole of Nepal.

Central Executive Board Meeting- 28 September 2006

The Central Executive Board Meeting was held on 28 September 2006, Thursday. The meeting observed a minute silence in the memory of Chief Advisor Dr. Harka Gurung and two general members Mr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa and Mr. Mingma Sherpa. The meeting also decided to put a condolence book at the NMA premises. Similarly, in order to pay homage towards the legendary person, founder member of NMA, geographer, conservationist, first Tourism Minister and Chief Adviser Dr. Gurung. The Board Meeting also decided to organize a condolence program on 9 October 2006.

French Senators at IMM- 29 September 2006

Visiting Senatuer Des Francais Christaine Kammermann, Senatuer de Savoi Thierry Repentin along with His Excellency Michel Jolivet, Ambassador of French Republic visited International Mountain Museum (IMM), Pokhara on 29 September 2006. NMA Ist Vice President Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa and IInd Vice President Mr. Bhumi Lal Lama, Convener for IMM Committee along with members of NMA-Annapurna Chapter, Pokhara, briefed them about the museum. During their visit, they inspected the entire premises including the artificial climbing wall, which was built with the financial assistance from the Embassy of French Republic. Senatuer de Savoi Thierry Repentin also climbed on the wall and the route he took was named as Voie Repentin. A dinner was hosted by NMA in Pokhara in their honor.

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