CIW’s Mission
The Club of Indian Women aims to empower Indian American Women through support groups and financial resources.
CIW’s Vision
All women should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Our Current Board
Board of Directors: 2023-25
President: Pramila Malhotra | Vice President: Madhu Uppal | Treasurer: Pankaj Tanna |
Joint Treasurer: Preeti Chawla | Secretary: Falguni Rana | Joint Secretary: Alka Sood |
Board at Large
Neerja Aggarwal | Ranjana Bhargava | Usha Gupta |
Vinita Gulabani | Suman Katyal | Achla Khanna |
Sarita Sharma | Mamta Bhargava | Sarita Sood |
Deepti Suri | Sangita Tandon | Tara Swaminathan |
Usha Wasan | Trustee: Urmilla Chawla | Trustee: Manju Gupta |
Trustee: Rani Jain | Trustee: Suman Mohlajee | Trustee: Prem Sharma |
Parliamentarian: Vandana Bankapur |
CIW History
To meet the social needs of Indian women who migrated to America, a women’s club was formed in 1977. In 1982, the club evolved into the Club of Indian Women (CIW), when its status became formal with the adoption of its by-laws and its distinctive logo. In doing so, CIW became a landmark women’s organization.
In 1983, CIW established the Indo-Crisis Line (ICL). This 24-hour telephone hotline was designed to address the needs of women and youth in crisis.
The experience of the ICL members was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the first shelter for battered and abused Asian women in the United States.
CIW Offshoots
In 1993, the Indo-Crisis Line was renamed CIW Humanitarian Services. This division worked to further the educational aspirations of women. Each year proceeds from various fundraising efforts support CIW’s scholarships to Indian women in need.
Also in 1993, Humanitarian Services formed the Senior Citizens from India Association to facilitate senior’s adjustment to life in their adopted country. This group hosted meetings to discuss topics of importance to seniors, including fitness, Social Security, Medicare, immigration laws, and physical and emotional well-being.
In 1986, the Network of Working Women, another CIW division was created. This professional group often addressed issues unique to Indian working women – dual values, cultural differences, ethnicity, discrimination, and obstacles to career advancement. Each year, the Network sponsored two seminars that focused on various business and professional topics.
Past Presidents
PREM SHARMA 1978-80, 20012-14 |
URMIL CHAWLA 1980-82,1988-90, 2014-16 |
RANI JAIN 1982-83 |
SWADESH SOOD 1983-84 |
ILA KAMDAR 1984-85 |
SUMAN MOHLAJEE 1985-87 |
NAFISA BANDOOKWALA 1987-88 |
JYOTSNA KUMAR 1990-92 |
MANJU GUPTA 1992-93 |
SUMAN SOOD 1993-94 |
SUMAN KATYAL 1994-95 |
SHASHI KATHPALIA 1995-96 |
ASHA SINGHAL 1995-96 |
RAMBHA RADHA KRISHNAN 1997-2000 |
PRAMILA MALHOTRA 2000-02 |
SUMAN VERMA 2003-04 |
PRIYAM SOOD 2004-2005 |
PREETI CHAWLA 2006-2008 |
SANDESH SACHDEV 2008-2009 |
SARITA SOOD 2009-11 |
PANKAJ TANNA 2017-19 |
MADHU UPPAL 2019-2021 |
VANDANA BANKAPUR 2021-23 |
PRAMILA MALHOTRA 2023-Present |