News Report by Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa
California Sherpa Association Holds 2025 Annual General Assembly
EL CERRITO, Calif. — November 9, 2025 : On a clear November afternoon, the rhythmic hum of voices and the aroma of Himalayan cuisine filled the Tashi Delek Restaurant in El Cerrito, California. It was November 9, 2025, a day of gathering, reflection, and renewal for the California Sherpa Association (CSA). The annual general assembly, a cornerstone of the organization’s democratic spirit, brought together Sherpa families, elders, and youth from across Northern California to celebrate community, share ideas, and welcome new leadership.
The event began with a heartfelt welcome from Vice President Ang Tendi Sherpa, who reminded everyone that such assemblies are not merely formalities, but vital occasions for dialogue and connection. “It is through our participation and discussion,” he said, “that we shape the direction and welfare of our organization.” His words set the tone for an afternoon rooted in unity, gratitude, and forward vision.
CSA President Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa then took the floor to express his deep appreciation for the members and board who, through quiet dedication and collective effort, had strengthened the foundation of the association during his tenure. He spoke not only of achievements, but of the invisible threads of trust and cooperation that sustain a community far from its ancestral home in the Himalayas.
Moderated by General Secretary Pasang Geljen Sherpa, the assembly unfolded with an air of thoughtful purpose. The general secretary presented an overview of the year’s activities, community events, cultural programs, and outreach efforts, while Treasurer Kami Sherpa shared the financial report, underscoring transparency and accountability as central values of the organization. The Chief Guest, Tendi Sherpa Lama, graced the occasion with his presence and joined the president in presenting certificates of appreciation to those who had contributed selflessly to the association’s mission.
A moment of quiet reflection followed when former president Ang Chhiring Sherpa spoke about the enduring significance of the organization. He reminded the audience of the early days when the California Sherpa Association first took shape, a time when the community longed for a shared space to preserve their culture and support one another. “This organization,” he said, “has given the Sherpas of Northern California not only a home away from home but also a collective identity rooted in compassion and resilience.”
The highlight of the afternoon came with the unanimous election of the new board of directors for the 2026 to 2028 term. Gombu Sherpa was elected as the new president, with Ang Dorjee Sherpa as vice president, Mingma Lhamu Sherpa as secretary, and Ang Ngawang Sherpa as treasurer. The newly elected board, which includes members Konjo Sherpa, Ngapasang Sherpa, Nimi Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, Pasang Nuru Sherpa, Phudoma Sherpa, Phurba Sherpa, Tashi Dhundup Sherpa, Thupten Sherpa, and Ongdawa Sherpa, took their oath of office before former president and election committee member Lhakpa Dendi Sherpa. The moment symbolized not only a leadership transition but also the enduring continuity of community trust and responsibility.
Founded in 2010, the California Sherpa Association is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Sherpa culture, promoting social welfare, and uniting Sherpa families living throughout California. Over the years, it has organized cultural festivals, Losar celebrations, Buddhist teachings, and charitable initiatives both locally and in Nepal. Its long-term vision includes establishing a Sherpa Community Center in the Bay Area, a cultural home that will serve future generations as a space for learning, gathering, and remembrance.
As the assembly drew to a close, the spirit in the room was one of renewed purpose. Conversations lingered long after the formal session ended, about upcoming events, community projects, and dreams of a dedicated Sherpa center that might one day rise on California soil. The general assembly was not only a meeting of members; it was, in essence, a reaffirmation of identity, a quiet celebration of how a mountain people, scattered far from their native valleys, continue to climb together toward a shared horizon.
Notice of Election
Dear CSA Members
California Sherpa Association appointed Election Committee members.
CSA Election for Executive and Board of Directors is open to CSA members who are interested in running for the CSA for the term 2025-2027.
Name List of the Election Committee:
Phurpa Sherpa (CELL 707-321-0998)
(Former Vice President, Election Committee Coordinator, and Lifetime Member)
B. Lakpa Dendi Sherpa (CELL 707-591-5368)
(Former President and Lifetime Member)
C. Angche Sherpa (510-569-0831)
(Former General Secretary and Lifetime Member)
D. Pemba Sherpa (707-775-0559)
(Former Board of Directors and Lifetime Member)
E. Chering Heffelfinger (415-816-3877)
(Former Board of Directors and Lifetime Member)
CSA and Election committee members has informed through CSA official page and sending out text messages to all the members and posting on CSA Facebook page regarding election information so please be advised if you guys are interested to become new Board members, please proceed with application filling out online election form select the position you want to become and submit them once you submit please take screen shut of the form you submitted it is to make sure even if the system fails you are still valid candidate and also CSA election coordinator will get the copy of your form.
Following the CSA standard, the current election committee members have established the following procedures and protocols for nominating and electing new board members.
1) A CSA General Membership or Lifetime Membership is required for candidacy in any board member position or to vote for candidates.
2) All general members must be registered or renewed before the election day by August 4th 2025, 5 pm for your convenience we have created online form for you so fill out your membership form online if you are not yet member and pay your fee online also so you don’t need to worried for validate waiting period for more information please visit to our website Www.casherpa.org or call CSA election committee Members.
3) Membership registration and renewal will close on August 8, 2025.
4) Candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer must submit their state-issued ID and Social Security numbers, as well as proof of valid CSA membership; these are all mandatory requirements.
5) All Board of Directors candidates must submit their State-Issued ID and proof of a valid CSA membership.
6) Please remember candidacy for the below-listed positions by 5:00 PM Pacific day
Time: August 8th, 2025. The last date the form is submitted after 5 pm will not be valid.
7) Candidates for President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Secretary, and Treasurer can be elected by general members and Lifetime Members of all regions and are allowed to come from any three regions of the Bay Area of California.
8) The President Candidacy requirement must be a Sherpa, and the age must be 18 years or older.
9) Please note that a Social Security number and a California ID or driver’s license are required for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Additionally, you must be able to travel abroad if necessary.
Positions open for election are:
The President has one position only
Vice President, one position only.
General Secretary, one Position only.
Secretary, one Position only.
Treasurer, one position only
Regional Board of Directors:
- Bay Area 3 Members (plus 1 reserved for women)
- Sonoma Bay 3 Members (plus 1 reserved for women)
- South Bay 2 Members (plus 1 reserved for women). However, if there is more than one woman from the same region, that counts toward the regular board members of the area; we encourage more women to participate. The election date will be determined if needed.
All positions must be registered by 5:00 p.m. on August 8, 2025.
The venue will be determined by the Election Committee and the CSA’s present board members, if required.
We want to request that all CSA general members and Lifetime Members actively participate in this process and encourage those interested in contesting for any position.
Thanks
California Sherpa Association.
Election Committee Members.
. 
Congratulations to our lifetime member, Mr. Kami Rita Sherpa, for successfully climbing Mt. Everest for the 31st time. He has broken his own world record again.
.
Mr. Sherpa is the person with the most Mount Everest ascents in the history of the world.
Please join the Nepal Day parade on Sunday April 14, 2024, starting at 11 am onwards.
organized by the NRNA California chapter,
JANAJATI MAHASANG and local organizations.
Please wear traditional cultural dress.
address: Market Street San Francisco, CA 94109
For more information, please refer to the postcard.
TASHIDELE EVERYONE, HERE IS A MESSAGE FROM LAMA DHANYO, GYOTO GUMBA, Richmond, California
You are invited to the 3-day Great Prayer Festival in March 2024 dedicated to honoring His Holiness, the 14th Dalia Lama’s 90th birthday (Tibetan Calendar), and World Peace. His Eminence Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche will lead the prayers from Sera Monastery in India. All are Welcome!!
Sponsorships available:
Fruits and Flowers donation for a day $200.00
One day Hall Rental $1,800.00
One-day Meal $1,300.00
Bread and Tea $250.00
Lunch Only $550.00
Dinner Only $550.00
To sponsor or donate for Monlam Chenpo, please LAMA Donyo at
510-6746000.
Venue: Richmond Masonic Hall
5050 El Portal Dr.
Richmond, CA 94805
When: March 7, 8 and 9, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Losar Event 2024 is scheduled for Sunday, February 25th, 2024, by the California Sherpa Association.
The event will be held at 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco, California, 94109.
If you need to purchase a ticket or become a sponsor, please contact any of the individuals listed below for further assistance. Thank you.
California Sherpa Association is pleased to announce the upcoming 2024 Lhopso Ceremony, which we host annually.
Below are the details of the event:
LHAPSO PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Date: February 12th, 2024 Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Venue:
6401 Bernhard Ave, Richmond Heights, CA 94805
LHOPSO ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Mr. Ang Tendi Sherpa and Mrs. Yangi Sherpa From Richmond, California
Mr. Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Mrs. Ang Phuti Sherpa From Mountain View, California
Mr. Thupten Tharchin and Mrs. Rinzin Dolma From Richmond, California
Mr. Phuri Sherpa and Mrs. Mingma Yangi Sherpa From San Pablo, California
Mr. Ang Chhiring Sherpa and Mrs. Krishna K. Pun From Albany, California
Mr. Na Temba Sherpa and Mrs. Mingma Phuti Sherpa From Santa Rosa, California
The new board List has been received. Click here to see
Notice of Election
California Sherpa Association appointed Election committee members. Please fill out the form for Election 2023 and term year 2023-2025. For details, I’ve shared all the information below after the form.
Notice of Election Drear CSA Members
California Sherpa Association appointed Election committee members. CSA Election for Executive and Board of Directors requests the CSA members interested in running CSA for term years 2023-2025. Name List of the Election Committee: Phurpa Sherpa (CELL 707-321-0998) (Former Vice President and Election committee coordinator and Lifetime Member) B. Ang Phuri Sherpa (CELL 707-477-6600) (Founder President and Lifetime Member) C. Ang Tsering Sherpa (707-805-6001) (Former President and Lifetime Member) D. Ang Ngima Sherpa (415-423-4131) (Former President and Lifetime Member) E. Chering Heffelfinger (415-816-3877) (Former Board of Director and Lifetime Member) CSA and Election committee members has informed through CSA official page and sending out text messages to all the members and posting on CSA Facebook page regarding election information so please be advised if you guys are interested to become new Board members, please proceed with application filling out online election form select the position you want to become and submit them once you submit please take screen shut of the state you submitted it is just to make sure even if the system fails you are still valid candidate and also CSA election coordinator will get the copy of your form. By CSA standards, the current election committee members have set the following procedures/protocols for the nomination and election of the new board members. 1) CSA General Membership or Lifetime membership is mandatory for the candidacy of any board member’s position or to vote for any candidates. 2) All general members must be registered or renewed before the election day by July 21st, 2023, at 5 pm. For your convenience, we have created an online form for you, so fill out your membership form if you are not yet a member and pay your fee online so you don’t need to worry about the validation waiting period. For more information, please visit our website, www.casherpa.org, or call CSA election committee Members. 3) Membership registration and renewal will be closed on August 10th, 2023. 4) Candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer must submit their state ID and Social security numbers and proof of valid CSA membership. These are all mandatory. 5) All Board of Director candidates must submit their State ID and proof of valid CSA membership. 6) Please remember that candidacy for the below-listed positions must be by 5:00 PM Pacific on August 15th, 2023, the last date. The form submitted after 5 pm will not be valid. 7) The president, Vice-President, General Secretary, Secretary, and Treasurer candidate can be elected by general members and Life lifetime members of all regions and allowed from any 3 regions of the California Bay Area. 8) President’s Candidacy requirement must be a Sherpa and 18 years or older. 9) Please Remember that a Social Security number and California ID or driver’s license are mandatory for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer positions, and you must be able to travel abroad if required. Positions open for election are: President, one position only; Vice President, one position only. General Secretary one Position only. Secretary one Position only Treasurer one position only Regional Board of Directors:
- Bay area 3 Members (plus 1 reserved for women)
- Sonoma Bay 3 Members (plus 1 reserved for women)
- South Bay 2 Members (plus 1 reserved for women). However, if there is more than one woman from the same region that counts toward regular board members of the area, we encourage more women to participate. Election Date will be determined if needed. All the positions must be registered by 5 pm on August 15th, 2023.
The election committee will determine the venue, and CSA will present board members if required. We request that all CSA general and Life Time Members actively participate in this process and encourage those interested in contestants for any position. Thanks, California Sherpa Association. Election committee Members.
