MeetingMinutes 06/08/08

Attendees: Bharath, Gaurav, Chandar, Ganesh, Mohit, Bhavna, Rahul

Questions that need to be answered and Action Items are in RED below

(I) Bharathi Resource center - Budget presented by Chandar (previously presented by Savitha)

1. Introduction to resource center. How Asha has been involved with it.

2. Pictures from Resource Center - from Gaurav's visit.

a. Mining going on in Rocky land, next to Resource center land. This is obstructing farming as boulders drop over into the land.

b .Check Dams build over the stream going through Resource center land. 4 check dams were built. 5 were supposed to be built.

Question : What was the reason 5th Dam was not built ?

    c. Great growth of lemon grass in the hilly area in and around Resource center.

d. Mix of vegetables is grown in the same area, so that soil is not deprived of one type of nutrients

    e. Panchkavya tanks where manure is made

    f. Overhead tanks need electricity.

Question : Does Asha pay for electricity ?

Answer : No. Money generated from Resource Center is used.

Action Item : Gauravs need to upload the picture

3. Budget for 2008-09 presented. Rs. 463,000 (See proposal for details)

Question: Why more farmers?

Answer: There are 6 farmers working. Need 2 more people to take a survey and spread the word about organic farming.

Question: When is the Resource center expected to become self-sustaining?

Answer: 2 years from now, the majority of land should be cultivable - this is the time it takes a land to gain back its nutrients. So after that the produce will be enough to cover cost of farming.

Question: How much of the land is cultivable?

Answer: 8 acres of 13 is cultivable.

Question: What is the impact of the Resource Center's Organic farming initiative in the area ?

Answer: 150 farmers in immediate vicinity. Trying to reach out to 200 famers. Generally, not many farmers outside the area that have experimented with Organic farming. Most farmers do not have cows. Each farmer has 2-3 acres land. Bigger obsticle is convincing them. Convincing them would be easier when the resource center becomes self-sustaining.

Question: How much is the yield?

Answer: First season, 50% yield

Question : Farmers have to go through the 3/4 year period where the yield is low. How will farmers manage during this period?

Questions answered from previous meeting when budget was presented.

Question: Do the new farmers have their own land?

Answer: Yes.

Question : How do the new farmers manage working on their land and resource center's land ?

Question : The Irulas were given land by Govt. They requested money for electricity. It was given by Asha. Are they able to cultivate on that land now?

Question : The farmers did not have water for cultivation on their land. Did the farmers take a loan for borewells?

Question : How much has NY Chapter supported or approved in last year budget ? What aspects did they cover?

Question: What has prevented the farmers to get in to organic farming? Are they systematic problems? Could these problems be solved?  Can Asha and resource center play a role in creating solutions that will solve these problems?

We will take an online vote on the budget, after these questions are answered.

(II) Show of Hope - update by Rahul

 Schools cannot confirm till middle of Aug

Looking for funding from City of Austin. A budget of $6000 is needed, to get $3000 ($1500 can be in volunteer hours)

No competetion  for kids, but a competetion for Adults.

Requested Volunteers to help with fund-raising/sponsorship from Companies

Publicity plan needed

Action Item : Ganesh to find out about Parking/Availability of Auditorium in UT Campus.

(III)P.O.Box-Bharath

No P.O.Box available in the Post Office, where its the cheapest.

Going next week to look for more POBoxes. Possibly higher cost.

(IV) Promoting WAH by Rahul

Presented a flyer. This flyer is to promote WAH. Flyer has description about a specific chapter, a specific project.

On funding WAH, Arun said that Universities have this opportunity where you can volunteer for 3-4 hours and the student organization can pay the student org. gets paid $4k.

Action Item : Ganesh to check with UT Austin.

Contacting related charities in Austin. Organize/Participate fund-raisers. Asha Volunteers can volunteer in these societies and charities so that Asha can get paid. Plan is to also have Runners do it.

Action Item : Gaurav, Rahul and Arvind to follow up on this

Event Insurance covers Damages, Accidents,etc.

Action Item : Show of Hope team needs to follow-up on the cost of insurance