Meeting Minutes
April 6, 2008
Bala, Sangita, Sapan, Anil, Digvijay, Pankaj, Amit, Lakshmi, Milla
Announcement
Sapan is new webmaster
Agenda
I. Financial summary
II. Funding decision - Parijat Academy
III. Storm damage - Pranjalya
IV. Planning for Spring fest/Cal day
V. WAH discussion
VI. Peddling Hope
VII. Sevalaya Update
I. Financial summary (Bala)
- $72,000 in Bank (as of today)
- Berkeley financial year is from IOI to IOI (because most of the fundraising is done during IOI/new year) e.g. 2007-08 is Sep 2007-Aug 2008.
- 2007/08 (Current year) – Money approved for projects = $36,500 (need to be sent)
- Expecting $10k from Cisco (matching donations)
- Expecting $10k from WAH 2007.
- 2008/09 (Next year) – projected disbursal is ~ $54k
II. Funding Decision – Parijat Academy (Digvijay)
- $3,000 for Parijat Academy is approved
- Cook = Rs. 12,000 (12months)
- Books = Rs. 67,000 (for 197 kids)
- Tables = Rs. 36,000 (Rs. 1200 for 30 tables)
- Action Required
- (Digvijay) contact Ankur and Asha Seattle to find out information on FCRA
III. Storm damage - Pranjalaya (Pankaj)
- Project is supported by Asha Austin
- Located in Distt. Jorhat, Assam
- Prajnalaya has been affected by the recent storm
- Damage is about Rs. 2,00,000
- Project Steward of Pranjalya contacted Berkeley chapter to look into the possibility to support partial cost of damage
- Pictures of storm damage were shown
- Action Required
- (Pankaj) Set-up online vote seeking chapter's approval
IV. Spring Fest 2008 (Bala/Sangita)
- Because of lack of interest last year, it was decided not to have a separate table for Cal Day
- Tabling at I-House for Spring Fest (April 12, 11am)
- Tasks – In charge
- Chai (HoC) : Lakshmi/Milla
- Samosas (Follow up with Anand 50 Samosas) – Lakshmi
- Mehndi – Anjali/Anitha/Sangita/Lakshmi
- Send an e-mail - Lakshmi
- Merchandise
- Calendars, T-Shirts, Mugs, Banner – Adeeti
- Jewelery – Sangita/Anitha
- Designs for Henna – Sangita/Anitha
- Decorations – Lakshmi/Anand
- Set-up (8:30 - 11:00)
- Sangita
- Lakshmi, Milla, Amit
- Anand
- 10:45-1:15 pm
- Lakshmi, Amit, Milla
- Follow up with Lakshmi, Shalini (Lakshmi)
- Henna – Anjali (Need 1 more)
- Projects booth - Bala
- 1-3:30 pm
- Merchandise – Anil
- Bala, Sapan, Sangita
- (Need more people for Henna)
- 3:15 pm -5:30 pm
- Pankaj, Sangita
- Lakshmi, Milla, Amit
V. WAH discussion (Amit)
- For WAH submission, project should be supported by Asha for more than 2 yrs
- This year's theme is rural
- April 12 deadline
- Action Required
- (Amit) Email project stewards asking if they would like to put up their project for WAH
VI. Peddling Hope (Milla)
- Sid is working on the video. Once video is done and content is approved, the link will be provided on Asha Berkeley website.
VII. Sevalaya Update (Anand)
- Asha-SV is funding the project, project stewards are from Berkeley
- Allegations by ex-teachers and Germany based non-profit group (Physical abuse of kids, financial mismanagement)
- None of the charges are proven yet. This situation is going on since last 2-3 months
- According to Sevalaya, they got funding from German group but German group wanted to invest money in specific way or they wanted to have more control over it. They also were cutting down money in the middle of session. And Sevalaya had recent fall-out with their representative in India. All of this has led to allegations against them.
- Proposal is pending with Asha-SV, money has not been released yet.
- Action Required
- (Anand) Email Asha Projects group for suggestions, follow-up with local media, find out if other non-profits (e.g. Vibha, Pratham …) are helping or helped the project before.
