MinutesJan-27-2008

Meeting Minutes

Jan 27, 2008 (First 2008 meeting)

Sapan, Bala, Ann, Ikhlaq, Jyoti, Madhurima, Sangita, Pankaj, Milla, Amit, Lakshmi, Anand, Digvijay, Anitha, Jayanth, Hari, Nikhil, Nandini, Anil

Agenda

I. Kick-off Meeting – Spring 2008

II. Mail Box

III. Planning for the year

IV. Asha-West Conference

V. Guria Project proposal

I. Kick-off Meeting – Spring 2008 (Lakshmi)

    * On-campus event
    * Infosession for Spring'08
    * Planned for next Wed (02/06)

Action Required

(Anand) Get in touch with other groups on campus for publicity

(Anand) Food for Infosession – Samosas

(Bala) Ask Nandini for preparing tea for Infosession

(Ikhlaq, Lakshmi) Reserve Room

(Lakshmi, Bala) Prepare Meeting agenda

II. Mail Box

    * Problem with current mailbox located at Anthony Hall
    * Few checks were returned

Action Required

(Ikhlaq) Arrangement of new Asha mail box

(Jayanth) Update Website with new address

II. Planning for the year (Bala)

a) Finances

    * We have chapter financial summary till 2005.
    * Financials Summary not done for last 2 years 2006, 2007

Action Required

(Madhurima, Jyoti) Work on '06,'07 summary

(Bala) Email related material ('05 summary and slides) to Madhurima, Jyoti

b) Events in 2007

    * IOI (coordinated by Adeeti, Anil)
    * Spring Social (coordinated by Anitha, Adeeti, Anil)
    * Spring Fest (coordinated by Sangita)
    * WAH (coordinated by Jayanth)

Action Required

(Event Coordinator) Give updates in next meeting -breakdown of income vs. spending, approx. man hours, suggestions for improvements

c) Projects

Many items need to be done for next year's planning -

    * Projects Breakdown
    * New Projects
    * Recurring Projects
    * Proposals under consideration
    * Proposals reviewed but not funded

Action Required

(Project Stewards) Present 2 slides project summary in next meeting and send slides to Bala beforehand

(Bala) Work on Projects timetable

d) Others

Action Required

(Bala with the help of current/past office-bearers) Prepare a short summary of responsibilities of various positions - Chapter Coordinator, Project Coordinator, Project Steward, Treasurer - and approx. time commitment

(JK) Post it on the website

(Pankaj) Prepare New Volunteer Kit

(Pankaj, need one more volunteer) Bi-weekly News digest from Asha-wide-news yahoo group

IV. Asha-West Conference (Bala)

    * Berkeley chapter with other Bay area chapters will hold Asha-west conference this year.
    * We will discuss possible dates in next meeting (summer vs. fall).

V. Guria Project proposal (Ann)

    * A video was shown before discussion to highlight the problem in that area.
    * Budget Proposal is for a new Balwadi in Mau, UP
    * It will be a Non formal education center
    * Land, 2 rooms, toilet cum bathroom, handpump, boundary  walls
    * Total Rs. 4, 90, 000/- (one-time cost)
    * 14% literacy rate in red light area compared to 68% (outside)
    * Number of students 70 (3-12 yrs)
    * 2 teacher + 1 cook
    * Two (and may be more) similar project activities are currently supported by Asha
    * NEEHAR, Pune – Asha, UFlorids
    * ODANADI, Mysore – Asha, Dallas

Background

    * Guria started in 1993
    * Human trafficking is now $7B per year industry
    * Women are forced into the profession and are exploited
    * They are running a Balwadi in red light area of Varanasi, UP
    * There are other schools outside the red light area but kids are often ostracized
    * Balwadi is a way to reach out to kids of this community and motivate them to a better future
    * Guria is involved in other aspects – creating public awareness, campaign against HIV/AIDS, Guria Festival to keep the tradition of classical and folk singing/dancing alive
    * Goals- eliminate second generation prostitution, prevent child prostitution, work against negative cultural attitude

We will continue this discussion in next meeting.

Action Required

(Ann) Email project proposal to the group.