Asha-Detroit general meeting minutes, March 4, 2007
 
1. Introduction of new volunteers - 10 minutes
Attendees : Jui, Lavanya, Sai, Hitesh, Deepak, Arun, Manoj, Balaji, Akila, Suchi, Venki, Nisha (new volunteer), Jag Mohini (new volunteer)
 
2. Project updates
      * BISWA – 3 minutes (Sai)
 
There was a site visit to Biswa in Jan by Jag Das. Report due by end of next week.
Waiting for their annual report before approving budget. Need to have a discussion in the future meeting about request in the budget to add more schools.
     
     * Kuvempu – 3 minutes (Sai, Akila, Shankar)
 
There was a Conf call on Feb.24. Plan to assess performance of the students through metrics. Gathering info to develop metrics. Waiting for next year's budget, annual report and financial accounts.
 
      * Shanti Sadhana Ashram – 3 minutes (Kumuda, Srini)
 
There will be a site visit to SSA this month. Sent second installment of the budget, which completes the cycle. Waiting for budget.
 
 
      * Purna Pragna Trust – 3 minutes (Deepak)
 
Need a volunteer to take up project coordination. Suchi volunteered.
 
      * Mahila Samakhya – 3 minutes (Hitesh)
 
.  Details of project at:  http://www.ashanet. org./projects/project- view.php? p=743
.  Elections in UP may delay start of construction
.  NYCNJ, CNJ, Toledo , Zurich and Detroit have committed funds.  SV, Berkley , and Munich are interested but funding levels have not been determined.
.  We are trying to get a conference call with the Secretary of Basic Education of UP.  Please send any questions to Hitesh
.  Discussions occurring in asha-ms-up@yahoogro ups.com
.  Conference calls occurring 1 or 2 times per month
.  The project is looking for funding and has scope beyond the construction of the residential girls schools
.  Looking for volunteers to help steward the project
 
3. Feedback on March social activity – 3 minutes (Mani)
 
There was a well attended social event this Saturday. Potential future events: Museum exhibition at the DIA, volunteering at Belle Isle.
Action item for Deepak : add Jui and Arun to NetIP events email list.
 
4. Event pictures on website and new logo – 3 minutes (Magesh)
Action Item for Deepak and Sai : follow up on marathon pictures and send it to Magesh. Deepak : Send out a link to logos to be used in future.
 
5. TeamAsha – 5 minutes (Sudhi/Hitesh)
 
Working on T-shirts – will be submitted by Monday March 5.  They will be ready by Saturday March 10.

Main Street T-shirt Printing - $25 set up fee for each color. First
color ($1 and any additional color $0.50)
Roughly 5.25$/shirt + $25 set-up fee
color:  Black on Tangerine (possibly Lance Armstrong Yellow).
Publicity Booth at UM-ISA Holi function on March 10th
ISA provides 6ft*3ft table. Tushar has a black table cloth to go with
the table. Things to go on the table- Posters, Sign up sheet, Asha
Flyers, Marathon Flyers, Asha merchandise.
Aruna will contact Kannam about Asha Merchandise.
Banner
Aruna will contact Dipal about the banner design. If we don't hear back
from her, we get help from Pari (Tushar's friend) to design it.
Flyers
More designs will be sent by Karthik to the core group.
Marathon Webpage
 This should be ready by March 10th.
Marathon poster (Tushar)
Sudhi will get the runner quotes to Tushar to go with the poster.
Need volunteers to set up website for Marathon .  Basically a web designer.
 
6. 5k updates – 10 minutes (Jui)
5K website is now open for registration.
Need volunteers to recruit runners.
 
ACTION ITEMS:
Manoj: Follow up with Lifetime fitness for corporate approval to put up fliers. Follow up with Henry Ford for sponsorship and CBS radio for advertising.
Arun: Follow up with Hiller's, Busch's, Trader Joes, Livonia theater for sponsorship and setting up a table.
Estimate for T-shirts from India .
5K banner from India
Lavanya : Sponsorship follow up with Sistar mortgage and Altair engineering.
Add new registrants to Yahoo group.
Jui : send out schedule for running events and assign volunteers to publicize 5K
Send out email to last year's registrants about 5K 2007
Create a publicity package with bite sized flier, registration form, Asha one pager, etc.,
Follow up with SR Novi, Udipi for sponsorship.
Smita : Follow up with New Balance
 
 
7. Creative brainstorming for meeting improvement – 15 minutes (Deepak)
 
Maintain one location for meeting. ICAE convenient for most volunteers.
Action Item for Deepak and Magesh: Post future meeting dates online.
Currently 2nd and 4th Sundays.
 
8. Round table
 Asha conference is on memorial day at Rutgers. See Hitesh for details.