Following is a SYNOPSIS of the first ASHA meeting held
on wed, 11th october, 2000.

I. Introduction of members (the green-horns and the
old brass!) 

* Ranjan, Anahita, Sai, Jagdish, Dinesh, Vidhi, Sudha
and Madhusudan Joshi, Ravi, Charu, Kamal, Param,
Manoj, Sanjay, Anita, Subbu.

II. Goals and objectives of ASHA

* SPREADING AWARENESS about the ongoing struggles of 
oppressed minorities/ environmental and human rights
violations in various parts of India;
* ACTING positively to garner support for grass-roots
movements and projects in specific areas of India;
* FUND-RAISING used as a means to provide monetary
support to above mentioned projects AND also to
celebrate the richness of Indian art and culture.

III. GROUPS, SUB-GROUPS & Division of Labour
* Greater involvement in ASHA STARS encouraged by
Vidhi. ASHA STARS entails specific focus on one
project by a sub-group of volunteers.
* The idea of ASHA-Madison joining UNITED WAY as a
means
to obtain greater funding was also broached by Vidhi.
* Call for few volunteers to attend APAC (Asian
Pacific Action Committee) meetings: Important for
establishing networks.
* As of now, three sub-groups and respective contacts
are:
Projects: Kamal
Publicity: Manoj
Awareness (?): Anita/Subbu/Sai

(Note: Above three groups are subject to changes based
on semantics and weather.)

IV.FISCAL stuff
* Yearly funds available for projects (with slight
variations) after fund-raising and news-letters,
according to Param, is about $4,500.
*All projects choices are dependent on funds
available.

V. QUESTIONS/ IDEAS
* The issue of awareness: should awareness be dealt
exclusively from fund-raising? which should be given
more emphasis?
* The importance of awareness is emphasized and that
fund-raising is a means of spreading awareness; hence
both are not mutually exclusive.
* Subbu's input: what ACTUAL impact do these
grass-roots projects have in the long run? How can we
make impact on the local govt.?
* The idea is floated to make regular meetings also
into study-group sessions.

VI. MEETING TIMES/ MISC.
* Monthly meetings every second wednesday at 7:00 pm.
Location to be announced.
* Anita will contact those interested in Community
Cleanup projects.
* Sub-group meeting times can be coordinated by
respective contacts given above for each sub-group.