Date: 7 Nov 2001
Venue: Union South
Attendees: Sai, Ashutosh, Arvind, Murali, Param, Sanjay, 
           Subbu, Navin, Manoj, Ritu, Zeena, Vidhi

 - Sai mentioned that he had got an inquiry about
   2002 calendars from Vinod John. The 2002 calendars
   have arrived, Param brought samples.

 - Nancy Lesh informed us that Mills Hall still hasn't
   received the full rental of $295 (which ASM is supposed to
   have given them). Sai and Subbu will follow up on this
   with ASM.

 - Continuing with project updates:

 - Kakrana school (discussed last time): we've sent
   a check for $2000

 - Muskaan:
     - Sanjay passed around a sheet summarizing the
       current situation
     - Muskaan has got FCRA
     - $6300 sent from Asha-MSU, we need to send $1500 to MSU
     - brief recap of Asha Stars and Muskaan
     - Muskaan is also assigned around $11K to be available
       over the next year(s), so they may not have any
       immediate funding requirements
     - we need to get in touch with the two Asha-Madison stars
       and update them on the project status
     - Questions about Muskaan:
           - Subbu: we don't know enough to ask detailed questions
           - Sanjay said that we should check the Asha-MSU web
             page for Muskaan as well as an AID-MN web page
           - People should try and read these so that Sanjay
             can lead a meaningful discussion in next meeting

 - Segue into general discussion of projects and Asha Stars
     - need to increase involvement of Stars
     - Do we choose projects differently if we're trying to
       attract Stars and get them involved, as opposed
       to merely funding?
     - How involved should Stars be?
     - What about responsibility? accountability?
     - A chapter is ultimately responsible. It facilitates
       the meeting of Stars and Projects, but it also
       has to continually monitor the interaction
     - Should we sell projects to local (Madison) Stars only?
     - How do we find Stars who will get involved, as opposed
       to those who simply write checks once a year?
     - How do we push/prod Stars into project interaction,
       or stay in contact with them?
     - We'll learn through experience, no hard and fast rules
     - We could hear about experience with other Asha
       Stars project from DP Prakash (dp@btv.ibm.com, founder of Asha 
       Stars) and Ski (S Sundar Kumar Iyer, sskiyer@yahoo.com), 
       current leader of the Asha Stars program.

  - Future events:
       - Video-fest in Spring, need to decide theme and content,
         Anita mentioned that Ajay Dalmia (Asha volunteer) is
         going to Ahmedabad in the winter and could pick up
         videos from Drishti

       - Invited talks series: think about who to invite, theme

       - Fund-raisers? Another dance-concert (an artiste has
         already approached us and we had postponed that
         to Spring or later)? Maybe a play or dance drama?

  - Fall Newsletter:
       - Ashutosh volunteered to be the newsletter whip
         and motivate Charu & Srinivas
       - Idea of a merchandise section in the newsletter,
         this is also the time for tax-exemptible donations,
         do need to push the message to donors

  - Meeting times:
       - Vidhi mentioned that a potential (and enthusiastic)
          volunteer has problems with Wednesday. 
       - It was decided to meet alternately on Wednesdays
         and Thursdays (weekly) starting with Thursday, Nov 15.

  - Agenda for next time:
       - Muskaan discussion (read material)
       - Apne-aap discussion (by Arvind)
       - Video-fest and other Spring event ideas