September 1999 

Attendees: Chandra, Maithreyi, Jayashree, Archana, Neeta, Gagan, Puneet, Arvind, Krishna, Rina patel, Shamik, Raja

The meeting started with discussion on the Digantar project. Maithrey gave a brief summary (yet again) of the Digantar project. We took a vote on supporting this project and ended up with 10 yes's &  7 no's.  We are hence going to support this project for a duration of 3 years.  We are going to be giving them $3000/- per year for the next three years.

The next discussion was on the Jyothi nilayam project proposal. Arvind gave a brief introduction of the project. Jyothi nilayam wants to establish a school in the poorest and most backward place in AP. They have a kindergarten in a temporary building now. They want to start a regular school and also build permanent building to the school. The detailed proposal is available at http://www.ashanet.org/seattle/wah99.html

Some of the questions that came out of the discussion for which we are
waiting for answers from jyothi nilayam are:

• 1. Building: Is the building owned by JN or is it on rent?
• 2. How are they going to sustain the project as the number of students grow each year?
• 3. Clarifaction on the distribution of money for various needs. It is not very clear in the proposal.
• 4. What other sources of support do they expect?
• 5. Why is the cost of office furniture so high ?

Starting this meeting we will be giving project updates on one existing project every meeting. Neeta gave an update on the Padsare and Sakhar Shaala projects. She gave a brief summary of the project and our past support for the project and the site visits. She also talked about the request from the project organisers to transfer project funds from one project to another. They had requested us for transfering some funds from the Padsare project to
Sakhar Shaala (for migrant sugar workers) run by the same organisation. We had a small discussion on this and decided to let them transfer the funds.

Siva Athreya & Sachin have initiated a standard format for project web pages on Asha wide. They will be converting our existing project pages into a standard template making it easy for volunteers to enter information on the web. Their initial format for the RHEDT project was sent for feedback and has been finalized. Look out for new project web pages soon!

Finally we had a discussion on Asha fest. Archana Soy will be coordinating the event along with help from other volunteers. Here are the details:
 

Asha fest DATE      :  Saturday, the 23rd of October '99. VENUE     :  Bear Creek Community Church, 18931 NE 143 ST, Woodinville DIRECTIONS:  Take 520 East. SR 520 becomes Avondale Rd. NE. Keep going on Avondale Rd. NE till you hit 143rd ST. Turn left on 143rd. Church will be on your immediate left. ITINERARY: 10.15AM       :Registration 10.30-11.30AM :Quiz-Prelims/Fancy Dress (Kids) 11.30-3.00PM  :Quiz (2 person teams) 3.00-3.30PM   :BREAK (FREE snacks and tea) 3.30-6.00PM   :Dumb Charades (3 person teams) 6.00-8.00PM   :Antakshri (Free event) ENTRY FEE (for participants only):  Regular:  10$-Per event, 15$-Both events Students: 5$ -Per event, 10$-Both events LUNCH: Boxed lunches from Pablas are available for purchase for $5/-.

The next asha meeting will be held on October 18, 1999.