The Meeting was held at Fatema Restaurant, Jamaica, NY. at 11.30 a.m. The Meeting, attended by 20 participants, was chaired by Dr. A.T. Rafiqur Rahman. The participants had the annotated agenda and explanatory documents before them. The following decisions were taken under the respective agenda items.
- Minutes of the last Board Meeting held on December 17, 2007: The Minutes were approved.
- Approval of Agenda: The Agenda, with three amendments, was approved. The amendments pertained to: (i) Agenda item 12(b): the speaker would be Ms. Parveen Sikder, and not Dr. Rahman; (ii) Agenda item 12(c): this item would be re-titled as "Minnesota and Manhattan Chapters"; and (iii) Agenda item 12 (f): this would be a newly added item on the potential use of land offered for donation to VAB.
- Overview – programs, finance, organization, and future directions: VAB President, Dr. A. T. Rafiqur Rahman, discussed the two types programs of VAB – conventional: the only program of its type with the focus on quality secondary education for the underprivileged in Bangladesh; and innovative: computer literacy program (CLP) for rural youth. The central education program of high school scholarships and school improvement is enriched by programs on remedial tutoring for Grade VI students, vocational education, teachers’ training, and tutorials for SSC Exam candidates. A program on pre-primary pre-school for the under-privileged constitutes back ward linkage of the central program; a college scholarship program constitutes forward linkage. As regards finance, VAB’s funds now are at the $60,000 level, and the combined funds of VAB and VAB-NJ ,charged with the CLP, at the $150-200,000 level. The goal for VAB is to reach the million-dollar level. As for organization, the current model of VAB in the U.S. as fully volunteer-run would be extended to VAB in Bangladesh, as far as possible. The current centralized structure would be replaced by a relatively decentralized one with the addition of seven new positions and the relinquishment of many responsibilities by the President. Future directions would be for VAB to be a solidly-built institution as a mid-sized NGO moving forward. The report of the President was commended. Caution was expressed, however, that without funds from non-Bangladeshis, the expansion of the CLP under VAB-NJ may be problematic. It was also recommended that the present practice should be continued of keeping the funds and accounts of VAB and VAB-NJ (for CLP) separate but presenting a combined financial report to the authorities.
- Reorganization: The addition of seven new positions, with slight changes in the titles of two positions, i.e., Public Relations Director and Media Material Development Director, and their incorporation in the Bylaws of VAB, following the procedure stipulated in the Bylaws themselves, were approved. It was agreed that when incorporating in the Bylaws, the need for reorganization for the purposes of decentralization and institutionalization would be explicitly mentioned.
- Election for above seven positions: The Meeting approved election for the following positions: Chairman of the Board of Directors – Dr. Delwar Hussain; Vice-President – Dr. Mohammed Farooque (first half of the term); Executive Director – Prof. Mahfuz Chowdhury; Public Relations Director - Mr Md. Mizanur Rahman; Media Material Development Director - Mr. Matilal Pal; Program Director - Mr. Peter von Christierson.
- Formation of an Executive Committee and election of at-large members: The formation of an Executive Committee, as provided in the Bylaws, was approved. The Executive Committee would be comprised of 13 members: holders of the seven new positions as above plus the three current officials, i.e., President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus three (raised from two) at-large members. The Meeting approved the election of the three at-large members as follows: Dr. Ehsanur Rahman, Mr.Md. Nurul Alam, and Mr. Arshad Chowdhury.
- VAB membership in Inter Action: Mr. Bob Mac Alister, Representative of VAB in Washington, DC, discussed the recent membership of VAB in Inter Action, the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian NGOs. As a member of Inter Action, VAB has opportunities now to get funds from various foundations, U.S. AID, European countries, Asian Development Bank and UN funding agencies, and also U.S. corporations doing business in Bangladesh. The Meeting commended Mr. Mac Alister’s efforts and decided to keep his recommendations under review: of hiring two professional fundraisers who would prepare proposals for VAB for obtaining funds from various sources as above; and of contacting foundations themselves for funds for such purposes.
- Program reviews: The Meeting commended the report of Dr. Farooque on CLP, and also the mobilization of assistance for CLP from Bank of Asia. A suggestion was accepted to approach the computer manufacturers themselves for computers for CLP. As regards the College Scholarship Program, the Meeting invited the Program Manager to develop ideas about raising funds for the Program and about making the Program self-sustaining. A College Scholarship Committee should be formed to, inter alia, develop criteria for VAB’s assistance for post-HSC higher studies. The President in cooperation with the Program Manager offered to identify potential members of the Committee.
- Fund review: In view of the fact that 77 new donors were mobilized in 2007, it would be examined whether this experience could be replicated in the future to attract new donors. The suggestions were also accepted of going directly to the communities in various parts of the country for publicizing VAB and raising funds. For this purpose necessary documents including power point presentation and attractive brochures need to be prepared. The Meeting noted a shortfall of about $15000 to meet the budgeted needs of $75000 for 2008. It urged all VAB officials, donors and volunteers who have not donated this year to send their generous contributions ASAP to VAB, P.O. Box-234, Irvington, New York 10533. The Meeting further appealed to those who already made donations to consider making one more generous contribution by year end.
- Management and operations review: The Meeting was apprised of an understanding reached between ATR Rahman and Mohammad Farooque on better linkages between VAB’s two main programs and recommended closer cooperation between VAB’s education and computer literacy programs; particular interface is possible in relation to computers and funds.
- Report from Mr. Peter von Christierson on his trip to Bangladesh: The Meeting expressed appreciation for the trip report. The Meeting accepted the suggestion that Mr. Christierson’s expertise and reputation as an eminent professional fundraiser should be utilized to get ideas about raising funds.
- Miscellaneous matters: As regards VAB’s Web Site, the Meeting heard the gist of Concept paper prepared by Ms. Tanjila Islam on the topic and presented by Ms. Parveen Sikder. The Meeting also accepted the recommendations of Ms. Sikder about making the design more attractive, improving the contents, editing and updating on a regular basis, and introducing interactive features. Ms Sikder was mandated to prepare, in collaboration with Ms. Tanzila Islam, a work programme regarding the Web Site. Regarding the Minnesota Chapter of VAB, Dr. Farooque was requested to discuss with Mr. Kahar of Minnesota about the precise nature of the relationship. In view of the fact that a number of organizations expressed interest in collaborating with VAB, the Meeting recommended that guidelines and modalities of collaboration should be developed. As regards the health program-cleft-lip work, Dr. F.R. Chowdhury reported that 5 patients have been selected, but the work has been postponed due to the recent cyclone. There has been an offer to VAB of a donation of a 5-bigha plot of land, which could be used for commercial purposes to raise funds for VAB. It was decided to examine the offer thoroughly and in detail.
The Meeting was adjourned at 2.20 p.m. The Chair thanked all participants for their dedication and services to VAB. As VAB has entered a phase of transition now moving towards a mid size NGO, the Chair appealed to all for the renewed interest and dedication to VAB, which completed nine years of operation and thefuture looks very promising. An informal luncheon followed, during which the discussions continued in various groups.
List of Participants