Meetings

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting, held on March 28, 2004 at Sam's Italian Restaurant, Dobbs Ferry, NY

Meeting started at 1:30 p.m. with VAB President in the Chair and concluded at 4:00 p.m. sharp. Twelve volunteers attended and following the discussions several decisions and recommendations were made.

VAB funds and grants decisions

  1. Fifth annual report was tabled. It was noted that the last year was the best for fundraising as VAB raised a total of about $60,000 with approximately $34,000 donation from 135 individual donors and $26,000 USAID grant for improvement of six schools. Highlights of last year’s activities were noted including 167 scholarships and one eye and medical camp, training of nearly 100 youth in computer skills and organization of a group in New Jersey for introducing a Computer Literacy program using used computers from USA. The Report has been distributed to all donors on list.

 

Fund-Raising: approach, activities and responsibilities.

  1. VAB financial report, including a summary of last five years financial data were tabled. In total, about $180,000 were raised since the beginning of VAB in 1999 for which VAB spent only $5880 (3.2%) mostly for stamps, copying, website maintenance, Post box rental and other Miscellaneous charges. Till now, volunteers free of charge carry out all VAB activities in the US. VAB financial statements and accounting records are maintained and prepared by VAB associate, Mrs. Manju Mary Mani and the Meeting recorded a vote of thanks for her dedicated service.

 

Computer training program

 

  1. VAB program activities have been discussed in detail based on latest reports received from Prakritajan, Dhaka ( VAB’s Partner NGO); VAB office, Dhaka; and New Jersey Computer Literacy Group. VAB made a grant of $44,000 to Prakitajan for providing 460 scholarships to 23 schools and improving facilities and capacities in six schools. The improvement activities include equipment for science laboratories, books for library, computers, teachers training, support for sports and cultural activities and better linkages with the communities. Reports show that all the scholarship awardees have been selected; educational supplies (pen, pencils, note sheets, geometry box etc.) have been sent to all schools; and books were sent to awardees in17 schools. Estimates for school uniform from all schools for 460 awardees have been received and funds will soon be released. Six schools have been visited to see their physical facilities so that science equipments and library books can be sent soon. Preparations for teachers training and workshops are being made.

 

  1. Several participants observed that more emphasis be given to teach English and the criteria for selecting awardees for scholarship should be strictly followed. It was strongly suggested that facilities for skill training in other areas besides or even without computers be established in rural schools. These areas may include sewing, carpentry, electrical work and any other skills for which there existed local and regional demand. Participants also suggested that scholarships should be given to very poor students to undertake college or technical education after they have successfully completed SSC examination. It was announced that provision for ten such scholarships have been made for next year and the Meeting approved the expansion of scholarship program to cover college level education.

 

  1. The President reported in details about the process of formal registration of VAB in Bangladesh and its advantages. He also noted that while we are in the process of finalizing our decision for official registration of VAB, we decided to organize a VAB office under the direction of the Chairman, VAB Advisory Council, Professor Syed Gisauddin Ahmed. This office will organize all the targeted and personalized charities, non- scholarship and school improvement activities, organize a data bank for VAB activities, and finding student interns to work in VAB programs. He reported that as of now, this Office is managing three targeted charities involving (1) management of two preschools for slum children in Jessore; (2) twp preschools, one youth center and one primary school in Bagerhat under Shamsuddin-Nahar Trust; (3) one Eye and Medical camp in cooperation with Lions Club, Dhaka West to be organized at Gagaria, Narshingdi on 9 April. In addition, Professor Ahmed has arranged a consultancy to evaluate VAB/Prak five computer-training centers. He is also seeking to identify students to work in VAB activities as well as in schools for short durations as Interns.                 
  2. The President informed of his unsuccessful efforts to open a VAB account in a reputable bank in Bangladesh. The reason being no bank will open an account in VAB’s name unless VAB is registered with NGO Bureau, Government of Bangladesh. The President arranged with Professor Syed Giasuddin Ahmed to use one of his accounts in the Chaetered Bank for transferring VAB fund for use of VAB office and program activities only until VAB account is opened. The President also obtained assurance form Porfessor Ahmed that he will keep completely separate accounts for the funds transferred including the interest it will earn in normal ways and will send periodic reports on the activities of the accounts. It was also agreed that no fund from this account would be spent without the approval of the VAB President. Several participants observed that they knew Porfessor Ahmed and approved of the arrangements made for use of V AB funds by Professor Ahmed. The Meeting recorded a vote of thanks for his dedication to VAB goals and principles and his most sincere work to promote these goals.

 

  1. The Meeting heard a brief report on Computer Literacy program from Dr. Abdullah, which included information about their fundraising on May 22 at Marlboro Recreation center. He requested the participants to keep the date free and the details will be mailed soon. By next month, the Group will select their partner in Bangladesh and make detailed preparations for shipping computers and their distribution and follow up services. It is planned that about 200 computers will be distributed in 20 centers, many of which will be sponsored by donors in the US and some will be given to VAB schools.

 

  1. The President gave a brief report on his visit to Bangladesh in January during which he attended two VAB advisory council meetings, four VAB working group meetings, helped organize one-day Workshop to launch VAB program for 2004 and finally hosted the celebration of VAB’s fifth anniversary at Dhaka Club. Since all these activities have been disseminated in the monthly bulletins and the March Newsletter, the meeting did not spend time to further review them. Except to note that there was a very positive response to VAB activities in Bangladesh among various groups and the beneficiaries and there exists a high potential for fund raising for supporting VAB activities in BGD.

 

  1. The meeting noted $100,000 target for fundraising for 2004 as ambitious but achievable. It noted that VAB now has a half an hour video and several publicity materials to explain its program and activities. The Meeting explored several avenues and agreed on the following:

 

 

n      Continuation of fundraising thorough letter campaign aggressively and requested all VAB volunteers and friends to suggest additional names and addressees so that letter can be sent out soon to prospective donors. President noted that the letter campaign has already started and over 200 letters have been sent to all the previous donors.

 

n       VAB publicity and presentation at community meetings and professional groups. Some have already been lined up, especially at the celebration of Bengali New Years day at Cherry Hill New Jersey (24 April) and Glastonbury, Connecticut (17 April). VAB volunteers and friends are earnestly requested to take initiative in using these and similar occasions to present VAB. Please inform VAB office (Dr. ATR Rahman, 914-591-8635) about any such occasion.

 

n      VAB publicity and fundraising at private homes of VAB volunteers and friends. The meeting noted that such small gatherings at informal settings might be most cost – effective way of publicizing VAB activities and raising funds. We should be careful to note the conveniences of hosts and do our best to accommodate their needs and preferences in presenting VAB during such gatherings. So far two have been planned: one at Wappingers Falls and other at Long Island (Drs Delwar and Dilruba Hossain). Three others such meetings were suggested at Brooklyn, New Haven and in New Jersey, which the President will follow up. If you are interested to invite us to present VAB on any of your social gatherings at your house, please give us some advance notice. Please inform us if we should contact any specific community leader to host such a gathering for presentation of VAB.

 

n      Finally it was agreed that VAB might organize a large fundraising meeting sometime in late September or in early October in New York area. This will be first such gathering and we may not be able to secure a large net donation, but it will provide us enough publicity. The Meeting discussed several aspects of such a venture and agreed that Dr. Sufian A. Khondker would be the Convener for this activity with Dr. Delwar Hossain and Mr., Mahfuz Chowdhury as members. The group will hold an organizing meeting sometime in May to discuss this activity.

 

n       The Meeting confirmed the provisional appointment of three Directors from the Computer Literacy group, New Jersey. They include: Mr. Amzad Khan, Edison; Dr. Md. Farrukh N. Mohsen, Cranbury; and Dr. Mohammad Farooque, Marloboro. The Meeting invited Dr Sufian A. Khondker to join VAB as a Director, to which he kindly agreed.

 

With time up for our stay at the Restaurant, the Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.