The Meeting started at 1 p.m. with ATR Rahman in the Chair and concluded at 3:40 p.m. Twenty participants joined the Meeting in which following decisions were taken.
- The Meeting reviewed annual report and financial reports for 2005, program performance reports from Bangladesh and three year VAB program that was submitted for approval by the Government. Several questions on program delivery and its impact were discussed in detail, including, improvement of students performance by using roll numbers; criteria for school selection; organization of teachers training; and overhead cost.
- The meeting discussed current VAB issues and challenges and agreed to enhance publicity by improving contact with the media, arranging ads in the journal of Bangladeshi professionals, and engaging a media coordinator for VAB.
- On fundraising, the Meeting noted with satisfaction the current efforts by mailing, but recognized the need for raising significant amount of fund to continue VAB activities in 2007. It fixed Saturday November 11 for the fundraising Dinner for 2006 and elected Mr. Mohammad Saleh as the Convener. Following members were elected to the Fundraising Committee: Dr. Shamim Begum, Mrs. Afroza Huq, Dr. Ehsanul Karim, Mr. Mizan Rahman, and Mr. Mati Pal with the provision that the Convener can appoint additional persons to the Committee.
- The Meeting welcomed Mr. Mohammad Saleh as the new VAB Director, who was appointed at the 2004 annual meeting.
- The Meeting approved the selection of four new Directors and authorized the President to invite them to join the VAB Board of Directors. They all are large donors ( $1000 and above) and have been active in VAB activities. They are:
Dr. Mohammad Anwar Ullah, M.D. Race Track Road. P. O. Box- 426, Prosperity, West Virginia. Dr. Ullah proved his interest and commitment to VAB with ideas and donation since 2001. He initiated the idea for College scholarships and currently urging VAB to initiate one or more Vocational Training Centers.
Dr. Ehsanur Rahman, M.D. 106 St. Mortiz Drove, Willmington, DE 19807. President of Bangladesh Medical Association of North America ( BMANA). Dr. Rahman has been a founding Patron of VAB since 1999. He has been the Chair of VAB Board of Patrons for five years and from 2004 he is an advisor to VAB. He has been a strong supporter of VAB.
Dr. Hasan Z. Sarwar, M.D. 73 Morningside Drive, Milford, CT 06460. Dr. Sarwar is involved in several activities to help the needy in Bangladesh including cleft-repair work. He also has a scholarship program in BGD. He has been supporting VAB program since 2003.
Mr. Shahid Ullah, B.S. Petroleum Engineering and Executive training from Oxford University and London Business School. Senior Managing Director, Randall & Dewey, Division of Jeffries, Huston, Texas. He has been a founding member of VAB Board of Patrons. He offers ideas and proposals for VAB programs. Recently he suggested that VAB organize summer projects for school/college students, especially from expatriate families in the US for helping VAB activities.
- The Meeting noted some organizational issues: formation of chapters, renting of office and hiring of staff, but agreed to discuss them later in detail. The Meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.