Minute May 01, 2015

Nepali American Friendship Association

Venue : Eagle Heights community Center, Room #108

Date : May 1st 2015

Time : 5:30 PM

Member Present :

Purna Shrestha

Himal Regmi

Rajendra Aryal

Archana Dhakhwa

Mahendra Pathak

Som Khanal

Kabindra Adhikari

Ramesh Khanal

Surendra Prajapati

Abiskar Bharati

Narendra Thapa

Agenda :

1. Treasurer's (Himal Regmi) departure from NAFA and New Treasurer’s appointment.

2. Earthquake affected NAFA member’s inventory collection. Discussion on mental, physical relief program for the losses.

3. Sharing lessons learned in the Candle Light Vigil of April 29.

4. Sharing obtained information from various sources honoring to the earthquake victims of Nepal (e.g. Pray program, Hom (memorial service), candlelight vigil) and fund raising dinner and donations request from various non profits and business communities.

5. Discussion on NAFA’s presence and priority on various events organized by several communities.

6. What kind of help we can accept. Where to deposit the collected funds (cash and check). How to send Thank you note and receipt for their donations.

7. Miscellaneous

Discussion :

• 1. Treasurer's (Himal Regmi) departure from NAFA and New Treasurer’s appointment.

• • Himal Regmi informed he has accepted job offer in Rochester Hill, MI in Miracle Inc head office as Accountant.

  • Himal Regmi will be moving to MI on 10th of May, family will be in Madison. He will be involved in NAFA and its events as a general member.

  • Mahendra Pathak has accepted the position of Treasurer

  • Himal Regmi will work with Mahendra Pathak to transfer all the process, documentation within 8 days from May 1st 2015. Purna shrestha, Himal Regmi and Mahendra Pathak will go to the bank to transfer the treasurer’s signature and necessary formality that is needed for NAFA bank accounts with in this 8 days.

  • All the executive members welcomed the new treasurer by clapping.

  • NAFA letterhead need to change with CIS number and new executive member information and website will also need to be update with this information.

2. Earthquake affected NAFA member’s inventory collection

• • discussion on why we need to keep record of who passed away.

  • board does not see any point of collecting data at this point but NAFA will send a condolence letter to the NAFA members who have lost their loved ones.

  • As per Archana Dhakhwa’s suggestion - Lets focus more on emergency relief first, then NAFA can focus on long term benefit of Nepal and NAFA members.

3. Sharing lessons learned in the Candle Light Vigil of April 29

• • Board Member thanked Himal Regmi for this beautiful idea.

  • About 400 plus people were present in the event.

  • This was one of the most successful event organized by NAFA in association with NSA(UW-Madison) in such a short notice where every community from Bhutanese, Tibetan, Indian and Local people were present.

  • Voice of the speakers could not be heard but since Dinar shrestha checked with capitol police and Paul Benjamin checked with Madison Police and we were instructed not to use any “sound amplification device” so we could not use it.

  • There were random donations and everyone were asking where this donation will be sent.

  • Total of $2015 cash and check of $250 was collected at the candlelight vigil event, which is put under “NAFA Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund”.

4 & 5. Sharing obtained information from various sources honoring to the earthquake victims of Nepal (e.g. Pray program, Hom (memorial service), candlelight vigil) and fund raising dinner and donations; Discussion on NAFA’s presence and priority on various events organized by several communities.

• • Mirch Masala Restaurant @ State Street - Nepal Earthquake Fundraising Dinner - May 4th, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Price : 15$ per person

  • Swad Restaurant @ Monona Dr - Nepal Earthquake Fundraising Dinner - May 4th, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Price : 25$ per Person

  • NSA & Dobhan Restaurant @Atwood Ave - Nepal Earthquake Fundraising Lunch & Dinner Buffet - May 7th, 2015 - Lunch time (11 am to 4 pm) - Price : $20 a person - Dinner time (5-9 pm) - Price : $25 a person (100% of sales will be donated to Sarvodaya USA for earthquake relief).

  • All Hindu Association(AHA) - “Hom” for Earthquake relief

  • All Indian Association(AIA) - Organizing Fundraiser event very soon

  • Deerpark Buddhist Center & Regional Youth Congress - Small rally and fundraise in Farmer’s Market at Capitol on May 2nd 2015

  • Indian Student Association(ISA) - Rahaat : Relief for Nepal @ Union South (1308 W Dayton St) on May 2nd, 2015 from 2:00PM to 5:00 PM.

  • Tamil Sangam - Organizing Fundraising

  • NAFA Volleyball Team - Nepal Earthquake Relief fundraising Volleyball Match

  • Cathy Sorenson - raised fund from her neighbourhood.

  • A lot of NAFA members sent emails to their respective companies for the donations from the employee and company matching the donations.

  • NAFA is talking to Pastor Bob Stine from Midvale Baptist Church to organize Jazz concert for the earthquake relief fund as per his offer.

  • NAFA will thank all who helped and who donated.

6. What kind of help we can accept. Where to deposit the collected funds (cash and check). How to send Thank you note and receipt for their donations.

• • NAFA will accept cash or check

  • no need to send receipt , only a thank you note is a must.

  • NAFA will send the money collected with one of the Executive member of NAFA to Nepal to directly represent NAFA in the disaster area who will distribute the relief on behalf of NAFA.

  • Som Khanal will be given $1800 which he will use to buy relief to be distributed in the affected area. Per Som Khanal , $30 is needed per family for 2 weeks worth of basic ration.

  • NAFA executive board unanimously decided to send $1800 from NAFA Nepal Earthquake relief fund as soon as possible. Som Khanal is leaving for Nepal on May 4th, 2015. NAFA will deposit the remaining of the donation money to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund .

  • More fundraiser program will be organized by NAFA hand in hand with other organizations.

  • Email chain of Life members of NAFA and other general members of NAFA was also discussed.

7. Miscellaneous

• • The NAFA board meeting needs to be more formal and mature as per Rajendra Aryal’s suggestions.

  • Rajendra Aryal informed how the Prime Minister Relief Fund actually works. He talked with his friends in Unicef and other higher ranking officials of Nepal. To understand more we can read this http://setopati.com/blog/27710/

  • Or you can read the last part of the Minute for more clear info in english written by Swarnim wagle (from his facebook).

Minute Prepared by : Abiskar Bharati

Note : READ THIS FOR TO UNDERSTAND HOW ‘PRIME MINISTER’S RELIEF FUND’ Works :

Swarnim Waglé

**What is the PM's Disaster Relief Fund and What it is Not?**

I have been swamped with queries on what the recent Central Bank directive on transfer of funds AFTER the April 25 earthquake means. **I share your concerns.** But it only affects bank accounts that were opened in the last 6 days under the direct subject of "quake relief." People, agencies, NGOs, donors with established bank accounts before April 25 can continue to receive and mobilize funds just as they used to in the past. But I am verifying some more facts, and will post separately on this topic later.

In the mean time, there is a lot of misunderstanding about the PM’s Disaster Relief Fund. Let me clarify based on what I know:

1. The Prime Minister (or his party) have absolutely nothing to do with it. The PM cannot access this fund himself. It is coordinated by the Vice Chairperson of the NPC and 8 Secretaries through a unanimous decision.

2. It is purely a relief fund, channeled through the Chief District Officer in each disaster-hit district, and is meant to follow a “fast track” to cut through the usual procedural delays in a slow bureaucracy.

3. The fund cannot be used to provide donations or any other administrative or overhead costs including facilities and allowances to civil servants. (They get no helicopter rides or random “incentives.”)

4. This is *completely* different from the Prime Minister’s “Assistance Fund” which he can use with discretion.

5. Is there some leakage, abuse, waste? I bet there is, just like there is scope for foul play in any large fund run by multilaterals (WB/ADB), bilaterals (UK/US) or NGOs. But what are the safeguards against potential abuse? Unlike the PM’s “Assistance Fund” which is not legally required to be audited, the “Disaster Relief Fund” is audited regularly and annually by the Office of the Auditor General of Nepal. There is a clear “Karyabidhi” (Operation Regulations 2006: http://opmcm.gov.np/…/cm…/file/niyamawali_20110717014805.pdf). “Akhtiyaar” can also look into cases and folks can go to jail.

6. The Government will most likely also add an extra layer of third party, independent auditing to enhance credibility and transparency.

7. No political party or leader has any access to these funds at the Centre. My personal view is that to prevent misuse in the districts, vigilance and scrutiny is required by the media and civil society. Do ask tough questions and hold officials to account.

8. The website lists all contributions so far (file downloadable in Excel), including the US$1 million cash donation from Bhutan: http://pmrelief.opmcm.gov.np/contributors.aspx

9. In view of the above, the premise of this article in a British newspaper that “funds are being directed to a political party” is completely untrue. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/…/Nepal-aid-donors-may-halt-fund…

10. For further clarity, please contact the Coordinator of the Fund, Prof. Dr. Govind Raj Pokharel (NPC Vice Chair) on his mobile: 98511 00407 or the Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego on 98415 16505.