KOA Annual General Body Meeting Minutes of the Meeting

Transcription

1 KOA Annual General Body Meeting Minutes of the Meeting The KOA Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) was held on July 3, 2016 at 6:30pm at Lansdowne Resort, VA - the venue for this year s KOA Annual East Coast camp. The agenda items for this meeting were: Welcome Financial Report Membership Status Status of Programs Awards and Recognitions Fundraising The following table indicates which Board members and the Executive team members were present in the meeting: Name Position Present Sunil Fotedar KOA President Yes Anil Mattoo Director, Zone 1 Yes Sudesh Kaul Director, Zone 2 Yes Nirja Sadhu Director, Zone 3 Yes Shakun Munshi Malik Director, Zone 4 Yes Randhir Wokhlu Director, Zone 5 No Suresh Sus Director, Zone 6 Yes Sudesh Saraf Director, Zone 7 No Veena Kaul Director, Zone 8 Yes Maneesha Munshi Director, Zone 9 No Piyush Mattoo Director, Zone 10 No Ajay Tikoo Secretary Yes Rajeev Kaul Treasurer No

2 Welcome address and Introduction of Volunteers Welcome address by KOA President Sunil Fotedar. Sunil ji introduced the directors of the 10 zones of KOA, and the KOA executive team. Financial Report Sunil ji briefly discussed the current revenues of KOA that are generated by membership contribution. Year 2015 Income Membership dues 21, General donation 16, Sponsor A Child 57, Education Fund 77, Help To Needy - Medical 44, Printing fund - Ad directory 7, Saima Kaul Trust 16, Total Income $243, Expense Bank charges 2, Legal Fees 1, EAP 67, Flood relief 10, General Donation 16, India-day expense KOA calender 4, KOA CAMP , KOA East-Coast camp 2, Liaison office 500 medical fund 35, Operations Postage, Mailing Service Operations - Other 1, Total Operations 1, Other Types of Expenses Insurance - Liability, D & O 683 Total Other Types of Expenses 683 Printing fund - Ad directory 9, Software Renewal charges 1, sponsorship of child 67, Wedding expenses 3, West Coast Camp 1, Total Expense $230, Net Income in 2015 $12,267.00

3 KOA Financial Activity (Unaudited) for 1st Quarter, 2016 As of June 24, 2016, balances in various KOA account are: Checking account $56, Savings accounts $50, Money Market $60, Membership As per Sunil ji, by the end of May this year, membership has already gone above the total membership in In fact, it has now crossed the 500 barrier - only 5 th time in the history of KOA, and first time since the presidential elections in the year Number of member over past several years in the following table shows an increasing trend, which is a welcome sign: Year # Members % Change % % 2016* 480 7% *End of May, 2016

4 According to Sunil ji, as family and senior/single membership has gone up, the life membership has also gone up significantly in past few years. In fact, we have crossed 200-mark for life membership, earlier this year. We collected some more life membership payments and pledges at the camp, so it will more than 40 additional life members this year alone. Year # Life Members Change No Data 2012 No Data * *as of June 26, 2016 Sunil ji thanked the KOA board, his executive team, and the members who worked tirelessly to build a positive image of KOA. Status of Programs KOA Achievement Awards status Sunil ji announced that the KOA Achievement Awards committee, chaired by Prof. Sunil Kumar Dhar, was impressed by the following college-bound KP students who applied for the College Bound Achievement Award this year: Vivek Pandit, Colleyville, TX Arnav Kak, Bellaire, TX Mira Wattal, Hillsborough, NJ Arman Koul, Andover, MA Megha Koul, Mansfield, MA Neha Kaul, Potomac, MD Ankit Raina, West Chester, PA Nikhil Kaul, Cary, NC

5 Each of them received the College Bound Achievement Award from KOA earlier this year. Update on KOA Programs There was not enough time for taking this discussion, but Sunil Fotedar ji spoke briefly as follows: o Emphasized on the fact that there is a need to raise funds for KOA programs that help our US based community. o Provided the update on the status of the development of the new KOA website. Going Forward For the remainder of the year, Sunil ji presented the following wish list to serve the US-based membership and requested for funds: KOA Directory Bhajan Mala Religious Festivals of Kashmiri Pandits Collection of articles, audio and video clips highlighting KP heritage, culture, history and religious practices, all saved on a 8GB thumb drive KOA needs $20K-$25K, i.e. $2000 to $2500 per zone (one-time) to be spent for these items for the USbased members only. In comparison, three India-bound programs raise upwards of $185,000 year after year for the past 20 years. Awards and Recognitions On behalf of the KOA executive committee and the board of directors, the following individuals were recognized for their volunteer efforts in their respective zones: ZONE 1 Augustina Mattoo, was acknowledged for her lifetime commitment to promoting cultural activities in zone 1. Kavita Sazawal and Manmohan Wanchoo who are the heart and soul behind these cultural activities. Kavita ji has been the source of inspiration for the younger ladies and has been rallying them to actively participate in zonal activities. Nidhi & Sushil Kaul Anjali & Virender Hak Meenakshi & Kapil Khashu Deepali & Arun Moza Rimda & Subhir Wanchoo Mridula & Akhil Khashu Nita Kaul Dr. Rimda Wanchoo helps us with medical opinions for many cases forwarded to us by KMECT in India.

6 ZONE 2 Omanand Koul for his tireless commitment to preserve and propagate our culture. He has been instrumental in making us understand our festivals. In all our zonal functions he always gives discourses on our culture and festivals and especially involves the younger generation. Raj Kaul, previous director of Zone 2. He has really brought our community together in the Boston area during his tenure. He represented KOA at India Center Republic day Parade in 2015, highlighting our expulsion from our homeland Kashmir due to militancy. Deepak Tiku Ajay Kaul Bhawna Sadhu Ashwani Kaul Vikram Salman Neeraj Sapru Arti Vashnavi Sanjay Dhar Menakshi Dhar Lalit Koul ZONE 3 Sheetal Pandita Raina (Chapter President) Geetha Ganju Deepshikha Mattoo Arshiya Hakhu Prayarna Bamzai Raina Anil Koul Ishet Dhar (Chapter President) Ajay Tikoo Archana Kokroo and Tej Kokroo Vijay Parimoo Promod Kachroo Umesh Kaul Rakesh Kaul jr Deepika Tiku Raina Ashim Sadhu ZONE 4 Sujata Ambardar Sidarth Ambardar Hema Raina Swapna Raina Ashok Raina Lalit Wanchoo Aruna Chakoo Rohini Ganjoo Harpreet Kachru

7 For a role in preserving and promoting Kashmiri culture and language, and mentoring the Kashmiri Pandit youth: Naeha Quasba Patel Nisha Quasba Rishi Mattoo Megha Kaushal Mattoo Komal Bazaz Smith Armaan Qasba ZONE 5 Renu Wokhlu, Sudhana Punjabi, Shivani Kaul (Dallas/Plano area) They have been very active in organizing Diwali, Shivratri and biradari picnic in Dallas area. Their work has been instrumental in setting introductions into motion as the community sees continual growth (10-12 families just 4 years ago vs ~40 families). Ravi & Anjali Raina (Greater Houston area) Madhu Moza (KOA Director, ) ZONE 6 Georgia Chapter: (Alabama, FL, MS) Raj Razdan for years of service to the KP community in the greater Atlanta area. Piyaray L. Raina for his book Socio-cultural and Religious Traditions of Kashmiri Pandits and for providing elder leadership at the community events Pawan Raina: for his volunteering spirit and years of service to community (KOA Board & Chapter Leadership). Veena Gouri: Georgia Chapter President Surinder Dhar: Supported the chapter President in arranging and executing cultural and social events. North Carolina Chapter (North & South Carolina) Chaman Lal Vishin for demonstrating leadership and for providing valuable support to KP community in the Charlotte, NC area. Special Events, Picnics and Cricket Sanje & Seema Kak Sanjay & Preeti Ambardar Gopal & Shaifali Kaul Shivratri Events Sarthak & Aishwarya Raina Chetna & Arvind Handoo Neha & Rahul Sinha

8 Diwali Events Pooja & Sumit Parimoo Gunjan & Sidharth Munshi Shweta & Ashwani Kaul Special Recognition Sushma & Rattan Kaul (Parents of Ashwani Kaul). Rattan and Sushma Ji have been a vital source of information on all KP history, tradition and customs. This community appreciates their presence, support and guidance during their stay in the area. ZONE 7 Sanjeev Daftari Raj Koul Praveen Raina Sanjay Bhat Abishek Ganjoo Seema Bamzai Aparna Dhar (past chapter president) Spearheaded the KP kids Kashmiri learning program that is very much alive and thriving in this area for the last 3+ years. The kids are excited and enthusiastic about learning their mother tongue and the results are phenomenal. ZONE 8 Urveshi Khosa Neelkamal Bakshi Suneeta Kaul Simi Raina Sveta Bhan Anju Kaul ZONE 9 Zone 9 volunteers will be recognized at the upcoming West Coast camp. ZONE 10 Zone 10 volunteers will be recognized at the upcoming West Coast camp. President's Nominations Sunil ji also recognized the following volunteers Rajeev Kaul (KOA Treasurer, 2013-Present) Purvi Shah, for helping Rajeev ji with KOA financials

9 KOA Transformation VII Devoted and Valuable Services Rendered to this Organization on the 1000 year anniversary celebrations of Abhinavagupta at the KOA Transformations VII Jyeshtha Ashtami Havan at Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (May 21st - May 22nd, 2016) Rabindra Kaul Rakesh & Sushma Kaul Vijay Parimoo Anil Kachroo Ajay Tikoo Anil Mattoo Ashim & Nirja Sadhu KOA East Coast Camp Volunteers The following members of Camp Committee were also recognized: Dr. Shakun Malik, Camp Commander Anil Mattoo Sanjay Kaul Bela Kaul Nirja Sadhu Deepika Raina Lalit Wanchoo Hema Raina Harpreet Kachroo Amit Ganjoo Rohini Ganjoo Seema Kak Anil Kachroo Preety Raina Swapna Raina Inder ji Bhat Sujata Ambardar Mohan sapru Aruna Chakoo Ashok Raina Sonia Thaker Award of Excellence A plaque honoring KAILASH MEHRA SADHU, The Kokila of Kashmir, in appreciation for years of dedicated service and outstanding accomplishments, and in recognition of Valued Participation at the KOA Camps, 2016.

10 Fundraising Through the efforts of Nirja ji Sadhu and Dr. Shakun ji Malik, KOA Directors for Zone 3 and 4 respectively, approx. $25.5K worth of pledges were made by the members towards life membership and US-based programs. Special Mention: Yshassvi, daughter of Kirti Sazawal and Jacob Chirayath who came from California to attend this camp, ran a lemonade stand along with Purvi, Tanvi, Hemani and Ragya, and donated all the proceeds ($33.76) to KOA General Donations funds. Blessed are parents who have kids who think of helping others. God bless these kids and their proud parents. KOA certainly has a bright future! IMPORTANT NOTICE Copyright 2016 by Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA), Inc. ( The information being shared is KOA proprietary. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publication may be reproduced or discussed in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA), Inc. on any other forum/ chain not owned by KOA. Action will be taken against those who infringe upon this information.