MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
From: Anupam Wali, Secretary, KOA
Date: Held on Sunday, April 14, 2002

KOA Board members met through Tele-conference to transact the KOA business as per the agenda circulated earlier. Following list includes members who were present or absent at this meeting:

• Vijay Kaul Zone1 (Present)
• Sulochna Tickoo Zone2 (Present)
• Sarla Warikoo Zone3 (Absent)
• Hira Lal Nakhasi Zone4 (Present)
• Anita Kaul Zone5 (Present)
• Sidharth Ganju Zone6 (Present)
• Sanjay Bhat Zone7 (Present)
• Hira Lal Koul Zone8 (Present)
• Ravi Mirakhur Zone9 (Present)
• Anjali Bhat Zone10 (Absent)

Executive Committee:

• Sanjay Kaul (MA): President (Present)
• Sidharth Ganju (GA): Vice-President (Present)
• Anupam Wali (MA): Board/Program Secretary (Present)
• Prana Koul (MA): Treasurer (Present)
• Arti Kaul (MA): Cultural Secretary (Absent)
• Vijay Parimoo (NJ): Media/Outreach Secretary (Present)
• Lalit Wanchoo Past President (Present)

The Meeting was called to order at 12:00 Noon by President of KOA, Shri Sanjay Kaul. Shri Sanjay Kaul introduced the New Board members who were elected During the month of December. He also thanked the Election committee, chaired by Shri Suman Hukhu of Michigan and was helped by Shri Chaman Bhan and Sunita Kaul. Sanjay Kaul highlighted the various accomplishments since the last Board meeting held on October 22, 2001.

Status of Projects in India:

The Education Fund: Managed by Shri Tej Kaul in United States and coordinated by KP Sabha in Jammu was presented. This year we received 160 new applications for which we were able to select 100 new ones in addition to the candidates that we continue from last year. In all we have supported 200 candidates and 90 donors have provided support for these programs. We have raised $50,000 for school year 2001/2002 from our sponsors. 

Sponsor A Child Program: Managed by Shri Pran Kaul in the year 2001 raised $28000 for the program. Currently, about 240 children are covered under this program, 148 sponsors support this program.

Suggestions were made by members to see how we can track the beneficiaries of these programs and have them give back to the community so that more children will be benefited.

Funding For Udhampur School: Koa supports the school by providing Rs.2 lac towards operating cost for the school. The school has an operating expense of Rs.3 Lac. The school provides employment opportunity to the community. The school is operated at up to Grade 8 level.

Medical Help: Last year we raised $11000 and out which we have already distributed $10500 to people needing medical help. A suggestion was made to start a coordinated effort to setup a committee that would develop criteria for fund collection and disbursement. A committee has been set up. Details provided separately.

The issue of donation of a medical Van was brought up (Relief Commissioner Jammu has appealed if KOA could donate a van for medical needs of community members in camps). KOA has in past donated funds for a medical van to PK for use to help the community in Jammu. Lalit Wanchoo updated the committee on the status of our past interaction with Panun Kashmir people and the status of the van. Lalit Wanchoo agreed to pursue the issue with Ajay Charangoo and see what comes out of it.

Financial Help For Social Condition: KOA raised $2400 for this purpose and sent $3400 to 21 families in Jammu camp to help them with basic amenities in the camps.

Status of Projects in the United States and Accomplishments: Last year, we sent out six issues of newsletters, produced a Koshur calendar, and a membership directory. We raised about $4500 for this purpose. This year we sent a New Year card to our members with an appeal for donation. The appeal was well received and we were able to generate approx. $2000 from this. This year's Kaoshur Calendar has also been sent to members.

Kashmiri Institute: Camp was held in Washington DC. It was very well received by our youth and young adults and KOA board pledged $2000 for this purpose. This year, Sumi Nakhasi and Preeti Wali is coordinating the effort to arrange the youth camp in Washington DC from August 2nd to August 9 2002. On the west coast Seema Mattoo and Monica Bhat are organizing a youth camp from June 29th. The board was requested to appropriate $2600 for these camps. Sanjay Kaul proposed the appropriation and Hiralal Koul (MI) seconded the proposal. A total of $2200 has already been raised for this purpose. 

Sunday Language And Cultural School: The Sunday Language and Cultural school has come a long way. Arti Kaul has worked very hard to give some structure to the curriculum. She is in the process of developing a curriculum based on the experience with the experiment in Boston Kashmiri community. Sanjay Kaul requested all the Board members and the zone directors to get this activity move forward, as we have seen a tremendous enthusiasm from our children to the language, culture and history of Kashmir. To this effect, in Northern California also a similar effort has been initiated.

National Camp: Is going to be held in Moodus CT. from July 4th to July 7th. As the KOA annual General Body Meeting is also held at this venue, Sanjay Kaul requested all the Board members and Zone directors to make an effort to come to the camp and also promote the camp in their respective zones.

Cultural Exchange Program: This year Neerja Pandit from Mumbai will be coming to US. She will be giving performances in various places in US. She will also be giving a performance at the KOA National Camp. KOA is sponsoring this cultural activity and Mrs. Arti Kaul is coordinating this activity. Sanjay Kaul asked the board to apportion $5000 for Mrs. Neerja Pandit?s cultural trip and Hiralal Koul (MI) seconded the proposal. KOA is also trying to get one Mr. Ashok Raina from Pune. He performs Pooja's and Havans, in addition he giving talk on Kashmiri rituals and cultural practices. KOA is planning to get him this year for KOA Camp to perform Havan at the Camp. KOA's obligation to Ashokji's Visit is to provide a round trip air ticket only.

Regional Camps: KOA encourages regional camps and this year, Texas community had arranged a Camp in the month of March. Northern California Community is also organizing a camp during the 4th of July weekend. Southern California group is planning a camp some time in August. Sanjay Bhat of Zone 7 is also planning a camp in their area. KOA will be willing to help in various ways to organize these camps.

Membership Drive: Our membership drive this year has been very encouraging. We have already attained about 35% membership renewal this year but we need to do more to increase the member participation. Zone 1 is leading with 47% renewal. Role of Zone directors and chapter Presidents is very vital in this effort. We need to get on phone and call our members to renew their membership so that we can provide the level of services and support to the community here and in India. One of the suggestions made was to ask our young school and college going kids to help in membership drive. KOA would give them certificates for their community work that could help them when they are applying for college admissions. Details provided.

Funds for Zone Activity: Based on revenues, KOA has sent checks to all zones based on their membership drive to defray costs for local cultural activities. These funds are to be used for purchasing assets that could be used for current and future zone activities. An audio system is one of the most commonly purchased assets in this category. The funds are not to be used to subsidize rentals or food costs.

Unifying, Kongposh (NJ) with K0A: Sanjay Kaul informed the board about his efforts in unifying the New Jersey organization with KOA. In this regard he has had communication with Maharaj Kaul (NY) President of Kongposh. He informed the board about the developments.

Restructuring Of KOA: As the population of Kashmiri Pandits in this country is increasing, there is a need for having more chapters in various zones.All Directors have been asked to define chapters with more than 10 families.

New Proposed Projects:

Scholarship Fund: Hiralal Koul (MI) proposed to establish a scholarship fund for children in US. KOA board unanimously voted on making a one-time achievement award to Kashmiri Pandit college bound students living in the USA. Initially it is planned to make up to a total of 4 such awards in the amount of $500-$1000 each. The KOA President would appoint a committee of 3 people for every 2-year term. The members of this subcommittee could be board members, with at least one non board member member member member on it and at least one member from the academic community. Also, the membership of this committee should be staggered, i.e., every second year one old member of the committee stays while two are replaced by two new ones. The candidates should apply by January 15th and awards should be made by the end of March. Details provided.

KOA Interactive Website: KOA has developed a new interactive website, which is more dynamic and interactive in nature with tremendous flexibility for future expansion of the site and content. Members can go to the site and update their information while as maintaining their privacy. This website will be launched soon. To keep the web activity ongoing, KOA would like to outsource the maintenance to a company in India. There was a discussion on the issue and the consensus was to allocate $2500 spending limit for web maintenance activity. Siddharth Ganju (Zone6) proposed and Hiralal Koul (Zone 8) seconded the motion. An amount of $2500 has already been raised for this.

Welcome package: Sanjay Kaul informed the board that Shri Ashok Raina has put a Welcome brochure for newcomers to USA. Sanjay Kaul asked the board members to give their feedback on the brochure that would be put in the welcome package.

Program Brochure: Sanjay Kaul proposed to produce a brochure for our membership drive, which would list various programs and accomplishments of the KOA run programs.

Membership Survey: A team of members would conduct a survey of how to improve the services and expectations for the KOA. Best suggestion was to have local survey and collect the survey forms at the functions itself. Vijay Kaul/ Vijay Parimu and Anita Kaul would help in formulating a questionnaire.

KOA Journal: Sanjay Kaul proposed that there is a need for a Journal which would fill a void in understanding of Kashmiri Pandit history, our cultural heritage, rituals and other aspects of being a Kashmiri Pandit. The articles would be original literary work. This would be a self-sustaining activity. Detail Provided.

This was followed by questions and answers. The president then asked for any other business. This meeting was called to an end by the president.