SOLID Minutes June 8th, 2008

NEXT MEETING THURSDAY JULY 10TH 6PM SOLID OFFICE

Present: Meron, Anna, Heather, Melanie, Bill Nash (website developer)

Regrets: Candace, Maggie, Sam, Margery

Update Maggie and Phil: tabled

Update Josette: Swaziland - the following correspondence was shared

We arrived back home to Canada earlier today...

News...lets see we had sewing classes for the women that went very well and was a good time. Nancy, Colleen and I made 40 girls uniforms (each girl gets 2 uniforms) and some of the sewing students were able to help a bit and Colleen will carry on with the women sewing and introduce them more to making the uniforms. Colleen went to a professional dressmaking school - so is very good at sewing. The women are happy with the 4 singer machines we bought and we hope they continue on making their baby clothes, skirts and blouses and uniforms. We bought 2 uniforms each for the boys…we were able to get them all socks and shoes.

A large water holding container was bought to aid with the garden project at the school and we were able to contribute to establishing a chicken raising project at the school...the coop is built and the chickens are in it and we were able to provide 8 months of feed - which is was thought was enough time until the children planted and harvested their own crops at the school to feed the chickens. They will learn how many chicks to keep as eggs, how many to keep as layers and for meat, it is also thought that when they produce a surplus they could sell them, as indigenous (free range) birds are sought for market consumption.

PS….we were also able to buy all the kids sweaters that are brown with mustard trim to match their uniforms and I am probably forgetting other stuff as well. I have photo copies of the budget and receipts that I will mail to SOLID once I settle back in - but those will give a good picture of what all was done...speaking of pics we don't have many cause our cameras were stolen in Mozambique!!! Too funny...but the memory card of my mind isn't full yet! A teacher asst, Anna who works at the school, may be able to get some pics for me - I'll see.

Financial Update/Money Transfers:

Most recent bank statements not available…..recent donations include $2000 from Purdue Pharma, $1000 for Maggie and Phil’s project, money from Knit Wits.

Still awaiting cheque from Active.com for last $1200 – was mailed to the office on May 15th – Meron and Rob to follow up.

Cheque from Kelsey School for $155 stale dated so Anna to contact school to have cheque reissued.

Waiting for confirmation of Agnes’s bank details, have not received email reply – perhaps Candace could call Agnes and prompt this?

Money transfers need to be sent to Sipho, Ndi Moyo and Agnes as soon as we have confirmation of bank details – Meron and Rob?

Finances need to be up to date in time for the AGM.

Per Diem:

Meron felt strongly that she would not be requesting a per diem for project related expenses, as her time and efforts are contributions to SOLID.

Heather found it necessary to be reimbursed for the expense involved in setting up a suitable volunteer accommodation in Lesotho (the “volunteer box” with cooking utensils, pots, bedding etc).

Anna felt that it was reasonable to offer a $5 per diem compensation for SOLID directors to compensate for direct project related expenditures (receipt supported) if the director chooses to claim for such expenses.

We did not have quorum so could not vote on this. Tabled.

Fundraising Events:

Plans are being made for the following fundraisers in the next 12 months

June 20th Muzuva Band – Duncan ... Melanie and James will take SOLID materials to advertise our NGO

July – AGM and presentation by Sam and Meron at Community Gospel Chapel. Need to advertise 2 weeks ahead of time.

And, after impromptu ferry meeting in the morning…. Maggie and Phil also willing to participate and tell stories of their most recent journey. We could all bake, or ask for donations from local business for coffee, tea, and cookies. Maggie has been invited to be a board member with Candace’s departure…will advise us of her decision.

Possible Date for Anna Sunday July 27 but weeknights may also work…Please Meron Doodle your available days and see if others can attend ... Meron and Sam to work out potential date for event.

August – Masango Fundraiser – Zimbabwean dinner and music on SSI and Vancouver – James and Melanie

Sept – Jami Sieber fundraiser for Agnes - Shelly Sherrif organizing with Candace.

Dec – World AIDS Day – one idea (from chat with Maggie this am) is to do another mini C2C3 with the following themes around this date ... Maggie and Jackie Larkin run an incredible workshop called “Reconnecting to Life” which encompasses many powerful pieces, but would assist AIDS activists in preventing burn out and coming to terms with the tragedies we witness. This could be tied into a workshop following last year’s event at Candace’s addressing the best way for us to help in Africa ... Perhaps we could collaborate with Peg and Peter????

Anna to explore with Maggie, Candace, Peg and Jackie.

Maggie and Phil to do Tuendelee Mbele fundraiser

Spring 2009 – UBC/VIDEA/Sala Hantle Fundraiser – VIDEA is very excited about partnering on this and wants to involve their contacts in Nelson and the Okanogan so that we have a run in Victoria, Van, Nelson and Kelowna raising money for our health projects!!! Anna to work on.

Maggie and Anna talked about the need for a big general fundraiser for SOLID. Ideas anyone?

2009 C2C3!!!!!!!!!!

Masango Proposal:

Reviewed proposal circulated by Melanie and agreed in principle to support the project (majority vote) and Melanie and James to work with contacts in Zimbabwe to organize leadership training 3 x 3 days event for up to 30 participants at a total cost of $1100.

Currently on hold as communication has been very difficult with Zim.

SOLID Exchange:

Display looks fabulous. Some concerns re lack of volunteer hours for opening the store…perhaps we could advertise on Volunteer Salt Spring. Bill Nash developing website called www.saltspring-island.com and he is very keen on getting the word out on what we are doing and who we are. Would be helpful to have more information posted in the SOLID exchange about the various African projects we are working with.

Also discussed signage outside the group will create a banner that represents who we are better, and that we are working on African Projects.

So far items are on consignment to the store, and we have profited $372.

There are some opportunities for partnering with Global Village in Victoria…they offer grants and small interest microloans to social enterprises such as SOLID Exchange. Meron to organize meeting to discuss volunteer hours etc.

JCP and VIDEA Meeting:

JCP application is still being worked on by Lynn at VIDEA…the idea to create a position to expand the SOLID Exchange. Would be great to identify someone from Salt Spring who has been on Social Assistance in the last three years and might be eligible for the position. Melanie to talk to Kate Leslie.

VIDEA also very excited about the possibility of creating Internship positions for our partner organizations in Africa. Anna to discuss further with Lynn.

Volunteer for SOLID:

VIDEA will advertise on their website and Volunteer Victoria for a volunteer coordinator for us. We need to come up with a “job description”…..some ideas include:

Website Knowledge (Joomla)

Bookkeeping

Writing Press Releases

Basic Administration

PR – community outreach

Retail Sales

Volunteer scheduling

Grant writing

Correspondence with African Partners.

Please discuss any further ideas with Anna and I will get this job description into Lynn.

Phelisanong Clinic:

Briefly discussed Phelisanong. SOLID has a commitment to support the clinic building with a $500 donation (along with Partner’s for Others) should the US Ambassador’s grant come through.

Mamello and Meron have been speaking on the telephone and Mamello is sending three more proposals our way

1. Greenhouse….this has been ongoing for a long time, and it now seems that they have a Basotho permaculture expert volunteering for the project ... could consider this as a contained project

2. Computers – electricity now at project ... Mamello wants to open internet café as well as supply computers to the school. Ray can load onto container going to ADRA.

3. Tractor – Mamello is asking for another tractor as an income generator, but the SOLID group present felt that this was not something we could support at this point.

   Decisions tabled until we have proposals and another meeting.

Local Awareness/Advertising:

We need to get the word out as to what we are up to in our own community. Meron to resend Abigail’s letter (with pictures) to the Driftwood. Also need a letter to the editor advertising AGM. Anna came up with the idea of a “diary” type letter, “A Year in the Life of SOLID” which describes all the activities we have been involved with in the last year….will discuss with Meron and write for the paper.

Newsletter much needed ...

Tuendelee Mbele - Maggie

Swaziland – Jo

Malawi – Gesine

Power of Peace Nomination

Sam and Meron’s trip

Financial Report ...

<ned> Weekend

Fundraiser ideas

Commitment to Care Award

Can we start working on these and choose a deadline??? Should be ready for AGM.

Swazi Container:

Ray and Meron working on container to go to Swazi with tools etc (through Community Gospel Church). Elizabeth Wiekle has barrels of tools, and wants to organize a garage sale to benefit SOLID. Heather to work on details of this event with Elizabeth.