Not knowing the history (my apology to CM and ABS), I told that excess money should be given to charity to avoid this kind of rumblings. Dilip Deka told indirectly the same in reference to my letter what Chairperson of Houston verbally told Mr Bhuyan. Unless DDeka is also on AFNA board, I do not see any problem. I think it was the failure of a Board Member to convince his own organization to send the money where it belonged. Part of the blame game on AFNA also falls on Mr Bhuyan himself. Since from the first paragraph he is representing a group of people, I can clearly see the lack of leadership vision here. Can we expect unity and cooperation among community members if our leaders show such kind of tone and line of argument? We all need a little attitude adjustment here.
Here are few my suggestions:
1. Charge all organization some fees for meeting space etc. AFNA can adjust that unpaid $500 to such cost.
2. As JKalita wrote spending $55 per person for food, why not just give only one special dinner or lunchon costing 20-25. you can reduce a lot in your budget. People should have their own meal other time.
3. Registration fees should reflect the per person expense avoiding subsidy for some; every one makes good money to afford it.
Some of these suggestions may be already in use; subsidy is no answer to deficit budgeting. Even Gogoi and company is raising educational fees in Assam to avoid subsidy in education!
My few cents![]()
>From: Kedar Bhuyan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: Dilip Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>CC: Chandan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Assam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Assam] Surplus from Houston
>Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 10:24:53 -0700 (PDT)
>
>
>
>
>Dear Dilip:
>
> Your emails regarding surplus drew quite a bit of attention in many quarters of Assamese community across USA. I am not a member of Assam net, so I did not have the opportunity to read your emails in real time. But there is so much interest about the comments you made that some very respected community members have forwarded your emails to me and personally called me and discussed about it.
>
>
>
> 20th Assam Convention/26th Assam Day was held in Houston long time ago. Your memory regarding that may be getting a little bit fogy by now. The surplus from Houston was not given to Cherry Hill organizers as seed money as you have suggested. In stead the surplus (you said $2200) was in fact given to AFNA. Chairperson of Houston verbally told me at that time that the surplus amount was given to AFNA to administer for the benefit of future Assam Conferences. It was not a donation to AFNA. The surplus was for the sole use of future Assam Conferences.
>
>
>
> Out of this Houston surplus AFNA loaned $2000.00 to Cherry Hill organizers. I was a director of AFNA during that time. Per AFNA President�s email to the Board of AFNA Directors (attached here as ready reference) Cherry Hill organizers repaid $1500.00 to AFNA with $500.00 remained unpaid. Cherry Hill could not return remaining $500.00 because there was no more fund left.
>
>
>
>AFNA had rejected Toronto�s request for fund from Houston surplus amount. Similarly Denver also did not get any money from this Houston surplus amount. Hence balance of the Houston Surplus is still with AFNA. Surplus from Toronto was directly given (not a loan) to Denver. Similarly Denver is also directly given (not a loan) the surplus to St. Louis.
>
>
>
> Now instead of looking backward I would like to look forward for a brighter future and better co- operation from the entire Assamese community. Joint conferences of all Assamese organizations are still evolving. There are lots of areas that need stream lining. Surplus or deficit is one such area. I think that the surplus from Assam 2003 or beyond should directly go to the next year�s organizing committee. Any surplus fund should not be used or diverted for any other purposes. Our community leaders should openly discuss these matters in St. Louis and find out where lies the consensus.
>
>
>
>So far we have only discussed about the surplus. What about the deficit? Who
>
>is responsible for any deficit? Suppose there is a big deficit at St. Louis and then is the Chairman personally responsible or liable? Or entire organizing committee is jointly and severally responsible? If they are not responsible, who is? Unless we openly discuss these matters and come to a consensus, in the future very few people will be coming forward to take this responsibility. Organizing Assam Conference is a thankless job with no material upside, whereas it potentially carries a huge personal liability. This is one the reasons that now a days people are very reluctant to take that responsibility.
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> With best regards
> Kedar Bhuyan
>
>
>
>---------------------------------
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
><< AFNAPresidentsemail.doc >>
smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*
_______________________________________________
Assam mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
