Minutes of Meeting about focussing on one area::
Meeting on Nov 9th, 2003 in Herndon, Virginia.
 
Agenda: Sivarasu’s Email msg no # 1734 in our global yahoo group about option of focussing on a particular geographic area.
 
“To be frank, not meaning to hurt, most of the activities we (aims) involved were out of  compassion and mercy which results helping people temporarily and helping us to have our own satisfaction rather than empowering anybody. Which deep down basically means we unintentionally doing something, which make our people like that of beggars?
 
I believe our activities be driven by ideology rather than that of compassion really regard we are blessed to have good education and have good jobs. We can do lot better than we do now. I know what ever we are doing it great and wonderful. But to do the same there are lot of groups are out there to take our vacant position if we have to move on with higher goals.”
 
Vijay read part of Siva’s 2nd email, which is given below.
 
“For example, we don’t have to wait for some one come up with proposals for small group of people or for a school, like here and there. We know the need, not that we don’t know who needs and what. I have watched lot of good works done for school children. So lets take a one whole district or taluk, leave no school with out basic needs, we would try to enlist help from what ever ever channel we can. It is just a opinion lets try to get help from NSS students from school and college from that area, or talk to an actor who is socially conscious to get help from their fan clubs, or present such proposal to govt or even political parties or others groups like us, get as much help as possible, present such plan to big industrialists, see if we can get financial help. We can do it. As a first step I come up 1000$ from my pocket, please see what you all can do.”
 
Gautham’s email msg no # 1761
 
“I think Siva''s suggestion is in agreement with the model above. I feel currently AIMS is going the EXNORA way (I''m sorry to have taken to the liberty to comment about the group in spite of being a newcomer. But I guess its constructive criticism). Let us not diversify into health camps, etc etc in different parts of India. Let us take ONE village. Put a time frame of say, 1 year.Channel all our funds to that village....fuel IT/agricultural/education changes in that village....let us create a model village that others can look on. This way we get more recognition and also we show other villages what they can do...” 
 The meeting started at 1.00 and ended at 5.30 PM. We welcome our members from New Jersey who drove from New Jersey to attend this meeting.
 
No of Attendees 17:
Subbu, Rani, Sundar and Praba from New Jersey. Other local members are Kannan, Venkatesh Babu, Vidya, Anand Palanisamy, Vijay Anand, Ravi Venkatesh, Iyappan, Andi Giri, Srikanth, Yamuna, Nainar and Chida.
 
Ravi Venkatesh briefed Sivarasu’s email and Gautham’s reply to the members.
 
Babu drew a broad category to discuss in this meeting. It was Multiple Projects in multiple places.Multiple projects in one geographical area.One project in one geographical area.Sundar: We need somebody in Tamilnadu to execute the projects. If we take a village and explore the problems there is no end for that. Instead we can replicate our successful models to other places.
 
Srikanth: In two years we have done many projects, do we have something substantial to do?
 
Kannan: We must work on a model, which identify us and differentiate us from others. We should see Siva’s email and Gautham’s email as a milestone. We should see how effective those projects are, which we have done in the past. Can you replicate the sustainable projects? Do we have enough strength to execute huge projects? That is the question I have. Take models from the project reports from other NGO’s. Our Kancheepuram child labor model seems to be a good model. We can take that as an example and do other projects. I support multiple projects in multiple places.
 
Subbu: To concentrate on one area and create a model. Multiple projects in one area probably in a village. Still not clear what is the question in front of us today.
 
Vijay: We should work on creating a special identity for Aims. We should also take a decision, which should not dampen the enthusiasm of other people. I support multiple projects in multiple areas.
 
Srikanth again defined about the question and explained about what geographical areas we are talking. The options could be We can divide Tamilnadu into four divisions and take one area as our geographical area.We can take one geographical area and do multiple projects.Adopt a village.
Kannan: To associate with other NGO’s and participate a part in huge projects.
 
Anand: We also should involve government officials in our projects. Supports multiple projects in multiple areas.
 
Giri: Shared Arihara Suthan’s email of working on a village in Kanyakumari where kids do not go beyond 8th std and improve the livelihood of the people in that village.
 
Babu: Some of our members had this discussion of focusing our efforts towards one specific project or specific geographical area. We should accept any projects, which comes from the local people in Tamilnadu rather than suggesting the projects from us. I suggest we should continue on what we are doing. We are creating a model like building toilets, kancheepuram child labor project and Sankarankoil medical center. 
Srikanth: Let us divide our projects chapter wise. Let each chapter take specific project and work on that. Let us not care more about visibility it is not very important.
 
Vijay: Visibility is not for publicity, just to motivate and inspire other people.
 
Srikanth: Agreed
 
Vidya: Let us continue on what we are doing so far. Agrees with Srikanth on taking up projects chapter wise and work on that. Let each chapter take up one area and focus on that area.
 
Iyappan: I would like to go from our past success and failure. If we take our past projects, our successful projects are because of our
coordinators in Tamilnadu like Ravi Sundar in Coimbatore. We have Kuppamuthu in Devathur village etc. If we have people like Ravi Sundar in Tamilnadu we can take up any projects. It is important to have our close coordinators in Tamilnadu to work on any projects. Our Computer Community Center project is a failure; we do not have any feedback on what is going on in our CCC. Unless otherwise we have a dedicated team in Tamilnadu let us not take up any project. We should involve other NGO’s, Government officials in our projects. We should give only 30% from our side other 30 % should come from Government and 30 % from local people. I support multiple projects in multiple areas.
 
Giri: We should accept any new proposal from members and find out people to execute that project.
 
Ravi Venkatesh: Any project, which comes from the local people and involves local people, will be a sustainable model. I support for multiple projects in multiple area. If the concept is good we should promote that. I disagree with Gautham that Exnora is a failure. It may be failure in some places, but in many places it was a success. However we appreciate his idea of having a two-line introduction about our volunteers in our web site. 
 
Chida: Any project, which is submitted by the local people, should be considered and encouraged. Support for multiple project in multiple area.
 
Sundar: What is the basis of Aims India Foundation? What is our mission and aim? If we involve the local people, then that project will be
sustainable. We should ask our donors to visit our projects and show our success.
 
Andi Giri: Our initial project “Patients Information Chart” given in the Coimbatore Govt hospital was a good model. You learn from the good and bad in the past. We have not grown enough to handle larger projects. If we see the trail of emails, we can see that some members are very interested in focusing on specific projects. Instead of diluting and killing the enthusiasm of new members, we can ask that members to form a task force or steering committee and take it to the next level.
 
Nayanar: I agree with multiple projects in multiple areas, but we should be working on some specific projects.
 
Vijay: Somebody should take a lead to form a steering committee and select a deserving panchayat or village within the next 30 or 60 days and start working on focusing on that area.
 
Rani: Let us continue with whatever we are doing. Involve local people in our projects. I support for multiple projects in multiple area.
Local people should understand and know what is our goal and mission.
 
Praba: I support for multiple project in multiple areas.
 
Ramya was not able to participate but sent her ideas over email. Focusing our effort on one geographical area is good. We can replicate Elango’s Kuthambakkam model and take it to to other places.
 
Finally the overall consensus among the meetings participants was that AIMS should continue with its current approach to funding and executing multiple projects at multiple geographical locations (mostly within TN). The attendees also agreed to form a Steering Committee/Task Force that would focus exclusively on studying the feasibility of the ONE VILLAGE/BLOCK/DISTRICT MEGA PROJECT that was suggested by Siva Rasu, which was later followed by an enthusiastic exchange of e-mails among the AIMS community. The following reasons were to be citied for this collective decision, that suggests following a two pronged approach (maintain the
current style of approach for investing AIMS resources and also explore the feasibility of the new idea submitted by Siva Rasu):
1. AIMS''s sole mission is "TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER", which alings itself perfectly with the current model of selecting and funding several projects,which are identified by the community that is in need of support. Folks from different backgrounds and interests are all brought together in different phases and levels of an identified project, purely based on its merits to serve for the betterment of the community, clearly satisfying the mission.

2. AIMS has spent/invested considerable time and resources already to identify self-motivated, enthusiastic, unselfish, goal-oriented,
community volunteers in each of the several chapters in India and continues to do so for expanding the future operations.These volunteers would be imperiled if the focus is shifted to a particular village serving only a certain section of the population, though
it is believed to yield a great model to inspire a replicable model. These volunteers are happily involved with the communities where they belong and can see their contributions taking shape for the betterment of his/her community. It is realized that volunteer enthusiasm could fizzle out if the current approach is modified, jeoparidizing the mission.
3. Also, the current model facilitates overseas volunteers to participate beyond regional boundaries. By this I mean, People from the Boston Chapter can fund and particpate in a needful project located in Kancheepuram/Madurai without identifying themselves to one particular geographical confinement. Thus the model facilitates a number of opportunities to go beyond boundaries and not restricting themselves to any regional limitations. It also facilitates, cross-chapeter interaction, where expertise and ethusiasm can be drawn from any other chapter that boasts such needed expertise and enthusiasm to participate.
4. Working on conducting a Feasibility Analysis on the MEGA PROJECT idea submitted by Sivarasu,Gautham, Ramya and other members. The Steering Committee/ Task Force would constitute the following individuals, identified solely based on their input and willingness to participate in this exercise. This Steering Committee will come into force only upon the consent of individual members to participate in the committee activities and will be contacted individually regarding their interest/willingness to participate.(Names: Ramya Nageshwaran, Siva Rasu, Gautham Dorai, Ravi Venkatesh, Vasu (Boston), Col. Sridharan (AIMS Kovai)).
 
Compiled by Ravi Venkatesh & Anand

District: Kanyakumari
Category: Health
Project status: Completed
Date: October 2003
Organized by: Arihara Suthan, Kanyakumari district co-ordinator
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The Eye camp started at 2.30 pm. Mr. Devadhas(District Organiser, Indian Pen friends Associations) presided the programme. At the begining Miss. sheeba sang a song on humanity. Mrs. Rajammal gave welcome address, Mr. Rajarethnam, President of the Vellichanthai panchayat has started the eye camp. He was very happy about the programme and expect a lot from us and he assure he will provide all assistences to our works. Mr. P. R. Ganesan of Tamilnadu Science forum, Mr. chenthil kumar, Mr. Jeyapalan praised the eyecamp. suthan co-ordinator, KumariAims said goals of the eyecamp organized by AIMS and welcome all to attach to the movement and work hard for the development of the village. Mrs. Mageswari gave the volte of thanks. 94 persons from the village participated in the eyecamp. As 7 of them have problems which couldn''t be cured in the camp are directed to p.s. medical trust Thalakulam.They will give treatment to them in concession rate. In this programme, General health advices are also given to the participant Dr. Moni jheyosh kumar, Eye specialist and Dr. Ramesh of p.s.medical trust gave medical treatments.   4 nursing assistance from p.s.medical trust also attended the
camp.  Mr. Thambiraj and mr. gopalakrishnan volunteers of kumari aims canwassed about eye donation among the particepatants. The peopl,e who are willing to donate eyes have filled the eye donation form. The following persons have donated their eyes in the eye camp
programme.
1. Mr. Ganesan (Tamilnadu Science forum)      merku kodupai kuzhi, kurunthancode block.
2. Mr. Nagarethnam      Ramanathapuram, saral p.o., kurunthancode block.
3. Mrs. Mageswari    Ramanathapuram. saral p.o., kurunthancode block.
4. Mr. Gobalakrishnan (AIMS)      vathiyarvilai, Nagercoil.
5. Mr. N. Tambiraj (AIMS)    vathiyarvilai, Nagercoil.
6. mr. Y. Rajan (AIMS)     Palli vilai, Nagercoil.
7. Mr. V. Vijayakumar (AIMS)     Kozhiporvilai, Thuckalai.
8. Mr. R. ARiharasuthan (AIMS)     vathiyarvilai, Nagercoil.
9. mr. Saravanan (AIMS)      Thirunanthikarai, kulasekaram.    Three of the belongs to this local area.
P. jeyabalan and T. vijayakumar printed bitnotices to the eye camp programme.
  Mr. Devadhas arranged sound set and tiffen to the medical group.    Local people K.Chornappan, M. Ponnaiyan, K.Suyambulingam,L. Manikandan, Sureshbabu arranged place, seating, electricity and other things. The programme has complete at 06.00 P.M.
By conducting this programme, we have created a friendly atmosphere to the peoples.  The following expenditure have metout byme.
AIMS BANNER   RS. 400- MISCALENIES   RS. 120/-

I sincearly thank to Dr. Uthayakumar, all kumari aims members, TNSF and other district aims members for their valuable advices and assitances to succesfully complete the eyecamp.
With thanks
Suthan, Kanyakumari.