ࡱ> KMJ7 ($bjbjUU &87|7|( l ,42!4#4#4#4#4#4#4$5 7G4G4 \4 !4 !4 n1!4 81" j 2 !4r404-28 8!4 FWG Officers Meeting Sat 19th February 2005 Minutes Present: Ann Bannister, John Flynn, Lisa Porter Review of Minutes from Inaugural Meeting 04 Constitution The Inland Revenue (IR) have queried what we meant by advancement of skills in our constitution. Ann is dealing with this, and has advised that education will also advance skills, through writing letters, and working once educated within the community. IR have queried whether we need to register FWG in Ghana. Ann is looking into this. IR have also again stipulated that monies must be controlled and used by FWG we would not be allowed for example to give money to the Sanctuary Management Board (SMB) IR also raised concerns about how we would monitor what is happening in Ghana. Have been reassured we have representation in Ghana in the form of NCRC Other social, and cultural concerns from IR have hopefully now been satisfied. Ann replied to IR on all the above concerns on 2nd February. Hopefully they will now be completely satisfied. Whether FWG should remain an unincorporated association with membership or become a Trust Fund controlled by trustees was discussed but no decision made, and this decision postponed until the annual general meeting (AGM). Resolution FWG have achieved raising enough money to fund 1 student from Sept 04. However the contacts in Ghana were not ready to start from Sept 04 Action Plan Membership: We estimate there were approx 160 previous volunteers who have been to Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (WCHS) and may want to become members. How do we reach them? 3 people have responded to the email Earthwatch sent out to previous volunteers. TARGET We need to make contact with more previous volunteers John will contact the HSBC & Shell volunteers from our group, and see if they can contact any other volunteers though their organisations John will also contact Sharon to find out how many people were sent the email (maybe not all the volunteers have email) Ann will find the list of millennium members phone numbers Lisa will contact the millennium volunteers by telephone Ann will contact the newest members and see if they can contact their other group volunteers and spread the word verbally. Lisa will contact the Earthwatch volunteer co-ordinator for help with contacting previous volunteers Lisa/Ann/John will contact guides to see if they have any previous volunteers addresses. The FWG leaflet was created and Ann will post leaflets to Isacu to distribute around WCHS to attract visitors to contact us John will forward to Lisa a list of members: names, addresses, email etc Sending of materials: VSO were not able to assist with this. Due to the high cost and unreliability it was decided that it would be best to use funds and contacts to purchase in Ghana any materials required. Scholarship Fund: On track for scholarship to commence this September 05. Ann will chase up our Ghana contacts to find out their progress in selecting a student The suggested panel for selection of student is: A Lobi representative, a Wali representative, Donna (Calgary Zoo), SMB Manager (funded by NCRC) Need enough funds to see out every scholarship that commences. John raised the question of how long we fund a student for? Do FWG continue to progress an able student through University, or just for their 3 years of high school education. (The Ghana Government may be extending the basic education to 4 years). John will prepare some proposals and this question will be raised in AGM Also how should we progress with scholarships one per year? One in the first year, 2 in the second, 3 in the third? This question will be raised at AGM Ann will contact Alex to see if any other funding options would be available to a undergraduate student rather than FWG funding university also. There may be other funding sources available for higher education students. Information Exchange: Adopt a guide not really happened as very few write Website: Ann has created a web page. It has all the basic information as to who FWG are. The website will be developed further with photographs of previous volunteer groups, Wechiau, the school, and the students who we sponsor. We will use the website to post details of all the previous groups/volunteers who we are trying to get in contact with. We can also use the site to request photos be sent from other groups/volunteers. Ann is currently investigating FWG getting our own domain name. This is inexpensive (about 6), and would be a huge benefit. Ann will contact Klass to see if he can offer any assistance with developing the site Other agency Support: Earthwatch ended their support of WCHS in 2004. The Peace Corps also ceased at WCHS in 2004 NCRC and Calgary Zoo still have representatives at WCHS and have agreed to provide support and representation for FWG, and are able to communicate with the UK based officers of FWG. Monies Currently 809.78 in the FWG bank account April will mean collection of the 10 membership fee for 2005 John will arrange for an audit in May. The end of FWG year is 14th June. Scholarships per student = 100 + food costs International banking costs 25 per transaction (can Rodolfo get this done for free?) Free banking from HSBC ends on 14th June. After this date we may need to look at switching to an account offering free banking, if Rodolfo cannot get any charges stopped. We would need to look for an account that offered: Good interest rates, Free international money transfers, free banking. Lisa will explore the possibility of using Paypal for international money transfers at low costs. Not able to trade or sell to raise money, so need to check whether this would be ok TARGET we need to have raised 1000 June 14th in order to become a registered charity. John will draft proposals for number of students to be funded Donna will draft proposal for materials needed for Talawona school Charitable Status In order to obtain funding/donations from other organisations within the UK we need to officially be recognised as having charitable status, with a registered charity number. This would open lots of doors for FWG, and legitimise the organisation and encourage membership In order the achieve this we need to have raised over 1000 within one year. This means that we have 200 to raise before June 14th Address: In order to be a charity we need a postal address. John will contact HSBC and see if they would let us use their address Ann will ask the crche if they will allow use of their address Once FWG becomes a registered charity the home addresses of the trustees will become public Membership Form: A form for completion of FWG members should be created. This would allow for permission of names, email addresses and photographs being shared amongst FWG. (It is hard to keep hiding addresses in a group email). A list of members and photographs of members could then be posted on the website with permissions. Sanctuary Management Board The SMB have requested that FWG make a 100 annual contribution to their fund After discussion the officers decided to decline their request at this stage for the following reasons: FWG is still only just getting itself established, and is trying to achieve charitable status. Giving money to SMB would go against the stipulations of the IR for a UK charity. However it was agreed that this decision could be reviewed in 2 years time Looking towards the future, more control of FWG would like to be given to SMB, once FWG is established and an action. Talawona School A member of FWG has suggested that we offer assistance and support to the Talawona school. This question will be put to all the members. Donna (Calgary Zoo) has offered to do a budget and find out what is needed. We will also request a photograph of the new school building (when group 4, 02 were there it was still just a tree!) A suggestion has also been raised about the type of support the teachers receive. Donna will also be asked to look into this, and there could be a possibility for FWG support for teachers Next meeting: AGM planned for Sat June 11th. All members of FWG are invited and most welcome to come!! Possible location: Bristol John is exploring this. -.6hi u hj##($ H*mH sH 5>*mH sH 5>*CJaJmH sH mH sH 5>*CJ H*aJ mH sH 5>*CJ aJ mH sH -.67gh5h i u ' y  & F & F & F h^h & F$a$($y B .  i ./E2qL)*@v[ & F & F & F[%@l"#$+U _ ;* & F & F*9B()D l!m!}!"R"" & F  & F  & F  & F & F"#####"$#$$$%$&$'$($ & F h^h & F $&P 1h. 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