Date – July 8,2017

Attendees :

1. Geta Anteneh – Portland, Oregon
2. Fisha Semere – Seattle, Washington
3. Haile Melaku – Seattle, Washington
4. Tewodro Atanaw – Detroit, Michigan
5. Solomon Melaku – Sliver Spring, Maryland
6. Dejene Tarekegn – Sliver Spring, Maryland
7. Tewodros Tesera – Sliver Spring, Maryland

On phone:

1. Lealemselam Yaregal – Virginia
2. Tigist Nigusu – London, UK
3. Solomon Nurga – Chicago, Illinois
4. Tenager Bekalu – Oulu, Finland
5. Misganaw Birhan – Turku, Finland

Agenda:

1. Introducing each other and share memories
2. Update on the ongoing activates
3. Scholarship management and student selection
4. Tana Haik Almuni membership fee proposed

Introducing each other and share memories

Each of the attendee introduced themselves briefly and shared Tana Haik memories with the group. Everyone commented about the strategies of the fundraising. Proposed different idea to achieve the targeted amount. Currently an amount of $2,935 (24.4% of the total $12,000) is collected using the Gofundme Page :  https://www.gofundme.com/TanaScholarship

Update on the ongoing activates

Lealemselam and Tewodros reported the ongoing activities, introducing about Tana Haik Alumni at Lake Tana Foundation dinner in Seattle, Washington was accomplished. Lealemselam has already collected few members contact information and he will follow up with them. Tewodros reported that organizers are working on different mechanisms to connect current students and all batches of former graduates and strengthen the network of the alumni group.

Student selection and fundraising options

There was a proposal to use different fundraising options, Fisha proposed student selection should consider the financial status of the students. In Addition, Tewodros A. proposed the organizers should consider how to measure the result of this scholarship, such as study the success history of the scholarship winners by following up each grade ranks until they joined university, the progress of the students beneficiary by Tewodros

Tana Haik Almuni membership fee proposed

Geta A. and Fisha W. stressed more about Alumni contribution how to go to action to pay their donation, rather than sharing the idea with friends. In addition there should be a mechanizem to register each member and collect membership fee once in a year to have a consistent income. Finally each of the attendee list out all the former students from their batch who lives in USA and take assignment to follow up there activies to join and help the Alumni Network .

Get together was finished at 2:00pm.

The next meeting will by Skype on July 15 or 16,2017. The exact date and time will be voted on the viber group.

Let us unite and pave the road to success, for our younger ones!

We are so thankful for all your kind contributions!

Join us

• Viber group: https://invite.viber.com/?g=MCNz2pNfI0Y5jZVgy9VPR-lzyhXdJD2G
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/199715596804017/ 

• Skype @ Tana.family1

Tana Haik Alumni

Tana Haik Alumni Group Skype Meeting

July 4,2017 Time: 12:00pm EST @Tana.family1

Attendees:

1. Dejene Admasu Tarekegn
2. Solomon Nurga Biza
3. Misganaw Birhan
4. Tenager Bekalu
5. Yodit Gedamu
6. Tewodros Tesera
7. Brhanemedhin Abera
8. Solomon Kibret

Agenda:

• Update on the fundraising campaign
• How can we mobilize more people for the fundraising
• Scholarship managemen
• Registration as non-profit

Update on fundraising campaign

• Gofundme Page :  https://www.gofundme.com/TanaScholarship

Tewodros reported that a total of $1,785 has so far been collected. The activity was good in the first couple of days but slowed down thereafter. We need to find ways to motivate people to contribute. We are expecting alumni in Seattle and those attending the soccer tournament to attend the Tana Family gathering on 8 July 2017, 11:00 AM at 641 Rainier Ave S, Renton, WA 98055.

How can we mobilize more people for the fundraising?

Brhanemedhin suggested revising the gofundme page so that it would be captive and “calls for action”. For example – the title should show the specific activity we want to accomplish, like “Help Students”. We may minimize the text on the school background and discuss more what we really want to accomplish. Action: Tewodros and Solomon K. will work out the revision and communicate with the rest of the members via email.

Tewodros pointed that we could expand the networking and reach more former students of Tana Haik if we could form subgroups by batch (year of high school completion) – e.g. <’85, ‘86-‘89, ’90-’95, ’96-’00 and >’00. Action: Dejene and Tewodros will collect such information from members and draft sub-groups for discussion by email.

Yodit indicated that the best way to motivate people would be using short-videos. The video can be put together easily if we have video-recorded interviews of a few current and former Tana Haik students. Members in Bahirdar could help us record such video by their cellphones. Action: a subgroup is formed to lead this activity – Yodit, Solomon N., Misganaw, Tenager and Gezachew (from Bahirdar) will work together on this. If things go smoothly as planned, the temporary target date to complete this activity is in one week from today.

Scholarship Management

 Solomon N. is working on possible criteria to recruit students for the scholarship. He is working closely with members in Bahirdar. They are collecting necessary information from school administration. They will share with us a draft management plan after they gather all the information they need. Action: Solomon N will keep on working on this with our members in Bahirdar and with the school administration. Draft a manement plan for discussion by mid-July for the next meeting.

Registration as not-for-profit

Yodit has collected the necessary information to do the registration in Maryland. She will draft a document and share with us for discussion. Action: Yodit and Dejene will draft the document and share with members via email before our mid-July meeting.

Other businesses

Misganaw indicated that he is working with Gizachew drafting the flier. He’ll share a draft with us for comments as soon as possible.

Meeting adjourned at 12:50pm

Let us unite and pave the road to success, for our younger ones!

We are so thankful for all your kind contributions!

Join us

• Viber group : https://invite.viber.com/?g=MCNz2pNfI0Y5jZVgy9VPR-lzyhXdJD2G
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/199715596804017/ 

Tana Haik Alumni