SOAR-Kenya (Schools, Orphans and Relief for Kenya) Meeting;
Saturday, March 28, 2009
at the Houdak residence in Harmony Grove, WI
Roll Call at 1:30: Present are Don & Mary Hoffman, James Houdak, Mike Hoffman, Brian Key, Gerry & Gladys Frederick, Steve & Ruth Gibbs
Reading of the Minutes of the last meeting by Ruth Gibbs, Secretary, which was held on 3/29/08. Motion made by Steve Gibbs to approve the minutes, second by Mike Hoffman.
Treasurer’s Report given by Mary Hoffman, Treasurer. In 2008 SOAR-Kenya took in $30,216.59.
Sending to Kenya $29,531.48. Harrison received $2,300.00. Pauline at Barut Primary received $2,700.00. Hopewell High School received $24,400.00. Mary discussed the Money Gram process. Steve Gibbs suggested that Nelly open an account for SOAR-Kenya in Kenya to wire the money directly. This might save money with the exchange of the conversion rate .Mary will check on this process with Nelly.
Mike Hoffman questioned what the 2009 expenses were for. Mary explained the commitments to Harrison for food, Pauline for 6 students sponsored, Hopewell 2 students sponsored and 6 scholarships from last year and also James’ Project to raise money for fenceing land purchased for Kenyan widows. Robert to guide the AGRI Food Production. There is $1,350.00 in the checking account. Motion was made by Steve Gibbs and second by Brian Kee to approve the Treasurer’s Report.
Old Business: Silent Auction in November, 2008 at the Waunakee Legion. Mary sent $4,500.00 to Kenya for projects when Don and Mary Hoffman visited Hopewell in January, 2009. A few suggestions made to the program of the Silent Auction. Perhaps split into 2 events or to ask businesses to co-sponsor the event for free advertising. All agreed that the Waunakee Legion made an excellent location for the event.
Suggestions for Future Fund Raisers:
1. Write Grants. Mike Hoffman said he would research for SOAR. Mike stated that it would work to our b enifit to post more information on the web site. Don Hoffman also stated that he would ask George Pasdertz of Springfield to see if he would work on researching grants also.
2. Have a Camping Activity perhaps at Valley View.
3. Have a Fall Fun Day - Wagon ride for children to a Pumpkin Patch where they would pick out a pumpkin. Have simple games for a free will offering and maybe a haunted house.
4. Have a Brat Sale at the Piggly Wiggly in Waunakee. Don Hoffman will ask.
5. Have a Food Stand at the Wauna-Fest. Mary Hoffman will check into.
6. Have a Plant Sales. Mary Hoffman buys plants at wholesale price.
7. Make a Kenyan Cook Book to sell. Mary Hoffman is trying to get the recipes from Nelly.
8. Have a Run/Walk in Waunakee on May 17th. James Houdak is coordinating. He will check into the liability insurance for the event and what the police dept. would need to stop traffic. His wife would advertise at the hospital where she works. Have prizes for the top 3. Everyone would get a T-Shirt. Suggested to park at Rex’s and start there. Have a food stand at the end. You could register on the Website. James is to check on these items and Mary Hoffman will check on the T-shirts and sponsors.
9. Have a Midnight Walk.
10. Offer a class: for dealing with stress, or helping women explore keeping a journal.
11. Have a talk about SOAR-Kenya perhaps at MATC. Suggested by Brian Key.
Mary Hoffman shared her and Don Hoffman’s trip to Kenya this last January. (It was Mary’s first time to Kenya.) Some of the projects they worked on were, rabbits pens, vegetable plot and irrigation, fencing for said vegetable plot and the trouble they had getting the fencing posts. The issues that occurred with sponsoring a teacher to further their education. They built playground equipment,discussed the purchase of land to house a new kitchen,put electricity to the library,provided supplies to the preschool,landscaped the library and preschool.
The members then took a vote on prioritizing the future project list. Here are the results of that vote.
SOAR-Kenya’s Project List:
1. Irrigated food production: Including eaves troughs, seeds, fertilizer, rabbits and rabbit pens.
2. Five new classrooms.
3. Sponsorship - Monthly costs of a student.
4. Vocational School.
5. Upgrade men’s latrine.
6. Scholarships - Ongoing of education.
Motion was made by Mike Hoffman, second by Steve Gibbs, to adjourn the meeting.
Submitted by Ruth Gibbs
Secretary
SOAR-Kenya
We are soon beginning a rabbit project patterned after Heifer Project. We will be providing rabbits to selected families who will later give baby rabbits to other participants in the project. The second group will later do the same for another family, and so it goes.
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