Officers Meeting 11th November 2021
Present: Siobhan Crawley, Feyisa Demie, Brian Foster, Aster Belay
| Item | Discussion | Action | Lead | By Date |
| Agenda setting for today’s meeting | Meeting cycles for Officers and wider membershipSupport Group Up-dateFeedback on fundraisingFeedback from visit to school siteCharity Commission response to change of statusBank Account applicationsFuture DevelopmentsContingency Planning | |||
| Meeting cycles | Discussed timings of meetings. Wider membership becoming despondent so monthly meetings would be best. Need to concentrate on news, developments and fundraising so that we maintain momentumOfficers need to meet at least every 2 weeks but weekly if necessary | Monthly meetings to be held on at beginning of each month Fortnightly meetings | Aster to set agenda and email membersOfficers to agree next meetings | By 30thNovember Agreed 19thNovember 11 am Zoom |
| Support Group | Last meeting only had 2 attendees. Next meeting within 2 weeks. Again, despondency due to lack of progress as well as situation in Ethiopia. Need to re-energize the group. | To be discussed between Aster and Muluneh and officers | Aster | 19/11/21 |
| Fundraising | Nicky has completed the marathon in Paris. Brian has good footage of it for website. Nicky wants to motivate others to start fundraising. Could address despondency. He raised over £2KAster has Christmas Dinner booking for 11th December from Women’s Group. Second booking by them. Good footage of previous lunch and other fundraising events that she has held. | Arrange for Nicky to speak at other fundraising eventsShare on website but needs some written commentary | Brian to liaise re support groupAster to provide for website | Review 19/11/21 19/11/21 |
| School site visit | Aster visited Ethiopia during half term holidays.She saw the school site and met with people involved on the ground. Local Authority want to start work and have taken soil samples prior to commencing with any building works. The school is seen as a hub for the community and there are plans to have a community clinic based there. | Plans and decisions from local group to be scanned and sent to Aster. | Aster to share when she receives these | TBC |
| Charity Status changes | No response from Charity Commission on the new objectives put forward for our Charity. Today is the 30th working day since the submission so response should be with us. | Need to chase Commission and get response | Brian | Report back 19/11/21 |
| Bank Account applications | Application for CAF bank completed in draft. Awaiting response from Charity Commission before reviewing and submitting with new objectives of Charity. | Decision when Charity Commission responses | Brian/Feyisa | TBC |
| Future Developments | Chase Charity CommissionSubmit Bank application to CAFUp-date websiteRegular monthly emails to be sent to membership and supporters via website | See aboveSee aboveAll Officers to create draft content – written and video/photos – for website | All Officers | Drafts to be shared 19/11/21 |
| Contingency Planning | Have reserve application for Metro BankApproach Steve Sinnott Charity and liaise re support in terms of information, advice and guidance. Liaison rebuilding of school – Muluneh? Educational aspects – Girma? | Get application formInvestigate possible future partnerships. Check with Muluneh for thisCheck with Girma for this | Brian/FeyisaFeyisa Aster Aster |
Next meeting:- 19th November at 11.00
Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82606330215?pwd=UUhzbWN5YjQzUTdhWHRmZEhEM3ppUT09