Minutes of the
Sixteenth Annual Meeting
of the Association of Sikh Professionals
Melville
Marriott, Melville, Long Island
June 23-25, 2000
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Present:
Gurpal Singh Bhuller, President
Gurcharan Singh Kanwal, Secretary
Mr. Guljit Singh
Dr. I. J. Singh
Harinderjit Singh
Gagandeep Kaur
S. Harpal Singh
Mrs. Kamaljit K. Kanwal
Dr. Harpreet Kaur
Tejpal Singh Chawla
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Dr. Avtar Singh
Dr. Baldev Kaur
Mr. Surjit Singh
Dr. Harsimran Singh
S. Balkishan Singh Tully
Mrs. Harinderjit Singh
S. Darshan Bagga
Dr. Parminder Singh Bagga
Mrs. Amarjit Bagga |
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The meeting was called to order by the President
with a welcome to all members. The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed
and passed. He notified that the official letter from NASMAD
terminating their cooperation with the Sikh Education Aid Fund had
been received. Funding for the Akal Academy was completed in 1999
with a total amount of $23,189.00. The web page design is almost
ready and will be up shortly. All members are requested to provide
pictures and biodata for inclusion in the web page.
The secretary, G. S. Kanwal, then made his
report. He commented that the job of secretary is interesting and
never ending. He reported that his biggest goal is to increase the
membership to 50 full paying members and then push towards 100
likeminded Sikhs to pursue the cause of the organization. To achieve
that he visited the Long Island, New York area 4 months ago to
establish contacts for the meeting, functions and getting new
members. 500 letters were distributed to local Sangats explaining
and educating them about ASP resulting in a good response. He
visited again two weeks prior to the meeting to confirm all
arrangements. As a result, more than 10 new members joined our
organization during this meeting.
This was followed by a report from Mr. Guljit
Singh, regarding the financial state of our organization. Funds
available were:
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SEAF
SEAF Endowment
Health Care Project
Net general assets
Total
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$169,613.00
$58,700.76
$13,637.48
$154,067.74
$408,637.48
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It was noted that last year membership dues
collection was low. The secretary was requested to reach members for
dues and information regarding meetings.
Following this there were discussions regarding
priorities and strategies including continued assistance to
organizations like FATEH. ASP has contributed approximately
$27,000.00 over three years and we are still being solicited. When
organizations return for funds, we ask for reports regarding the
progress made and the utilization of our funds in the previous year,
which we use to prioritize continued support. There were discussions
regarding donations with restricted funds (ear-marked) versus
unrestricted funds. It was felt that the latter is more valuable and
should actually be more aggressively sought. The next generation of
ASP members would be younger Sikhs and they should be targeted. The
SEAF loan repayments were discussed. Our awards are based on need
and grades. In the discussions that followed were a lot of views as
to how to collect the loans. Discussions will continue, but it was
felt that loans must be paid back. How to get them to join ASP was
also discussed. One option of repayment was community service;
membership of ASP would also be encouraged among recipients.
The Eye Hospital
status report was presented by Dr. Harinderjit Singh. The hospital
is doing well. About 300 to 400 hundred patients have surgery per
month. There are 8 ophthalmologists. The patients are charged as per
their financial capacity. Their accounts and reports are part of
this report.
Bhai Baldeep Singh
presented his program of preserving old Kirtan traditions and
instrumentation. In the past $6,200 was paid through ASP to create a
video regarding the vanishing breed of Kirtnias and preserving Sikh
Kirtan Maryada of earlier times. A documentary was shown to
demonstrate what was being done. Baldeep Singh has started an 8 –
10 day camp to teach Kirtan and music. He had contacted Jaswant Kaur,
(the daughter of Bhai Taba, Namdhari), who is still living, but
quite elderly. His plan is to make 5 videos, with a budget of
$56,000 with the first video being about Jaswant Kaur and her music.
It costs about $2,600 per hour for the completed recording (end
project). Further funding to Bhai Baldeep Singh will be done after
further discussions.
This ended the first session.
The evening was followed by dinner at Dr. I.J.
Singh’s home at 7:00pm. A cake was cut with the inscription,
"Long Island welcomes ASP", provided by S. Mohinder Singh
Taneja. (He also provided great, selfless service to ASP to arrange
the other functions in the Long Island area.) After the dinner, S.
Sangat Singh gave a talk on Sikhi and Sewa and how we keep ego out
of it. ASP is thankful to Dr. Singh for his hospitality.
The next morning, we heard from different
organizations invited to present.
The first speaker was S. Jasbir
Singh of Ropar, who is operating "Baba Jujhar Singh
Gurmat College". He spoke eloquently about the crossroads at
which Sikhism is standing and his efforts and purpose to run a
Gurmat College. He further told us that his students have reached
significant position within the Sikh Panth, such as head Granthi of
Gurdwara Bangla-Sahib and Sisgunj Sahib, Delhi, and Gurdwara
Shaeedan, Amritsar. His ambition is to bring "Gur Sikh
Parcharaks" to position of great respect they once enjoyed.
Then he outlined the basic needs of Gurmat College – 100 Charpais,
a need for an English teacher, computer teaching and equipment for
students to truly create 21st century preachers. He
further outlined the help he needed to get more educated students to
go to that college.
This was followed by a presentation by
USSA (United Sikhs in Service of America) working in the
Richmond Hill, NY area. They are helping with social initiatives
focusing on child and adult education, career counseling, health
fairs and blood donation drives. They help with Sikh immigrant
community. USSA aspires to empower and invigorate disadvantaged
elements of our community. ASP has supported them in the past and
they presented their future needs.
The next presentation by S.
Bhavdeep Singh was about Tuscarora Sikh Youth Camp. The
camp has been one of the longest running in the United States. It
was well presented and the camp curriculum was outlined and
explained. They are serving the community well. It was felt that ASP
would help the children who could not afford to go to camp..
The Sikh Youth Network
was the next presentation. This organization is a loosely connected
network. They arrange inexpensive and small retreats to learn and
practice Sikhi, for the 17 to 25 age groups. There are general
guidelines for each group to follow. Each group sets their own
schedule and discipline. They promote projects, such as teaching and
translating Gurbani, feeding the homeless and candle light vigils to
remember tragic events. It was very heartening and revealing to know
of their activities and how effectively and economically they were
doing this work.
Following the above, was a presentation by
FATEH, (Fellowship of Activists to Embrace Humanity).
They presented the history of their group from its inception, their
activities and programs (e.g. FATEH camp, to teach Sikh youth about
Guru’s message and leadership skills). Their "Charge Across
Borders" initiative is now in the third year. It is a 9 to 12
month program to visit in Punjab and experience personal growth and
to understand Sikh history. Their ongoing projects include a joint
project with UNESCO, Project Outreach and extending help to victims
in Kosovo, Orissa and Kashmir. It was strongly felt that FATEH is
doing important work. They are a very committed group of people and
they are part of the future leadership of the Sikh organizations.
SMART, (Sikh Mediawatch and
Resource Task Force) was the next presentation. As we all
know, this organization dedicated to fair and accurate
representation of Sikhs and Sikhism in American society, media and
to combat bigotry and prejudice. It is a tax exempt 501 (c) (iii)
entity. They expressed a need for a full time paid staff member to
keep the project on track. They also asked and needed funds for
printing and publications. They outlined their accomplishments which
were quite impressive, such as the case of Gurbachen Singh Bhatia’s
arrest in Mentor, Ohio for wearing Kirpan; sensitivity training
workshops for police department in Mentor and New York; responding
to a terrorist incident blaming Sikhs for hijacking of airlines, to
name a few. We are thankful to them for their committed selfless
Sewa.
The next presentation was by
"The Sikh", the new magazine in the New York area,
copies were distributed. This impressive magazine is being run by
the efforts of a few people and is serving and educating the
community. Their efforts were commended. It is a needed service to
the community.
The meeting broke for lunch. After lunch, there
was an exhaustive workshop on "How to Write
Grants", conducted by Mr. J. Hicks of the Foundation Center.
It was needed information, liked by all. It was a lengthy meeting
and attended by those interested and hopefully will stimulate Sikh
organizations to write for grants.
The Evening dinner was arranged at "Bombay
Palace", Northern Boulevard, Long Island. The speakers were S.
Jasbir Singh of Ropar, who enlightened us with his insight in
Sikhism. Dr. I.J. Singh, the next speaker, spoke about the Sikh
Diaspora. Two plaques were given to honor the past President, Mr.
Guljit Singh and also I.J. Singh for their service to the community
and organization. The roll call of new membership was presented and
recognized by a standing ovation. The new members are as follows:
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1. Dr. and Mrs. I.J. Singh
2. Dr. and Mrs. Prithipal Singh
3. Dr. and Mrs. Harsimran Singh
4. S. and Mrs. B.J. Singh
5. Mr. and Mrs. Surjit Singh
6. Mr. and Mrs. Darshan Singh Bagga
7. Dr. and Mrs. Parminder Singh Bagga
8. Dr. Harpeet Kaur
9. S. Harpal Singh
10. Sarabhpreet Singh Sahni
11. Balkrishan Singh Tully
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Dentist
Anesthesiologist
Real Estate Developer
Banker and Computer business
Banker
Real Estate Developer
Internist
Radiologist
MBA
Student
Editor "The Sikh"
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On Sunday morning, June 25,
the meeting explored the possibilities of raising funds for ASP. It
was the impression of some, that although ASP had done significant
work in the past, it has not achieved its full potential and had not
raised the amount of funds that would make a significant difference
in the affairs of the Sikh Community in the U.S.
Several of the newer members felt that the New
York area should be tapped for this group. There were individuals of
significant net worth in the community who would and could step
forward to help the cause of the community. They were probably not
aware of the activities of the ASP and what it could do. There were
others who felt that a similar situation existed in the west coast
with individuals of high net work who would be willing to help. It
was therefore decided to show accurately the amount of requests that
were not funded so that we could work diligently to erase the
deficit.
A consensus was then reached that "the
organization" of ASP would need to be broadened. Since
circumstances had changed over the last decade, it would perhaps be
prudent to have another look at the Constitution of ASP and there
was a feeling that a strategic planning retreat would be required.
This should take place before the next ASP meeting. The time and
place of the next ASP meeting was left undecided.
The 3 future goals for ASP going forward were
identified as:
a) Educational efforts of Sikh children/youngsters in USA.
b) Services/Sewa of the Sikh Sangat of USA
c) Viable projects identified in India
The goals of the strategic planning retreat that
we are planning were:
i) Creating a Strategic vision for ASP
ii) Recruitment and the retention of new members
iii) Identify issues that could be tackled by the
ASP within the Sikh community
iv) Methods of fund raising
The 2000 – 2001 Budget for the ASP was then
discussed. Several members of the ASP pitched in and made
contributions to projects that they felt needed further funding.
After much deliberation the final Budget for ASP emerged as follows:
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|
ASP Contribution |
Additional Funds |
Total |
Bhai Baldeep Singh
Video |
.00 |
10,100.00
See note (i) |
10,100.00 |
| Jasbir Singh (Gurmat College) |
.00 |
2500.00
See note (ii) |
2500.00 |
| Tusacorora Sikh Youth Camp |
1500.00
See note (iii) |
.00 |
1500.00 |
| Sikh Network |
1500.00
See note (iii) |
.00 |
1500.00 |
| FATEH |
7000.00 |
Rs.100,000
Rs.100,000
See note (iv) |
7000.00
200,000 RS |
| SMART |
5000.00 |
12,500.00
See note (v) |
17,500 |
| USSA |
5000.00 |
1000.00
See note (vi) |
6000.00 |
| SEAF |
1500.00 |
.00 |
1500.00 |
| Administrative |
2500.00 |
.00 |
2500.00 |
| Eye Hospital |
4500.00 |
.00 |
4500.00 |
| Total |
28,500.00 |
27,100.00 |
55,600.00
Rs.200,000 |
| Contribution |
1000.00
See note (vii)
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|
1000.00 |
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| Explanatory
Notes for commitments listed above: |
| Note (i) |
$9100.00 from Private Donors
$1000.00 from Gagandeep Sahni |
| Note (ii) |
$1000.00 from Dr. G.S. Kanwal
$1000.00 from Dr. Harinderjit Singh
$500.00 from Gagandeep Sahni |
| Note (iii) |
These funds are to help children with travel
expenses to attend the retreats and camp at Tuscarora |
| Note (iv) |
Rs 100,000 from S. Harpal Singh
Rs 100,000 from Dr. G.P. Singh
To help fund their operations in India |
| Note (v) |
$5000.00 from Dr. G.S. Bhuller
$5000.00 from Dr. Harinderjit Singh
$2000.00 from Dr. G.P. Singh
$500.00 from S. Harpal Singh |
| Note (vi) |
$1000.00 from Dr. I.J. Singh |
| Note (vii) |
In addition Gagandeep Sahni added $1000.00 to
fund our deficit.
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The meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.
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