KHMER ALLIANCE FOUNDATION (KAF)
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| ADVOCACY | COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE | SCHOLARSHIP |
KAF 20th Annual Meeting Report
China Bay Restaurant, 13281 SW. Canyon Road,
Beaverton, OR 97005
(June 7th, 2008)
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Attending members were:
Dr. Sin Meng Srun, President, Cambodia;
Mr. Marith Chhang, Executive Vice-President, Kelso, WA;
Mr. Van Sar, Vice-President Program, Lynnwood, WA;
Mr. Srorn Ros, Website Designer, Olympia, WA;
Ms. Thach El, Assistant Treasurer, Lynnwood, WA;
Mr. Sovann Lowe, Green Advocate, Ridgefield, WA;
Mr. Tithia Sum, Adopt a Cambodian Family’s Coordinator, Lacey, WA;
Mr. Donn Kong, Scholarship Coordinator, Gilbert, AZ;
Mr, Sidaro Sin, Member and area coordinator, West Linn, OR;
Mr. Henri Chhat, Member and area coordinator, Portland, OR.
First, Mr. Marith Chhang called the meeting to order at 1:45 PM, and welcomed all the members. After a self-introduction, he passed the meeting agenda to members, and asked for its approval. Then, he invited KAF President, Dr. Sin Meng Srun, to chair the meeting.
In his capacity of KAF President, Dr. Sin Meng Srun expressed thanks to all attending members. He also appreciated very much Mr. Marith Chang and Van Sar for their effort and achievements in 2007: Jhantrea Project to include building Salachan in Wat Chamkar Mtes, building Schoolhouse in Koh Russei, and providing furniture for that school. He is also happy to announce that KAF is registered once again with the Royal Cambodian Government last April 2008. He took the occasion to thank all members who have helped and supported in many ways to make KAF programs successful. He also expressed his deepest thanks to Mr. Check Vuon (CPA in San Jose, California) who put his time working on the required IRS
Tax return.
Next, KAF Treasurer Assistant, Ms. El Thach, provided an update on the last financial position statement. In the year 2007, KAF has spent $22,380 on Salachan, $28,400.00 on schoolhouse and furniture. With other expenses, the balances now are $680.51 in KAF and $5,000.00 in Trust Fund account. KAF has a receivable account of $6,000 that was an advance to a community project to build a pond in Wat Krapum Chhouk, Takeo. She said we need to raise money once again to support the next projects.
In his turn, Mr. Van Sar reviewed KAF programs: Regarding KAF Website, he wishes to update it every three months. For Community Assistance, he suggests that KAF needs to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rural Development to work on different community projects.
The next project is the Longvek water retention gate. Regarding this project, Mr. Van Sar had traveled four times to Longvek to study a possibility for a project requested by the village representative and endorsed by the Commune Chief. The project will benefit help around 200 families of farmer with water for rice cultivation in the dry season. A year ago, in response to the critical need in water, the Longvek/Longview-Kelso Friendship Committee had provided them with
a water pump. However, having the pump is not good enough since there is not enough water to pump. That is why there is a need for a water gate. Besides, he asked Mr. Sovann Lowe to follow
up the project with the villagers and local authority to form a committee and send an application to the meeting for discussion. After a long discussion, Chairman Meng Srun requested all attending members to consider the project. The meeting asked Mr. Van Sar to follow up on this project that may cost around $20,000. After a long discussion, the meeting unanimously approved the project, and it must be finished in 2009.
The other projects planned for the years to come are to help local people organize in self-help group or association or foundation in Cambodia to promote community development and mutual assistance. Targeted communities are in Oddor Mean Chey, Kratie, Sihanoukville, etc. depending on community response to our initiative.
KAF will also explore the works with the Ministry of Rural Development in the Cambodia Business Initiative in Rural Development (CBIRD) scheme.
OTHER VIEWPOINT AND INPUT OF MEMBERS:
a. Also, Mr. Sovann Lowe wishes to see a program of agriculture development in the future. He wishes that the program could sponsor students of agriculture to do research or go abroad to take advance studies in agriculture. He is willing to donate crop seedling i.e. for the Sraka Neak fruits much in demand in international market.
b. Mr. Tithia Sum talked about his initiative, now the KAF sponsored project of “Adopt a Family.” This project received fund from a variety of institutions, such as St. John Church members, Wat Prachum RainSey and Kampuchean Association in Olympia, KAF and friends. The project is currently helping 31 poor families living in different areas, with a monthly supplement of $15.00,
for a period of one year. With the money left over, his project will increase the number of recipients in 2009. The next and last payment in 2008 will be distributed to recipients in October, and lastly
Mr. Tithia Sum announced his plan to raise $3,000.00 this coming August.
c. Dr. Meng Srun Sin said he will open a KAF account in Cambodia. Since KAF had no plan to
hire people, the meeting suggested on employing a few volunteers for fund distribution in Cambodia. For now, we have already 4 volunteers who agree to help at this time.
e. Mr. Donn Kong informed the meeting about his sponsorship plan in the past and present. Since 1990, he started with helping six students in Cambodia with grant and scholarship for them to go for higher education. Currently, he is continuing to sponsor other students in high school and university with his personal donations. Under KAF Sponsorship Program he will look at outreaching to expand the program base.
By the end of the meeting, KAF President proposed the nomination of Mr. Tithia Sum as “Adopt a Family” Coordinator; and Mr. Donn Kong as “Scholarship” Coordinator. The meeting unanimously approved the proposals. Afterward, MM. Henri Chhat and Sidaro Sin were invited to be Area Coordinators in the State of Oregon.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM in the same day, under an atmosphere of cooperation and friendship.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 PM
Reporting secretary, Executive V/P
Singed: Srorn Ros Signed: Chhang Marith