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Board Composition:
This year began with a number of transitions in the composition of the
Board with key members departing and the illness of our Secretary
requiring further adjustments. We have developed this UNWA Board almost
entirely from newly arrived UN families and affiliate organization
members. Most that are not newly arrived have taken a leadership roles for
the first time. They have infused enthusiasm, brought ideas and a fresh
spirit of cooperation to the Board. The year began with Cornelia
Saravanamuttu as Vice-President, succeeded by Rinda Maramis in September
2003. Dammi Holbourne was unable to fulfill her obligations due to
illness. Minoli DeSoysa as Publications Committee Chair fulfilled Dammi’s
secretarial responsibilities from September through November. Pauline
Bottrill joined the Board as Secretary in December 2003. Vassana chaired
the Membership Committee and Tara O’Day was able to co-chair the
Publications Committee up until September 2003 when she was unable to
continue due to other obligations. The Board will continue for a second
term with the exception of Minoli DeSoysa, who departed Bangladesh in
March 2004. We are presently seeking a Publication Chairperson as Martina
Doolan will be unable to fulfill that post. Our Hospitality Chairperson
Marika Vollmann also chaired the UN Ball. Allison Thomas-Hessic as the
Treasurer made some improvements and changes regarding our accounts.
The manner in which this Board has functioned has engendered a sense of
confidence that we can collectively continue for a second term with a few
new and welcome additions. We have worked well together and will seek more
of our newcomers to fill those leadership roles and move the organization
forward in the following year.
Major Board Decisions & Initiatives:
The cooperation of the Board and the active support of our Honorary
President, have enabled us to more effectively evaluate social welfare
projects referred by our extremely competent Welfare Committee, fundraise
through our UNWA Ball, expand our network of supporters and to increase
our visibility among the international community here in Bangladesh.
Significant steps taken to improve our organizational capacity are focused
primarily around the Welfare Committee’s activities. The Board in an
effort to facilitate better project support:
1. Established Clearer Guidelines for Welfare Proposals
2. Selected several projects for multi-year funding where it was clear
that their objectives would be best achieved if they could rely on several
year’s support. These Multi-Year Funded projects were evaluated on their
merits and their need.
3. After careful investigation of banking practices, the Board approved
the recommendation to open a New Account with American Express Account
which will hold initially 1 million taka in funds.
4. The Board also decided to embrace one of our projects, the Savar
Orphanage by conducting a clothing drive for the children. Several of our
UNWA members, Jesmine Chowdhury and Vera de Prins, former member Imrana
Shahidullah, our Welfare Committee members Eva Munk, Edith Campbell,
Benedicte Giersing and Anowara Ahmed, our treasurer Allison Thomas-Hessic
and Dreyfus British Primary School deserve special mention for their
contributions to this effort.
5. The Board instituted a policy of cheque handover to organizations
receiving UNWA support. These handovers took place at the traditional
year-end luncheon and the second will take place at the AGM.
6. Other Events and Initiatives were: Opening of the CRP Workshop for
Artists, the successful Blood Drive for one of our members, and a special
meeting with Bangladeshi members at the home of Jesmine Chowdhury.
General Meetings:
The General meetings had an average attendance of approximately 20 to 30
members. The presentations included speakers on a number of topics. UNWA
invited heads of agencies to introduce the work of four organizations: Mr.
Morten Giersing (UNICEF), Ms. Bui Thi Lan (FAO), Ms. Machiko Kondo (UNHCR)
and Dr. David Sack (ICDDR,B)
Other speakers at the UN Day Exhibition, the UN Day Poster Competition,
and the UN Ball provided exposure to regional textile and fabric design,
gender issues, and the International Year of Freshwater .
All in all, it was a very eventful and enjoyable year.
Submitted by UNWA President 2003-4 Vanessa Brooks
24 March 2004 |