Association for the Development of Pakistan

[Justin Stone]

Regardless of whether anyone is able to attend this event, it looks like a good organization for ADP to be a part of. Thoughts? Does anyone know of a similar existing group with a track record?

I'm not able to attend on December 10. Is anybody else?

~Justin



> INVITATION TO LAUNCH OF DESIORGS.US
> Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, in NYC
> E-mail: desiorgs[at]gmail.com
>
> Below you will find:
> Invitation & background
> Steering committee (in formation)
> Draft agenda for Dec. 10
>
> Dear Colleagues:
>
> We are writing to invite you to an exciting event to launch DesiOrgs.US.
> The half-day forum will focus on fundraising and PR/marketing resources to
> help make the work of your organization more effective. The forum will be
> held Sat, Dec. 10 at Columbia Journalism School (please note this is NOT a
> Columbia or SAJA initiative).
>
> BACKGROUND: DesiOrgs.US will be an inter-agency web-based communications
> platform designed to facilitate the sharing and exchange of information
> among US-based not-for-profit agencies, community organizations, business
> associations, and faith-based groups serving the South Asian and
> Indo-Caribbean communities. Among our priorities is creating a calendar to
> coordinate, say, conventions and gala dinners. While we will never be able
> to avoid overlaps, there's a lot we can do to coordinate better.
>
> We hope DesiOrgs.US will be simple to use and be a resource to share
> ideas, tips and advice, without being yet another South Asian organization
> itself. All South Asian organizations, regardless of their own missions,
> will be eligible to participate. In fact, the main eligibility criterion
> will be the willingness to be part of such a larger group with
> organizations of a wide variety of interests.
>
> We know there are many terrific initiatives to bring together various desi
> groups. Our plans are NOT to duplicate any those efforts. But we have
> found that those efforts tend to generally not cut across the groupings
> within our communities. Among these groupings - first generation/second
> generation; progressive/conservatives; religious/secular;
> Indian/Pakistani; ethnic or languages groups; business
> nonprofits/grassroots activists, etc. We want all these groups to work
> together on a bare minimum of items, without generating a new bureaucracy
> or too many unnecessary meetings. We mainly want to use new technologies
> and best practices to communicate better in order to help all desis in the
> U.S.
>
> For this initial forum, we are inviting executive directors and board
> chairs from organizations to attend (if they are not available, other
> staff/volunteers are welcome). We are expecting representation from groups
> across the country. We hope you will be able to join us at relatively
> short notice.
>
> For the half-day forum, including breakfast and lunch, we are asking for
> contributions of $25 per attendee (with discounts for more second and
> third attendees from the same group). The money will go toward venue
> expenses and meals. If you know of anyone who would want to undewrite this
> event or help defray costs, please let us know.
>
> To attend or just to register your interest (even if you cannot make the
> event), please fill in the web-based form at
> http://fs19.formsite.com/desiorgs/launch/
>
> If you need a place to stay near Columbia, please take a look at this
> link: http://www.campustravel.com/university/columbia/visit.htm
>
> Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at
> desiorgs[at]gmail.com - or to anyone you know on the steering committee
> below. All suggestions and feedback welcome.
>
> Sincerely,
> DesiOrgs.US Steering Committee (list in formation)
>
> Seema Agnani
> Asif Alam
> John Albert
> Manab Chakraborty
> Tim Dutta
> Mustaq Khalil
> Azad Ommen
> Anamika Samata
> Annetta Seecharran
> Kishore Seunarine
> Sreenath Sreenivasan
> Darrel Sukhdeo
> Udai Tambar
> Theresa Thanjan
> Hemant Wadhwani
> *Your name here*
> (The individuals above are here in their own capacity and are not
> necessarily representing a particular organization)
>
> DESIORGS.US 2005 LAUNCH FORUM
> Sharing Resources & Best Practices
> Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005
> Columbia Journalism School
> Pulitzer World Room, third floor
> 116th Street & Broadway, NYC 10027
> #1 train to 116th St/Columbia University stop
>
> To attend or just to register your interest (even if you cannot make the
> event), please fill in the web-based form at
> http://fs19.formsite.com/desiorgs/launch/
>
> AGENDA - DRAFT- AGENDA
> (ideas welcome)
>
> 8:30-9 am: Registration & Networking Breakfast
>
> 9-10:30: Welcome & Panel I - Fundraising Best Practices
> Learn from peers about what to do and not do to improve your fundraising
> - Presentation: Poonam Prasad, leading fundraising consultant (see bio
> below)
>
> - Panel of reps from desi organizations that have been successful in their
> fundraising efforts.
>
> 10:30-10:40: Break
>
> 10:40-12:10 pm: Panel II -
> PR & Marketing Best Practices
> Learn from peers about what to do and not do to improve your marketing and
> PR efforts
> - Panel of reps from desi organizations that have been successful in their
> PR & marketing efforts.
>
> 12:10-12:40 pm: Wrap-up, next steps, etc.
>
> 12:40-2 pm: Working Lunch & Networking Mixer
> -ends-
>
>
> Bio of Poonam Prasad
> Founding Principal
> PRASAD CONSULTING & RESEARCH
> Major Donor & Special Event Strategies, Board Development,
> Advancement Research, Training, Audits & Publications
>
> Since the late '80s, this New York City-based consulting firm has provided
> advancement research, audits, training, board development, donor and
> special event strategy and publications services to almost 100 nonprofits
> across the country and around the world. She is one of the few consultants
> working in the area of development research who is not affiliated with a
> database screening service and is truly independent in recommending
> research resources and products to her clients. Poonam is also a faculty
> member of the George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and
> Fundraising at New York University; her courses include Fundraising
> Research and Information Management.
>