Minutes of Asha Princeton meeting on 07/08/00
---------------------------------------------

Present: Rohini, Sriranjani, Sridhar, Vikas, Subhash, Nitish, Amrish,
Gita, Roopa, Sai, Anirban, Shankar.

1) Vasundhara Annual Review by Rohini: Rohini presented the annual
   report. Here is a summary of things discussed:

Vasundhara: founded 1995

Main Activities: computer training, Science on Wheels (funded by
Asha), Health etc.

Motivation: 
	    make science an enjoyable experience
	    teacher are also learners

Annual Report
-------------

							    |----> Hands on activity
							    |
                   |---------> Science on Wheels -----------|----> Exhibition activity
		   |					    |
		   |					    |----> Wider appeal
		   |---------> Perpetual science workshop
  Vasundhara ------|
		   |---------> Discovery workshop
		   |
		   |---------> Other activities


Rohini handed out a word document file detailing the accomplishments
and activities carried out by Vasundhara last year. In this minutes
report, we will be cross referencing that handout often. Please refer
to the web page under Vasundhara for the handout.

(i) Key Accomplishments: (Ref pg. 1) 96 visits / 9000 students

(ii) SOW Activities: (Ref. pg. 2 and 3) more than 75% students handled
lenses for the first time -> seeing a link between theory and
practice

(iii) Wider Appeal: Total solar eclipse observed by 23,000 people
organized by Vasundhara.

(iv) Perpetual Science Wksp: (Ref. pg. 5) needs improvements of
material so that children feel motivated.

(v) Discovery Wksp: (Ref. pg. 4) 
    (a) 2 wksps ( 29, 33 teacher participants )
    (b) 18 visits to schools of these teachers by invitation

(vi) Other Activities: (Ref. pg. 6)
    (a) science olympics (130 students)
    (b) astro olympics (48 students)
    (c) value of science camp (50 students)

(vii) Future plans: (Ref. pg. 7) plans on each topic

(viii) Issues: 
     (a) How to minimize turn-over rate of teachers?  
     (b) Suggestion by Sai on improving perpetual science wksp through
     mentors in each school
     (c) Grant proposal: additional van (Sridhar)
     (d) What is govt. funds being used for?
     (e) Spread ideas to other parts of country.
     (f) Following up on talented students

Finally, Vasundhara was approved for funding next year as well.

2) Fundraising by Amrish:

(i) Surbahaar: 
    (a) group of musicians who will perform free, $2000 for band,
    $1750 for auditorium => ~200 tickets at $20 each to break even
    (b) IIT-B fund-raiser by the same group -> is there scope for
    collaboration? 

(ii) Alka Yagnik performance ruled out this year

(iii) Amartya Sen - Dinner - Amrish to find out