📄 NAC Meeting Minutes
Date: April 17, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM – 9:50 PM
Facilitator: Sarana
Note Taker: Bigyan
Timer: Kshitiz

Participants: Ankur, Bishnu, Sarana, Prajesh, Anita, Nitesh, Kshitiz, Bigyan, Shri, Raju, Sanjay

1. May Temple Puja / TFT – Led by Bishnu Dai & Sarana 

• Event Focus: 
  • Buddha Jayanti – Typically includes a Buddha Quiz, but this year the focus will shift to Mental Health Awareness. 
  • Special Session: Mental health awareness program will be conducted by Stuti Dhungana, who has done related work at her school. 
  • Children’s Activities: Usual programs such as coloring and yoga for kids will continue. 
  • Parental Engagement: Parents will be encouraged to focus on and attend Stuti’s session. 
  • Buddha Quiz: Will be included only if time permits. 
• Additional Notes: 
  • Bishnu suggested incorporating some elements of Buddha’s teachings into the program. 
  • Welcoming 2 new families this month: 
    • Raju Baynjankar 
    • Ritesh Maharjan

2. Blood Drive – Led by Prajesh 

• Goal: Encourage community members to donate blood this month. 
• Coordination: 
  • NAC will schedule the blood drive independently and inform participants. 
  • All exec members selected Saturday May 10th to go as a group to donate.
  • The drive is open until May 27th.
  • Members can donate at any Vitalant location using a referral code to stay connected as a group. 
• Communication Plan: 
  • Information to be shared via email and Viber group. 
  • Draft email/message and flyer to be prepared by Bishnu Dai and Prajesh. 
  • Flyer will include a QR code for ease of access to information or registration.

3. Sports Update – Nitesh

• Pingpong Recap: 
  • Successful event with good community participation. 
  • Issue: 4 trophies were lost – need better handling in future. 
• Upcoming Events: 
  • Pickleball & Tennis: Pushed to June/July due to cold weather. 
  • Volleyball: Scheduled for June 14 at Elk Grove. 
    • Need to contact players in Chicago/Aurora areas. 
    • Ankur will assist in outreach. 
    • Consider cash prizes to attract more players. 
    • Bishnu suggested inviting the Tharu group. 
    • Emphasize punctuality due to timing issues in previous events. 
  • Basketball: 
    • Tentative date: June 28 (Indoor) 
    • 2 adult teams, 2 kids teams so far. 
    • Nitesh to lead with support from exec team. 
  • Soccer: 
    • Planned for July 12, coordinated by Nitesh & Bigyan. 
    • Need to reach out to Danfe. 
• Bishnu appreciated Nitesh’s efforts and suggested not to overload with events. 

4. Pingpong Finance – Ankur

• Suggested Axata’s team track volunteer hours for PVSA awards – team is interested in continuing involvement. 
• Good participation from other organizations. 
• Financials: 
  • Net proceeds: $342 
• Bishnu: Track new attendees and add them to email list. 

5. Walk/Bike Event – Sarana

• Event Date: Saturday, July 26 at Grove #2 
• Fee: $25 (individual) / $50 (family) – includes food. 
• Promo video is in production. 
• Corporate outreach to be started right away– follow-ups in 2 weeks. 
• Theme: Same as last year with BBQ picnic post-event. 
• Ankur suggested combining flyers for all upcoming events. 
• No CCT awards at this event – will be presented at the Mandir. 
• Final planning will be done in the next meeting. 

6. Finalize Dates (All) – Led by Ankur 

a) Trustee Meeting – May 4, 1:30–4:30 PM

• Discussing CNFS’s new fundraising group. 
• Emphasis on unity and collaboration, not competition. 
• Bishnu & Ankur emphasized clear messaging to the community. 
• Open invite: Anyone interested may attend. 

b) Nepal Fest 2026 Planning

• Tentative Dates: 
  • June 20–21 (Team chose June 20–21) 
• Consider weather conditions – previous fest had issues. 
• Lottery Idea: 
  • Promote tickets this year; use proceeds for future fundraising. 
  • Ankur: Consider grand bumper prize (e.g., car). 
  • Others: Prefer cash prize over car. 
  • Suggestion: $20,000 cash prize instead of $100/car ticket. 
  • Pricing needs review – $100 may be too high. 
  • Idea: Offer multiple smaller prizes + one bumper prize. 
  • Tax implications to be checked (Nitesh). 
• Other Ideas: 
  • Keep it 2-day event – more vendor exposure, better turnout. 
  • Let restaurants bid for stalls to avoid exclusivity (e.g., momo monopoly last year). 

7. Round Table 

• Raju: Expressed happiness about rejoining the team after a long personal break. Committed to participating in upcoming events, including blood drives. Asked if Nepathya’s concert benefits NAC — Kshitiz confirmed it does not. 
• Nitesh: Suggested Raju reach out to potential donors in Naperville. 
• Anita: Will donate blood near Algonquin. 
• Bishnu Dai: Encouraged everyone to send photos when they donate blood. 
• Nitesh: Requested Kshitiz’s help with volleyball sponsorship — Kshitiz suggested approaching another individual. 
  • Mentioned Health & Hustle 5K organized by Kenneth Center on June 24 at Busse Woods. 
• Bishnu Dai: Requested articles for Chautari. 
  • Team praised Nitesh’s recent article as a must-read.