NAC Executives + Trustees Meeting Minutes
Date:May 4th, 2025
Participants: NAC Executives and Trustees

Opening – Ankur Sharma

• Brief intro + welcome: Many important items on the agenda.

Activity Summary 2024–2025 – Kshitiz

Highlights from 2024:

• TFT (Temple Fun Time): Launched in January 2024 to engage kids in cultural preservation.
• Blood Donation Drives: Successfully organized multiple times under the leadership of Prajesh Parajuli.
• Walk/Bike Event: Initiated by Sarana, promoting healthy lifestyle and community bonding.
• Sports Events: Coordinated by Nitesh, providing recreational and competitive opportunities.
• NAC Art & Culture: Held for the first time with excellent participation and appreciation from the community.

2025 Preview:

• NAC Social: First event held successfully, fostering stronger community ties.
• Multicultural Fair: Participating in a local high school event to showcase Nepali heritage and culture.
• Upcoming Sports Event: Scheduled for July 25.
• Art & Culture Program: Planned for October.

Team Acknowledgement:
All events were led and supported by the NAC Executive Team, demonstrating strong teamwork and dedication.

Community Impact:
Consistent and meaningful community outreach and engagement throughout the year.

Walk/Bike Event – Sarana

Overview:

• Initiated: 2023, to promote health, community engagement, and charitable giving.

Donations & Impact:

• 2023:
  • $1,500 donated to Samantha / Asha Nepal.
• 2024:
  • $2,000 to Samantha Foundation (2-year student sponsorship).
  • $968 to ASHA Nepal.
• 2025:
  • Next event planned for July 26.

Recognition & Support:

• Institutional Partner: NAC formally recognized by Samantha Foundation.
• Mentorship Program:
  • Led by Bishow Phuyal, with opportunities for growth and wider involvement.
• Community & Sponsor Support:
  • Starbucks providing complimentary coffee.
  • Cleveland Clinic contributing with a Peloton bike raffle.

TFT / Kids Corner – Durga P.

Launch:

• Initiated in January 2024 with a dual mission:
  • Engage scattered children in meaningful, consistent activities.
  • Foster connection to Nepali culture and heritage, through events like Buddha Jayanti and Saraswati Puja.

Focus Areas:

• Cultural Identity: Reinforcing pride and understanding of Nepali roots.
• Mindfulness: Encouraging calm, awareness, and emotional growth.
• Silent Learning & Presence: Creating space for reflection and internal development.

Vision:

• Long-Term Goal: Establish a dedicated community center to expand reach and deepen impact.

Blood Donation – Prajesh Parajuli

Overview:

• Established in 2013, the program has been running consistently for over a decade.
• Held twice a year, averaging 10–15 dedicated donors per drive.

Impact:

• Promotes health awareness and strengthens community solidarity.
• Collective donations contribute to saving a lot of lives

Goal:

• Expand participation through increased outreach and awareness.

Sports – Nitesh

Overview:

• Regular activities include Soccer, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Pickleball.
• Notable community enthusiasm, especially for team-based sports.

2025 Plans:

• State-level Soccer Tournament in the planning phase.
• Exploration of Cricket as a new addition – subject to resource availability.

NAC Winter Social – Shri

Overview:

• Hosted as an indoor winter gathering featuring:
  • Family-friendly activities including music, dance, kids’ games, and poker.
  • Casino-style games with real money participation.
• Received a positive and enthusiastic response from the community.

2025 Plan:

• Repeat the event in Fall, with a focus on expanding outreach and participation.

Finance Update – Yagna

Total Funds: $196,000

• Vanguard (Money Market): $70,000
• Chase Bank: $3,000
• CD at HE Bank: Remaining balance earning 5.1% interest

Highlights:

• Positive financial growth and responsible management.

Cultural Center Initiative – Bishnu

Acknowledgements:

• Heartfelt thanks to all volunteers, donors (including Kamala Kuwar, Komal, and Prabhakant), and new trustees (Kshitiz and Shrawan).
• Acknowledgement of the broader community for their continued support.

Current Concerns:

• Noted delays in progress; there’s a need for faster and more coordinated action to move forward efficiently.

New Entity Announcement:

• Formation of “Nepali Cultural Center – Chicago”, a new 501(c)(3) organization with the same mission.
• Leadership: Bala Ram Ghimire, Bala Adhi, Khem Parajuli, Shiva Adhikari, and Shyam Parajuli.
• Clear communication is essential to inform the community that this new entity shares the same goal.

Membership Drive:

• All 31 current NAC executive families are encouraged to bring one additional member.
• The immediate goal from executive members is to engage 60+ families and strengthen the network.

Fundraising Strategy:

• Consider hosting a gala event with a prominent artist to raise funds and boost community involvement.
• The aim is to increase awareness and create a stronger sense of urgency around the cultural center’s mission.

Ramakant’s Suggestion:

• A cautious approach is recommended for any potential partnership or merger discussions with the new entity to ensure alignment and stability.

Nepal Fest 2026 – Ankur & Shri

2023 Review:

• Goal: $50K in income – not achieved.
• Key Takeaways: Many lessons learned that will inform future planning.

2026 Plan:

• Date: Tentatively around June 2026.
• Primary Focus: Fundraising for the cultural center.
• Event Strategy: Avoid overlapping with sports or other side events to maintain focus on the core mission.
• Raffle Tickets: Set at $100 each.
• Corporate Sponsorships: Start reaching out and drafting proposals now to secure sponsors.

Shri’s Notes:

• Expand and improve the kid/family areas to engage more attendees.
• Foster team participation and encourage creativity for a more dynamic event.
• Welcoming new volunteers and ideas to enhance the festival.

Fundraising Roundtable – Komal

Challenges:

• The cultural center cannot move forward without securing funds.

Fundraising Ideas:

• Leverage social media: Use platforms to raise awareness and encourage donations.
• Religious Events: Host events like Yagya to engage the community and raise funds.
• Brochure + Ghar Dailo (Door-to-Door Outreach): Reach out to households directly to explain the cause and gather support.
• Partner with Musicians & Theaters: Collaborate to share ticket revenue for performances and events.
• Gala Events: Host gala dinner or similar events for fund raising

Other Suggestions:

• Tax Filings: Ensure all tax filings are properly managed (NAC currently files).
• Life Memberships: Introduce life memberships to foster long-term emotional investment in the center.
• Small Monthly Donations: Encourage executive families to contribute $10/month to sustain a steady flow of funds.
• Cost cuttings on events etc, Reuse stuff.
• GoFundMe Campaign: Launch a campaign to tap into wider online donations.
• Branding Shift: Reframe the messaging from “Preserve culture” to “Celebrate our culture” to inspire greater enthusiasm and participation.
• Community Outreach: Host Zoom Q&A sessions and arrange in-person community visits to foster engagement and transparency.
• Create a wall calendar that includes all relevant information about the community center, as well as key NAC events, to help us reach a wider audience.