Minutes of AGM 2009

Venue: Mt. Eden War Memorial Hall

Date: 29 August 2009

Time: 7-30 PM

The Secretary Shri. Prakash Biradar called the meeting to order at 7-30 PM and open the meeting. Shri. Govind Marathe kindly accepted to record the minutes.

1. Welcome: The President Shri. Ravi Rao welcomed the members and a two minutes silence was observed as homage to late Prof. Vamanamurthy the Founder President of NZKK.
2. Apologies: No apologies received.
3. Minutes of AGM 2008: The minutes of the previous AGM held on 22 Sept 2008 was read out for approval. The minutes was proposed by Shri Nadgir, seconded by Dr. Kalburgi and unanimously passed by the members.
4. Business arising from the previous minutes: Regarding the previous years AGM (2007) Dr. Kalburgi advised that if they needed could be requested from the previous committee. The present EC committee noted this point.
5. Financial Performance: The Treasurer Mr. Vishwanath presented the financial statement and Balance sheet of NZKK for the year 2008-2009. The statement was proposed by Smt. Sujatha Dattatreya, seconded by Shri Dinesh Mysore and Sadashiv. The statement was approved unanimously. The Secretary Shri. Prakash Biradar thanked Shri. Manjunath Bangalore for preparing the Financial Statement, the previous Treasurer Shri Basavaraj Paramashivaiah for his efforts in obtaining grants of $ 20,000 from the Lottery Board, which was the highest public grant, received by NZKK till date. The Secretary also acknowledged the guidance provided by late Prof. Vamanamurthy in this regard.
6. Executive Committee's Report: The President Shri. Ravi Rao presented the Annual Report of NZKK activities.
7. Notices to motions (if any): No notices are received.
8. Appointment of Auditor: Since NZKK accounts are less than $ 40,000 no auditor appointment is required.
9. Appointment of Legal advisor: At this stage no legal advisor appointment is required.
10. Fixing membership fees for current year: $ 60 per family, $ 30 per individual membership to be continued.
11. General Business:
    (i) Use of Auckland Indian Association Premises: Discussion on use of AIA premises by NZKK for operating the Koota Library and Kannada Classes for the children was brought up. President Ravi Rao gave a brief background of the developments arising in the past few months. This topic generated lively discussion and reaction by several members. The discussions are summarized below.

• A. Dr. Kalburgi volunteered to express his views. He thanked the committee for the activities and conveyed the best wishes for the future activities. He pointed out that it had taken 10 years of efforts to establish relations with AIA to get the place for NZKK. Now a situation has arised, how to proceed further while maintaining the identity of NZKK. A give and take policy needs to be adopted. He suggested that NZKK should consider mobilising funds for the building and an alternate location for the Library. He however suggested that NZKK need not surrender completely to AIA. Until an alternative arrangement is made NZKK may continue the present arrangement and take away their belongings once an alternative arrangement is made. He further stressed that NZKK Secretary should not have brought up this issue to the AGM.
• B. In response to Dr. Kalburgi's statement NZKK Secretary clarified that as a co founder of NZKK Dr. Kalburgi's advice and guidance was sought to resolve the situation. As the present developments would result in NZKK Library not retaining its identity the matter was discussed in the EC Meeting and the EC unanimously decided to appraise the situation to the members of NZKK and seek their opinion in an AGM. NZKK president informed that efforts are being made to get a suitable place for NZKK through Auckland City Council.
• C. At this point Dr. Kalburgi came back to express further views about formation of Tagore Library. He stated that other Organisations like NZ Telgu Association, Malyalam Samaj, Tamil Sangham and Bengali Association are willing to join the Tagore Library. When others are willing to join why NZKK should not be part of the Tagore Library. This arrangement will help in funding and accounting for income and expenditure. He elaborated that as an Indian one would get an exposure to the literature of other languages
• D. Shri. Dinesh Mysore came up to express his opinion. He said if we agree to join the Tagore Library NZKK will certainly loose its "Astitwa" (Identity). He quoted examples of invasion by Portuguese and British into India. He emphasized that NZKK should have its own place and asked Koota members to come forward to establish our own place. Let AIA can not dictate the terms and conditions for us. He asked the members to think how to proceed
• E. Shri. Rajkumar Salimath came up and expressed his views that we should retain our identity as NZKK He volunteered to contribute towards rent or building fund a dollar or two per week. He also requested the Koota members to come forward for this noble cause.
• F. Shri. Dattatreya suggested reducing the NZKK expenditure like food etc and saving the amount for the cost at obtaining a place. He offered to volunteer any suitable help in this regard.
• G. Shri. Satish Puttige came forward to express his bitter experiences of insult by an AIA member at the MG Centre car park when he was an EC member of NZKK He expressed his doubt that AIA may insist on becoming a AIA member to borrow our own Kannada Books. He further emphasised the need to have our own place.
• H. Mr. Srikanth Kolli came up and said that we should not loose our interest and get disheartened. Now the time has come to have our own building. This is an opportunity for us to build "KANNADA BHAVAN". From today we should start organizing the funds for "KANNADA BHAVAN".and announced to pay a contribution of $1001 towards the same. He also requested the members to come forward for this noble cause.
• I. Mr. Anil L N said to have a fixed time schedule for fund raising. Ideally we should do within 2 to 3 months so that we can have an action plan.
• J. Mr. Venkateshkumar announced his contribution of $ 500 towards Building fund.

(ii) Proposed Indian Telephone Directory by NZICA: Members expressed not to give the address and phone number details for publishing. Dr. Kalburgi explained the advantages of having a Telephone Directory. The Secretary Shri. Prakash Biradar informed the members that if any one interested may forward their details for publication.

• 12) Any other points: No other points came up for the discussion.

The President Shri. Ravi Rao expressed his thanks to the young and energetic team of EC for the excellent efforts by every one. The Secretary Shri. Prakash Biradar thanked the members for their cooperation through out the year and for their views and contribution towards maintaining the Identity of NZKK.

Prakash Biradar

Secretary

NZKK