EAF Executive Committee Meeting Minutes September 2010

Minutes of meetings of the Executive held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the home of Wongelawit Tefera and Tezera Haile in Kalamazoo, MI.

 

Present:

Executive Committee: Teshome Wagaw (Chair), Tsehai T. Tsadik, Sisay and Wogayehu Asefa, Asrat Tessema, Jember Bekele, Wongelawit Tefera, Tezera Haile, Doree and Assefa Mehretu.

Invited EAF Members: Fifi Hussein, Kifle and Hagossa Negash, Carl Robson.

 

1. Minutes of meetings of the EAF Executive Committee held on May 15, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.  Motion Sisay, second Asrat. Passed.

2. Agenda for the meeting was distributed and endorsed with a change of order of items for discussion. 

3. Reports

Asrat reported on EAF finances.  A cash contribution in the value of $280 was received from Teshome and Tsehai in memory of his sister W/o Etenet.  The uncashed EAF check in the amount of $2,000 that came back from AAU has been deposited in the EAF account.  Asrat also briefed the members on the current status of EAF accounts.   

4. Items for discussion arising from reports

    None   

5. EAF Fellowship

EAF received the uncashed check for $2,000 which was sent to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at AAU to apply the granted as stipulated by the Board of Trustees.  AAU was unsuccessful in implementing the fellowship for the 2009-10 round and therefore was returned to EAF.  Assefa has contacted Professor Tsige’s replacement, Professor Masresha Fetene but has not heard back from him.  It was suggested that we wait for Professor Masresha’s response before proceeding. 

There was a brief exchange about the book collection that Asrat has that he had hoped to send to AAU School of Business.  An alternative destination for the books, Adama University, was also considered.  Funds are needed for shipment of books.  It was suggested that maybe EAF funds might be used to help defray cost of shipping.  Adama is interested in receiving the books.  There was an agreement in principle but not decision was made on the funding.

6. EAF Statutes Amendments

Assefa presented draft revision of the EAF Statutes that mostly focused on the composition of the Board of Trustees and a revision of election procedures.  The aim of the revision is to streamline procedures for nomination and election of members of the Board that is more realistic in terms of geographic proximity to EAF Secretariat and ease in holding meetings of the Board and Executive Committee.  Following a brief discussion, approval of amendments was tabled for a future Board meeting.

7. EAF Board Meeting

Tabled. 

8. Suggestion from Sisay

Sisay suggested that Asrat’s collection of books be sent to Adama University as they are willing to facilitate shipment and clearance once the books get there.  There was agreement in principle but no vote was taken for any EAF commitment to funding the shipment.

9. Other Metters.

None.

10.          Adjournment

Chairman Teshome thanked Wongel and Tezera for the wonderful hospitality.  The next EAF meeting was set for October 30, 2010 in East Lansing.