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Links Updated on: 25/07/2010Directors, Members & Helpers Updated on: 21/07/2010
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How We Operate
Sosua Kids has come a long way since its inception in 2000 when the first 13 children had their shirts and blouses sewn by hand and the children had to stand on cardboard for volunteers to draw round their feet so that shoes could be bought for them.
There were signs of an impending crisis in 2008 when the number of children in school reached 330. The principal fund raisers had left the island, or sold their bars, reserves were down to an all time low and at the same time the world “credit crunch” was beginning to bite. It was realised the time had come for Sosua Kids to operate more formally.
Sosua Kids has always promised that once it takes a child on it will support him or her through to the end of their school life. This is a huge promise and in order to achieve it Sosua Kids aims to have reserves of 50% of the next years uniform costs. The time had come to rebuild the reserves.
Sosua Kids is a local charity and is supported by residents (past and present) and holiday makers who come to our town. We did not want to change the “face” of the organisation or weigh down the principal members with loads of administration.
By October 2008 additional fund raisers had been found to supplement the work done by our founders. Sponsors were located to pay the legal costs for the formation of the foundation, a surprisingly expensive and time consuming job. Another sponsor set up the web site and pays the hosting cost.
Although it took a year before the Dominican Government finally issued the formal documents and Tax Number (November 2009) we decided to run the organisation in a formal manner from the date of the first application for charity status.
We have monthly management meetings which are currently held at the La Roca restaurant in Sosúa.
Approximately 10 days before the meeting the Members and Fund Raisers are circulated to see if they have anything they want specifically included on the agenda. The final agenda is circulated a week in advance along with the minutes from the previous meeting.
The meetings are exceptionally well attended with most members and at least one Fund Raiser being present at all of the meetings. It is Dominican Law that the minutes have to be signed “as approved” by everyone who was at the previous meeting, this is always done. There are times when outside parties join the meetings, these are usually fund raisers who are only in town for a short time.
A typical agenda is:
Sosua Kids
Meeting at 9.00 am Saturday …........ 2010
at El Loft, #12 Calle Pedro Clisante
Agenda
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Approval of the Minutes of the meeting …........ 2010
3. Matters Arising from the Minutes
(not specifically covered elsewhere)
· Backpack and materials Stock
· Student List
4. Report Back on Potential donors
5. Report from the Directors of any meetings they may have had
6. Report on Any Other Action taken since …..... 2010 meeting
7. Report from the Web Site
8. Fund Raising Activities
9. Financial Statements
10. Any Other Business
11. Date of Next meeting
Saturday …......... 2010
Location “El Loft” (to be confirmed)
Normal meetings last about one and a half hours, we always follow up outstanding items from the previous meeting and spend a significant time on fund raising activities and the state of our cash balances.
If you have any questions you would like to ask on how we operate please send an e-mail to info@sosuakids.com.
