AGM – 1994
- Posted In : News
- 0 : comment
15th April 1994
The invitation to attend HAPC’s Annual General Meeting on 10 April 1994 had come as a surprise and had been accepted as much out of courtesy as curiosity to discover how this apparently successful organisation functioned.
As one who had not made the effort to attend any of HAPC’s annual fund-raising gala dances, I was immediately struck by the standards set for the venue of the meeting, the financial and organisational presentations and that the Chairman, Derrick Pereira, personally welcomed at the door those attending the meeting.
Whilst Christopher Green, HAPC’s Treasurer, may have come in for some criticism for improving the Charity’s liquid assets to just over £37,000 at the expense of additional assistance that could have been provided for needy children, with the use of charts and diagrams he was able to clearly demonstrate that the organisation’s finances were in very capable hands.
The Gala Ball had continued to remain HAPC’s main source of funds and, with the very successfully run lottery had produced some £12,000 towards the Charity’s financial resources. Branch organisations were also involved in raising funds of their own which had not been reflected in the balance sheet of HAPC (UK).
Derrick Pereira emphasised that 1992/93 had been the first full year of the organisation’s operation as a registered charity and that this required therefore: that procedures and systems be set up to meet the Charity Commissioners’ stringent stipulations that all the overseas branches of HAPC be also registered as charities under their respective laws if they were to raise or disburse any significant funds. The time had also come now to set in place a five year plan which aimed to develop a fund-raising strategy, the introduction of a membership scheme and the opening up of new branches, for example, in Portugal, U.S.A., Kenya and Australia.
HAPC (UK) intended to set a target of £50,000 for funds to be raised annually using as well such means as, appeals to various businesses, trusts and corporate bodies, covenanting of donations and the creation of a greater awareness of HAPC’s work, especially within the Asian communities.
Clearly, such plans meant that HAPC would no longer remain the hitherto largely family controlled organisation and expertise was being introduced through the re-structuring of the Executive Committee in the areas of marketing, financial planning and public relations.
The most important development reported on was the purchase, under negotiation, by HAPC Goa (now a registered charity) of premises in Panjim to serve as a Centre for its disbursements and its fund-raising efforts and perhaps as a facility to be made available for similar organisations. Its initial costs are close to £25,000 and will be raised by the Goa charity with HAPC (UK) aiming to contribute at least on a £ for £ basis from an appeal it will launch specifically for this purpose at its forthcoming Gala.
The project should serve as an excellent example of international co-operation and commitment in bringing relief to needy children and as a forerunner of several such Centres hopefully to be set up in other places later on.
Well done HAPC.
Alvaro Collaco