Aiha-ncs developing World Outreach Initiative

AIHA-NCS Developing World Outreach Initiative
Minutes for the February 23, 2012 DWOI meeting and teleconference call at 5 pm until 6pm.
Present: Garrett Brown, David Hornung, Karen Gunderson (by phone from Indonesia), Mike Ratelle, Trevor Bausman, Shohreh Kheradpir
Topics Discussed

1. 
   Welcome - David
   

2. 
   Approval of December meeting minutes
   

Minutes approved.

3. 
   Committee Reports:
   
   1. 
      Request/Response (Mike/David)
      

1. 
   Reference Materials
   
   1. 
      Update on reference book inventory
      

There has been one offer from Pauline Derbyshire, but we do not need those types of books. The booklist is currently up to date.

2. 
   Update on 2011 shipments deliveries
   

Seven boxes were shipped to 6 recipients on December 15. They were all confirmed received by the intended recipient.

3. 
   Update on the 2 remaining shipments (4 boxes) from 2011 orders, embassy assistance, other mechanisms?
   

There remain 4 packed boxes in David Hornung's basement. Two of these are intended to be shipped to Sudan. The recipient suggested the possibility of shipping these books to the Sudanese Embassy in the US in order to save on shipping costs. David Hornung wrote a letter explaining DWOI's purpose, which was then sent to the Sudanese Embassy. We are currently awaiting confirmation of the shipping details from the Sudanese Embassy.
We are also exploring the idea of sharing digital books, as part of DWOI's book project. We currently have a request in to AIHA to start a conversation with them. All of AIHA's books are available digitally.

4. 
   Geoff Albrecht at United - not able to offer assistance on shipments
   

Rich communicated with Geoff about the possibility of them shipping books, as a cheaper alternative to UPS, FedEx, and USPS. Unfortunately, they are not able to help in this manner.

5. 
   Offer from Ronald Beethe via Debbie Martin at 3M
   

David contacted Ronald a while back and has not heard back.

6. 
   New book shipment request from Turkey (via Andrew Cutz)
   

David just received this request on Saturday before the meeting and had not had a chance to contact Andrew. Update: David sent the updated booklist and instructions to Andrew.

7. 
   AIHA Social Concerns Committee project on electronic references
   

There was a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, but it was cancelled at the last minute. No meeting has been rescheduled.

8. 
   Other issues?
   

Need to work on collecting more books.
b) Publicity & Fundraising (David for Rich)

1. 
   AIHA IAC Project Funding approved for book shipments and training course sponsorships for 2012.
   

AIHA officially approved $2000 for the book project and $750 for the training project. New Ways to Work will match the training project with $750.

2. 
   Plans for March co-sponsored NCS dinner meeting (David Rodriquez guest speaker), DWOI brochures, flags, other ideas
   

There is a lot of work to be done before the March dinner meeting. Rich has flags from the past years as table decoration. We'll need to contact the NCS Board to get approval for the pass the hat, as well as the raffle, as well as notifying Section members that they can bring books to donate to the meeting for collection by DWOI. We will continue this dialogue via email.

3. 
   Garrett update on contact with David Rodriguez on offer for lodging
   

Garrett will be hosting David Rodriguez for two nights before the NCS meeting and reservations for two other nights have been made for David by NCS at a local hotel. David plans to do some sight-seeing while in the Bay Area.

4. 
   Need to contact Joe Barsky to solidify offer to donate wine for raffle, tequila idea?
   

Post meeting update: Joe has sent Rich a list of 6 wine bottles being donated for the raffle.

5. 
   February NCS newsletter article submitted by David
   

The article was published in the Monitor. We agreed to put together another article for the next issue.

c) Liaison Committee Update (Garrett)

Rich has coordinated with Jas Singh at Golder to see about us sending someone to their classes at Golder's cost. Jas agreed to offer these at cost, but because of the hotel expenses, etc., the cost is either $300 (India) or $350 (Hong Kong) depending on the location. Garrett commented that they may not be the best fit for us because the courses are five days long, the cost is high, and the technical level may be too high as well for our partners and colleagues in the NGOs.

Garrett will contact the Chinese Training Institute (CTI) – project of the SF-based Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) – to see what 1- and 2-day classes they have on tap for 2012. CTI has also offered us the “two for the price of one” discount for NGO participants. The courses are shorter and simpler. But in 2011 at least two classes we registered NGO staff for were cancelled due to low attendance. So we’ll have to see what CTI has to offer this year.
Other classes in Southeast Asia are getting too expensive. We'll have to revisit this to determine how we can use our training funds most effectively.

1. 
   CLSN training project proposal update
   

With the last of the 2011 training funds, we provided a grant for $650 for a training to the China Labor Support Network (CSLN) be held this April 2012 in Guangzhou.

2. 
   Mike Cooper – Plans in Cambodia
   

Garrett put Mike Cooper in touch with Athit Kong and they have plans to meet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to discuss DWOI opportunities.

3. 
   Rich participated as instructor in the Nayati International W505 IH Controls course in Hyderabad India on Feb. 10th – 18 students
   

No update yet. Post meeting update: Course went very well.

4. 
   Nina Townsend update on Central America plans
   

Nina provided an update via email:
Nisha Parikh was interested in giving training in Guatemala, but needs to buff up her Spanish first. She is considering doing it in the summer if she doesn't do something similar in India. Another student was apparently interested, but I have not heard from her.

5. 
   Karen Gunderson – update on activities in Indonesia, SKC equipment offer, Chevron equipment offer thru Nina, contact with Workplace Health Without Borders on asbestos project
   

Karen is waiting to request equipment from SKC when she is ready to use it. Karen has also talked to Nina Townsend about equipment inventory from Chevron.

Karen has also been in touch with Workplace Health without Borders. The most active participants in WHWB are Canadians and most are members of AIHA, and one of the founders, Marianne Levitsky, is currently chair of the AIHA IAC.
Karen will continue to make contacts in Indonesia and see if there are any projects we can support. Karen heard from AIHA that her volunteer work will count toward CM points. 40 hours of volunteering equals ½ point.
Karen emailed Darisman in early January and hasn't heard anything back yet. There has been a lot of labor activism in Indonesia, including a big strike in Bandung over minimum wage increases.
Karen plans to go to the ILO office in Jakarta and check out their office and make new contacts for DWOI.

6. 
   Mike Ratelle –Thailand updates
   

Mike Ratelle talked to OHS department at Mehdon University in Thailand. Right now there is a lot of uncertainty in the political system. Mike sees their biggest need as needing someone to teach them English. Mike is planning on another update in a couple months.

7. 
   Business Travel Coordination – any takers
   

No other updates.

Website/Tools

Trevor says the website is working. He’ll post December minutes. In the future he’ll update and post the meeting agendas also. After the DWOI dinner meeting, he plans to make an update on the website.

Post meeting minutes

David to draft, Rich to edit.
Other issues?

Lots to do in preparation for the meeting, but there seems to be a lot of good work being accomplished. Keep it up!

1. 
   Next meeting date/action items
   

The next meeting will be on Thursday April 12, 5pm.

Minutes by David Hornung.