Bangladesh Unity Federation of Los Angeles

Bangladesh Unity Federation of Los Angeles (BUFLA)

Minutes of the Meeting,   June 4, 2006,  Sunday,  2PM to 5 PM

Wilshire Inn (Previously Econo Lodge),

3400 West 3^rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Summary of the Mtg-Minutes:

1. About 40 people representing 25 Organizations attended this meeting.
2. BUFLA has been formed.
3. BUFLA structural format has been approved.
4. BUFLA Functional Format has been approved.
5. Next meeting date is on July 16, 2006, Sunday, from 2 PM to 4 PM. (This date will change because of an overlap with Chittagong Assoc. Picnic).

Here is the details of the Minutes.

Attendees:

1. Abu Hossain (Manju)
2. Abul Ibrahim
3. Abul Kashem Toha
4. Ahmed Kabir
5. Ali Ahmad
6. Atiq Rahman
7. Delshad Rahman
8. Dr. M. A. Hashem
9. Emdadul Haque (Bob)
10. Enamul Hamid
11. Farhana Sayeed Rahman
12. Ferdous Khan
13. Imtiaz Hassan (Sohel)
14. Ishtiaq A. Chisti
15. Ismail Hossain
16. Kamal Khan
17. M. A. Hanif
18. Mahabub Rahim
19. Mahbub Khan
20. Majib Siddique
21. Md. Anisur Rahman
22. Md. Mahabub Rahim
23. Mohammad Enamul Hoque  (Emran)
24. Mohammed Ahsan
25. Mujibur Rahman
26. Mushfiqur Chowdhury (Khosru)
27. Nazmul Ula
28. Omar Huda
29. Quddus Khan
30. Sangay Mishra
31. Shamsul Islam
32. Sharaj
33. S. M. Abdur Razzaque
34. Syed Abed Nipu
35. Zainul Abedin

25 Organizations attended the meeting (in bold black).

11 Organizations were absent (in regular Italic blue).

So, it was a very clear quorum with about two-thirds in attendance.

All 36 organizations are listed below:

1. AABEA
2. Agni Bina
3. Ahle-Sunnah al-Jama’a
4. Anjumane Rahman
5. Awami League
6. BAC – Bangladesh Association of California
7. BALA (Bangladesh Association of Los Angeles)
8. Bangladesh Academy
9. Bangladesh Cultural Organization
10. Bangladesh Shiksha Kendro
11. Bangladesh-US Business Forum
12. Banoful
13. BAPAC (Bangladeshi American Political Action Committee)
14. BDSAC (Bangladesh Students Association of California)
15. Bengal Heritage of California
16. Bikrampur Samity
17. BNP
18. Boishakhi Mela
19. BSLA (Bangladesh Society of Los Angeles)
20. Chittagong Association
21. Christian Association
22. Dhaka University Alumni Association
23. Greater Valley Association
24. Jalalabad Association
25. Jatio Party
26. Jhumur Gushti
27. Khulna Society
28. LA-Sherrif’s Advisory Committee
29. MUNA (Muslim Ummah of North America)
30. Organization of Orange County
31. Sherrif’s Advisory Council
32. Tablig Jamat
33. Taranga (Nazrul Academy)
34. Uttoron
35. Valley Association
36. Writers’ Association

Out of the Newspaper/TV Representatives, the ATN Bangla and Vinnomot attended the meeting, as listed below:

1. Asian Paper
2. ATN Bangla
3. BSS
4. NTV
5. Thikana
6. Ekush
7. Freelance
8. Kagaj
9. Vinnomot

The Agenda of the meeting was as follows:

1. Introductions
2. Motion to form a Unity Federation (BUFLA)
3. Structural Format of BUFLA
4. Functional format of BUFLA
5. Next meeting date
6. Close of the meeting.

The meeting continued as follows:

At first the Agenda of the meeting was discussed and unanimously approved.

Item – 1  of Agenda:

All the attendees introduced themselves individually.

Item – 2 of Agenda:  (Motion-1):

The following motion was moved (Motion-1):

Form a Unity Federation to include all the Bangladeshi organizations of Los Angeles area, with the name “Bangladesh Unity Federation of Los Angeles” (BUFLA).

Motion moved by: Majib Siddiquee, Seconded by:  Abu M. Hossain (Manju)

The floor was then open for discussion. Here are the comments by various participants:

1. Let us include California or even Western USA, rather than just Los Angeles. Let us have our vision high.
2. Do not include the word Unity. Keep just the word Federation.
3. Let us not form the Federation today. Let us do more discussion online first.
4. Minutes of the meeting should be recorded properly.
5. What is the Mission of BUFLA?
6. The Mission of BUFLA is:

(a)  to enhance the symbol of unity among the healthy diversity of our community. This symbol of unity is very precious for ourselves, as well as for our children and grand children, so that they can see good examples in ourselves,

(b) to help promote all organizations and their programs and events in a relatively more synchronized way,

(c) to enhance the network, synergy and mutual benefit of our enormously multi-talented community and extensively resourceful community, through mutual respect and goodwill,  

(d) to stand tall and united as a vibrant community, with modesty and strengths, in front of the broader Society of this Nation.

7. Other possible names are: BUFCA (Bangladesh Unity Federation of California), or BFGLA (Bangladesh Federation of Greater Los Angeles).
8. It may be difficult for other organizations from outside of Los Angeles area to attend any joint event in LA if we include California.
9. The characteristics of the Bangladeshi people of Los Angeles are same as those back home in Bangladesh. It is like a squash with its typical characteristics, and no matter how much you cut it into small pieces, the ratios of the characteristics remain the same.
10. How many organizations are present, and are we doing the whole process properly?
11. We are spending too much time discussing about selecting just the name of the Federation. What is going to happen when we actually go to do some work together? All the smiles will go away when we put the names of people on the committees. Let us go with the name in the motion, and let us move on.

At this point, the discussion came to a close. Then the voting format was discussed, and it was unanimously agreed that everyone present can vote.

Then the vote was taken, and the results are as follows: 

BUFLA – 28,  BUFCA – 8, BFGLA – 0.

So, the Motion-1 passed as is. The Unity Federation was formed with the name of BUFLA.

Item – 3  of Agenda:   (Motion – 2):

This item was BUFLA Structural Format, and the following motion was moved and seconded  (Motion-2):

BUFLA Strutural Format:

1. Executive Committee (EC)  (Formed by the Presidents and lead persons of all the organizations).
2. Advisory Council (AC) (Community members who have earned recognition by serving the community, but are not currently leading any organization).
3. Sub-Committees (To address various specific needs of the community).

Motion moved by:  Omar Huda,   Seconded by:  Zainul Abedin

Discussion:

1. Community members who are not necessarily the current President of an organization should also qualify to be in the Executive committee.
2. Someone may start an organization with 2 or 3 people and claim to be in the BUFLA Executive Committee. That is not right. That is not fair.
3. This is a Federation of Organizations, and so, why should an individual be interested to be in the Executive committee. If the person is really interested to serve the community, then the peson can be in the Advisory council.
4. The full EC should be elected by the community.
5. There should be provisions for Presidents and non-Presidents to be in the BUFLA Executive committee. The non-Presidents will be elected by the community. This can be called Hybrid.

At this point, the vote was taken, and the results are as follows:

Motion-2 as is:  22,  

Election of the full EC:   1

Hybrid:  8

So, the Motion-2 passed as is.

Item – 4  of Agenda  (Motion – 3):

This item was BUFLA Functional Format, and the following motion was moved and seconded (Motion – 3):

BUFLA Functional Format:

1. Website (To list all Organizations with Mission, EC or Contact information, and upcoming events. Also maintain a Community Calendar, which can help avoid the overlap of any major events).
2. All organizations to observe one day together in a year.
3. Functional Sub-Committees: (i) Immigration help,  (ii) Job search help,  (iii) Community Center,   (iv) New comers’ help,  (v) Political Liason with Govt officials,  (vi)  Youth Activities help,  (vii) Miscellaneous (Bylaws, Website, etc…).

Motion moved by:  Ishtiaq Chisti,   Seconded by:  Mushfiqur Chowdhury (Khosru)

Discussion:

1. Is BUFLA going to force any organization to hold or not to hold their respective events on any particular day?
2. BUFLA will maintain a community calendar as a service to all the organizations and to promote the events of all organizations. It will also be a service to the community members where they can make up their own schedule of events that they like to attend.
3. BUFLA will not force any organization to pick their event dates. The events calendar will help the organizations to pick a better day for their own events.
4. All organizations can do their own additional programs as many times as they like throughout the year, and BUFLA website will promote those events.
5. BUFLA website will be a symbol of Unity on a peaceful page. An annual joint event will be a great symbol of unity.

At this point, the vote was taken, and the results are as follows:

Motion as is:  Yes -19,   No - 0

So, the Motion – 3  passed.

Item – 5 of Agenda:

Next Meeting Date:  July 16, 2006, Sunday,  2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Wilshire Inn (Econolodge, LA)  (This date will change because of an overlap).

The meeting adjourned at about 5 PM.

Respectfully,

Mahbub Khan

408-859-3566-cell

mahbubkhan@ieee.org