Venue:                          Curry Hut, Highwood, IL

Members present:          Rabin Pradhan, Anita Pradhan, Rajeev Dahal, Birendra Suwal, Surendra Choudhary, Sailesh Kasaju, Rahi Gurung, Kedar Bhandari, Rajesh Sangraula, David Seaman, Suman Shrestha, & Sanjay Shrestha

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1. Paypal is available online

2. Website development – brief update by Rabin Pradhan & Subodh Upreti

Database & member registration function has been added by Subodh Upreti – which will go live in the next week or so.  Further details will be discussed after New Years Celebration.

3. Nepali New Year Celebrations and Cultural Awareness Program
   1. Pricing:

Adults: $35, Kids (under 15 years): $25, and under 5 is free

Tickets can be purchased online (paypal) and will offer 10% discount to those who buy before March 31^st (offline or online).

2. Catering &  Bar:

Food selection committee will prepare a list of menu, David Seaman will forward to the restaurants.  He will select the caterer based on the proposal.  David will also arrange a person to manage the bar, who will be compensated by CNP.  Ticket price for bar: $10 coupon for 5 drinks. 

3. Kids entertainment & Kids meal:

Rajeev Dahal and Birendra Suwal will decide the Kids meal menu (dinner box), as well as entertainment.  CNP will provide volunteers accordingly.

4. Brochure & selling Ad spaces:

Sailesh Kasaju will take the lead, with the help of Birendra Suwal, Rajeev Dahal, Kedar Bhandari, and Sharda Thapa.  We will be targeting both businesses and individuals/families.  Pricing as agreed:

Last page:                     $200

Last inner:                     $150

First inner:                    $150

Full business inner:        $100

Half business inner:       $75

Personal half:                $25

Personal quarter:           $15

We have agreed to allow sponsor’s commercial banners inside the auditorium.

5. Artists compensation & CD Sales:

Visiting artists’ compensation stands at $1500 or 25% of net income – whichever is greater.  CNP will help sell CD and will keep 10% of sales.  Local youth artists (dancers) will be provided free admissions.

6. Area of Function assignment (All Executives required to volunteer):

We agreed upon the following major departments:

i.         Cultrual Program: Birendra Suwal, David Seaman, & Surendra Nepali.  MC: proposed Abha Bhattarai, Sarita Situala, and David Seaman

ii.    Catering: Lead by Surya Shrestha – additional volunteers to be assigned later.

iii.   Ticket Check-in: Lead by Rajeev Dahal, Kedar Bhandari, Prajwal Chettry, and Raku.

iv.   Registration: Lead by Suman Shrestha (will be in charge of finances), Anita Pradhan, Pragya Shrestha, Brinda Shrestha, Aishwarya Gurung, Prapti, & Ms. Malla.  The registration desk will verify online ticket purchase, sell tickets to walk-in members, raffle sales, bar coupon sales, and manage CNP database (using laptops).  Atul Malla will take lead on Raffle sales inside the auditorium.

Remaining Executives and volunteers will be assigned specific task in the next meeting.

7. Ticket Sales & Adverstising:

Executive members will take collective responsibility in selling tickets offline: Suburbs: Rajeev Dahal, Birendra Suwal, and David Seaman.  City: Rabin Pradhan, Rajesh Sangruala, Suman Shrestha, Surendra Nepali, and Kedar Bhandari.  Rabin Pradhan and Sanjay Shrestha will manage ticket distribution.  Posters will be displayed in Nepali restaurants, Devon area, and Chicago Northside. 

8. N. Y. Celebrations Agenda – layout/structure: 

To be discussed in the next meeting – lead by Birendra Suwal

9. Volunteers: 

A list will be compiled by the next meeting.  Emails will be sent to prospective volunteers.

10. Discounted tickets to DV immigrants:

CNP is considering providing discounted ticket to newly arrived DV immigrants.  Criteria for selection, pricing, and dbase will be discussed in the next meeting.

4. DV Welcome Reception

Towards March-end, CNP will host a reception to welcome Chicago area DV immigrants.  Details of this event will be finalized early this week, and emails will be sent to all Exec members.  Surendra Choudhary has agreed to provide space, while Sharda Thapa, Rajesh Sangraula, and Kedar Bhandari will inform and invite DV immigrants.  Light snacks and beverage will be provided – we are looking for sponsors.

5. Other topics

Certificate of Appreciation will be awarded to performing artists (visiting & local), volunteers, and to those who were actively involved in the past. 

Also discussed was the “CNP Person of the Year” award, nominations will be taken, and the Exec committee will finalize the top two. Voting will be conducted during the celebrations. 

Ticket will be available some-time this week – lead by Rabin Pradhan & Sanjay Shrestha. They will also take lead on printing posters, and CNP stamp (ticket purchase verification).

Kedar Bhandari suggested using a “cash register” at the Registration desk, which will allow us to monitor ticket sales and cash collected.  Kedar will make arrange of the cash register.  Note: the cash register will be used only outside the auditorium – in compliance with the regulations of St. Andrews Church.

                Anita Pradhan has agreed to modify CNP’s banner to reflect the New Year (2062).