AID-TAMU

First some basics. For those who do not know what is AID:

Association for India's Development (AID) is a volunteer movement committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just development. In solidarity with non-violent people's struggles, AID supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihoods, natural resources, health, women's empowerment and social justice. more.

Once you have learnt what is AID, you may want to know about TAMU chapter of AID.
To summarise AID-TAMU, it is the TAMU chapter of AID which has gone phenomenal growth in terms of:

(1) Developmental Projects funded in India
(2) Number of volunteers involved (Close to a hundred)
(3) Amount of Money raised. ($11,500)

I attended the GBM of AID-TAMU for the first time, and the experience was very rewarding. The meeting satrted with recital of national anthem. The feeling of singing national anthom with other like-minded people itself is a rewarding act.

In the meeting I learnt what a big organization was AID-TAMU. They raised a whopping $11,500 which was more than double of what they raised a couple of years ago. Another point that I noted, was the attendance. Unlike other organizations, AID GBM meeting was attended by more than 50 people give or take a few.

The Swad festival was the major fund raiser but among others are personal donations. If you want to make a personal donation, you can do so by either giving a check to one of the AID-TAMU volunteers or online.

The presidnet Ganesh closed the presentation with emphacising that:

(1) We can raise more funds, the current activities being just few of the possible ways
(2) People can also help AID-TAMU with identifying more projects to fund.

If you are reading this and you either have a new idea to help fund raising, or have a project in India that you think needs funds, please bring it to their notice. You can do so by either emaling them or leaving the idea in the comments here. Please make sure you give your contact info so that we can contact you.

Some of the ideas that I have for AID-TAMU are :

1. Grocery Shopping Rides

AID can organise rides to Walmart, HEB and Mall for nominal cost and this way we will be helping the community as well as raisng small funds for the good casue that AID stands for. I am aready working IA to have this started as soon as next week.


2. Cricket Match Screening:

It is not a new idea, but it has not been done for a long time. This can be done and one of my friends who is an alumni is working on this with the aggie cricket club. This is huge opportunity for fund raising.

3. Airport drop off and pick ups:

Every year GroundShuttle makes so much money from this, we could do it as volunteers and keep all the money for AID. I am talking about India Association arranging rides for new freshers. Another extension is to provide rides to airports for people going to India in summer and winters.

4. Movie Screening:

College station being a small town, provides an excellant opportunity of screening a hindi movie to raise a few bucks. I dont know how does legality of this act works, but may be some of you can shed some lights into it and bring it to AID-TAMU's attention. This event could easilty pull upto $100 a week and put together with cricket screening and rides, this could help them acheive objective of doubling the fund.


Other than this, I think AID-TAMU needs to restructure the organization for better management. I will get into this after I experience working with them myself for sometime.

Once again, if you have any comments, please feel free to drop a line to me. Dont forget that every penny you donate, it put to use for development of your nation, so the least you could it to sit at home and donate. The most you can do? well, there is no limit to it.

For beginners, just donate or be an AID-er.

And yes, this could also be of use to you. Click here !!