Minutes
of the Monthly Meeting held on April 20, 2009 at Queen’s Park
Present:
Thomas
S. Saras
Dr.Bikram
Lamba
Srimal
Abeyewardin
Robert
Oriwol
C.
Senthi
Parry
long
Susana
Donnan
Bahram
Bahrami
Hassan
Zerehi
Neel
Nanda
Dr.
Khan Khoda
William
Doyle-Marshall
Ahmed
Shah Hotaki
Zofia
Lachowicz
Jolanta
Cabaj
Gerald
Paul
Suleyman
Guvern
Asha
Rajak
Irene
Keroglidis
Ferwydoon
Rahmani
Noreldin
Waisy
Teshome
Woldeamanuel
Mulukee
Muchie
Nasim
Daneshvar
Ned
Blair
Clyde
McNeil
Muhammad
Ali Bukhari
R.
T. Nathan
N.
Roman
Mohammad
Tajdolati
Saraidaris
John
Hermie
Garcia
Mila
Garcia
Prem.
Arasaratnam
Moorthy
Sellathurai
N.
Longerigham
T.
Shkavdish
Luba
Cherny
Kathy
L. Lin
Raina
Sen.
Agenda
1.
Welcome Remarks by the chair.
2.
Minutes of the previous meeting.
3.
Formation of various committees
4.
New Business (Motions)
5.
Adjournment
Welcome
Remarks by the Chair:
The
chair of the meeting, Clyde McNeil welcomed everybody to the meeting and
declared the meeting open.
Dr.
Lamba moved a motion to approve the agenda of the meeting. Irene
Keroglidis seconded the motion, which was carried by all.
Minutes of the previous meeting:
Dr. Lamba moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting held on January, 2009. Mohammed Toljati seconded it. The motion was carried.
Matters Arising out of the Minutes
There were no issues that were discussed from the previous minutes.
President’s
Report:
·
President Thomas Saras recognized the achievement of this
organization.
·
Dr.
Michael Ignateiff will be the main speaker in the next monthly meeting on
May 11 2009. Members participating in the meeting should inform the office
of the President for security clearance.
·
The
names of board of directors were submitted to Canadian Heritage and also
to the Ministry of Commercial Relations. Members are required to send
their contact details with a brief bio to the council. Members were
reminded to submit them at their earliest convenience
·
The President informed the council that the second phase of the
educational project for the professional development is going ahead as
planned. The Three day conference on professional development will be held
in Seneca College, Toronto, either on the last weekend of July or the
first weekend of August.
·
The President met with the authorities of Heritage Canada (Industry
Development Dir.), to discuss the logistics of the event. In order to
raise funds for hospitality, President Thomas Saras suggested a
registration fee of $50per member. Members attending from outside of
Toronto will get 50% reimbursement for their meals. A gala dinner will
follow the graduating ceremony. The Prime Minister of Canada is expected
to attend the graduation ceremony.
·
Motion:
“That the Members of the
newly elected Board are adapting the decision of the members of the
previous board of Directors of NEPMCC for organizing the second phase of
the “educational project” as has been accepted previously. That the
members of the new board commit themselves to the needs of the project and
voluntarily dedicate themselves to every help and commitment necessary for
the success of the project.
The motion was moved by Dr. Lamba seconded by Irene Keroglidis. The motion
was carried.
·
Motion:
“Only one member per publication is allowed to attend the seminar for
professional development without any exception” The motion was moved by
the President, seconded by Irene Keroglidis and was carried by all.
·
Motion:
“NEPMCC to sponsor a show at CNE during the Labour Day weekend” The
motion moved by Suleyman Guven seconded by Gerald V. Paul was carried.
·
The second annual Ethnic Press Exhibition will be held in the
rotunda of City Hall from Monday June 29 until Sunday July 4, 2009. The
organization will celebrate this year the Multicultural Canada on the
first of July- Canada Day-, said Mr. Saras. Members are required to submit
copies of the three best issues of their publication. The committee headed
by Dr. Lamba will judge and decide the 10 best publications based on their
editorial, content, design, layout, art work and other factors. These
publications will be recognized in the annual award ceremony in September
·
Motion:
Gerald V
Paul moved a motion to make discussions on social issues of various
communities a permanent item in the agenda. Suleyman Guven seconded it.
Dr. Lamba opposed the motion as an ombudsman as it might bring acrimony
among the members of the council.
·
All ethnic newspapers effective April 1, 2010, will be
eligible for funding under the Canadian Magazine’s Fund, thanks
to tireless efforts of the organization and the understanding and help of
the Department of Canadian Heritage and Mr. Scott Shortliffe.
·
Recommendations
made by NEPMCC to Heritage Canada were seriously considered.
·
Approximately
$175 million CAD is allocated for the media, by the ministry of Heritage
Canada.
·
Letters
were sent to Provincial Government and the PMO stressing the continuance
of Government support and advertising campaign to ethnic media under these
challenging economic conditions.
·
NEPMCC
has paid the fees for this year’s “Word on the Street Festival.
·
Events
2009:
1) Seminar on Professional
Development either in last weekend of July or first weekend of August in
Seneca College
2)
Second Annual Ethnic Press Exhibition in City Hall in July
3)
Annual Ethnic Press Festival in the Labour Day weekend with multi cultural
show at the CNE,
4)
Annual Dinner in December.
·
.President “Lets work together for a common cause” President
Thomas Saras urged the members to work
together in making the voice of the industry stronger during the term of
their elected office
·
Members elected to their offices should be committed for the cause
of the organization.
New Business:
·
Dr. Lamba “Nomination of names does not guarantee awards”.
Awards committee will carefully examine each nomination before final
selection of the award recipients.
·
A Letter would be send to the Iranian Embassy in Canada condemning
the arrest and conviction of an American Iranian Journalist in Iran
·
Gerald V Paul introduced the concept of “Breaking News Service”
the matter would be discussed and decided in the next monthly meeting.
Committees:
Ethnic
Press Exhibition Committee
(City Hall):
Ned
Blair
Irene
Keroglidis
Raman N
Ahmed
Shah Hotaki
R.T.
Nathan
Hassan
Zerehi
Moorthy
Sellathurai
Asha
Rajak
Seneca College Committee (Educational
Project, Professional Development Seminar)
Mohammad
Tajdolati,
Dr.
Freydoon Rahmani
Jolanta
Cabaj
R.T.
Nathan
Asha
Rajak
Parry
Long
Longan
N. Longendralingam
Zofia
Lachowicz
Gerald
V Paul
Suleyman
Guven
Awards Committee:
Dr.
Bikram Lamba (Chair)
Neel
Nanda
Irene
Keroglidis
Hassan
Zerehi
Ahmed
Shah Hotaki
Luba
Cherny
Mohammad
Ali Bukhari
Word on the street festival –Ahmed
Shah Hotaki,
Dinner Commitee-
Raina
Sen
Ned
Blair
Irene
Keroglidis
Asha
Rajak
Suleyman
Guven
Neel
Nanda
Mohammad
Ali Bukhari
Jolanta
Cabaj
Zofia
Lachowicz
·
President Thomas Saras welcomed new members to the council. They
were:
Parry
Long- Publisher, Ads Guide
Kathy
L.L Lin – Publisher, Chinese Canadian Times
Jolanta
Cabaj – Editor –in-Chief &
Publisher, Nowy Kurier
Dr.
Fereydoon Rahmani – Chairman, The Greater Toronto Kurdish House
Dr.
Khan Manzoor –E- Khoda- CEO & President, Deshi TV
Sandro
Miranda – Pan TV
Susana
H. Donan – Editor, Centroamericano.
R.T.
Nathan – Free Birds Cine Arts
Rev:
Paul Raj –Kathir Oli Publication
Mohammad
Ali Bukhari- Freelance Journalist
Noreldin
Waisy – Rudaw Weekly Newspaper
The
chair of the meeting hoped that the new members would be active
participants and contribute heavily for the cause of the organization.
Adjournment: Ned Blair moved a motion to adjourn the meeting Srimal Abeyawardene seconded it. The motion was carried. The chair adjourned the meeting at 9 pm. The next meeting would take place on May 112009. The chief speaker would be Michael Ignatieff
