Weekly meeting of AAP ke Mitra, New Jersey, USA

(photo courtsey: Eesha Sharma) (c)2013

Attendees: Kalpana, Himanshu, Mukesh, Prachi, Gaurav, Jayesh, Shanu, Vineeta, Ajit
When/Where: May 4th, 2013 at Woodbridge, New Jersey.

As usual it was a great brainstorming session on future strategies to spread awareness about AAP in India and outside.

Few take-aways:

1. Awareness: 
1. India-fairs (Independence, Diwali etc.): We can put an Aam Aadmi Biriyani stall (sell biriyani/paani-puri, do mehandi, etc.) and create constant awareness for whole day. Any proceeds we can donate to AAP India in every individual AAP volunteer's capacity.
2. On weekends, 5-6 volunteers can go to do grocery together wearing AAP topi and distribute flyers on Oak Tree Road (India street).
3. Put flyers in Apartment laundry rooms and outside Laundromats.
4. We can hold debates within NJ team and make videos and post it online.
5. Collectively go to our friends homes and inspire them to donate. or don't leave till they donate... kidding. ;-)
6. Hold summer-camps, picnics in parks.
7. Whenever in public place, make video of people and post online (one compiled version).
8. All NJ volunteers should make personal videos on contemporary issues and post one compiled version online.
9. Dr Kumar Vishwas event on May 10th: We can go there and distribute flyers. Try for a informal meeting with NJ AAP volunteers and Dr Vishwas.
2. AAP ki Lakshmi: Donate to AAP on monthly basis. We should create a solid group of 1000 volunteers from every corner of the world who can donate $50 to $500 every month consistently till Delhi election in Nov. Ajit bhai from NJ will drive this initiative with full enthusiasm.
3. Own a Ward: From every corner of the world, we need to find one NRI who can own a ward in Delhi. That NRI volnteer can try to get first hand experience of moments of joy and challenges in Delhi. (S)he can also plan to be in Delhi in Nov elections. AAP NJ can also send small momentoes/certificates of appreciation to each AAP ward in Delhi.
4. Connect with the roots: Each volunteer should contact their hometown AAP conveners/volunteers and appreciate their work. Get news of AAP initiatives and highlight on social media.
5. AAP ka Sandesh:  We feel that to spread AAP's message to every corner in India in purest form, we need to start thinking about delivering it in printed form. Structure of this patrika can be few pages for intellectuals/youth, few pages for laymen in simple words and couple of pages from "Swaraj", couple of editorials from Dr Anand Kumar, Prof. Yogendra Yadav and likes on contemporary topics. AAP NJ will start working on this and find out logistics.
6. Go to AAP USA convention in Chicago on May 18th in large numbers. It is a great opportunity to meet volunteers from across US.
7. Plan for a East Coast AAP volunteer convention.

Meeting ended on a stronger resolve to meet again and more tasks to work on.

Jai Hind, jai aam aadmi !!!