Minutes
of the Monthly Meeting held on October 18, 2010 at Queen’s Park
Present:
Thomas
S. Saras
William
Doyle-Marshall
Ahmed
Hotaki
Viara
Dimitrova
Neel
Nanda
Asha
Rajak
Parry
Long
Bidigul
Saad
Muse
Kulow
Dumitru
Popesku
Arzo
Nakeyar
Nasser
Nakeyar
Mohammad
Tajdolati
Mohammad-Bagher
Samimi
Khan
Khoda, Dr.
Suleyman
Guven
Ned
Blair
Muluken
Muchie
Bahram
Bahrami
Hassan
Zerehi
Irene
Keroglidis
John
Saras
Hermie
Garcia
Mila
Garcia
Pobeda
Piskaceva
Aaron
Berhane
Ranjit
Wicks
Srimal
Abeyewardene
Marek
J. Goldyn
N.
Longendralingham
Emm.
Ayiku.
Agenda
1.
Welcome Remarks by the chair.
2.
Minutes of the previous meeting.
3.
Presentation by Councilor Rocco Rossi a Mayoral Candidate
4.
Presidents Report
5.
New Business
6.
Adjournment
Welcome
Remarks by the Chair:
At 6:10,
Thomas Saras chaired the meeting and declared the meeting open.
Irene
Kerogolidis moved a motion to approve the agenda with the exemption of
item “3” of the agenda as Toronto Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi was
unable to make it to the meeting as he has withdrawn from the race of the
mayor. Dr. Tajdolati seconded the motion. The
motion was carried.
Minutes of the previous meeting:
Dr.
Khan Khoda moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly
meeting held on September, 2010 Dr. Tajdolati seconded it. The
motion was carried.
President’s
Report/Discussions:
·
President Thomas
Saras sent a letter to Heritage Canada seeking some clarification under
Publication Assistance Program. Thomas
Saras met with officials of Heritage Canada in Ottawa. Next year the
program application will be on the website.
Effective immediately there is a program on September 2010
–Canada Business Innovation Fund for print periodicals. Members
interested to know more about the program were asked to refer to the
website of the Heritage Canada Ministry or contact the office of the
President to seek clarification or more information. November 24 is the
deadline for application under PAP for the year 2011.
·
Thomas Saras has
recommended the name of Asha Rajak to be the officer of oath to the office
of the Attorney General, Ontario.
·
NEPMCC had submitted
a proposal to the Federal Government to carry out a survey reflecting on
the Socio-economic condition of the members of the sector. There was a
proposal submitted earlier for the awards ceremony which was rejected by
the government due to some mistakes.
·
President Thomas
Saras stated that the purpose of the economic survey is to reflect on the
economic condition of the members of the ethnic media who work very hard
to put up a publication. The project has been accepted by the Government.
The project is going to be conducted by Seneca College Markham.
Seneca College will prepare the questionnaire for the survey. This
is the first ever survey done in Canada by the ethnic press. Mila Garcia
suggested that members could provide feedback to Seneca College for
developing the questionnaire.
·
President urged
members to cooperate and respond to the economic survey undertaken by
NEPMCC as it was in their own interest to participate.
·
Tim Hudak would be
one of the main speakers on the annual dinner on December 17.
·
Thomas Saras
mentioned of the invitation send to Toronto’s ethnic media to attend a
briefing and information session by City Hall on September 20.
·
The awards to
Shahrvand and Dimitri Soudas would be presented during the annual dinner
on December 17.
·
President Thomas
Saras mentioned that when we are deciding on an award we are recognizing a
publication due to their attendance and for their commitment in supporting
the organization by working hard for the cause of the ethnic media and the
council.
·
President Saras
expressed disappointment when only three members turned for an event for
ethnic media organized by the Canadian Forces.
·
William Doyle Marshall
echoed the sentiment of the President in expressing disappointment of
members not attending press conferences specially arranged for the ethnic
press. He suggested of being better prepared in terms of questions asked
during press conferences. Other members also gave their suggestion on
this.
·
The annual Ethnic
Press Festival at the CNE, sponsored by NEPMCC was an unbelievable
success. NEPMCC had sponsored two shows at CNE this year celebrating the
annual “Ethnic Press Festival”. The
shows took place at the International Building “Hall B” of the Direct
Energy Centre on September, 5 at 1:30pm and 6:30 pm respectively. The
President thanked all the members and performers who contributed towards
the success of the event.
·
NEPMCC met with officials
of the Ontario government Ministry of Revenue, as well as Revenue Canada
on August 18 at 2:00 pm, to seek clarification regarding HST for ethnic
media. The meeting was successful. There was conference call from Revenue
Canada and from the Ministry of Revenue with Ottawa. NEPMCC managed to
have the exemption authorized on HST. This was an historic achievement as
it was a form of recognition to the ethnic media and NEPMCC.
·
The”
word on the street” festival took place on September 26, 2010. Ahmed
Shah Hotaki was in charge of the event. The President thanked Ahmed Shah
Hotaki and other members who participated in the “Word on the Street
Festival.
·
Members were asked to
submit the number of tickets they wish to purchase for the annual
get-together to Asha Rajak, after the meeting. All members would have to
pay for their tickets at the next monthly meeting of November the 8th.
The price per ticket is 30.00 dollars and this is going to offer full
dinner and drinks or wine together with entertainment. Thomas Saras
emphasized that he expects to see all the communities and publications to
participate in this annual event with their families, so that we will
start creating family connections. He made a plea to all members for their
participation.
.
New Members: The
council welcomed the following member
Marcus
Schwartz -www.alyssarubino.com;
www.canadaeventscalendar.ca
VIDEOGRAPHY
MULTI -MEDIA: TV, WEB, FILM
Adzo
Nakeyar – Foroogh
Magazine
The
President hoped that they would be active participants in the council.
Adjournment: Suleiman Guven moved a motion to adjourn the meeting, Irene Keroglidis seconded it. The motion was carried. The chair adjourned the meeting at 10:30 pm. The next meeting would take place on November 9, 2010
