Publications

The Proceeding of the General Assembly of Imagine Nepal
 Saturday, the 30th December,2006
Hotel Marshyandi, Thamel, Kathmandu

 General Assembly
December 30, 2006
The General Assembly of Imagine Nepal, an Initiative for Creating and Nurturing a Positive Future, was held on Saturday the 30th December 2006 at Hotel Marshyangdi, Thamel, Kathmandu.

The session kicked off with introductory session by Mr. Ashbin Pudasaini followed by the individual introduction of the members present. Thereafter, the inauguration took place with a five minute long meditation conducted by Mr. Sahadev Mahat in the tranquil environment of the assembly hall that helped all the members to concentrate in peace within and begin the day with peace of mind and comforts in action.

1. Presentation of Annual Progress Report

Thereafter, as outlined in the program list, Dr. Chandi Chapagain, the general secretary of the organization, presented annual progress report.

The detailed report focused on the successfully accomplished activities of IN in the past year namely Summit of Appreciative Inquiry for Peace and Development, Follow up Meeting of AI Summit 2005, The Global AI University, Solidarity  in the Loktantrik Movement, Appreciative Inquiry of Inclusive Constitution, Workshop on Open Space Technology, Submitted Project Proposals, Imagine Nepal Retreat and Strategic Planning and Capacity building and participations in AI Workshops and Summits. As per the report, despite certain hurdles and the prevalent commotion in the country, there were no any hindrances to carry out the activities which directly or obliquely addressed the issues that concerned people, society and nation as a whole. He added that IN has always been energized to work on societal transformation issues.

Dr. Chapagain, on behalf of IN,  thanked  all the members  for their collective  effort for the accomplishment  of the activities  and stressed upon  the same zeal  and propensity to  help fulfill the laid  mission and vision  of IN in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, the assembly was informed about the inclusion of AI leaning in management faculty in Tribhuvan University for the forthcoming session  by Mr. Buddhi Tamang, the former chairman of Imagine Nepal.

2. The presentation of Financial Report

The next proceeding was the presentation of Financial Report of IN. Mr. Rupendra Maharjan, the treasurer on IN, delivered the Financial report of the fiscal year 2006 till date. The assembly was solicited with the queries about the report, if any. Mr. Padam Bahadur Chand, the IN member, took a chance to heartily praise the sufficiently adequate funds raised in the past and further suggested to explore the sources to increase the funds for future activities. Other members unanimously expressed their contentment over the report.

Remarks

Dr. Raj Bahadur Shrestha, Member
During the morning session, as listed in the program outline, each member present in the assembly was given three minute time for a short remark. Mr. Ashbin Pudasaini, the master of ceremony, put forward his request to Dr. Raj Bahadur Shrestha, the IN  member for the remark.

Dr. Shrestha in his remark said who he was inspired by the activities carried out by IN and talk program given by Dr. Ganapati Ojha. He was thrilled to learn the achievement made by IN in such a short span of time and promised to contribute to the organization as an active member in future.

Mr. Buddhi Tamang (Former Chairman, IN)
Mr. Buddhi Tamang, the former chairman of IN, delightfully remarked that the activities of IN have always been accomplished successfully under the chairpersonship of Mr. Dhruba Acharya. Though most of the things have turned out to be successful yet the days ahead require more energy and contribution to accomplish the tasks whatsoever as per the laid vision and mission of the organization, he emphasized. He also reiterated that social dynamic changes incorporating the policies of the government are the need of today.

He concluded his remark with a piece of information about Taos Institute (Austin, Texas, USA) incorporating of “Social Constructoinism”, one of AI principles in their learning system.

Dr. Ganapati Ojha (Founder Chairman IN)
Dr. Ojha made his remarks with the heartfelt appreciation on the annual progress report of IN presented by Dr. Chandi Chapagai, the general secretary. He called on the assembly members to be contended with what has come out as a report after commendable contribution made by each member. However, certain areas of work need more energetic exercises, he added. Regarding  the AI Global  University, he informed the assembly members that the concept paper of the proposed  university has been made ready and disseminated among the  members and a copy of it was forwarded to David Cooperieder, USA.

He was particularly excited to remark that despite the ignorance of Appreciative Inquiry Theory, people have begun to appreciate it far and wide in peace building process in the country. He expressed his optimism over the development of peace building if AI  is incorporated  as one of the  effective tools in the process.

“It is true that location wise it is rather uncomfortable to endeavor the potential rediscovery of the people we work with. People sometimes have to work out themselves with their contextual, social and cultural perspectives. He emphasized “we actually help people dream their dream so we got to go to the community in rather informal way for the exploration of new realities in life”.

“It seems like we are little sluggish in our undertaking. So, it is high time that we worked little more aggressively if at all we crave positive change”, he concluded

Mr. Uddhav Karki, Member
Having come diverse background, Uddhav Karki had availed the opportunity to work with Mr. Dhruba Acharya and Dr. Ganapati Ojha whose work seemed to have inspired him to be associated with IN. He was pleased to let other members know about his undertaking as one of the key personnel to co-author and design the educational directives which is based on “12 Corner stone’ in informal education in 12 different districts. He added that the approach of the “12 Corner Stone” is similar to that of AI and this ultimately eases his workmanship in either way.

He expressed his hopes that in future all the theoretical aspects are put in to practical phase through the eye of AI. He also proposed that AI be incorporated in one of the future themes  “ New generation, new Nepal.”

In conclusion, he expressed his pleasure to be associated with IN as an active member and promised to coordinate the future activity of the organization.

Mr. RC Lamichhane, Member
Mr. Lamichhane, according to him, sees wide prospects of AI as one of the strong working principles for the country, which is undergoing a very critical phase. He said that AI can be very effective tool for the formation of future constitution of the country. Attitudinal change, however, cannot be brought overnight but once it is formalized, we can see the dawn of absolute peace in the country, he added.

He was of the opinion that AI has great scope particularly in educational sector as alternative device for sensitization that can boost the juvenile value and morality among the school going children. Not to mention, incorporating AI in the education and management system will revolutionize the positive upliftment of the sector in dire straits. In conclusion, he aggressively wound up his remark  with ‘Lets do it now or never!”

Mr. Navin Gurung, Member
Mr. Navin Gurung shared his remark as to how he was inspired by the international AI workshop-cum-summit held way back in 2005. According to him, it was such a rejuvenating and enlightening experience that he always desired to join IN task force that fosters human prosperity, equity, equality and internalization.

It boosted his personal attitude and ultimately helped him a great deal in his day to day professional life as a guidance counselor at Capital College and Research Center. He even didn’t leave any stone unturned to share the personal achievement that he made by releasing his solo album ”NOSTALGIA.”  His dream wouldn’t have come true had he not got the people with positive approach not around him. As always, he committed to contribute the AI mission that manifests positive thoughts and  action leading to positive by-products.

Mr. Shreekant Sharma, Member
Having come from multidisciplinary fields, Mr. Sharma took it as an opportunity to thank IN for the membership provision to him. He committed to working hard for all the future activities. He recommended “Rural Tourism” is the field he wanted to conceptualize with AI literature. “Let us be oriented on thematic practice for the women and children empowerment and their capacity building.” He further emphasized the workshop modality development in the aforementioned areas.  He also expressed his hearty satisfaction over the disseminated annual progress report and financial report of IN. However, he insisted upon the general assembly to be rather formal and partly based on thematic topics. He also came up with the suggestion that the duration of general assembly be a period of two days instead of one in future.

He heartily thanked IN on behalf of all the newly registered members and hoped that as usual they are included for any future activity. Lastly Mr. Sharma concluded his  remark  wishing all the best  to IN, members of Executive Committee and all the general members of the organization.

Mr. Padam Bahadur Chand, Member
Mr. Chand recalled the “Four Day Workshop, way back in 2000 facilitated by Diana Whitney. This, he said, was his turning point of his life when he obtained the membership of IN.

According to him, his psychological assistance to one of his relative to  renew his life  from a brat  to a  scholar of engineering  has been the matter  of pride in the  family circle.

About the annual progress report and financial report, he appreciated the both and commended for its strong financial background. He further came up  with the proposal  for the inclusion of  members of  various  background irrespective of their  diverse age, gender  and profession.

Mr. RK Lamichhane, Member
Mr. Lamichhane mainly focused annul progress report in his remark. AI carries the future of the country and within a short span of time, so many activities have been accomplished successfully. In this way, according to him, the report brought to the notice of  IN members  warn them to be  of more committed  and obligatory  in future.

He revealed the fact that a college has been evolved in Pokhra with new vision “A College for Learning with Positive Approach”. The workshop was conducted among all the stakeholders of the college in Pokhara facilitated by Dr. Chandi Chapagain.  4D concept, according to him, was the real strength explorer that helped the school management to multiply the number of students from meager 23 to 500 after AI being incorporated in the teaching/learning and management system of the college.  He also informed that there are as many as four colleges that in Nepal which have incorporated AI in their learning and management system. They exist in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Mahendra Nagar and Dhanagadi. He   also confided the assembly members that AI does work as wonder in all the sectors particularly in education sector. 

Mr. HC Lamichhane, Member
As an enduring AI practitioner, Mr. HC Lamichhane put light on the farsighted importance of AI. He declared that it is important of a country like Nepal and more importantly it plays pivotal role for the current situation of the country.

As resolved in the last AI summit, he informed the IN assembly that ground preparation of the proposed AI Global University is going on. According to him, David Cooperider was positive about the Master in Positive Organizational Development (MPOD) program affiliation instead of MBA since the latter takes longer time. Now the team has obtained detailed curriculum, the feasibility didn’t seem far away with MPOD. However, it’s rather difficult to launch the program now with the involvement of just a handful of people. He, therefore, reiterated that Capital College and Research Center is ready to go for affiliation and called upon other friends to come up with commitment for the program to be successful.

Ms. Sharmilla Shrestha, Member
As a female representative in the assembly, she thanked IN team for giving her space for remark. She apologized that she couldn’t give much time to make herself available for many activities conducted in the past due to the fact that she was a field based worker. She was more than happy that the whole forum didn’t complain about it. She expressed her gratitude to Mr. Sahadev Mahat for recommending her name, which came as a sweet surprise. “The surprise came as a prize now”, she delightfully humored to mean prize as the provision of IN membership to her.

She pledged the other assembly members, “Let not the capacity building just a social jargon but a word to improvise the individuals in the society.” She also proposed that peace building through youth initiation particularly with the involvement of  +2 students. She was of the opinion that if things can evoke the sentiments of the youth, they really do work for the society as a whole.

Mr. Rupendra Maharjan, Treasurer
Mr. Maharjan made his remark with his achievements not only as a treasurer of IN but also as an AI Facilitator. He assertively  revealed  about the recent  workshops conducted  among the Junior Jaycees, Rotaracts, Lions and local youths with his facilitation   which were some  of his remarkable  achievements as a  young  facilitator.  He shared his experience about the feelings of youth about AI. According to him, the youths think that AI is meant for senior people only.

His success story that he narrated was that of the establishment of Development Museum (models – both antique and new / Nepalese Architectural products) in Kritipur, a district adjacent to city capital. He could achieve and evolve this only as an AI practitioner. He said that AI is his life now.

Mr. Dev Raj Paudel, Member
Mr. Paudel made his remark with the hearty felicitations to the AI team for the work accomplished, its annual progress report and financial report.
He reminded the assembly members that there are other female members in IN but due to some inevitable circumstances some of them were not present that day. He then wished all the best for the future activities of IN.

Mr. Sahadev Mahat, Member
Mr. Mahat was pleased to learn the development in AI particularly in the field of education. He was distinctively pleased to have learned about the message that came in from Pokhara.

He added, “ I am  delighted and overwhelmed  to learn  that Capital College and Research Center ( CCRC) has been sincerely  working  since long with AI incorporated  in its teaching/learning and management system."

He further expressed his grave concern stating, “The country is undergoing very critical phase and so are we.” He added that we could get rid of this phase only through reconciliation. His gesture was that AI be literally focused on the burning issues lying ahead of us that needed immediate attention and action. He  concluded that AI  gets  its  place far and wide  with  the initiation of  all AI practioners  across the country.

Dr. Chandi Chapagain, General Secretary
Dr. Chandi made his remark with feasibility for new topic on the burning issue like “ Conflicting Environment and Sustainable Development.” He was of the opinion that IN  should create the platform  for more and more  thematic  discussions that  address  the issues that   require the involvement of  all AI practioners and their  in depth caliber  on AI manifestations. He concluded his remark insisting upon the system thinking that bear valid points.

Mr. Ashbin Pudasaini, Member
Mr. Pudasaini  reciprocated on the remarks presented by other members present in the general assembly. He agreed that the work of IN that took place in rather slow pace in the past. He called upon the entire enthusiastic member to explore and come up with various thought provoking debatable topics.

He also informed the assembly about his speculation on the “critical appreciation” methodology while learning AI theory under sandwich method.

Mr. Dhruba Acharya, Chairman
Mr. Acharya was to make his remark as the concluding note. As a mild speaker, He appeared to have encompassed almost all the agenda rose on the floor by other IN members.

He informed the assembly that initially it came up as a debate whether IN is to be considered as an organization or as a movement. In this way, according to him, the organization moved on with its activities even without registration for quite some time.

"Though the  executive body  acts upon  most of the legal purpose and aspect, it is more  or less  horizontal in nature of working as because the  things based on  diverse issues  come from the floor only", he laid his emphasis. Thus, all the members are treated, as executive as far as the execution of any newly launched activity is concerned.

According to him, there used to be frequent meetings but due to AI summit and its lined up follow-up programs, the meetings are a bit sparse. However, he assured the assembly that in future all the members will be invited for any kind of assembly, minute sharing irrespective of their diverse status.

Upon the provision of membership to the new members, he clarified that they are given this membership by IN but their passion has attracted get the membership. He was extremely delighted to have learned the commitment of newly registered members and their interest. Simultaneously, he was overwhelmed to learn the activities carried out by Pokhara AI.

As a chairperson, he gracefully took the assembly back to the AI history right from AI Chicago for a while. Thereafter, he introduced the assembly members to three of the honorable advisors namely Mr. Ghananath Ojha, Dr. Mac Odell and Mr. Ravi Pradhan, which was followed by other IN members of Executive Committee.

He assured the members present in the assembly that IN is more professional and organized now. Likewise, he was of the opinion that frequent meetings are needed for trust building among all the members.

He also suggested the sharing of articles among the other IN members.  He then focused his speech on the lined up follow up programs.  He insisted upon the thematic query "If we don’t do it, who will?” followed by other feasible thematic discussion and the preparation for proposed AI Global University.
"Summing up all, AI based training must be held in future and leadership training is not the exception in this regard", he speculated.

Regarding the IN proposal, he reported to the assembly that copies of proposal have been forwarded  to DFID (Department  for International Development) and CCO (Canadian Cooperation Office) which  are already submitted  and are under process and informed that it might be rather time consuming. He also called upon other friends to explore paths and sources for the feasibility of fund resources.

He appreciated the spirit and enthusiasm of all the members for their individual commitments for upcoming future IN activities.

He called upon the assembly members about the thorough discussion on broader topics in the following session.

Afternoon session (Session 2)
Session two started after the lunch and focused on the following topics:

The assembly was divided into three different groups to discuss the topics listed for the resolution. The outcomes of the group work are as follows:

Group One: IN Calendar for the year 2007 / Next years Program
As the calendar could be produced after the thorough discussion about the forthcoming activities, a few general programs were debated upon in the assembly: They were: (To be addressed and launched chronologically as far as it’s feasibility)

The following outcome was enlisted upon the discussion among the Group two:

Group Three:

Discussions and decisions:

1.   According the discussion of the group, it is decided to expand the membership of IN identifying appropriate and passionate members. Members from Pokhara are encouraged to expand the Imagine Nepal movement in and around Pokhara, which could later be evolved as Pokhara chapter of Imagine Nepal. The group unanimously agreed upon the expansion of AI movement in Pokhara initially and later on work on the promulgation of AI Pokhara Chapter.

2.   In order to expand the knowledge based on AI, it is advised to subscribe some of the international journals. The journals could be subscribed jointly by several organizations and IN can coordinate the partnership. The other activities included publications and documentation, disseminating the e-newsletter among the members, which are to be launched in immediate future.

3.   Since the assembly paid emphasis on networking advocacy alliance, increasing the alliances with national and international organizations was discussed thoroughly. For this, it was decided that IN can organize joint programs thereby sharing resource materials and developing extensive networks. 

4.   Likewise, without any denial, group focused the issue of fund raising through public training preferably with the facilitation of international trainer since the fund keeps the organization alive.

5.   Other activities included research and developmental work. In this regard, the group emphasized on the preparatory work of AI Global University.

6.   As discussed and resolved in the last summit, the next summit was supposed to be conducted in 2007. Although, all the members were very supportive and enthusiastic about this but due to the prevalent situation of the country it somehow wouldn’t take place, according to Dhruba Acharya and thus the assembly members seriously focused on the AI international conference in 2008. A few members  opined that  before the Summit  there should be  another follow up-like  program with  the facilitation of  an international  trainer before the  AI conference is held.

Mr. Acharya then concluded that he would communicate with David and Mac Odell and let the members know in the coming meeting. He further suggested that the venture of AI Global University should be taken as “Lets keep our vision alive" affair.

7.   The Follow up Program to be held tentatively in February or March with facilitation of Mr. Ravi Pradhan if he is visiting Nepal during that time. The program would be organized on actual cost basis.

8.   Regarding AI for constitution making, Mr. Acharya opined the difficulty of reaching large number of people due to the scarcity of fund.  At the same time, he suggested that if we are able to get the funding, its well and fine. However, if funding is not obtained he proposed the assembly to spend up to Rs  20,000/ from IN’s own resources.

9.   Mr. RK Lamichhane, meanwhile, brought up the suggestion to bring out an AI based bilingual publication from the side of IN having young readers of the country as target group. The assembly unanimously approved and resolved this on the floor.

In order to have this new undertaking accomplished, a coordination team/board was constituted among the members. The team consists of the following members.

Mr. Navin Gurung
Mr. Ram Chandra Lamichhane
Mr. Ashbin Pudasaini (coordinator)
Mr. Radha Krishna Lamichhane

10. Regarding the IN secretariats, most members appeared to have been persuaded about the installation of office computer, banner and the recruitment of an employee. For the time being, the assembly consented the recruitment of Mr. Atma Ram Chapagain as the official auditor at the expense of Rs 2000/-

11. Mr. Ashbin Pudasaini proposed “Imagine Nepal Day” in the assembly as the anniversary to be observed However, this remained pending for another meeting without being resolved by the assembly.

12. The general assembly reformed the executive board of IN, which is as follows:

At the end, Chairperson Mr Dhruba Acharya thanked all the members for active participation and adjourned the assembly.

Proceedings prepared by: Navin Gurung and Rupendra Maharjan