Through GlobalEyes

Dear Veronica,

Thanks so much for that. The immediate priority will be the stove since it will increase the efficiency of cooking at CRM. The rest we'll use for food and the domestic supplies. The outstanding bills may not be much currently as you remember, we had withdrawn what we had banked George's salary and used it to clear most of the bills. So any bills now would wait. I'll soon work on the expenses for August which will show any such bills.

Best regards,

Tobias

Dear Tobias,

Thanks for the extra information on Pamela Atieno and it is great to hear of the ample rains.

I want to confirm that the wire transfer for $300 from our latest micro-goal went out on Friday. You should see it in the Trop Focus account as early as this coming Friday. Will you please send me a note to inform me of what you use the funds for? I'm hoping you will be able to get that stove in addition to the food and domestic supplies we have discussed, though I know you still have some outstanding bills to pay.

Take care and look forward to hearing from you soon, Veronica

Dear Tobias,

These pictures are fantastic and thanks so very much for getting them to us.

I am saddened to hear of Caren's illness. Please update us on her condition and send her our best. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Best, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

Just to add to Scott's comments, could you please send a brief account of the water tank event along with the pictures and video so that we may share that information with our donors?

Also, could you please send a notification email when you enter a new comlog, just so we know to check it. Not sure about the difficulty entering the form using a mobile device. In those situations, it would be fine to just send using excel or in an email and Scott or I will fill in the online form for you.

I'm really looking forward to hearing about the water tank ceremony.

Thanks so much,

Veronica

Dear Tobias,

I hope you are well and that things are coming along in Kisumu. I spoke with the US DHL offices and the package should be released from Nairobi on Monday June 4th and all the taxes and duties will be paid by then. The Nairobi office will forward to Kisumu, so you should be able to pick up Tuesday or Wednesday, maybe Thursday at the latest.

A few questions:

• Any news on the water tank delivery ceremony?

• We are planning our next small fundraising scheme and I was hoping you could tell me when the current school term ends and the next begins?

• Were you able to check the content for Tropical Focus on our website

http://throughglobaleyes.org/page/initiatives

http://throughglobaleyes.org/page/tropicalfocus?

Kind regards, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

Thanks so very much for looking into that and I hope it wasn't too much trouble. Hopefully I'll get the customs fees paid today. I will send you a note to confirm.

Veronica

Hi Tobias:

I spoke to DHL and it will be a few more days to work through the customs process. Also, the DHL representative I spoke to was concerned about forwarding the shipment to Kisumu. Have you received shipments via DHL at the location in Kisumu? I know there is a DHL affiliate in Kisumu, not only because you told me, but the DHL office I shipped the package from also confirmed the Kisumu location.

Perhaps you could provide some information that I can relay to the DHL representatives here in the US who are unfamiliar with the circumstances. I am sorry this is taking so long.

Were you able to review the Tropical Focus page on our website? You may review online at:

http://throughglobaleyes.org/page/initiatives

Also, we will launch our next micro-goal, hopefully at the end of this week. I've attached a spreadsheet of potential goals. Could you please confirm the cost estimates?

Best, Veronica

potentialgoals.xls

Dear Tobias:

Please disregard my previous note as Scott forwarded me the email about the DHL issue. First of all, please know that this is not your problem and we will work something out. I will try to get in contact with DHL to see if they can counsel me as to what to do - I will try to pay the fees with my credit card so as to avoid wiring money again.

By the way, did the funds for the water tank arrive in your account?

That is fantastic and exciting news about the delivery ceremony.

Hopefully the camera will be in your hands to document the event.

Hope you are well.

Best, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

I just checked on the DHL shipment and it is in Nairobi, so I guess it will be to Kisumu tomorrow or Saturday.

I've attached the financial log with added rows for each category.

I've also attached a word document with the content for our new website's "Partners and Projects" page, on which Tropical Focus is featured, for your revision and approval. I know the Obede Feeding Program information needs to be updated, but please make additional changes as you see fit and add any information you feel is important.

Best, Veronica

TFMAYFinancialLog.xls

TropicalFocusPage.doc

Dear Tobias:

I just checked our bank account and the transfer cleared on our end, though I think it will be a few more days before you can collect.

I mailed the camera via DHL yesterday. The instructions I gave on the packing slip were for the Kisumu office to hold the package and call your mobile number when it arrives, though I don't know that they will actually call you. I am sure you are familiar with the location of the DHL agent in Kisumu, but the DHL office here said that it is behind the Barclays. The tracking number is 787 0434 600, which you can use to track on DHL.com if you have internet access. I will be checking it regularly, and the office here projected that the package should arrive by Friday.

I will check in again soon.

Best, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

I will send the camera out this afternoon and I am glad to hear that batteries are readily available in Kisumu.

I checked with the bank and you should see the transfer of 35,000 Ksh Thursday or Friday. Will you be able to purchase the water tank right away?

I suppose it is a bit of a process with transportation and installation. Please inform us of what the process it like when you have time. I think this would be a great topic for your first blog entry for our website! Also, if the camera does not arrive before you buy the tank, please do take pictures with your current camera.

Ideally, we would like to have a collection of photos and a short video to share with our donors.

Best, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

I will mail the camera tomorrow using DHL. The address I have noted from a few months ago is:

Tobias Odhiambo Ounga
Tropical Focus for Rural Development
Kisumu, Kenya

Is this correct? I am uncertain as to whether I need a P.O. box number or street address.

The camera is battery operated so you won't have a problem with charging, but, will it be a problem to purchase relacement batteries?

I will include extra batteries with the package. I will also include a USB cable to connect the camera to the laptop. Is that the method you have been using to get the pictures off of your current camera?

If you have any questions or concerns about this please send me a note.

You should look for the wire transfer to be in the Tropical Focus account on Tuesday or Wednesday, though it was probably held over the weekend and may not appear until later next week.

Thank you and hope you are well,

Veronica

Hey Scott:

Hope the conference is going/went well. A few things...

I've been meaning to get the specs of the camera that Bill donated for TF to you to be sure it's ok. I think it's great for their purposes, and best of all, it is battery powered! Here are the specs:

Sony Cybershot DSC - W7 7.2 megapixels mega movie feature 3x optical zoom

I'll send them extra batteries and a USB cable.

Also, I don't know if you've had a chance to review the materials I sent you, but the more I think about it, the more I don't think I did a very good job describing the micro-goals. Will you please take a careful look at that section and make changes as you feel necessary? After all, it is your idea :).

Finally, I wanted to share a note that I received from a donor. She wanted to say how effective she thinks the micro-goals are, mainly because they are so focused. She said that donating, especially to orgs that work internationally, can be overwhelming and uncertain, and this approach really offsets those concerns. I have gotten so much positive feedback about this, even though many people did not choose to donate yet.

Thanks for all - talk to you soon,

Veronica

Hi Tobias:

I realize you probably won't respond to the updates on the communication log until next week, so I just want to confirm with you that I will transfer the money for the new water tank into the Tropical Focus account tomorrow.

Also, I would like to get the digital camera off to you as soon as possible so that you can take pictures when you purchase and install the tank. Please advise as to the best way to send the camera.

Thanks, Veronica

Dear Caren and Tobias:

Please accept my apologies for being out of touch the past couple of weeks.

I started a new communication log for April, in week two; hopefully we can pick back up where we left off. I also attached the list of needs you provided in February to confirm that needs, costs and priority are current.

Caren, how are you feeling? We all hope you are recovering well.

Very best, Veronica

TropFocus-GEComLog_ARP2007.xls

microfundraisinglist spread sheet 240207.xls

Dear Tobias-

Thank you for the communication log. I am so sorry to hear of Caren's illness; please keep us updated on her condition when you can and send her our best.

Just a few items I wanted to respond to immediately: Yes, because Dr. Bertrand will give you money for George's salary, please do not take his salary out of the recently sent funds as discussed previously.

Regarding the latrines at Obede and Dago Thim and the Dago Thim feeding program, I think we would all agree that we would like to move forward with all, but funding from us is still limited and sporadic, at least in the short to medium term. Do you have an estimate for the latrine construction? Perhaps we could do one at a time, if that does not interfere with your coordination of construction/workers/materials.

Regarding the funds wire, our account reports that the transfer has completed from our end so hopefully you will see it in your account.

I would hate for Scholastica to waste a trip out to the bank.

Very best, Veronica

Dear Tobias:

Please find updates for the week attached. I transferred $1000.00 into the Standard Chartered, Ltd. account today using the services of our bank.

After a bit of probing, I learned that our bank in the US, Chase, has an ongoing dispute with Western Union, which explains a lot of the problems we've had over the past month.

Also, the swift code you provided is not correct for transferring money from the US (perhaps it is for domestic transfers?). For future reference, the correct swift code for transferring money from the US is XXXXXXXX. Please confirm with me when you receive the funds in the account, as it may take a few days, and I will also track it from our end.

Best, Veronica

TropFocusGE_ComLogMAR2007.xls

Dear Tobias:

Many thanks for the photos; they are wonderful! Also, thanks for getting the needs spreadsheet back so quickly. Regarding the communication log, beyond the problem with entering the date, did you find you were able to include everything you wanted to communicate using the form? I may add more space to each line item if you think that would be better.

Best,

Veronica

Hello Tobias-

Please find revised monthly communication log and financial statement form attached. I have not yet changed the log to report separately on CRM, orphan feeding and school feeding and left tropical focus updates and questions together. I did however add lines to the space for Tropical Focus reporting to accommodate additional items.

Please do use these forms and inform me of any concerns or recommendations.

I plan to revise the communication log so that there are separate reporting spaces for the different projects by next week's reporting.

Best, Veronica

Hello Tobias-I will make your recommended changes to the spreadsheets and resend by Friday. Best,Veronica

Dear Tobias: Thank you for the update. I am so glad to hear the feeding program has resumed and that you arelooking into the needs at Caren’s new school. It will be interesting to know the findings of your survey to determine children in need in the area. We look forward to seeing the photos of the mosquito net distribution. Regarding the internet systems, I suspect Scott may provide better insight on that.I have a few items for you:

1. Though we already communicate several times a week, we would like to have a set day when we send each-other formal weekly reports that will standardize and record our communication. For example, you could send to us each Friday and we could respond by each Sunday.I have attached a “Trop Focus Communication” spreadsheet – the first tab is a weekly communication log that provides space for us to update and ask questions.The second tab is a monthly financial report form intended to be completed throughout the month or at the end of the month.Both sheets are designed to begin on the first day of the month and end on the last.What is a good day for you, considering your access to internet, to send the report each week? This does not mean we will no longer reciprocate emails during the week.

2. I attached another spreadsheet with space to enter line items for the micro-fundraising project I wrote to you about last week. I entered a few sample items, but please populate the list as you seefit.Also, please assign overall priority to each item.

For example, I would assume all the needs of the orphans at CRM would be first priority, followed by the outreach feeding programs and the two entrepreneurial projects would come last.I know you have provided us with a lot of information over time that could fill this list, and Katherine and I will help complete it – just please get it started for us. Also, please offer feedback on changes to or concerns with the spreadsheets.

Kind regards,Veronica

Hi everyone-

Thanks so much for participating in the call and I'm sorry it was so painful.
Hopefully things will move more smoothly next time…

Just to recap what we discussed and decided and please make changes and
add items if I’ve left out:

Structure of Activities with Trop. Focus:
– Orphanage and school feeding programs funded by GE
– Business program launched by GE (micro-financing) and maintained by Trop. Focus

Micro-Goals and Micro-Financing will be our major sources of funding for Trop. Focus

Jerry Hildebrand to do micro-financing assessment for Trop. Focus in March

Digital camera to Trop. Focus with Margee in March

Standing Board meeting 1st Sunday afternoon of each month

Communication protocol with weekly communication and financial statement forms

Jessica AHS Swim Against Malaria April 5
– Need info. from Tobias about mosquito netting needs and other malaria prevention/
treatment related items

Scott working on micro-goal donation page to post before new website rollout

Veronica owes Scott outline and content for new website

Veronica prepare document of agreement w/ Trop. Focus

Veronica and Katherine to get line items for micro-goals from Trop. Focus

Thanks again,
Veronica

Hey everyone!

Please find the board meeting agenda attached. I'm just finishing up a spreadsheet that combines Tropical Focus's financial docs over the past few months so I will send that in a moment as we will review it in the meeting.

Talk to you all soon!

AGENDABoardMeeting2.10.07.doc

Please find Trop Focus financial summary attached for June - Jan 2007.

I whipped this up really quickly so it is a little rough on the formatting but hopefully it gives a good sense of where our $ has gone...

TFFinancials.xls

Greetings Caren and Tobias:

I was so glad to receive your confirmation of acceptance of the funds. I hope they will be of help in the short term.

We're doing serious planning and making some big changes at GlobalEyes and we have some ideas to run by the two of you:

We are considering implementing a full disclosure policy and an accompanying full disclosure campaign that will post all of the "goings-on" of our business on our website. This would include publishing our communication with you to the web. We may even ask representatives from Tropical Focus to blog on our site. This idea is very much in the development stage, but do the two of you think Tropical Focus would be comfortable with this?

An idea that Scott came up with is "micro fundraising," which is basically a continuous, goal-based fundraising effort. How it works is (and Scott, please interject if I am not describing this adequately) we would post a list of line items needed for specific programs (like trainer salary for x number of months for the school uniform tailoring business or x months supply of seed for the Food for Yields program) and donors can pick and choose where to apply their money.

A crucial element to this program is follow-up; we want to show the donors where their money is going - both with words and images. We would like to know if it is realistic for someone on your end to commit to following up with us on a regular basis. For example, if a fundraising goals is to purchase enough fabric to sustain the school uniform tailoring business for six months, once that goal is reach the funds would be sent and someone from Tropical Focus would take pictures/video of the reams of fabric, maybe even of Tropical Focus picking up the fabric, of the ladies tailoring and also tape/write an interview with one of the widows.

This will not only require a time/effort commitment, but also equipment! I know you sent me digital pictures in the past, but does Tropical Focus actually have a digital camera? If we were to supply a digital camera, which would be more efficient and economical, an electrical or battery charger?

Do you think someone at Tropical Focus would be comfortable taking on this task? Also, once electricity is flowing at the Tropical Focus office, will you be able to get internet access? Do you know how expensive that will be?

As I said before, at this point we would just like to know your opinions about these ideas and we will provide more details about the projects before we expect any definitive answers from you about participating.

On another note, Caren, I was surprised to hear that you were transferred and hope everything is ok. Please let us know the fate of the feeding program and if you would like to pursue a new program at the school you were transferred to. Also, please let us know how you are doing in your new position.

Finally, I am very pleased to inform both of you that Scott and Jessica Chacon were invited to join our board of directors and have accepted!

Moving forward, please copy Scott (schacon@gmail.com) on all of our communication.

Warmest regards, Veronica

Greetings:

I hope this note finds everyone well.

There are a few changes that I felt you should be aware of regarding our projects with Tropical Focus:

• Caren has been reassigned to another school in the area. I do not know the details of the transfer but I have inquired with Caren and Tobias. I do know that the Obede feeding program is on hold at the moment and they are considering reinitiating the program at the new school.

• Janet Achieng, the young woman who was volunteering at CRM, has left and a woman named Agnes has replaced her.

• I’ve attached Tropical Focus’s financial statement for December 2006 through the beginning of January 2007 — it details all of the items that were purchased with funding from Jessica’s students.

Also, there are some new things going on with our organization:

Basecamp

Scott has so kindly set GlobalEyes up with a Basecamp account. Basecamp will be a great project management utility and I plan to use it regularly. I will post all important documents on this, including archived and updated financial statements, business plans and also communication archives. Basecamp has a chat capability and discussion forum (writeboard) that we will be using to conduct ongoing virtual communication.

In the “To-Dos” you will find tasks for the organization. Anything filed under a person’s name is assigned to them, tasks assigned to “anyone” are up for grabs and those assigned to “GlobalEyes” are group tasks that everyone should review and contribute to.

Right now, tasks are split between two main projects, one titled “operational” which has administrative and business development materials, the other is “GlobalEyes Actions” which has all the exciting fundraising and new ideas/projects stuff.

Everyone should have received an email in the past few days describing how to login to our Basecamp account. If anyone has problems, let Scott or I know.

Board Meeting

I’ve tentatively scheduled a board meeting for next Friday 2/9 to review (briefly) the 2007 plan and introduce the blog, micro fundraising and sponsorship program ideas. This meeting will be conducted using skype, iChat or traditional conference call...I’ll confirm which soon.

Could everyone please let me know if Friday works for them, and if so, what time(s) is/are convenient.
If Friday is not good, perhaps Saturday or Sunday? Please let me know.

In the event that all board members cannot attend (which I suspect will be the case more than once throughout the life of GlobalEyes!) Scott and I are working on setting us up so all of our board meeting are documented in audio and maybe even video.

Many thanks to all!

Veronica

Dec2006-Jan2007TropicalFocusFinStatement.xls Google Spreadsheets

Hi Tobias:

Thank you once again for your prompt feedback. I will let you know if I have any further questions about this.

Best, Veronica

Hello Tobias:

Please find my response to your amendments. I will revise the proposal according to your recommendations, but there were a few items that I am requesting clarification on.

Thanks,

Veronica

Dear Caren and Tobias:

I am so very happy to finally say that the wire transfer via Western Union has been processed. It is a shame that it took so long to transfer these funds and I can’t tell you how frustrated and sorry I am for any inconvenience this has caused to Tropical Focus. Here is the information I believe you will need to collect the funds:

Recipient: Caren Jakoyo, Kisumu, Nyanza, Kenya

Amount: 68,197.78 Kshs

MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number): XXXXX

Please confirm receipt on your end and notify me of any problems.

Thanks so very much,
Veronica

Tobias

Thanks so much for your feedback – I will carefully review your comments and revise the proposal.

Regarding OneMen, please hold off on confirming with them as we do not know Rotary’s response to the proposal. I will keep you posted!

Best, Veronica

Happy 2007 Everyone!

Attached please find a word doc. that will be the outline for our virtual meeting. As your schedules permit, please review and respond as described on the first page. (If anyone has an idea to execute this or future virtual meetings more efficiently, please let me know!)

Additionally, financial statements are contained in a separate excel workbook attachment.

I know this is a lot to ask everyone and I thank you all