January 16, 2017 Staff Meeting notes

Staff meeting notes                                                                                     January 16, 2017

Financial sustainability

The reformatting of QuickBooks is done. Maurice has created charts of accounts. They have been submitted to Linda, who is our financial advisor from the US, and now Maurice is waiting for her feedback to be able to share financial information with the rest of Belay team.

Other updates related to financial sustainability.

Jamie is in the process of working with a consultant on developing a fundraising plan for the created.

Since the fundraiser won’t be hired by this month as it was expected, Jamie is planning to go to the US to put together a fundraising strategy for 6 month from Mid March to Mid September

The online shop will be launched by the end of January

Belay has hired 2 grant writers. One for Duhu and the other one for DuHope.

Before going, Jamie expects to have the investment package ready, that is, all documents that can explain what the money they are going to raise will do.

Personnel development

The leadership training: it has been left out somehow with the strategic plan, but there is still time to catch up. Those who are in class have decided that they will be studying together every Friday at 10a.m.

Gabie is working with a consultant to make sure that the job descriptions are well worded.

By 27^th. The team will start getting performance reviews.

By the end of this week, it is expected that Belay will have already hired an operations manager.

Program model and impact

The operations manual  is ongoing, this week, the plan is to continue the development and  to put together information provided by DuHope staff.

About DuHope business plan : Lise will discuss with Maurice on when they can work together on financial projection

Expansion

We don’t currently have any project under expansion

Other highlights

1.      The board had a discussion on our mission statement: “Infusing entrepreneurship with Faith”

Does “faith” in our vision mean we want a Systematic or Organic approach?

·         Systematic: Do we want to be evangelistic/proselytizing with a singular view of salvation?

     -We have staff trained to lead people into salvation and then follow up/disciple.

·         Organic: We integrate the basics into our existing trainings - How to study the Bible, Who is Jesus? What does the Bible say?

-          Staff touches on basics, then for more information we partner with Bible-based churches or other mission orgs to connect our participants.

They will have another meeting in April to decide on how far the organization should take this statement. By then, Belay Rwanda staff will have finished the “ I believe” statement that we are currently doing

The board was also interested to hear that the team is doing the “I believe” statement

2.      About the office: Lise will ask at the City of Kigali one stop center about the zone map. This will help us know if our office is in a residential or commercial area?