Friday, October 20, 2006

CHAFF Newsletter 02

NOTE: More news about the CHAFF Help Fund; Great cars on offer at special prices - no brokers involved

CHAFF Newsletter Issue 02


Thursday, October 12, 2006
Dear friends,


  1. Divali Greetings to all

  2. Great picture of Isaac

  3. Cars on Offer - No brokers involved

  4. CHAFF Help Fund

  5. This Sunday's Meeting

  6. Last Saturday's Programme Video

  7. November 4th Special Programme

  8. CHAFF Logo


  • 1. Divali Greetings to all


  • Saturday is Divali in India, the festival of lights and the festival celebrating Good Fortune to all. It is the largest of Indian Festivals. So may I extend Divali Greetings and Good Fortune to all Chaff participants.
  • 2. Great picture of Isaac


  • Today's Kaleva (Friday) has an interview with Chaff participant, Isaac Sundarajan, CEO of Codenomicon Oy, with a great picture of him.
  • 3. Cars on Offer - No brokers involved


  • I have pleasure in informig you of some really good cars that are offer from Chaff participants - in different price groiups:
    1. 1989 SAAB, 1980 cc, Great condition - Price Euro 2200
    2. 1995 Ford Mondale - Superb condition - Price Euro 3500 - SOLD
    3. 2002 Volvo S40 1.9 Diesel, dark Blue Metallic, only 122 000 km on the clock, with new winter tyres. Price is negotiable around Euro 15 000
    4. 2004 Volkswagen with only 25000 km on the clock. hardly used. Price is negotiable around Euro 21 000

  • 4. CHAFF Help Fund


  • Would you believe it that Muhammed Yunus and the Grameen Bank from Bangladesh received the Nobel Peace Prize THIS YEAR for doing what we are doing.
    And they have done it successfully for the last 30 years!
    I have modeled the Chaff Help Fund very very closely to how the Grameen Bank has operated, except that the Grameen Bank mainly helped poor womenfolk. I operated my private Trade Bank of Oulu with which I helped many many foreigners for the last 20 years here in Oulu. (I terminated my philanthropic private banking operations about 5 years ago. There was not a single default during all the time I operated the bank.)
    The response to running the CHAFF Help Fund has been warm - not quite hot, and certainly not bubbling with enthusiasm.
    That was to be expected.
    People like to receive help when they are in deep trouble. Yet, most find it difficult to give something concrete to help others who are in deep trouble. They harbour a degree of mistrust about someone crying for help!
    However, we have received enough support so as to say that the CHAFF Help Fund can be now be allowed to be implemented.
    I received several useful suggestions on how to run the CHAFF Help Fund.
    The Basic Rules suggested for the CHAFF Help Fund are as follows.
    1. To receive financial help from the CHAFF Help Fund, one must be a “contributor” to the fund.
    2. To receive financial assistance, one must have been a contributor for a minimum of 8 weeks prior to application to the fund.
    3. The level of financial assistance possible will be a multiple of the level of contribution at the time of eligibility. The multiple factor will be dependent on the amount of money available in the fund at any time. (e.g.. if you have contributed Euro 50 and want financial assistance 8 weeks after this amount is shown in your credit, you will be entitled to a maximum of Euro 400 of financial assistance if the multiple factor at that time is 5.)
    4. The level of interest for the financial assistance will be 1% per month of the value sanctioned.
    5. The financial assistance will be strictly short term and the maximum period initially will be limited to 1 month.
    6. Interest due must be paid at the time of receiving the financial assistance, the amount being deducted prior to disbursement.
    7. Failure to repay the principal on time will be viewed as a violation of the agreement and the contributor will be barred from future financial assistance for a reasonable period.
    8. No automatic continuation of the loan will be permitted.
    9. The minimum time period between repayment and the next financial assistance application will be 8 weeks.
    10. Contributors will receive an interest of 6% per annum on their contributions. This can be credited to their account in the Chaff Help Fund or paid to them.
    11. Withdrawal of contributions with earned interest will be permitted at any time after giving 8 weeks notice.

    I would like feedback, criticism and advice on these.
  • 5. This Sunday's Meeting


  • This week's meeting is going to be interesting. It will be at 13:00 hours on Sunday 22nd October 2006 at the Pailin Restaurant, Kasarmi Area.
    Kaija is bringing 3 young guests from Russia. The buffet menu has been set by demand from some participants and includes the Thai Chicken Soup and Vegetarian Glass Noodle Salad (spiced) by popular demand.
    Look forward to seeing you there.
  • 6. Last Saturday's Programme Video


  • I managed to upload the video of last Saturday's performance by the Thai Community of Oulu at the International Festival.
    You can find the link at the Oulu Chaff Site
    It was so lovely to see so many CHAFF Particiapants at the International Evening including Matti on crutches, Pentti, Ildi and Ilari, Kerstin, Unnop and Pailin, Benjamin, etc......
  • 7. November 4th Special Programme


  • This is HOT NEWS as it has not yet been officially announced.
    I have been informed that the Thai Community in Oulu will celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival on Saturday evening, the 4th of November 2006.
    This will be strictly with tickets. The price will include a great Thai Buffet.
    The number of tickets is strictly limited. Call as soon as possible (08 - 311 6919) and inform the Restaurant if you are interested to take part.
    The location will be the premises outside the Palin Restaurant in the Kasarmi Area in a large heated tent (now that winter is setting in). During the festivities the group will carry the lighted candles for floating at the Oulu River which is about a kilometre away.
    There will be much Thai Music and Dance at the Festival which will be held in a large tent outside the restaurant.
    It will be possible to buy light beer and cider at the event.
    It promises to be even more exciting than the half hour we witnessed at the Pohjankartano.
  • 8. CHAFF Logo


  • Most of you liked the 2nd Logo which I included in the last Newsletter. But a couple of you wanted to get away from the circular design. Let us discuss this at the meeting this Sunday.

    See you all on Sunday at 13:00 hours at the Pailin Restaurant, Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area.
    Jacob Matthan
    Kampitie 6 B
    90150 Oulu
    Finland
    Tel: 041 - 7067788
    email: jmatthan@gmail.com

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