Mark Agwonah Fund -- discussion

[Guest]

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[Jill]

     Just read Oli's post.  I agree about the ANK loans.
     When I said I voted for using the money in the account to make loans NOW,
     instead of later,
      I want to clarify:

      I just mean sooner than later.   
      I think it would be good to hold at least some money back,
      even if it's over a period of a couple of months or more,
      to be able to loan to ANK people and to any other "especially" compelling, interesting, desperate, whatever, Entrepreneurs
      who show up.

      Mark's story is NOT going to lose its poignancy any time soon.
   

[wind5001]

Jill,

I just want to give you a  right now! 

Here are my thoughts on your positions:

ad 1) Mark Agwonah Memorial Fund
This is what I tried to do...if you look at the lender page name "http://www.kiva.org/lender/markagwonahmemoria3530" you'll see that I tried. BUT: The Number of letters is limited to 27, so I had to change that to simply saying Mark Agwonah Fund...I would have liked the memorial in, too.

ad 2) Time for using the funds
We have a pretty full pocket right now, 425 $ if I saw correctly. I think we can invest in quite some businesses now (because, as you are rightly pointing out, the time to act is NOW and I hate to see the money sitting in the account while people need it), but stretching it out a little has its charms, too, because we will be able to pick businesses that are really in a way connected to Mark. Again, balance is the key.

ad 3) Long-term loans
I stated what I think of those. I really like your idea of large size loans, so that more people will see Mark on the lender section. We should definitely check that out!

ad 4) I sure would hope that Mark's mother will get a chance to see what is happening to her son's memory.

Oli

[Jill]

Hey Oli,
    I saw that you just now changed it --

    That was while I was in the midst of trying to count the letters in
 
    "In Memory Of Mark Agwonah"       
   
   which might also work as the name of the fund.
    I'd say it might be a good thing to get input from other KFs (sorry, Henry, I don't  remember your Kivanese for this)

   as to what they think would be best:
  -- Mark Agwonah Fund  (the original)
  -- MarkAgwonahMemorialFund  (the current)
  -- In Memory Of Mark Agwonah  (a possibility)
  -- Some Other Idea?

    and how many angels did you say were dancing on the head of that pin.....?

[wind5001]

Will have to ask Thomas Aquinas about it...

I have changed it again, Diane and I decided to make you happy! 

I like "In Memory of Mark Agwonah", BUT: I checked again and it is only 24 letters they allow. In memory is 25, if I counted correctly...what if we use the Latin phrase: "In Memoriam Mark Agwonah" - 24 letters! A scholastic scholar couldn't have made it better 

I did not like to write it without spaces...that looked too crumpy and not dignified enough.

Oli

[Diane R]

It is now "Mark Agwonah Memorial" -- I like that, and I hope others do also?


--Diane. (in consultation with Oli)

[Robert]

ad 2) Time for using the funds

Money in the Kiva Credit account remains invisible. The sooner it is used, the more often it can be re-lent and spread the message about Mark. I suggest to keep just a very small amount for an eventual "emergency" loan.

@ Oli, meinen Nachbarn: Das ging ja schnell. Danke schön!

Robert

[Diane R]

The Mark Agwonah Fund has made its next $25 loan, to an entrepreneur in Kenya.

You can see the details about  Susan Muthoni Ng'ang'a  in the "history" thread posting  HERE.  Oli told me this morning in the chat room that he was drawn to her story and sincerity (as was WF Glenda, I see!), and her wanting to educate her children seemed to recall Mark for him.  (I found it easy to agree, especially since my younger son works in a yogurt shop! )

We realize that this is another 22-months loan term, and hesitated slightly before funding this loan, but decided we had sufficient funds to add this one more.  We will now pause briefly to see if Action Now: Kenya adds any loans this cycle, along with any other deserving applicants (of course they are *all* deserving!).  As before, if you see one you are partial to, bring it up here or send us PMs and we will get right on it.

Thanks, everyone!  We have already contributed to six new loans in Mark's memory.  I hope his family and friends do get to learn someday about this legacy Mark has left.

--Diane.

[Kay]

Excellent choice!

[wind5001]

@ Oli, meinen Nachbarn: Das ging ja schnell. Danke schön!

Robert

Merci beaucoup! J'ai beaucoup de très bien mémoires de Luxembourg!

[wind5001]

Diane,

I just saw, that the photos of loans #2 and #3 were changed...I always find that a little irritating...but I hope there's nothing to worry about!

Oli