Re: Regarding TEDxRutgers 2013

[Sohaib Iqbal]

Dean Matsuda:

  TEDxRutgers team is very excited and thankful for a generous funding on such a short notice. We would like to assure you that TEDxRutgers 2013 will be a great event. We would like to invite you to the event and witness it yourself. 

I had a few questions for you:

1- I would like to know if there are any restrictions on the money apart from the RUSA guidelines? 

2- Is this money reimbursable? 

3- I would like to know when can we access this money by? Our Sabo Account# 142.

Thank you once again. I am convinced that you highly support great ideas and efforts.

Best Regards,

Sohaib

On Tue, Apr 9, 2013 at 8:58 PM, Matt Matsuda <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu> wrote:

Dear Sohaib,

 

Thanks for your message, and for pulling together this ambitious TEDx program. The Deans and I are still negotiating commitments, but I think it reasonably safe to say that we will come up with $5,000. If this will help, let me know--I would still like a response as to how you will, in general, adjust our projected budget if you do not make your target of $12,000 (quite a sum on short notice).

 

You can acknowledge the support of the College Avenue Campus Dean, The Cook Campus Dean, and the Busch Campus Dean.

 

You will, of course, need to provide us with a report afterwards about the event and how the funds were effectively used to integate students, faculty, staff, and the community in a scholarly project.

 

Take care and best wishes,

Matt Matsuda

---

From: "Sohaib Iqbal" <sohay...@gmail.com>
To: "honorsdean" <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu>

Cc: "Amy Chen" <a.s.c...@gmail.com>, "Taha Najmuddin" <taha...@gmail.com>, "GrishmaDesai" <gudy...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 1:33:25 PM

Subject: Re: Regarding TEDxRutgers 2013

Dean Matsuda: 

  I will appreciate whatever amount you can provide us. We were able to raise $2,000 yesterday from SEBS. Please let me know how much you can provide us and by when?

Thanks!

Sohaib

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 9, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Matt Matsuda <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu> wrote:

Hi Sohaib,

 

Thanks again for your note. I did send a question also to Amy Chen about where you would trim the budget if you can't raise $12,000 in a week.

 

Any ideas? My colleagues and I can help out, but not $12,000, maybe a fraction of that.

 

Helpful?

Matt Matsuda

---

From: "Sohaib Iqbal" <sohay...@gmail.com>
To: "honorsdean" <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu>
Cc: "Amy Chen" <a.s.c...@gmail.com>, "TEDx Rutgers" <tedxr...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2013 3:46:48 PM
Subject: Re: Regarding TEDxRutgers 2013

Hi Dean Matsuda,

   

    We are trying to raise $12,300. Attached is the breakdown of the budget. If you have further questions, Amy Chen <a.s.c...@gmail.com>, one of our organizers, would love to answer them. I have copied her here as well.

   I say we "pick our audience" because there is an application process - meaning, folks who like to attend TEDxRutgers go to our website <www.tedxrutgers.com> to apply! There is no fee. Application is open to the entire Rutgers community and the general public. Typically, our applicants are comprised of students, faculty/staff, alumni, and families/friends of the three. In the application, we ask the applicants about their accomplishments, and wishes for a better world. We also ask them to provide their major, and affiliation with Rutgers so we can have a diverse pool of people. Based on a well-written narrative, we select the applicants and send them an invite with a ticket (a confirmation with QR Code) to the event. The invitees bring their tickets for us to scan at the check-in counter. Applicants with not-so-well written narratives are put on the waiting list. We also provide live stream feature on our website that anyone around the world can watch. Recorded videos are made available on the TEDxTalks Youtube channel <http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks/> after the event.

TEDxRutgers 2013 list of speakers is available here: <http://www.tedxrutgers.com/speakers/>

Here are some of our videos from previous years:

<http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks/search?query=tedxrutgers>

1- TEDxRutgers - Abby Kohut - Small Ripples Make Big Waves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJqhDj1q0Kk

2- Thinking About the Unsinkable: Edward Tenner at TEDxRutgers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSWptlrov5Q

I have also attached our flier and banner!

Any assistance and/or funding will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Sohaib Iqbal
President - Rutgers International Student Association
Operations Manager - TEDxRutgers
732-666-7855

  

On Sun, Apr 7, 2013 at 10:08 AM, Matt Matsuda <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu> wrote:

Hi Sohaib,

Thanks for your note. I wonder if you can make a few more clarifications. You give the current budget and indicate that you've spent more than half--but you don't say what your total budget actually is. That is, how much are you trying to raise? I could only make a modest contribution in any case, but this seems to be open-ended in terms of a total, so it's not clear. There are some things in a budget that I might be able to help with (that are academic) and some where I cannot.

Also, you say "we pick our audience" and I'm still trying to understand who can actually attend. Is the program open to all Rutgers students, faculty, and staff in addition to the general public?

Can you send me a copy of the line-up or program of speakers? The description here has not so far made clear who is actually presenting.

Take care and thanks,
Matt Matsuda

---

From: "Sohaib Iqbal" <sohay...@gmail.com>
To: "honorsdean" <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu>
Cc: "Amy Chen" <a.s.c...@gmail.com>, "Grishma Desai" <gudy...@gmail.com>, "TEDx Rutgers" <tedxr...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2013 6:12:22 PM

Subject: Re: Regarding TEDxRutgers 2013

Hi again,

  Thank you for getting back so quick. We currently have $5,900 in our budget, out of which more than half has already been spent. We still need to order food, lighting, stage decor, program guides, and feedback forms. Our event is on April 14th. So to answer your question, we need support in shape of "funding". As I mentioned earlier, we spoke to RUSA Allocations and hoped that they will boost our funding, but recently they informed us that they ran out of funds.

  

    TEDxRutgers is a huge event with over 650 applicants. We pick our audience which brings me to your next concern about "limited participation". The only thing that is "limited" here is seats (capacity of 450), everything else about TEDx is UNLIMITED, unlimited ideas, fun etc. Our audience not only includes Rutgers folks, but also thinkers and doers from all over New Jersey. It will be a shame if we had great speakers, amazing theme, but poor lighting or food!

  If you decide to fund us, we promise to give you one of the BIGGEST events this semester.

Thanks for your consideration!

Best,

Sohaib Iqbal
President - Rutgers International Student Association
Operations Manager - TEDxRutgers
732-666-7855

  

On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 9:23 PM, Matt Matsuda <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu> wrote:

Hi Sohaib,

Thanks for your note. Yes, it is always engaging to hear how well the TEDx programs have been doing under your leadership at Rutgers.

This is an interesting question and I'll give the customary first response: "it depends."

What sort of support are you seeking, and what is the structuring of the event? I recall that we had some challenges in previous rounds because I support programs that are open to the university and something about the TEDx charter suggested (or so I thought) that the program had to be strictly limited in participation, in which case there would be issues about what kind of support might be offered. Since the Deans are not a "bank," we need to know how we are being engaged here.

Let me know what you have in mind. Keep up the good work.
Take care,
Matt Matsuda

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sohaib Iqbal" <sohay...@gmail.com>
To: honor...@sas.rutgers.edu
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2013 2:06:37 PM
Subject: Regarding TEDxRutgers 2013

Dear Dean Matsuda,
  It is always a pleasure getting in touch with you. Our TEDx Rutgers conference last year was amazing. We had great speakers, great food and awesome turnout!
  This year, we are running into a little bit of a trouble. We do not have enough funding. It is almost half of what we had last year, unfortunately! RUSA asked us to appeal and we did but chances of us getting the funding is quite low.
   We need the funding as our number of applicants have exceeded 650 and we can only accept 450! Is there any way your department can allow us funds or any help in that regard?
The entire team of TEDxRutgers shall highly appreciate your assistance.

Thanks and Best regards,

Sohaib Iqbal
President - Rutgers International Student Association
Operations Manager - TEDxRutgers
732-666-7855


Sent from my iPhone

--
Sohaib Iqbal

(732) 666-7855

Rutgers Business School 2013

President - Rutgers International Student Association

Organizer - TEDxRutgers

--
Sohaib Iqbal

(732) 666-7855

Rutgers Business School 2013

President - Rutgers International Student Association

Organizer - TEDxRutgers

--
Sohaib Iqbal

(732) 666-7855

Rutgers Business School 2013

President - Rutgers International Student Association

Organizer - TEDxRutgers

[Cathy Guo]

Sohay,

This is wonderfully amazing! Thank you and everyone on the team for your efforts reaching out academic deans and Rutgers Allocation Board, etc for more funding opportunities.

Rocking,

Cathy

--

Qi (Cathy) Guo | LinkedIn

Rutgers University - Jan/13
Communication & Economics

C: +1 (830) 931-7088

E: guoq...@gmail.com

[Sohaib Iqbal]

Hi,

  To answer your question: 

We initially aimed to raise $12,000 and I gave you the breakdown of how we want to spend the money. Although, we were not able to raise $12,000, we managed to raise $7,000 from you and SEBS governing council. 

   In regards to the remaining $5,000 adjustment, we cut down our budget for multiple entrees. We contacted all the board members from previous TEDxRutgers (those that have graduated as well) for any banners, logos, posters etc. they may have. That is how we managed to save money. We also found a better deal in terms of lighting so that is another cost saving.

   Hope I addressed all your concerns.

Best, 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 10, 2013, at 8:43 AM, Matt Matsuda <honor...@sas.rutgers.edu> wrote:

Hi Sohaib,

 

Thanks for your note. We will authorize that the funds be transferred directly to your SABO account unless we are otherwise advised.

 

Regarding your question on restrictions, what do you have in mind? I'd ask the opposite: tell us how you would use the money, keeping in mind that the Deans are an academic engagement office and like to see uses that directly apply to scholarly development and community building. That is, we don't really think of ourselves as putting up thousands for decor and incidentals. Let us know.

 

Can you clarify what you mean by reimbursable? Our intention would be to transfer the funds to SABO; you would handle your own book-keeping.

 

I look forward to your responses, and also to the question I have now asked twice: how will you adjust your $12,000 budget projection if you do not meet that goal. We need to know this program is viable and scholarly going forward, or the funds will not be released.

 

Take care,

[Sohaib Iqbal]

Sent from my iPhone

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