Project Harvest Hope
Promoting economic development in Transylvania
Menu:
Project Harvest Hope Pro Homoród
How the Foundation Came into Being
by Csaba Orban
The idea of doing something for the village of my parents and grandparents, for the region surrounded by these villages, kept engaging my attention already in the period between '93-'94, as I traveled as a CATV-system planner throughout the whole Transylvania and had to face the facts. After the elections in '96 the idea became a wish and I began to seek ways of its realization. Since the spring of 1997 I have resolutely become acquainted with the reality here, I have analyzed the given and potential possibilities profoundly. By the end of the summer I have been able to put my goal into shape and, at the same time, a conception was born, suggesting solutions to the problems arising here.
Since I did not possess the necessary funds, as a way of withdrawal and operation of capital, within the bounds of possibility of the Romanian economic jurisdiction and consciously of my purpose, I found the institution of the foundation the most suitable.
At the end of September I visited in this matter Kelemen Levente, whom I had not known personally, but I was familiar with his activity. I got to know his mentality, his attitude to the problems here and his concrete plans. Our conceptions had very much in common and, after squaring matters, we drew up the "DECLARATION OF INTENTION", which was to represent the basis of our following activity. At the same time we formulated the short-term STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, so that we could begin the work. This was followed by the drawing up of the foundation's STATUTE, the definition of its agricultural activity and the formulation of the BUSINESS PLAN connected to the latter.
Since the non-profit organization (we have appointed its activity and set its objectives) adequately covers, and more than that, exceeds the domain of the Romanian law from 1924 referring to the legal existence and operation of the foundations (which is out-of-date and contains many restrictive paragraphs) in the matter of registration and legalization of the foundation we contacted and asked for help of the county senator of Hargita, Hajdu Gabor.
Through his instrumentality we have obtained from the DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, the MINISTRIES of AGRICULTURE and TOURISM the necessary authorizations, which made possible for the county court of Hargita to license the activity of the foundation.
I shall write a few lines about the structure and operation of the foundation. The structure of the foundation is presented in the STATUTE, its operation proceeds in legal form, according to the principles formulated in the STATUTE and the regulations of the "OPERATIONAL- AND INNER CODE" (which I am now working on).
The decisive- and leading organ of the foundation, the BOARD OF TRUSTEES, is made up of 7 members:
- Kelemen Levente, president,
- David P. Keyes, representative of "PROJECT HARVEST HOPE", with right of veto,
- Denes Odon, Unitarian businessman, residing in Udvarhely
- Balazs Sandor, Unitarian minister of Szentgerice, born in Karacsonfalva,
- Benedek Mihaly, Unitarian minister of Bozod, born in Ujfalu,
- Ilkei Arpad, Unitarian minister of Ujfalu,
- Makkai Sandor, young man of Okland, works in Udvarhely as a mechanical engineer.
The executive organ of the foundation is the ADMINISTRATION, which has momentarily 2 members:
- Orbán Csaba, administrator,
- Kelemen Eva, secretary.
The control commission of the foundation, the CENSORIAL BODY, has 2 members:
- Lajos Agnes, notary as legal censor,
- Balazsi Mozes, economist as financial censor.
The goal-oriented activities of the foundation are formulated in the STATUTE. The social utility and vitality of the foundation are determined by the effectiveness of its activities. The foundation may establish organs to carry out these activities. The existence and operation of these organs are circumscribed by the regulations included in the OPERATIONAL- AND INNER CODE. The main organ of the foundation is the BODY OF SPONSORS, the establishment of which is directed by the STATUTE. Member of this corporation may become any physical or legal person who agrees with the aims of the foundation and is willing to support it either morally or financially. Some of its members may even become-as a result of the elections held every fourth year-members of the ADVISORY BOARD.