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Required: at least one annual lawn program.Required: Hall of Nations hosting, with frequency pending confirmation but believed to be roughly monthly for new houses without cottages.Optional: December Nights.Optional: Ethnic Food Fair.Optional: school visit hosting on fourth Tuesdays.Optional: independent events anywhere outside HPR, subject to normal nonprofit, venue, and city rules.
Use HPR for visibility, credibility, shared events, and cultural presence in Balboa Park.Use independent House of Afghanistan programming for larger ambitions, offsite fundraising, youth programs, university partnerships, lectures, galas, and major community events.Do not limit the organization’s imagination to HPR events alone. HPR is one platform, not the entire strategy.Document everything learned so future board members are not forced to relearn the same system from scratch.
Understanding HPR
Orientation chapter for House of Afghanistan board members and volunteers
Working status
This chapter is based on one onboarding phone call and should be treated as a working guide, not final legal, tax, insurance, food-safety, or permit advice. Exact fees, contacts, deadlines, and rules should be verified with current HPR leadership, the City of San Diego, and the appropriate compliance professionals before each event.
Purpose of this document
This document explains the basic operating environment that the House of Afghanistan is joining through the House of Pacific Relations. The phone call made clear that new houses need more than access to a shared Google Drive. They need a plain-English map of how HPR works, who controls what, what is required, what is optional, and where the House of Afghanistan has independence.
The most important concept is separation of authority. Some activities happen under the HPR umbrella and its rules. Other activities belong fully to the House of Afghanistan as its own nonprofit organization. Confusing these two categories can lead to poor planning, missed opportunities, or unnecessary restrictions.
The operating model
HPR functions like a village of cultural houses and cottages. Some organizations have physical cottages. Newer organizations may not yet have a cottage, so they participate through shared spaces, lawn programs, Hall of Nations hosting, and HPR-wide events. House of Afghanistan is part of this system while also remaining its own independent nonprofit.
Area
What it means for House of Afghanistan
HPR relationship
House of Afghanistan participates as an HPR house and must follow HPR requirements for HPR-controlled spaces and events.
Independent nonprofit status
House of Afghanistan may also run its own programs, fundraisers, and community activities outside HPR.
Cottage status
Because House of Afghanistan does not yet have a cottage, shared spaces such as the Hall of Nations are especially important.
Public mission
The public-facing purpose is cultural education, community engagement, and representation of Afghan heritage.
There are no rows in this table
Required vs optional participation
The call separated HPR activity into required responsibilities and optional opportunities. Required activities are needed to remain active and in good standing. Optional opportunities may be useful for visibility, fundraising, and relationship-building, but they are not mandatory.
Governance and decision flow
HPR has an executive structure. The president is the central authority, and vice presidents or secretaries manage specific operational areas. New houses should avoid assuming that one person controls everything. The practical approach is to know which role owns which question.
Role or person
Primary area mentioned in the call
Joe Mazares - HPR President
Special events, larger political issues, park issues, and overall HPR leadership.
Jada Kadri - 1st Vice President
Hall of Nations scheduling and Hall of Nations-related issues. Also connected to December Nights Spirit Garden certifications.
2nd Vice President
Lawn programs, stage reservations, and HPR parking passes.
Shanti Hafshi - Recording Secretary
Food handler certificates, records, leadership updates, and school visit coordination.
Mickey - Corresponding Secretary
Mail, new-house communication, and hosting logs.
Anthony Harrington
City parks and recreation contact for broader park questions and District 3 matters.
Viviana Zamora
City special event permit contact referenced for special event permits.
There are no rows in this table
Delegates meetings and procedure
Delegates meetings are conducted formally, including references to Robert’s Rules of Order. This means House of Afghanistan representatives should expect a more structured meeting environment than an informal nonprofit committee. Motions, records, votes, responsibilities, and lines of succession matter.
For new board members, the practical implication is simple: attend consistently, take notes, learn who owns each operational area, and document decisions. Many misunderstandings can be prevented by keeping a written internal record of what was said, by whom, and what follow-up is needed.
How House of Afghanistan should use this system
The best posture is to treat HPR as both a compliance environment and a relationship environment. The rules matter, but relationships also matter. Experienced cottages know how to run events, raise money, avoid fines, borrow equipment, and navigate informal village dynamics.
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