Distribution

Distribution (North America)

Arghand North America is a far-flung team of dedicated volunteers-turned-employees who work together via email, skype and telephone to coordinate the smooth distribution of Arghand products all the way from Kandahar to our broad network of retail shops across the United States and Canada. In addition to managing these logistics, Arghand North America provides administrative, financial, technical and moral support to the Kandahar-based cooperative. It also manages and maintains Arghand Trust, the Massachusetts-based 501(c)3 whose mission is to shepherd the cooperative through its start-up and development phases toward eventual self-sufficiency.

North America Staff

Arghand Trust Board of Directors

Officers:
Sarah Chayes (President)
Jefferson Eaton (Secretary)
Pashtoon Atif (Treasurer)

Directors:
Barbara Buchan
Patricia Campbell Malone
Mary Clarke
Patricia Cooper
Dirk Jameson
Mari Oye
Catherine Parmelee

Directors cont'd:
Sultana Parvanta
Betty Jameson
Marietta Parker
Richard Parmelee
Amir Soltani

Honorary Board Members:
Mary Gerace
Jean Menapace
Shafiullah Afghan
Deb and Kent Sander
Victoria Wallins

Sarah Chayes: Founder and President: Sarah founded the Arghand Cooperative in May 2005 by creating its products and training a group of Kandaharis in an assortment of production techniques. She oversees all aspects of the production facility and currently divides her time between Kandahar and Kabul, where she advises a selection of NATO officers. A former journalist for National Public Radio, Sarah is also the author of Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afganistan After the Taliban. (Penguin)

Jennie Green: Director of North American Operations: Jennie joined Arghand in the winter of 2006, just as its products were being introduced to the US and Canada markets. She manages all relationships with retailers and donors, maintains the non-profit branch of the organization and is responsible for financial management. Jennie travels to Kandahar regularly and participates in all strategic planning and development activities. She lives on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

Anne-Marie Comeau: Canada Coordinator: Anne-Marie learned about Arghand as a retail customer who volunteered to create a small warehouse in her hometown of La Tuque, QC from which all Canadian distribution now takes place. She joined Arghand in a more official capacity last year and her role has since expanded from receiving and shipping into other aspects of the process like sourcing supplies and English to French translations.

Pashtoon Atif: US/Afghanistan Coordinator/Liaison: A Kandahar native, Pashtoon has worked for the Italian NGO, COOPI in Kandahar and Darfur, and as an interpreter. He assisted with the start-up and development phases of Arghand before becoming a more active participant who provides leadership to the Kandahar office when he is home from Tufts University where he is currently working toward his bachelors degree. Pashtoon is an integral participant in all aspects of cooperative business.

Cathy Parmelee and Rip Parmelee: US Shipping and Distribution: Long time Concord residents, Cathy and Rip first learned about Sarah's Afghanistan activities when they heard her speak in their area. After following her work for several years, they volunteered to turn the bottom portion of their home into a shipping and receiving warehouse, from which all US product distribution currently takes place. They both joined Arghand's Board of Directors in January, 2009.