UNIBOA SEVENTEENTH NATIONAL CONVENTION - 2007
May 25 - 27, 2007
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
The 17th National Convention of the United Bassa Organizations in the Americas (UNIBOA) was held at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Woonsocket, Rhode Island from May 25 - 27, 2007. The Convention was climaxed by a Grand Dance led by the Bassa Music Phenomenon, Sundaygar Dear-boy (a.k.a Michael Sundaygar Davies) in the jam packed Holiday Inn Express' Banquet Hall followed by UNIBOA's Annual Banquet. The closing hour was an anxious moment and dramatic, also tense with the announcement of the winners of the National Election that was held earlier that evening. Also historic was the crowning of UNIBOA's ever youngest National Queen, Miss Dell Ottoh of Rhode Island.
CONVENTION THEME:
"CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME"
(Soh zah gbowihn baah. - Bassa)"Soh zah gbowihn baah" is a Bassa parable which signifies that in order to achieve great things or expand to greater heights, one has to exemplify his or her talents and potentials from his or her own home or environment. - Joseph Sinyan
Delegates of the 17th National Convention of UNIBOA arrived at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Friday, May 25, 2007 between 5:00 P.M and 7:00 PM. There were some late arrivals because of heavy traffic into Rhode Island for the holiday weekend. A welcome reception and fellowship were held 7:00 P.M by the host chapter at the home of Mrs. Martha Gargar-Charley, President of the host chapter. A big crowd of delegates from South and North New Jersey chapters, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Washington DC, New York, Rhode Island, and Philadelphia were present.
OPENING SECTION AND CEREMONY
On Saturday, May 26th, the 17th National Convention was declared officially opened by the National President, Mr. Joseph D. Dinyan, presiding. The official ceremony commenced at 11:15 AM with the calling of the Grand Bassatic Herald by Mr. Z. Jerome Gayman of the North Jersey Chapter and M.C of the ceremony. The Bassa Herald was preceded by singing of the Liberian National Anthem, “The Lone Star Forever.” The invocation was done by Ma Photoe Joe of the Washington, D. C. Chapter with a traditional Bassa gospel mantra titled “If God is on our side, there is not one who can fight us.” The invocation was followed by the official roll call by Mr. Philip Vambran of the D.C. Chapter who was the proxy of the National Secretary who was absent at this convention. After the roll call, delegates from each chapter of the union were registered by their respective presidents. It was then announced that the state of Georgia and North Carolina were chapters absent at the 2007 National Convention.WELCOME REMARKS
The welcome remarks were made by the host chapter's President and Coordinator of the 2007 National Convention, Mrs. Martha Gargar-Charley. In her welcome remarks, she said she was very proud to be the President of UBARI and the host of UNIBOA National convention for the second time. In her remarks she told the delegates “…let us put Christ first, that he may direct our path for a leadership with trust and honesty. Let our ideas be meaningful that others may be beneficial and carry on a career. Men and women who are willing to help but the skills and the knowledge have put limits on what they can do”. She also said that the goal of the convention is to educate nurses that will serve our people and bring life and hope where they are needed. She urged every member of UNIBOA to support the Nursing Program to show our people that help is nearby. She thanks the organizers of the convention and all the members of her chapter for their leadership and support given her during the years of her presidency, especially the planning of the convention. Also, those members who worked very hard to make the convention successful. Above all, she gives thank to the Almighty God for his guidance through out the year. She urged every delegate to fee at home and enjoy every moment of the convention and is always welcome to Rhode Island. Mrs. Charley remarks were followed by a selection, "My God is real" rendered by Mrs. Josephine Coleman-Kpoto of the Washington D.C. Chapter.KEYNOTE ADDRESS
After the selection by Mrs. Kpoto, Miss Frances Portter of Washington D.C. introduced the keynote Speaker, the Rev. Dr. Bishop John G. Innis of the Liberia United Methodist Church. The Bishop received rousing ovation as he walked to the lectern to deliver his keynote address.The Bishop spoke on the theme, “Charity begins at home”. From the very beginning of his speech, the Bishop stressed the importance of unity among the Bassa people, and through unity, UNIBOA can do great things and achieve its goal in helping our people in Liberia. The Bishop urged citizens of the Bassa land to assist their home land, and they should not forget from where they come. He said we Bassa people should know our root because we have a future. He further said that we should develop new hearts for our counties and that new heart is desired of all Bassa citizens, so when we return to our counties our people will be proud of us for returning to where we came from.
The Bishop told the delegates that he and his wife built a school in his home town with 400 students attending classes. He also said that a plan is in place to build a clinic next year.
On a strong and courageous advice to his audience, the Bishop reiterated that “we must be a great community through unity and that through unity we can succeed in reaching our goals”. The Bishop then ended his speech with two selections entitled “No defeat” and “He is Lord”, at which time the audience stood up and sang along with the Bishop. When the songs ended followed by big applause from the audience, Mr. Onisemus Gayemen, of the New York Chapter stepped to the lectern and rendered a selection with more applause and then the Bishop retired from the lectern.
PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
The National President, Mr. Joseph D. Sinyan, before going further into his state of the union speech, first he thanked his entire administration and their families and welcomes everybody to the 17th National Convention. He said he was very grateful to Mrs. Martha Gar-gar Charley, President of the Rhode Island Chapter and Coordinator for the 2007 National Convention, Mr. Clarence Brown, Convention Chairman, and all committee members for their dedication and commitment in the planning of the 17th National Convention. He also expressed his appreciations for job well done.
The President began his speech by acknowledging with honor the presence of the keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Bishop John G. Innis who had taken off from his busy schedule to come to the convention to speak to us on the theme of the convention. He also was thankful to Mr. Michael Sundaygar Davies (a.k.a Sundaygar Dearboy) for accepting our invitation to come to the convention to grace the occassion with some of his hot songs.
He highlighted his administration's two major projects during his term in office. He mentioned other achievements made by his administration within two years. He told the delegates of the failure his predecessors in UNIBOA had done as compared to the two years in relation to UNIBOA 17th years of existence. He informed the delegates that UNIBOA needs leaders who will do and not undo. His address was center on past history, credibility, accountability, and transparency. (Read full text of address)
PRESENTATION
After the President had completed his speech, The Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh presented a gift (clock) to Bishop Innis on behalf of UNIBOA.The other presentation was a paper on the efforts being made of the eradication of malaria in Liberia. Because of other prior engagement, Dr. Somah was not present to do the presentation himself, so he deputized his Regional Representative-LIHEDE, Mrs. Henrietta White-Holder who delivered the paper and spoke on the efforts being made to eradicate malaria in Liberia.
RECOGNITION OF FORMER PRESIDENTS OF UNIBOA
Mr. Clarence Brown and Mr. Jerome Gayman of the North Jersey Chapter and M.C. for the occassion, were called to recognize all former presidents of UNIBOA. Mr. Gayman thanked the honored guests that with their leaderships and commitments to UNIBOA during their tenures of service were worth recognizing.BOARD CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS
The Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh began her remarks by recognizing all the women of UNIBOA that were present at the section. She said that there has been a rocky road between the Board and the administration during her tenure as the Board Chair, but they worked it out during the past Board Meeting in Detroit, and if it did not work then, they should put their feelings away and work together for the sake of UNIBOA at this convention. (Read remarks)THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSORY SERVICE
On Sunday, May 27, 2007, the delegates attended a Thanksgiving and Intercessory Service at 10:00 AM at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Providence, Rhode Island. The Guest Preacher was the Rev. Emmett Goodridge. The Bassa Gospel singing group, JCCA from Pennsylvania joined by Sundaygar Dearboy were the guest singers during the service.CHAPTERS REPORTS
Into the second business section, a very important and critical decision on the date change of the National Convention was a brought up. The President wanted to bring the date-change issue back on the convention floor for discussion. But since the date-change issue was discussed at the last convention and a final decision was not reached, and the issue was placed in the hands of all chapter heads to take to their various chapters for their consideration, it was not necessary to discuss the issue again. The general assembly told the President to ask only chapter heads to vote to change or not to change the convention date according to their chapters' decision, or to include their decision in their chapter reports. The majority of the chapters agreed not to change the present convention date. Therefore, the convention date remains the same.During the second section, the chapters heads were giving the opportunity to deliver their chapter reports, which outlined progress reports from the various chapters and recommendations brought to the convention. The recommendations were referred to the conference resolution committee, headed by Mr. Victor B. Smith of the North Jersey Chapter and former General Secretary, who had volunteered to serve as Resolution Chairman. Because of lack of time and the National Election which were to be held, the committee was not able to submit its finding to the administration for adoption. It was instructed that the committee present its findings at another forum which copies will be sent to all chapters for the record
NATIONAL ELECTIONS
The 2007 National Elections headed by the Election Commission Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Gbapaywhea was held right after the conclusion of the second and final business section was adjourned, followed by a prayer given by the National Chaplain of UNIBOA. The electoral process began when registered voters from the various chapters were queued by chapter to be called by Election Committee staffer to cast their votes. The results of the election were not given immediately, rather later, after the National Queen Contest, Banquet, award presentations, performances by Sundaygar Dearboy and other activities of the evening. When the results of the elections were later announced by the Elections Commission Chairman, Mr. Benjamin those elected include Mr. Alfred Dousuah as National President, Mr. Mandeh as Vice President, Mr. Ernest W. Simmons as National Treasurer (incumbent), and Mr. James Kelly as Financial Secretary. Thereafter, the results of the elections were presented to the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh and subsequently certified by the Board of Directors. Read acceptance remarks
NATIONAL AWARDS
National awards were presented by the President, Mr. Joseph Sinyan and the Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh on behalf of UNIBOA. Those awarded for their dedication and leadership were Presidents of the local chapters, Mr. Emmanuel Nuku Reeves, donor to the Nursing Program and Mr. Joseph M. N. Gbadyu, former Superintendent of Grand Bassa County and Elder of UNIBOA.A certificate of recognition from UNIBOA was awarded to Sundaygar Dearboy and was presented to the Bassa music icon by the President-Elect, Mr. Alfred Dousuah on behalf of the organization..
NATIONAL QUEEN CONTEST
The convention held its National Queen contest on Sunday, May 27, 2007. Contesting chapters were Washington D.C., North Jersey, South Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. The queen from Rhode Island chapter won the contest and UNIBOA New National Queen for 2007 is Ms. Dell Ottoh. Many thanks to all the beautiful women who participated in this process and bravo to the winning queen for her crown and welcome on board.VOTE OF THANKS
Many thanks to our supporters and members for their contributions to this convention. Most importantly, to Mrs. Martha Gargar-Charley, President of the Rhode Island Chapter and all members of the Convention Planning Committee. Our thanks and appreciation go to Rev. Dr. Bishop John G. Innis, our keynote speaker and Mr. Michael Davies (a.k.a. Sundaygar Dearboy), who came from Liberia to perform for us. We also extend our thanks and appreciations to JCCA choir for the wonderful performance at the Intercssory Service at the church. We wish all of you well and see you in Minnesota next year.Follow other activities of the convention:
Tracy Gbapaywhea shows her musical talent Sundaygar Dearboy rocks the house
