UNIBOA 20TH NATIONAL CONVENTION - 2010
May 29th - 31st, 2010
Trenton, New Jersey
CONVENTION THEME: "BAE-AH VOHN BLOJAY" - (Let's labor for our homeland)
CONVENTION SUMMARY
The 20th National Convention of the United Bassa Organization in the Americas (UNIBOA) was recently convened in Trenton, New Jersey from May 28th – 31st, 2010 with members from 9 of its 12 chapters attending the event. The convention was hosted by the South Jersey Chapter, headed by its dynamic and energetic President, Mrs Sayah A. Richardson. Mrs Richardson hails from Paynesbury, Grand Bassa County.
Delegates arrived on Friday, May 28th and attended a Welcome Reception at the home of the chapter’s President and host of the convention. Delegates were quite happy to greet each other and recall pleasantries from the last Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2009.
Mrs. A. Sayah Richardson, President of the South Jersey Chapter welcomed the delegates to the Convention and challenged them to live up to the Convention’s theme of laboring for our homeland.
In remarks, the National Convention Chairman Mr. Andrew Gursay welcomed the delegates and outlined some house-keeping issues for the good of the Assembly. He said how much we value the diversity and ideas which individual can contribute and have the opportunity to be heard. Further, We achieve performance excellence through hard work, innovation, creativity and prudent risk taking. Based on our teamwork, we would be able to accomplish our goals and be interdependent for our homeland.
Greetings were also given by Mr. James H. Page, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UNIBOA. Our association believes that this forum presents an opportunity for us to contribute to the meaningful discussions about issues that gravely affect our people in Liberia. Mr. Page continued by informing the Convention that this era of change presents excellent opportunity for all Liberians to work together in order to better serve our people. He prayed that UNIBOA will fulfill its goal of building a model Community Center in Buchanan City where we will be able to meet the enormous need of literacy and sporting activities for our youth and citizens.
In his State of the Union Address, Mr.Alfred M. Dousuah.the National President of UNIBOA informed delegates that the Union is strong, is making an impact in our communities and our voice is being heard in the United States as well our beloved homeland of Liberia. UNIBOA is now also incorporated in Liberia as a bonafide NGO. Our 20TH Annual Convention is a continuation of arming ourselves with the necessary tools to make an impact on humanity. Not only maintaining but also building a better UNIBOA remains our most important mission. The President went on to caution us that to preserve and strengthen the institution is our shared responsibility and our commitment to a better future.
The convention’s theme – “Bea-ah vohn Blojay” (Let’s labor for the homeland) - was the cornerstone of organizational meetings and community events throughout the May 28 – 31, 2010 conference. The theme questioned how much we suffered mentally for the past thirty years due to disunity? How much valuable lives were lost during that bloody period? How much money we lost and how many of our citizens left our country? So now what we need is to come together as one family and to build our beloved nation. War is over and therefore we need to keep aside petty differences and get together to build a prosperous nation.
The General Assembly (convention) is the highest decision making body in UNIBOA. Two of the plenary sections were held on Saturday, May 29th and the third was held on Sunday, May 30th, after the Worship Service with President Alfred M. Dousuah presiding and ably assisted by the National Vice President, Mr. Scott Mandeh.
Throughout the 2010 Convention, members engaged in informative workshops in which officers, delegates, and observers convened to plan organizational growth and advancement to enhance the quality of life. With chapters serving communities within the states of South Jersey, North Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan, Rhode Island, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and esota, UNIBOA is yet another example of the organization engaging in public service. initiatives focused on outreach – global and locally. Member organizations presented their reports to the General Assembly which is the highest decision making body in the organization highlighting their accomplishments, challenges and prospects.
At UNIBOA’S 20th National Convention, recommitted themselves to UNIBOA and Liberia and they were provided with an essential reflective time in which we celebrate our commitment to our organization, our beloved homeland Liberia and come forth renewed to promote the building of a new UNIBOA and new Liberia. We continue to remain constructive agents of change. Events and activities were to be positively received and supported throughout the year.
Many of us who attended these events keenly aware of the connection between addressing the most pressing needs members in the Diaspora and those in the homeland. Initiatives to raise awareness about the plight of our members in the Diaspora who are facing some health and other challenges took center stage at this year’s convention. Delegates contributed $1000 as donation to assist ailing members. UNIBOA agreed to put forward a comprehensive multi-prong approach to make education, health care and maintaining benefits to members in the Diaspora our focus. Delegates returned home equipped and energized with exciting ideas that can make a real difference in their lives, homes and communities.
One of the highlights of the Convention is the Strategy Sessions where delegates are provided the opportunities to explore subjects in great depth and maximize the impact their recommendations will have on their communities. The following Workshop Discussion Groups dialogue on how to re-direct and modify UNIBOA’s mission and purpose:
- How do we move forward in building a sustainable and vibrant UNIBOA as a non-profit 501c (3) organization in the United States?
- Identify major issues which negatively impact our growth and sustainable means of dealing with those issues.
- Considering the huge Bassa population in the United States and with less than 5% being active members in UNIBOA, what should be done to engage them?
- How can we serve our communities better?
- How can the National Queen be involved in fund-raising activities?
A Resolution Committee was appointed to determine the course of action of this deliberative session. Members of the Resolution Committee included Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh (Maryland), Mr. Benedict Roberts (Pennsylvania), Mr. Harrison Duncan (Michigan), Mr. Thompson Dahnsaw (North Jersey) and Mr. I. Ezax Smith (Maryland) as Secretary. In summary, detailed programmatic solutions were outlined for consideration by the general Assembly. Members agreed to be proactive with their concerns and called on the National Administration to redefine the mission and vision of the organization by designing, implementing and evaluation of its current programs. These resolutions were geared toward promoting the implementation of sustainable developmental and quality of life programs to bring much needed relief to members in the Diaspora as well as in Liberia.UNIBOA will continue to cultivate and harness the energies and resources of Liberians abroad to build and sustain development in the Bassa Counties.
UNIBOA’s Maryland Chapter-A Moh Bedo was selected as the venue for the 2011 National Convention. An Election Commission was appointed to conduct elections to be held in Baltimore, Maryland next year. Members of the Commission are: George Andrews (South Jersey) - Chairman, G. Walter Greenfield (Minnesota), Mangee Attia (Rhode Island), Togar Johnson and Evangeline Moore (Maryland)
Several fund-raising events took place during the Convention including a Social evening, National Raffle and UNIBOA’s signature Banquet. A memorable and motivating highlight of the 20th Annual Convention was the 2010 Banquet and Queen Contest during which Dr. Philip G. Lewis, President/CEO of Saints Theodore& Frances Preventive Medicine in New Jersey. Dr Lewis has an extensive record in the medical and environmental medicine area. He commended UNIBOA for its farsighted vision to embrace and incorporate the health awareness component to its Liberia program. He unequivocally note with gratification the trust and confidence enjoyed as an implementing partner in such national initiatives. It manifests a dawn of a new era in the organization because it challenges all Liberian organizations to face the soaring and life threatening health conditions that are overrunning the new Liberia.
ULAA’s National President Mr. Anthony Kesselly graced the occasion with his presence and made remarks. Numerous community and organizational awards were presented to individuals including Mr. Benedict Roberts from Pennsylvania and UNIBOA’s first President and former Chairman of the Board G. Walter Greenfield.
Ms. Jameselle Dukule the reigning queen from UNIBOA’s Maryland Chapter A Moh Bedo Inc. captured the crown in an exciting and competitive competition.
On Sunday, May 30th, the delegates to the Convention attended a Thanksgiving and Intercessory Service at 11:00 AM at the African United Methodist Church in Trenton. At the service, music was provided by the Joint Christian Choir Association (JCCA), which members are from the Newark, Trenton and Pennsylvania areas.
Mr. Alfred Dousuah was introduced to the congregation as President of the Bassa Organization who was visiting with them with delegates from various states. The President was then given the opportunity to make remarks on behalf of UNIBOA.
The convention activities were climaxed with a cookout at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Andrews. Members left Trenton encouraged by what they accomplished, inspired to launch and expand the strategies they learned to improve their chapters and motivated to explore improved services to their members here and at home in Liberia.
Delegates returned to their home states enlightened, empowered and committed to the actions needed for a new approach to put our house in order and show that UNIBOA is able and ready to attain the new goals and objectives it has set for the betterment of the organization.
READ MORE HIGHLIGHTS OF CONVENTION
- President's State of the Union Address
- Board Chairman's Remarks
- Welcome Remarks, President of South Jersey (Host)
- Convention 2010 Resolution
- See who is Miss Uniboa - 2010
- Faces at the Convention - Photos
