PRESIDENT's STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Delivered at the
20th National Convention - 2010
Mr. Alfred M. Dousuah, President
Hon. Anthony A. Kesselly, President of ULAA,
Mr. James Page, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr. Scott Mendeh, Vice President of UNIBOA
Former Presidents of UNIBOA present
Officers and Members of the Liberian community Association
Chapter Leaders,
Members of the Clergy Members of the General Assembly
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Fellow Members and Supporters of the United Bassa Organization in the America, UNIBOA, I once again greet and welcome you on behalf of the UNIBOA family.
With pride, I am pleased to state that we remain optimistic that this convention will be a great success. I like to express my heartfelt appreciations to the officers and members of UNIBOA South Jersey Chapter for taking on this compassionate and challenging task of hosting the 20th National Convention of UNIBOA. The theme of this Convention is ‘Bea-ah Vohn Blojay’ (Let’s labor for the homeland).
The Dousuah and Mandeh administration continues to work diligently to ensure solidarity and maintain progress in the Union. We appreciate the existing working relationship we enjoy from the board of directors and you distinguish members of the general assembly.
We are proud to report that in the face of challenges, we continue to make significant progress in the overall management of the union. For example, we have made considerable progress in consistence with our administrative task to foster efficiency in our work and transparency in the financial management of the union. We are prepared to continue doing our best in handling the affairs of UNIBOA.
In respect to chartered chapters, all chapters of the union are actively operational except the Washington D.C. and Georgia chapters. The leaders of the 10 active chapters are scheduled to present you their progress reports today. Please join me in welcoming and congratulating our new members of chapter presidents, Mr. Amos Kelvin Gray of Minnesota, Ms. Joanna Cole of North Carolina, Rev Benjamin Gbapaywhea of Texas. Congratulations and welcome. Our hope today is that this body in keeping with our mission and aspiration to make meaningful progress remains supportive of our administration and our programs.
Home Affairs:
In furtherance of our effort to better monitor our programs and activities in Liberia, Home Affairs Committee Chairman Mr. Toman Gboyah and Co-Chairman and Special Liaison Officer Mr. Arthur Garbla are effectively carrying out their responsibility in overseeing our projects and representing UNIBOA in Liberia. In fact, both gentlemen are present with us and will be speaking to you shortly. Please stand up, gentlemen.
Incorporation:
Ladies and gentlemen as we speak, UNIBOA has been incorporated as a non-profit humanitarian organization in the Republic of Liberia. As a legal non-profit organization in Liberia, UNIBOA has been privileged among other NGOs to apply and bid for development funds in the Republic of Liberia. The NGO status is a step forward into undertaking major humanitarian mission.
The incorporation will enable UNIBOA to engage legally in social welfare advocacy. Importantly, it holds the keys to solicit funds from the United Nations and other philanthropic foundations. In our effort to solidify this opportunity, we have proposed acquiring a home office in Liberia.
National Convention:
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, the 2009 National Convention held in the City of Brotherly Love by the Pennsylvania Chapter was a success and we like to applaud them for their hard work. The financial report of the convention will be reflected in the treasurer report.
Meanwhile, the resolution presented by the resolution committee at the 19th National Convention of UNIBOA approved by the general assembly has been steadily implemented by this administration.
In regard to the convention resolution, we have initiated a membership benefit aims at benefiting members and their children in the form of educational scholarship. In addition, we are working on the possibility of group life insurance for our members and their families. We have also engaged and currently working with The Cultural Group Benefits Company. This company provides an opportunity for cultural organization group life insurance coverage. It is based in Minnesota. Information has been furnished to all chapters for study and feedback.
Secondly, the Vice President is working with chapters of the Union on exploring meaningful fundraising strategies. We are also working on identifying other contemporary fundraising strategies. Other efforts are been made on implementing other aspects of the resolution including the fulfillment of the Youth Wing mandate. The re-evaluation of existing program and formation of the Information and Technology committee are currently being worked on.
Our regret in respect to the resolution is that we have not been able in our effort to engage the Washington D.C. and Georgia chapters. Both chapters remained inactive. We have also been unsuccessful in implementing the national registry and the women auxiliary projects.
Ladies and gentlemen of the General assembly, implementation of the resolution, we believe would help us meet the challenges of the 21st Century as a vibrant organization reflective of the true nature of our people at home and in the Diaspora.
Budget:
Distinguish members of the General Assembly; we submitted a fiscal budget outlining our national programs. We like to thank the Board for approval of our $56,750.00 budget subsequent to reviewing it in Charlotte, North Carolina. As usual, the budgets subject to revision if necessary to balance off the actual revenue. We continue to utilize the voucher system to ensure financial transparency.
Program:
In regard to our programs, The Community Center project in Lower Buchanan has been placed on the budget approved by the Board of Directors. As we speak, sources of meaningful funding are being explored. Portion of the proceeds from this convention has been allocated to go directly in support of the community center. The 2-acres of land granted the UNIBOA by the Honorable Superintendent Duncan-Cassell and Mayor Zangar remains preserved for UNIBOA.
In addition to the community center, we have initiated the Mini-project, the National Education program and the UNIBOA Unification Tournament. All the programs mentioned have been approved with the exception of the sport tournament pending further study.
The Nursing Scholarship Program has finally come to completion. The remaining 3 students are scheduled to graduate in August of this year. The total cost of the Nursing Program projected in 2006 was $22,835.00 for training of 9 students for 3 years. However, only 5 students made it into the senior class. In our view, this represents a failed program. As a result, we currently have no plan to continue the nursing program at this time without careful studies and planning.
Meanwhile, our annual donations to the orphanages in Grand Bassa county and schools in Riverces county remain on the budget to receive funding. However, funding would be based on compliance with funding regulation. In other word, recipients must submit progress and financial reports in order to be eligible for continuity funding.
In our view, continue support of the approved program hold significant ground in our mutual strives forward.
Ladies and gentlemen of this Honorable Body, as we gather in the great City of Trenton, I wish to convey my heartfelt appreciations to members of the General Assembly, members of the Board of Directors, and members of the Executive Committee for their cooperation. To all those who have worked tirelessly to make UNIBOA a respectable organization, I say thank you. To the South Jersey Chapter and members of the convention committee, please accept my heartfelt gratitude.
I would like to leave you with the words of Mohammed “A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world”.
May the Almighty God guide and direct the affairs of the commemoration of the 20th National Convention. Wish you peace, blessings and safe journeys.
Gob bless you all.
Alfred M. Dousuah,
National President, UNIBOA Inc
