State of the Union Address
Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA)
32nd National General Assembly
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mr. Chairman and members of the Board of Directors, members of the National Leadership Council, fellow members of the National Administration, members of the Eminent Persons Council, delegates from member Chapters, invited guests, fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to report to you today that the Union is strong, has increased in membership, it is unified, respected and focused on the challenges ahead.
A little over two years ago, we sought the endorsement and support of the membership this great organization in order to serve as your leaders. We are grateful that you responded positively to our appeals and we thank you for the opportunity given us to serve. When we assumed the leadership of this union, we did so with no illusion about the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead of us. We however committed ourselves to pursue a number of initiatives on your behalf. It is my pleasure today to report to you that although the past two years have been very challenging, the union has remained focused and committed to its ideals and to the cause of our people. This report highlights the activities, achievements, challenges and opportunities of the past two years of our administration of the affairs of this union.
As you are already aware, at the last General Assembly of the Union held in Madison , Wisconsin , our administration provided a comprehensive report of the first year of our tenure in office. That report is still available and a copy can be obtained from either the ULAA Website or by a request to the General Secretary of the Union . Therefore, in the interest of time, I will attempt to give a summary of that first year’s report and a detail of the last year.
Immediately after our election in August of 2004 and our subsequent installation in September, we began our tenure by first reaching out to, and appealing to our opponents in the elections and to other Liberians to come together and to work together for the good of the union. As a testament to this effort, the installation was held in the Washington , DC Chapter, the home chapter of my opponent in the election. This was followed by a series of initiatives to reconnect with the membership of the Union by ensuring the establishment of a reliable medium of communication. We moved very quickly to re-activate the union’s official WEBSITE which was previously inactive due to the lack of payment of fees and proper management. I am proud to report to you today that statistics from the web host of the ULAA Website reveals that the site is being visited by a large pool of Liberians and non-Liberians on a daily basis. Our administration also established the ULAA PRESS as a new communication medium for the release of official union statements and Press Releases. This medium has now become the official outlet of all union communications and the office of the General Secretary has done an excellent job of operating and maintaining the ULAA Press.
Realizing the need to feed upon the wisdom and experience of the elders and former leaders of the Union , our administration, with the approval of the Board of Directors, established the ULAA EMINENT PERSONS COUNCIL within five months of our tenure in office. The Council serves as a forum for former leaders of the Union to stay connected to the Union and to provide necessary advice and assistance to the leadership of the union
The first Joint Meeting of the Union Leadership comprising the National Administration, National Leadership Council and the National Board of Directors was held in Newark , New Jersey on December 4th 2004.
Detail reports of all of these activities are included in the 2005 state of the union report.
Report of pledges and commitments
Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, let me now report to you on the pledges and commitments made to you by members of this administration prior to our elections to the leadership of the Union .
We pledged to uphold the constitution of the Union and we pledged to ensure that the constitution of the union serves as the guide in the administration of the affairs of the union. I am pleased to report to you today that members of this administration did not violate the constitution nor did we allow any violation to stand.
We pledged to uphold the trust and confidence of the members of ULAA and of all Liberians in the Diaspora that we would complete the full term of office of our respective elected positions. With the exception of the first National Executive Vice President, Mr. George Wuo who had to depart the US for personal reasons, I am pleased to report that all other elected members of the administration including Mr. Emmanuel Wettee who later joined the administration to complete the term of Mr. Wou, are accounted for.
We pledged that we would not seek nor accept any offer of employment with the government of Liberia while we occupied our various elected offices. I am pleased to report that no elected official has sought nor accepted employment with the government of Liberia while serving in their respective offices. Now let me hasten to add that while we all have the right to pursue any interest or challenge while outside of elective office in ULAA, we have demonstrated to the membership of ULAA and to the Liberian community at-large that not every leadership of ULAA can be accused of using their respective offices to pursue jobs in Liberia . As a matter of fact, we still have within our mist, many former leaders of ULAA who did not do so during their tenure and have still not gone on the gravy train. It is our hope that the detractors of ULAA will begin to point accusing fingers at the respective leaders who have done so and not a blanket accusation at the entire membership of the organization.
We pledged to put the interest and concerns of the Liberian people first and not that of our individual interests. I am pleased to report that we have certainly done just that over these two years by the sacrifices made by all members of the leadership of this administration including other organs of the Union . Those sacrifices included our finances, family, work, and etcetera. The fact that we all chose to uphold these commitments to remain on post despite the numerous temptations to do otherwise, demonstrates our commitments to this pledge.
We pledged to work with any government in Liberia if that government works in the interest and common good of the Liberian people. Again, I am pleased to report to you that this administration has done just that. Despite the expectations to do otherwise and the expectation that the Union leadership should jump on every little failings or shortcomings of the government, we have maintained a positive working relationship with the new government under President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf because we are convinced that, for the most part, the government is doing its best to serve the interest of the people of Liberia. While every thing is not perfect and there are few concerns that are being expressed by the Union leadership to the government, we all realized that this government inherited what amounts to a failed state. And thus, the challenges are enormous. We will however continue to monitor the activities of the government and point out its failings but we will do so in a positive manner and not in a confrontational manner unless it becomes necessary.
We pledged to work very closely with the ULAA BOD and other organizations to explore the possibility of establishing an office in DC. After so many years in existence, we were convinced that a permanent presence of ULAA in the world’s most powerful capital was long overdue. Mr. Chairman, members of the ULAA leadership and fellow delegates, it is my pleasure to report to you today that ULAA now has a permanent presence in Washington, DC at 1200 G Street NW, Suite 800 ~ Washington, DC 20005 ~ Tel.: (202) 434-8999. Information on the office has been made public for a long time and the Union is fulfilling all terms of the agreement pertaining to the office. All members of the ULAA family are welcomed to pay a visit to the office or to contact the Union directly at this office. Many organizations and individuals both local and international have contacted the Union via this office.
We pledged to foster an environment of peace and reconciliation in ULAA by encouraging the right synergy between the various organs and we pledged to develop an excellent working relationship between the Administration and the BOD and to create an atmosphere of cordiality within the union’s leadership. Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, when we assumed the leadership of the Union, the working environment in the Union was one of chaos, rancor and friction between various elements and organs of the union. The Union was faced with situations where meetings were often never concluded peacefully because of accusations, counter accusations or the use of foul languages. There was almost total distrust between the National Administration and the Board of Directors. But today I am pleased to report that the Union now enjoys excellent working relationships between all organs of the Union and there is total respect between individuals in the leadership of the Union . The Union , under this administration, established a zero tolerance policy for the use of foul languages, disrespectful communications or insubordination by any official of the union. The union also enjoys an unprecedented level of respect and support from the greater Liberian Community.
We pledged to work with other institutions and with members of the US Congress friendly to our cause to ensure that Liberians on the DED & TPS status be granted permanent residency status. Fellow delegates, as we reported to you in 2005, immediately after the installation of the new leadership, I led a delegation to Capitol Hills in Washington , DC to meet with, and, to speak to Congressional Leaders who have been supportive and engaged in the struggle for Liberians to gain Permanent Status in the US . The delegation met with senior congressional staff members for Senator Lincoln Chafee of RI, Senator Jack Reed of RI, and Congressman Patrick Kennedy also of RI. The delegation was well received and we offered thanks to these congressional leaders and encouraged them to continue their efforts on behalf of Liberians.
Upon our return from DC, the administration immediately appointed an Immigration Commission headed by Counsellor Mohamedu F. Jones. Members of this commission including Mr. Michael Wreh of Rhode Island who was later asked to assist the effort of the commission have worked very diligently in this regard.
As many of you are aware, the struggle to obtain legal status for Liberians in this country is an effort that was long initiated by ULAA and we have remained engaged in this effort all along. Many others have now joined the effort and we welcome their participation and all that is being done by them to help ensure success for the attainment of a permanent status for our people.
In January of 2006 during our visit to Liberia to attend the Inauguration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, I had an opportunity to speak directly with the new president regarding the immigration plight of our people. At a meeting held at her Executive Mansion Office, I asked the president to please make an appeal on behalf of our people both in the United States and for those in Europe . The president responded positively to our request and upon her first official visit to the United States of America, the president made an impressive appeal on behalf of our people when she spoke to the Joint Session of the US Congress. We again made another appeal to the president during a rally in Providence , Rhode Island in March of 2006, asking her to make a similar appeal to President George W. Bush in her meeting with him. Again the president responded positively to our request to the delight of the many Liberians and RI Congressional Officials at the rally in RI.
In the wake of the US Congressional debate for a comprehensive immigration reform bill, a successful immigration workshop was held by ULAA under our leadership in April of 2006. That workshop provided an opportunity for the Union to take stock of our failures and successes and to help define a comprehensive strategy for our immigration effort. Immediately after the workshop, appeals were sent out to all member chapters and to other communities and organizations to launch a massive letter writing, email and telephone campaign in support of the Senate version of the Bill. Although debate on the bill has been put on hold, ULAA, under this leadership, continues to engage the major stakeholders on the immigration issue.
Finally, as recently as last Friday, September 15, 2006, in the wake of the TPS stalemate of our people, I again made a public appeal to the President of Liberia to please make some telephone calls to remind and appeal to her friends and officials in the US government. This was done during a forum at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York . Again the president responded positively and promised to remind officials of the US government of the appeal she made in this regard. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to report today that as a result of the collective efforts of ULAA and other partners in the immigration efforts, Temporary Protective Status for Liberians has again been extended for another year. This is a big relief to many of our people and we are very thankful for all who worked so hard to make it happen. Although the TPS will be abolished for good as of October 2007, we can still celebrate this small success as it provides a breathing space while we continue the struggle for the ultimate relief of permanent residency for our people. And so my fellow delegates, our fight has now been elevated to another level and it is now a “do or die “in this struggle for permanent status for our people.
But through out the tenure of this administration, ULAA never lost sight of the plight of our people and our obligation to work on their behalf and ULAA will continue to do so.
2005 Elections & Out-of-Country Voting (OCV)
We pledged to explore the possibility of allowing all Liberians of the Diaspora to vote in their present country of residence. We pledged to pursue this effort because we are cognizant that a significant percentage of the Liberian citizenry currently resides outside Liberia . Fellow delegates, realizing the importance of the 2005 elections in Liberia and having listened to the request of many in the Diaspora for the Union to pursue an effort for their participation in the elections, the Union immediately communicated to the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia in October 2004 regarding this issue. We subsequently met with numerous US based organizations to discuss and explored with them the possibility of Out-of-Country Voting (OCV) for Liberians. A full detail of this is available in the 2005 report. Being encouraged by the results of our meetings, we looked forward to a positive response from the NEC. We subsequently received a response from the NEC in December 2004 in which it was not very clear what the Commission’s response was to our request. Not being satisfied with the written response from the NEC, on February 8, 2005, I led a delegation to Monrovia to meet with the NEC, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), US Embassy, Executive Mansion and other Liberian Government officials. Mr. Richard Saydee, the former president of the Federation of Liberian Community Associations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (FoLiCAM) accompanied me on this delegation to Liberia at his own expense. He paid his own expenses but he worked with me and traveled with me every step of the way as a member of the delegation. This Union owes a depth of gratitude to Mr. Saydee for this act of sacrifice for our people. The full detail of our delegation’s mission to Liberia has been made public and can be reference for further information.
In summary, the commission informed us that they welcomed our request but that they were unable to accommodate or facilitate out of country voting for the 2005 Elections because of the following reasons: 1. Our request was made very late, 2. The commission did not have the necessary resources and was not logistically prepared for the task, and 3. That the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Ghana did not allow for out-of-country voting. It is important to note the commission informed us that had our delegation to the Peace Agreement in Ghana brought up the issue and insisted on it being part of the agreement, they would have had the necessary resources made available and that they would have factored it in their planning. While we have refrained from pointing accusing fingers at the leaders who represented the Union at the CPA in Ghana , it will be totally unfair for anyone to blame this failure on our administration. First, members of this administration were not in positions of leadership in the Union at the time to effect such a decision nor was any information of an effort in this regard presented to us when we took over the leadership. Our delegation was therefore not convinced by the responses given by the NEC and individuals working with other international agencies shared this disagreement, we further impressed upon the NEC the need for them to consider the interest of the nation and its citizens. The NEC thanked us for our communications and meeting with them and promised to include in their final reports and recommendation that OCV be considered for future Liberian elections. According to them they regret very much that OCV was not possible for the 2005 elections because of the many limitations expressed.
While there have been numerous misleading statements made of late as to why OCV was not possible for Liberians, it should be noted that all members of the NEC are still alive and available for verifications of the accounts being reported. As a matter of fact, because of our eloquent and effective representation of the Diaspora on this issue, one member of the NEC even commented that it was a great loss to the Diaspora that members of our delegation were not in Ghana to represent the Diaspora at the meeting of the CPA. We further note that this administration was elected in August of 2005 and we immediately took on this effort within two months of our being in office. Perhaps, Liberians in the Diaspora would have had a better chance had the effort been started long before our elections to office.
We further pledged to collaborate with African and world leaders, civil society organizations, political parties and international organizations to ensure that the 2005 Presidential and General Elections were free and fair convinced that the adherence to underlying democratic principles of participation, ownership, inclusiveness and non-discrimination are indispensable to economic revival in Liberia. In this regard, ULAA collaborated with the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), to again communicate to the NEC requesting observer status for Diaspora Liberians. I am pleased to report that on this request, the NEC communicated back to ULAA in the affirmative and requested that we submit a list of our Diaspora Observer Team. Although some members of ULAA were in Liberia , the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), officially represented the Diaspora in observing the elections in Liberia . I am pleased to report to this body that the elections in Liberia held on October 11, 2005 and the subsequent run-off elections were held as scheduled without any incidence of violence. From all reports and indications, the elections were free, fair and transparent.
In January 2006, I led a seven person ULAA delegation to Liberia to attend the Inaugural festivities of the newly elected president Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The seven-member delegation included National General Secretary Wilmot Kunney, ULAA Board members Roberta Rashid (also former National President), Lasana Korleh (North Jersey), and Mambue Kolenky (Ohio). Others were Mr. Augustus M Bailey, Executive director of ULAA Social Services and Mr. Asafu Thomas, Co-chairman of the ULAA Liberia Affairs Committee. On January 16, 2006, the entire ULAA delegation participated in the inaugural activities on the grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia . The program was a moving and historical experience, as dignitaries from across the world including U.S first lady Laura Bush, Nigerian President Olusugun Obasanjo, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Gabonese President Omar Bongo, Burkanibe President Blaise Campore, Sierra Leonean President Ahmend Tejan Kaba, U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, among many other representatives of governments were on hand to grace the occasion. The ULAA delegation also participated in the state dinner that followed immediately after the program on the grounds of the Executive Mansion .
After the inaugural program, the delegation continued the follow up efforts for a meeting with President Sirleaf. There were lots of difficulties and obstacles encountered in securing the meeting, as the President’s staff seemed to demonstrate a lack of interest in having the President meet with the Diaspora delegation. In view of the uncertainty regarding the meeting, the delegation held a consultative session on Wednesday January 18, 2006. During the consultative session, the delegation expressed its displeasure over what appeared to be a concerted effort to undermine the meeting with the President. Accordingly, the delegation resolved that ULAA would henceforth not pursue the Executive Mansion if the government did not see the need to meet with Liberians from abroad. The delegation also decided that in the absence of a meeting, the Union would hold a press conference expressing our concerns and position on major national issues confronting the Country. It was further agreed that ULAA seek the participation of the EFLA delegation that was also on the ground in order to take a joint action representing Liberians in the Diaspora. A joint meeting was therefore scheduled with the EFLA delegation.
I led the ULAA delegation in a meeting with the EFLA delegation which was led by President Elvis Morris on Thursday January 19, 2006 at a local hotel in Monrovia . The two delegations discussed many issues including developing areas of cooperation and joint strategies to deal with holding consultative discussions with the government of Liberia . Accordingly, the following were agreed upon:
1) That ULAA and EFLA will increase contacts, coordination, and collaboration on issues concerning Liberians in the Diaspora
2) That ULAA would pursue setting up the meeting with President Sirleaf on behalf to the two delegations.
3) That the EFLA would, on behalf of the two delegations, pursue another consultative meeting with Speaker Edwin Snowe and other legislative leaders.
4) That the EFLA would join ULAA in a joint press conference if the meeting with President Sirleaf occured or failed to occur.
Additionally, the two delegations discussed and agreed upon the issues to be presented to President Sirleaf if a meeting was to occur. The following formed the core of the presentation:
1) That in view of the pending fear that Liberians residing in the U.S. and Europe would be asked to return home prematurely as a result of the successful election in Liberia and the appearance of the return of normalcy, the President should appeal to both the U.S, and the European Union requesting for adequate time that would facilitate the orderly return of Liberians to their country.
2) That in view of the huge population of Liberians now living outside of the Country, the Liberian Government should establish an office that will deal exclusively with Liberians residing in the Diaspora.
3) That the resolution of the 2005 All Liberian National Conference be presented to President Sirleaf.
4) That the delegation and the government discuss areas of cooperation.
At the end of the joint meeting, the two delegations were informed that the meeting with President Sirleaf was scheduled for 2:00 P.M. on Friday January 20, 2005
Accordingly members of the ULAA and EFLA delegations assembled at the Executive Mansion on January 20, 2006 for the meeting with the President. During the meeting, all of the issues mentioned above were discussed. The President responded positively to the issues raised by us. The President agreed to issue a plea for Liberians regarding the immigration issue. She also expressed her government’s support for the holding of an All Liberian National Conference in Liberia , but expressed the view that the idea of the conference be researched, coordinated, and analyzed in order to produce the desire results. She informed the delegation that the Governance Reform Commission was working in that direction. On the issue of the Diaspora office, the President again agreed in principle for the establishment of said office, but expressed concerns over the appearance of parallel functions with Liberian diplomatic missions. Both the President and the delegation agreed that the implementation aspect of the proposal need to be studied further to avoid the concerns raised. Due to time limitation, the issue of defining areas of cooperation between the Union and the government was not discussed. At the end of the meeting, I extended an invitation to President Sirleaf to visit with Liberians in the U.S.
Immediately after the meeting with the President, The ULAA delegation along with the EFLA delegation went to the press conference at the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) office on Clay Street . Representatives of both the electronic and print media were present for the conference. During the press conference, we informed the media of the results of the meeting with President Sirleaf, and discussed activities of our various organizations with the Press. Specifically, I informed the media that henceforth, the Union will work to expose individuals living in the United States who are sponsors of war and other destructive activities for Liberia , and any corrupt Liberian government officials who steal their country’s wealth only to seek sanctuary in the U.S. This is a task that the Union must commit itself to for the long haul.
While in Liberia , the ULAA delegation exchanged greetings with former ULAA officials who are currently in Liberia . They included Former National Presidents Hon. Joseph Korto, now Minister of Education and Mr. Sam Mohammed Kromah, former Director of the Free Zone Authority, former Board Chairmen Mr. Augustus Majors, now Deputy Director General of the General Services Agency; and, Hon. Ranney Jackson, now Superintendent of Bong County. We also met with former National Executive Vice President George S.S. Wuo, former South Jersey Chapter President Mr. Emmanuel Cruesoe & former North Jersey Chapter president Mr. Emmanuel Elsar.
2005 ULAA Delegation to Liberia
In addition to the information provided under the topic of out-of-country voting for Liberia , the 2005 ULAA delegation to Liberia also engaged in numerous other activities. A full detail of this is available in the report to the 2005 General Assembly.
ULAA Tax Exempt (501 (c) 3) Status
We pledged to improve the revenue generating capacity of the Union by collaborative partnerships through fund raising activities using the 501 (c) 3 tax exempt status of the Union . My fellow delegates, when we assumed the leadership of this union, we very quickly realized the difficulty that this organization was faced with in terms of its legal status as a non-profit organization. To our surprise, we learned that the Union did not have a Tax Exempt Status and the Union ’s accounts were at times opened as personal accounts because the union did not have the appropriate tax identification number to have an account in its own name. We made every effort to ensure that funds would no longer be opened in personal accounts. But due to the absence of a tax ID number for the union, the National Treasurer negotiated with a union member chapter that is already Tax exempted, to allow the union to use its tax number, on a temporary basis, to establish its account. I am however pleased to report to you today that we have successfully secured a Tax Identification Number for the Union .
Realizing the importance of the Tax Exempt Status for the Union, in February of 2005, this administration embarked upon a process to secure one for the Union . A Task Force for this project was established. That committee worked very hard with the assistance of several members including Mr. George Curtis, president of the Staten Island (SI) Chapter, and the National Treasurer. At the recommendation of President Curtis of SI, the committee secured the services of a Liberian National to process the necessary paper work and to secure the tax-exempt status on behalf of the union. Funds in the amount of $1000 were allocated and disbursed by the Union towards this effort. The hired individual worked on the project for a period of about eighteen months without success. The individual later contacted the Union to report that he continued to face difficulties in securing the status for the Union because of numerous reasons. He fully refunded the $1000 paid to him. In addition, he contributed an amount of $200 to the Union as his personal contribution towards a renewed effort to secure the status with a recommendation that the Union secures the services of a Lawyer or someone who is legally competent to carry out the task. All funds have been deposited into the Union’s account and a new search is underway to find someone competent to handle the task on behalf of the Union .
While we are disappointed that we were not successful in securing the tax exempt status during our tenure in office, we are however proud that we followed through on our commitment to pursue this effort. Much was done to move this process further and we hope that the new leadership of the Union will pick up from where we leave the process.
I am also pleased to report to you that despite the many misinformation and misrepresentations put out there by the detractors of ULAA, the registrations and status of ULAA both in Washington DC and in Minnesota, where the Union was initially chartered, are all current and in good standing.
One of the greatest disappointments of this administration is the lack of funds available to the union. Despite all the ambitious goals of ULAA, nothing can be achieved without funds available to pursue these goals. Although the Fund Raising Committee of this administration has done its very best to plan and sponsor fund raising events to raise funds for the union, the results have not been encouraging. I am however hopeful that much will be done at this General Assembly and by the membership of the Union to accelerate the fund raising efforts of the union. One issue that is worth pointing out at this juncture is the importance of the member chapters in any fund raising effort. We have not been as successful, as anticipated, in our efforts because the response from the member chapters has not been up to expectation. We definitely need the support and cooperation of all member chapters to address the lack of funding in the Union . Another major reason for the lack of adequate funding is the absence of a Tax Exempt Number for the Union . This makes it almost impossible to seek external funding from major donors. We are hopeful that this situation will be improved in due time.
During the tenure of this administration, we did our very best to secure and manage the little funds available to the Union . We were very conservative in spending considering that much was not available to work with. We are thankful to the families of the members of the administration for their many financial sacrifices and contributions made to help underwrite many of the expenses for the operation of the Union . Some members of the Board of Directors and chapters of ULAA were also very helpful in contributing to the Union whenever there was an appeal from the administration.
Fellow delegates, as stated earlier in this report, prior to our tenure, there was a practice of multiple bank accounts created in the Union without the knowledge of the National Treasurer. Some individuals were also in the habit of transacting checks written out to the Union and depositing these checks into their personal bank accounts. But I am pleased to report to you today that this administration upheld the letter of the constitution on financial matters and the Union now has only one authority for the receipt, deposit and disbursement of all ULAA funds. That authority is the National Treasurer. And, I am very proud of the excellent work that has been done by our current National Treasurer in the administration of her duties as the chief custodian of all Union funds. It is a criminal act for anyone to transact checks written out in the name of the Union without the explicit permission of the National Treasurer of the Union & this will no longer be permitted in this Union.
Consistent with our pledge to ensure that the current ULAA constitution reflects the present realities in our communities, I am pleased to report that we established a Constitution Review and Amendment Commission headed by Counselor Yarsuo Weh-Dorlea of Pennsylvania and co-chaired by Mr. James Larsah of the Maryland chapter, to review the current constitution and make necessary recommendations for amendments. That commission, which is broad-based, started its work and was expected to complete its task long before this General Assembly. Unfortunately, due to the non responsiveness of the various chapters, the committee could not complete its task. We expect that all member chapters of the union will cooperate with the commission and fully participate in the review and amendment process so that the committee can complete its task.
We pledged to exert every effort to extend ULAA membership to Liberian Communities all across North America . Specific efforts were to be made to recruit communities in California and the Western states, Canada , and the Conference of Liberia Organizations in Southern United States (COLOSUS). Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, I am pleased to report today that during the tenure of this administration, two new states became member chapters of the Union . The state of Washington on the western coast of the United States became a new member chapter while the state of Connecticut renewed its membership with the Union .
Despite numerous efforts to secure the membership of COLOSUS which included an official visit by me on one occasion and visits by other delegates on other occasions, COLOSUS has still not made a commitment for membership into the Union . A full detail of the administrations effort to secure the membership of COLOSUS, Northern California, Kentucky , and others is contained in the 2005 report to the General Assembly.
We also pledged to ensure the membership and participation of National County Organizations and National Alumni Associations in ULAA. Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, although ULAA received an unprecedented level of support and cooperation from the various National County Organizations and some expressed interest in ULAA membership, the administration could not secured membership for any of these organizations because the National Board of Directors first has to define how these organizations will fit into the current Union structure. It is the hope of our administration that this will be done in short order so that the National County organizations and National Alumni Associations can be fully integrated into the Union family.
But overall, there is tremendous interest being expressed by various communities and organizations in the Americas in membership in ULAA. These communities and organizations have seen the changes and progress being made to transform this organization into one that is truly representative of Liberians in the Americas and they see the need to be a part. They are also seeing the commitment of the leadership of the union to serve the interest of Liberians and not their own. Prior to this General Assembly gathering, we received communications of interest from Liberians in Canada and they promised to send a delegation to the conference; we spoke with the leadership in Southern California and they too have expressed some interest in ULAA membership; Liberians in Arizona contacted us via the ULAA Website; we’ve received some commitments from Liberians in Tennessee to join the Union; and finally, during my recent visit to Australia, I spoke with the leadership of the Liberian community there and they have expressed interest in working closely with the Union and to collaborate with the Union as is the case with the EFLA.
We have set the stage. Communities have seen and taken note of the change in ULAA. And, ULAA is expanding. This administration is very proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish in these last two years in reaching out to all Liberians.
Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, consistent with our commitment to listen to, and, to consult with our people on issues of concerns to them, I am pleased to report to you that in 2005, this administration brought together a very large gathering of Liberians and their various organizations for an All Liberian Conference. The conference, which was held in Columbia , Maryland , from April 14-15, 2005, was a resounding success. The Keynote Speaker for the conference was Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who at the time was a candidate in the Liberian elections. She flew in from Liberia to play that role. The Steering Committee under the leadership of ULAA’s first elected female president, Mrs. Mydea Reeves-Karpeh, did an excellent job in the planning and execution of the conference. Full details about the genesis and initial stages of the planning of the conference are all contained in the report to the 2005 General Assembly.
At the All-Liberian Conference, a number of issues were resolved and the resolutions from that conference have since been made public and disseminated to the relevant parties. One of the important resolutions was for the holding of an All Liberian Conference inside Liberia proper to provide a forum for all Liberians to meet and dialogue on a better way forward for the nation. The union in collaboration with the Steering Committee and the EFLA are continuing to push for the Liberia conference in Liberia . The new president of Liberia was presented a formal copy of the conference resolution during our visit with her in Liberia in January 2006 and the president reaffirmed her government’s commitment to the holding of the conference in Liberia .
My fellow delegates, ULAA can take pride in the fact that under this administration, we had capable and principled men and women who stood to defend the integrity of the Union in the wake of the many challenges we encountered from forces who tried to undermine the Union . Ironically, some of those forces were made up of individuals who we considered part of the ULAA family and some of whom are seeking leadership in ULAA today. But ULAA persevere due to our strong leadership and the support of our chapters and the Liberian people.
Member Chapter Activities & Conflict Resolutions
Reports received from the various chapters indicate that many of the member chapters are doing well while a few continue to struggle with issues of participation by members, attendance at meetings and inter chapter conflicts.
At the last General Assembly, I reported to you on the conflict in the New York County Chapter emanating from the last elections held in that chapter. The issue was taken to court and the conflict has still not been fully resolved. As a result, that chapter has not participated in activities of the Union since the conflict. Again, a full detail on this issue was reported at the last GA.
· The conflict in the Maryland chapter is still unresolved. We have made some efforts to work with the membership of that chapter to resolve the conflict but we have not been successful because of a number of reasons. It is our hope that the parties in the Maryland Chapter’s conflict with seek to put the interest of the community above their individual interests and work towards an amicable resolution of their problems. ULAA can only assist in the process, we cannot dictate.
· In the Wisconsin Chapter, we received an invitation from that chapter to help resolve a conflict that had ignited there. With the cooperation of the parties involved, a delegation of ULAA officials headed by Mr. Wilmot Kunney, General Secretary of ULAA, was dispatched to Wisconsin to work with the parties to resolve the conflict. I am pleased to report to this general assembly that the conflict was resolved amicably and all sides are observing the terms of the resolution agreement and working together for the good of the community.
· During the course of 2006, we received a communication regarding elections irregularities in the Staten Island Chapter. Upon speaking with the chapter president and other parties in the conflict, the administration constituted a three person committed headed by Mr. Isaac Zawolo, Eastern Regional Vice President along with the presidents of North and South New Jersey . To our disappointment, the leadership of SILCA refused to cooperate with the ULAA constituted committee. Thus we were unable to help the parties reach an amicable resolution. The issue was later taken to a US court in SI. At one meeting of the National Leadership Council when the issue was being discussed on the floor, president Curtis of SI, regrettably stated that he did not want ULAA in his chapter and that the chapter can handle its own business. The statement was a total disrespect to the Union and other members of the Council tried unsuccessfully to get President Curtis to reconsider but he refused and left the conference. It is my understanding that the court has issue some decision in the matter but no official information or update has been provided to the Union .
· The elections for new officers in the Georgia Chapter and in the Minnesota Chapter were successful and peaceful. Mrs. Sue Yancy-Williams is the new president of Georgia and Mrs. Martha Sinoe, current Northern Regional Vice President of ULAA, is the new president of Minnesota . Massachusetts also has a new chapter president in the person of Mr. Nyepan Tarpehdoe. Mrs. Menseh Jones of Northern New Jersey was re-elected to a second term in office as president of the chapter.
We will continue to work with all chapters of the union and in return, we look forward to their usual cooperation and participation in all affairs of the union.
During the 2005 General Assembly, we reported to you on the excellent cooperation the Union received from the various National County Associations in the wake of the death of the former Vice President of Liberia, Dr. Harry F. Moniba. The full detail of this account and our representation is contained in the 2005 report. Our administration provided the leadership and the Union led the community to pay an appropriate last respect to the fallen Vice President.
As many of you are aware, ULAA lost one of its great champions in January of this year in the person of former ULAA Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Patrick Roques from the Bronx-West Chester chapter. The late Mr. Roques was recovering from multiple brain surgeries when he suddenly died at his home in New York . It can be recalled that during the last General Assembly in Madison , Wisconsin , delegates at the conference expressed deep concern for the well being of Mr. Roques and the delegates voluntarily contributed to a purse which was presented to Mr. Roques after the General Assembly by a ULAA leadership delegation led by me and the current Chairman of the Board. Mr. Roques and his family were extremely grateful for the gesture by ULAA and looked forward to Mr. Roques’ full recovery and resumption of activities in ULAA. Unfortunately, we lost him. In the wake of the death of Mr. Roques, the ULAA family rose to the occasion and we demonstrated a spirit of true family hood. ULAA was fully involved with the home going arrangements of the late Chairman and made a total monetary donation of seventeen hundred dollars to the widow of the deceased. It was very re-assuring to see the many faces of ULAA personalities who visited the family, attended the wake and the funeral.
I regret to also report that ULAA lost another founding father in the person of the late Tambakai Jangaba, the first National President of the Union . May the souls of these ULAA giants and the souls of all the departed rest in perfect peace.
As reported to you during the last General Assembly, this administration followed through on our commitment to explore the possibility of establishing an office in Liberia . We made the necessary contacts and appointed individuals to represent the interest of the Union in Liberia on an interim basis until the office was established. The individuals were helpful in working with the administration to identify a location, a building and the necessary support staff to run the office. Unfortunately, the Union could not commit to an office at the time due to the lack of funds to operate the office on a sustained basis. As much as the administration wanted to have an office in Liberia , we however had to be realistic in terms of the Unions ability to sustain the office over time. We therefore took the necessary decision to suspend the issue of the office until at such time when the Union can secure the necessary funds and commit those funds to sustain the office over a period of time.
My felloe delegates, at the last General Assembly, a full report on the issue of the donated buses was presented to the assembly. The detail is contained in the 2005 report and it is our hope that many of you will review the report to acquire the details surrounding the buses. Although the buses were donated to the Union for Liberia long before our administration came into office, not a single bus was sent to Liberia . I am however pleased to report to you today that under the tenure of this administration, funds were secured to ship one bus to Liberia and that bus is presently in the country in the possession of the Monrovia City Corporation. Our administration is very proud that despite the government of Liberia ’s failure to ship the buses, we took the leadership to set an example of our commitment to the plight of our people by shipping a bus to Liberia . ULAA should be proud and we thank the many individuals and chapters that contributed towards this effort.
ULAA’s Presence and Representation at various other events
During the tenure of this administration, we worked hard to restore the image of ULAA. Every member of the administration and some members of the Board help to ensure that ULAA was represented at every major event to which the Union was invited. The events are too numerous to mention in this report. But during the 2005 General Assembly, I provided a brief listing of some of the events the Union was represented at. The listing is contained in the 2005 report.
Overall, ULAA was well received at all of these events and the Union was praised by many organizations and individuals for the direction it has taken and for its representations of issues on behalf of the Liberian people. I am proud that no member of this administration spared a penny in making sure that the Union had adequate representation even if it meant making last minute changes in their own personal schedules. I am equally thankful to the Chairman, other members of the Board and to some members of the Leadership Council who helped in the effort as well.
Our representations at all of these events have been to identify with our people and to understand their needs and concerns. It is my hope that the Union will continue to engage all sectors of our community.
In view of the many observations over the period of the last two years and in an interest to move the union forward, I am pleased to make the following recommendations. These recommendations are in addition to those made at the last General Assembly:
1. That all former National Presidents and former Board Chairmen of the Union who remain active with the Union be given automatic delegate status to all ULAA General Assemblies. I believe it is a total disrespect to our former leaders who continue to participate in activities of the Union for them to be denied the rights to participate in ULAA General Assembles as official delegates simply because of the current delegate selection process. ULAA deserves better and our former leaders must be given their due respect.
2. That the Board of Directors move expeditiously to address the issue of delegate selection in the various chapters by fully implementing the ULAA Resolution from the Lowell, Massachusetts General Assembly of 2003 which dealt with this issue. The current process is very undemocratic and unfair. ULAA cannot continue to preach democracy and allow for the kind of undemocratic process that now pertains in the selection of delegates to ULAA conferences.
These last two years have been very interesting years with many challenges and opportunities. Although the going has at times been tough, I am still grateful to the membership of this organization for the opportunity that you have given me to serve as your leader. There are those who have questioned, “why not run for another term?” and others have asked, “why leave now?” My answer to them and to all of you is simply that I committed the last two years to serve you and to serve you with every fiber of my being. I gave you the very best of my time and services and I hope you appreciate the leadership we’ve provided. But one has to know when it is time to step aside. And, I came to the conclusion after a long period of introspection and consultation with my family, that it is time for me to step aside and allow for a new leader to steer the ship. I will now be a servant in that ship just like so many of you.
We have done well. This administration of ULAA has certainly left a mark. But I could not have done it all by myself. Every achievement has been the collective work of the team and I am truly grateful to the other members of this administration for the role that they each played. I remain indebted to each of them. Together, WE MADE ULAA BETTER.
It was the late Robert F. Kennedy who said and I quote: "It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." I hope history will show that we stood up for an ideal and that we acted to improve the lot of others. I hope that we have sent forth a tiny ripple of hope for ULAA and for our people
Thank you all for the opportunity to be of service to you. I want to say a special thanks to my wife Annie and to our children for their patience, their support and their understanding during these past two years. To the members of the Liberian Community Association of North Jersey, I say thank you. This all would not have been possible without your strong support and encouragements. Many others have supported me and encouraged me throughout this period. To all of you, I say thank you.
May God bless ULAA and our various member Chapters. May God truly bless Liberia and make her star to shine brighter.
I AM STILL CONVINCED THAT ULAA CAN BE BETTER THAN HOW WE LEAVE IT.
