As President of the Liberian Association of Pennsylvania, I am extending thanks and appreciation to all those who participated in the registration process, leading to the development of the preliminary roster of eligible voters.

Membership in this Association is open to all Liberians residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is why I am highly gratified that an appreciable number of community members saw value and hope in the Association and expressed their trust and confidence in their compliance with the payment of their registration fees and membership dues within the stipulated deadline.

On the deadline date of July 31, 2007, hundreds of new and old members were registered by way of payment of registration fees and or membership dues.  The rush to beat the July 31 deadline, set by the Committee some weeks ago and endorsed by the Administration, resulted into the registration of hundreds of members.

The Membership Committee is now busy with the process of verification and compilation so as to come up with the Final List.  We encourage them to remain steadfast in their sacrificial services until the Final Comprehensive Voters’ Registry is made available to the Elections Commission.

I proudly say that the Membership Committee members deserve warm pats on their back.  Many thanks also go to the Treasurer for the long night she had to remain engaged in the process. Her vigilance did not end there.  At daybreak she promptly took out time to travel to the Bank and deposit all Association funds collected.  Indeed, this is true sacrifice in the interest of our community.  

It will be recalled that, on August 9, 2005 shortly before Election Day, during the last community elections, a final Comprehensive Voters’ Registry was published by the Membership Committee in collaboration with the Treasurer. It was on that registry of a total of 538 members in good standing that voting took place on August 13, 2005.  Results from that voting ushered in the current Administration and Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee assures the entire membership that all will be done to ensure that the entire electoral process is carried out successfully, leading to the emergence to a new Association Leadership on August 11, 2007.  We look forward to an exciting debate on this Saturday, August 4, 2007 at the Christ Assembly Lutheran Church.  I urge all members to be there.

Finally, I encourage you all to regularly visit the Association’s recently rebuilt website at http://www.lapinc.org to get updates on the elections and other Association activities.

Bartee C. Togba

PRESIDENT