OCA-USA
2505 Green Lane,
Power Springs, Ga.30127
Minutes of Oroko Cultural Association, USA Boston Convention 2017
The general assembly meeting for the 2017 Boston Convention began at 12.00 p.m ET with opening prayer by Tata Dr. Charles Misori. This was followed by opening remarks from the outgoing National President Tata Prince Fred Mediko.
He began by introducing his cabinet members who helped him get Oroko Cultural Association, USA back on track. He also mentioned that the e-group and whatsapp were ran smoothly with the help of the Public Relation Officer, Tata Daniel Esoe, and also due to some insults by an individual on our e-group, that individual was removed from the e-group. He proceeded by introducing the heads of the various chapters with Houston and California chapters president being absent. He continued by saying that his challenge was to get two more chapters added to Oroko USA. He mentioned that he is going to throw the challenge to Tata and Iya Ekoi from Chicago to create a chapter, so that we can go to Chicago next convention, as well as Tata Edimo from Michigan. He mentioned that last year he introduced Tata Daniel Mukete, who is working in the tourism sector of Cameroon in Washington D.C. He went on to congratulate our two graduates of high esteem, i.e Tata Dr. Fred Bebe, and Tata Dr. Charles Misori. This was followed by self-introduction of those who attended the meeting.
Thereafter, the meeting proceeded with the reading of the 2016 Dallas Convention minutes, by the outgoing deputy Secretary General Tata Musongo Nanje, which was hosted by the Dallas chapter. These minutes were adopted by the house.
On matters arising, Tata Edimo of Michigan asked if the minutes were posted on our website and advised that if the minutes were not posted, it will be better to do that, so that people can print it out and read it before the meeting began.
The outgoing National president Tata Prince Fred Mediko mentioned that only registered members have access to the documentation area of the website. Tata Edimo also asked if the $1 proposed by Tata Chief Victor Obie who is the Georgia president, during the 2016 Convention in Dallas has taken effect. The response was no. He continued by saying that good things never come easy, but we can educate people on how we can develop the idea.
On his part, Tata Daniel Mukete said that, the $ 1 a day was not conclusive and that there should be a vote to see whether the General Assembly accepts it or not, and if they accept it, the money can be collected through the various chapters. Tata Daniel Esoe weighed in by saying that, he who introduced the project should come up with a proposal and present it to the general assembly and show how the project will work. Tata Ekoi of Chicago also weighed in, to say that we have to get a proposal first in order not to have a setback after the contribution. Tata Chief Victor Obie went on to give a brief insight about the project, which was about buying the lands of people in Oroko land who are in need of finances, in order to prevent them from selling these lands to foreign individuals. Tata Edimo continued by saying that he also had a proposal which was aimed at building a credit union between Ndian and Meme division to serve our people.
The meeting was called into order by the outgoing National President, who said it was time to vote for the $1 project proposed by Tata Chief Victor Obie. The results of the vote indicated that 26 people supported the idea for the $1 a day project, 6 people disapproved the idea, and 3 people were neutral. Iya Graciana Diony on her part mentioned that, she voted no, not because she wants to be negative to the proposed project, but that we have to take care of ourselves here first before we can take care of the people back home. Iya Sally Diony and Tata Dr. Solomon Basame, also supported her idea, and Tata Dr. Solomon Basame said even after getting a concrete explanation from Tata Daniel Mukete and others he still votes no. Iya Graciana mentioned that it will be unfair that someone dies here in the United States and his/her corpse is being taken care of by other people, citing a case of a young lady who died in New Jersey. This brought up a heated debate amongst members of the house who mentioned that our organization is not a charity organization and that if anyone wants to be recognized as an Oroko child he or she should try and register to belong to our Oroko family. Tata Jackson Nanje weighed in by saying that there was an instance in which he contacted one lady to try to bring her in our Oroko family but the lady did not show any interest of belonging. He mentioned that if something should happen to this lady will someone blame the Oroko family for not doing something? These questions continue to be a challenge to our Oroko family in the USA.
The financial secretary Iya Caroline Elangwe also gave a brief breakdown of the financial record, while mentioning the fact that a sum of $5,500 was disbursed to the Boston chapter to help assist them to run the affairs of the convention. The meeting proceeded with the various chapters giving a summary of their achievements for the year 2017.
The outgoing national president Tata Prince Fred Mediko called on the Georgia chapter to give their summary.The Georgia chapter began with its summary which was given by their Secretary General Tata Emmanuel Ikoe on behalf of the President Tata Chief Victor Obie, in which he mentioned that the chapter was doing great and has to continue to be the model for other chapters to follow. This was followed by the Boston chapter, of which their President Tata Jana Nanje, mentioned that his chapter was doing great and has borrowed some money from the National to run the convention and that they are going to pay back this money to the National coffers. This was followed by the New York/ New Jersey chapter President Iya Olive Mosah Beseka, who mentioned that their chapter was doing great and nobody is smarter than all of us combined. She mentioned that they were there to support the Boston chapter and there is nothing more than being a family. This was followed by the President of the Dallas chapter Tata Wintson Okole, who also mentioned that the Oroko Dallas chapter had a new executive, with a new account, with detailed financial report every month, and that the chapter was now in good standing. He continued by saying that the Dallas chapter collects between $400 to $1000 every month, and that they are planning to showcase a fundraising gala next year, to help Dallas residents and those back home. He also mentioned that, their chapter has not yet received their share of the money for 2016 convention. The outgoing National president Tata Prince Fred Mediko mentioned that, they are trying to collect some of the money pledged, and then they can share the money. The President of the Greater Washington DC area, Tata Musongo Nanje, took the floor to give us a summary from his chapter. He mentioned that they have 28 registered members, although the turnout for their meetings keeps fluctuating. He said they had no major event this year, and their emergency and voluntary service fund is still active. He also mentioned that the issue of transfer of funds from the old administration of 2011 has not yet being resolved. The Tri-state chapter led by Tata Dr. Fred Bebe took the floor to give us a summary from his chapter. He mentioned that the chapter has not being active, but he will try to revive the chapter and bring us a report by next convention. Tata Ekoi of Chicago on his part mentioned that he will try to start a chapter in Chicago, and that it does not matter how many people are there, but with the help of the current chapters they can carry on.
The meeting continued with the outgoing National president calling on his Vice President Tata Samuel Diony to introduce the keynote speaker. The Vice President mentioned that the keynote speaker was born in Kumba of the name of Tata Dr. Charles Misori. The keynote speaker on his part gave us a brief speech, by saying that whatever we are doing here will not go in vain. He encouraged public health in Oroko land because health he says brings prosperity. He talked about the therapeutic and the preventive theories. He mentioned that the therapeutic theory is short-lived; meanwhile the preventive theory is long-lived, because therapeutic model does not look into the root cause of the problem, and meanwhile the preventive model encourages lifestyle changes and makes you in charge of your health. He also proposed a prayer line on a monthly bases for the group.
The outgoing National president took the floor to brief the General Assembly on the bench project, saying that the project was successful but there were a lot of challenges, and that the next administration should think of how to help our people back home through any of the various projects. He said we also have to help our people here in United States, and he illustrated a case of a young lady who died in New Jersey, and also members who are sick here in our midst. He asked a question , are we going to wait until they die before we can do help? He mentioned the cases of the Georgia chapter president Tata Chief Victor Obie and Tata Felix Awanjo a member, who received assistance from the Georgia chapter and beyond. He said Oroko USA should help the sick and the sick should also help Oroko USA by registering to become a member. He mentioned that we have two members in Georgia chapter who are diagnosed with cancer and he wants to involve the National to help in this situation by creating a GoFundMe account.
The outgoing National president dissolved his cabinet in accordance with our constitution to give way for the election of the next national president of Oroko Cultural Association, USA.
The meeting proceeded with electoral process which began at 4.45 p.m ET, with the appointment of the three electoral committee members, chaired by Tata James Namata. The two presidential candidates for presidency of Oroko Cultural Association USA, were Iya Dr. Clementine Ebenye Nanje and Tata Dr. Stanley Ati. Both candidates gave the General Assembly a brief insight of why they want to be our National president and why they think they are the best choice for the job. The election commenced with registered members casting their votes for their favorite candidate. The election ended with Iya Dr. Clementine E.Nanje receiving 35 votes and Tata Dr. Stanley Ati receiving 9 votes. Iya Dr. Clementine E. Nanje was pronounced the winner of the election by the electoral committee chairperson Tata James Namata.
This marks the end of the meeting, while the convention continues to the next phase which was the gala night. According to records from the office of the financial secretary Iya Caroline Elangwe, there are at least 53 registered members so far and this number is subject to change as people are encouraged to register at the Oroko National.
Done by:
Emmanuel Ikoe
Secretary General
OCA-USA
