OROKO CULTURAL ASSOCIATION – USA
2505 Greenes Lane
Powder Springs
GA 30127
Minutes for Executive Meeting. 12/17/2017
The Executive meeting was chaired by the Vice President Tata Mosongo Nanje. The meeting began at 7.10 p.m ET with opening prayer by Iya Naomi Ebile.This was followed by opening remarks by the Vice President, who also mentioned that we had good news from the National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje with regards to obtaining a 501(C) 3 status for our Association. He continued by saying that, we will be having reports from the various chapters and he wishes everyone a very happy festive season.
Thereafter, our guest for the day Iya Dr. Dasi Sylvia took the floor to talk about her Colors of Roses Foundation which focuses on helping communities within Cameroon with humanitarian health care products such as medications, which in this case she said, they work with pharmaceutical companies in the United States who provide her Foundation with medications that can be used to treat various diseases in Cameroon. She also mentioned that, not only does her foundation carry out health care projects, they also carry out projects on Education and Agriculture as well. Her purpose of being a guest to our meeting was to share some light on what it takes for OCA USA to partner with her Foundation in addressing some of the healthcare issues people of Orokoland may be facing, especially when it comes to treatment and medication expenses. She mentioned that her Foundation has been operating for 2 years, and that they have carried out projects in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, and she wish these same projects can be done in Orokoland, since she is also part of us. She said the project is being recognized at the regional level, specifically by the Director of Public Health within the Southwest Region, and she is also aiming to meet with the Minister of Public Health in Cameroon to give the Foundation a more solid ground even at the National level.
She advised OCA USA to raise the sum of $20,000 of which part of the money i.e $10,000 will go to logistics here in the United States (transporting the medication from the pharmaceutical company, her flight and also for buying of bags in which the medications will be carried to the airport.) The other $10,000 will be used for logistics and entertainment in Cameroon, as well as to mobilize medical personnel and volunteers.
Some questions were raised by members of the executive as to whether she will not have problems in dealing with the drugs control regulations in Cameroon, but she said this is not the first time of providing medications to communities in Cameroon, specifically the Northwest Region, and that we can follow up on her projects on Facebook and on her website. ( www.colorsOfRoses.org ) On that note, the Vice President Tata Mosongo Nanje mentioned that we will look at the information gathered through this meeting and see how we can come to a conclusion after weighing and putting together all the facts of the project.
The meeting proceeded with briefing on the State of the Union from the National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje. She mentioned that by obtaining our 501 (C) 3, we can now apply for support from donor organizations and to that effect the State of Our Union was strong. The Vice President continued by calling the various chapters to give updates on the state of affairs within our various chapters. He began with his own chapter, the Washington D.C chapter and mentioned that their last meeting was yesterday ( Dec 16th 2017) and they had a smooth year 2017 and were looking forward to 2018 as a strong chapter.
He then called on the Georgia Chapter which was represented by the President Tata Chief Victor Obie, who mentioned that, the Georgia chapter had a good year 2017 and a Thanksgiving celebration which was also very good. He said, he was re-elected to office as the President of Georgia, and was given the mandate by the house to come up with an executive to continue the affairs of the Georgia chapter.
Thereafter, the Boston chapter took the floor, represented by the Deputy Secretary General who is also the Secretary General of the Boston chapter Tata Etukeni Agbaw. He mentioned that the Boston chapter hosted a record breaking convention of 2017. However, he drew the attention of the national executive by saying that their chapter had put a certain amount of money towards the convention preparation but they are still to know what will be the amount they will receive from the proceeds that came out of the convention. He mentioned that members of the Boston chapter were a bit unsettled with the explanation they were having on how the proceeds of the convention will be shared between the national and the Boston chapter. He said, the Boston chapter will send a letter to the national executive in order to get a grasp on what the stakes are or a concrete explanation on what they will receive in terms of the 40/60 split of the proceeds that came out from the convention. To the affect the National President mentioned that they should give the Boston chapter what we have acquired so far in terms of the proceeds from the convention.
The National Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile on her part mentioned that, as of now they only have $1,066 as proceeds from the convention pending other pledges. The Secretary General Tata Emmanuel Ikoe, on his part mentioned that, he is going to look at the national constitution in order to know the exact terms that apply to the 40/60 split as to what is supposed to be given to the Boston chapter.
The meeting continued with the next item of our agenda which in this case was the issue of the money owed to the Washington D.C chapter which has not yet being resolved. The Vice President mentioned that the National President reached out to Tata Ebini Tambe, who said he is going to come up with the money in two weeks, but uptill now he has not shown any signs of coming up with the money. On that note, a consensus was reached by the executive branch to send a letter from the Office of the National President to Tata Ebini Tambe and Iya Elizabeth Ngole in order for us to know what is actually going on with the funds that need to be refunded to the Washington D.C chapter. To that note, Tata Ekinneh Agbaw who is our executive adviser asked what is next after the letters have being sent to them. But that question is still to be answered, since it was agreed that we will take one step at a time until we get to the bottom of the matter.
The issue of the National Convention venue for 2018 was again raised up for discussion. The National President mentioned that we are supposed to send a letter to the various chapters in order for them to know the position of things as they stand now. She also mentioned that she has spoken with the people of Chicago who promised that they will let her know when they plan to start a new chapter or have their first meeting. She also mentioned that Iya Gwen Mbake of Colorado was also planning to open another chapter in Colorado and they will also need our support.
With regards to the development of Oroko land, which is a committee created under the auspices of OCA USA, the Secretary General Tata Emmanuel Ikoe mentioned that, he had some serious discussions with the Presidents and Secretary General of other Foreign Associations including the President of Oroko UK Tata Emmanuel Namoango; the President of Oroko France Tata Frankline Akama Ngoe; the President of Oroko Germany Tata Paddy Obie, the President of Oroko South Korea Tata Joseph Maloke; the President of Oroko Belgium Tata Akala Achamba; the President of Oroko Canada Tata Bernard Motuba; the Secretary General of Oroko Canada Tata Martin Mote, as well as some other Oroko dignitaries in Thailand, and South Africa. Our discussion was centered on coming up with a holistic approach to the development of Orokoland in which no one will be left out as it remains our responsibility to see that the next generation of Orokans will see the light and prospects that will come to our land as a result of our committed efforts.
Before the end of the meeting, the Financial Secretary Iya Caro Elangwe also joined in and gave us a briefing on the financial state of affairs at the national, and she said they are still waiting on some pledges in order to know what will be the proceeds for the convention so that the Boston chapter can get their share. She mentioned that, any financial issues should be addressed to her or the Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile, and not to the National President. The meeting ended with closing remarks from the Vice President.
Those who attended this meeting included;
– The National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje
– The Vice President Tata Mosongo Nanje
– The Secretary General Tata Emmanuel Ikoe
– The Deputy Secretary General Tata Etukeni Agbaw
– The National Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile
– The National Financial Secretary Iya Caro Elangwe
– The National Technical Adviser Tata Adolphus Ati
– The National Executive Adviser Tata Nambili Namongo
– The National Executive Adviser Tata Ekinneh Agbaw
– The Georgia Chapter President Tata Chief Victor Obie
– Our Guest of Honor Iya Dr. Sylvia Dasi
Done by:
Tata Emmanuel Ikoe
Secretary General
OCA-USA
