OROKO CULTURAL ASSOCIATION – USA
2505 Greenes Lane
Powder Springs
GA 30127
10/02/2018
Minutes for Executive Meeting
The executive meeting began at 7:22p.m ET with opening prayer by Tata Emmanuel Ikoe. This was followed by opening remarks by the National President Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje. She began the meeting by talking about the importance and necessity of life and/or burial insurance especially for people in our community and chapter members. She urges the chapter presidents to take the information about the neccessity of life or burial insurance to their various chapters. She mentioned that the humanitarian assistance program has been successful thus far and the campaign to raise funds is still ongoing. She continued by saying that as for the national uniform she spoke with the Cultural Secretary Iya Gwendoline Forseh and she presented her with a uniform which seems to have a low quality but for half the original price i.e $35 a piece. She mentioned that she has written an appreciation letter for all our donors for 2018 Chicago convention so that they can use it to file for their taxes. She also mentioned that she received a sum of $300 from someone who pledge at the 2018 convention. She said as for the fundraising for the humanitarian assistance program, She will direct the GoFundMe to the various chapters for them to assist in raising funds but it will be coordinated by the national.
On his part, the PRO, Tata Victor Nanje mentioned that the Washington D.C chapter has donated a sum of $900 to the national for the humanitarian assistance program. He continued by saying that due to the current situation in Cameroon in the month of February, the humanitarian assistance program will be suspended until the situation gets calm again.
As for the national uniform which has been giving for half a price, the Secretary General of the Georgia chapter Tata Emmanuel Nanje, ask what will the national do for Georgia chapter who paid the entire price i.e $70 for the uniforms? The national president responded that the Georgia chapter will receive the remaining half of their money.
On his part, the National Executive Adviser, Tata Nambili Namongo asked whether it would not be advisable to postponed the national uniform until we get a better quality, since we already know that this one is of poor quality? The PRO, responded that going for the higher quality at this point will mean a whole new process and it may take a longer time for us to get the quality we want, so it was better we take this for half the price and hope for a better quality in future. However, the national president also weighed in and mentioned that she will contact the Cultural Secretary to see if we can get our money back and also she will contact at least two other women in the executive to see if we can use the already available uniform.
On his part, the Georgia chapter President, Tata Evaristus Nanje mentioned that he has secured the hall for the 2019 convention and that there is also arrangements made by the PRO to secure a hotel which will be used for the convention. The deposit for the hotel was $675 and this amount was paid by the National Treasurer Iya Naomi Ebile at the time of the meeting.
The National Treasurer also mentioned that the hosting chapter should come up with a budget for the 2019 convention so that a check can be handed over to them by the national.
On his part, the National Vice President Tata Mosongo Nanje, mentioned that he talked with Tata Jackson Nanje about bringing our guest musician Tata Betondi James to our convention and that the visa process was underway. He mentioned that they did come up with contract which was signed between OCA-USA and the Nanje Music Production. He mentioned that the contract was a draft and after our executive meeting he is going to come up with the entire contract and post it at our executive forum for members to read.
The terms of the contract include, paying our guest musician $50 for each table sold which will cost $1000 per table and 31 tables in total. Paying our guest musician $5 for every ticket sold. Paying our guest musician $1000 for any funds raised at his show or performance while in the U.S.A (except at the convention).
In terms of his performance at the convention, the PRO advised that he can perform about 5 songs on Friday cultural night and 2 songs at the gala for two hours interval. As for the gate fee for the convention, it was agreed that the Georgia chapter will come up with the gate fee for the convention.
The meeting concluded with chapter report with Dallas, Houston, California and Georgia chapter presidents and representatives mentioning that their chapters were doing good. The Dallas chapter President Tata Wintson Okole mentioned that their elections have been postponed to a later date. The California chapter President Tata Charles Mokwe also mentioned that their chapter is now having 7 active members. As for the D.C chapter, their President Tata Mosong Nanje mentioned that he has over due on his position as President but there is no one to replace him.
The meeting closed at 9:45 p.m ET
Those who attended this meeting include;
Iya Dr. Clementine Nanje -National President
Tata Mosongo Nanje – National Vice Pre2
Tata Victor Nanje – PRO
Tata Nambili Namongo – Executive Adviser
Tata Evaristus Nanje – Georgia Chapter President
Tata Charles Mokwe – President California Chapter
Tata Winston Okole – Dallas Chapter President
Tata Paddy Ndole – Houston Chapter Representative
Iya Naomi Ebile – National Treasurer
Tata Chief Victor Obie – Georgia Chapter Representative
Tata Musongo Nanje- Secretary General Georgia chapter
Tata Emmanuel Ikoe – Secretary General
Done by:
Emmanuel Ikoe
Secretary General
OCA-USA
