Monrovia College A A A
Business Session
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Venue: Christ International Baptist Church
Minutes
The 10th Annual Reunion/ Convention of the Monrovia College Alumni Association in the Americas (MCAAA) entered it second day with a business session at the Christ International Baptist Church at South 65th street in Philadelphia, PA. The session was called to order by the presiding officer who is also the national President of the association, Mr. Richmond Flowers. Mrs. Amanda Nelson-King offered the opening prayer which was followed by the singing of the school’s ode (Monrovia College). After the ode the president proceeded by reading out the program for the convention. Following the reading and the making of some minor changes in the program, a motion to adopt the program for the convention was raised by Mrs. Victoria Carter. There was an overwhelming yea which endorsed the program for the convention.
Following the adoption of the program, attendants at the session were asked to introduce themselves. The president then proceeded with the appointment of some ad hoc committees. The committee on finance consisted of three members: Mrs. Francis Jones of the Rhode Island chapter, Mrs. Roseline Meekie Swaray-Peal of the Maryland Chapter, and Mr. Henrique Urey of Pennsylvania who will also serve as head to the financial committee. Another ad hoc committee set up is the one on Complimentary Resolution. It is headed by Mr. Samuel Slewion. Other members are Mr. Nehemiah Brent and Mrs. Antoinette Davis Cavender.
The Business Session of Convention 2006 then moved on to reports from various committees and chapters. The first report was expected to come from the Georgia Chapter which hosted Convention 2005. The president expressed disappointment that the Georgia’s Chapter inability to be at the convention since the chapter hosted the last convention. In view of this minutes from the last convention could not be read at the 10th convention. Meanwhile, Mr. Ruel Dempster suggested that the Georgia chapter be prevailed upon to make the report available on the MCAAA’s Website for the entire membership and others to view. In addition to Mr. Dempster’s suggestion, Mr. Slewion added that a time frame be set for the submission of the report since such has being over due.
A financial report for the MCAAA was read by the Treasure of the association, Mr. Frances Ansumana-Jones and Mrs. Roseline Swaray-Peal. In her report among other things, the treasurer talked about checks that were issued by certain individuals to the association but were returned by the bank due to the lack of funds. She said this has caused the association the loss of $ 30.00 which was charged by the bank as fee. She also reported that she still has in her possession some post dated checks and is waiting for the issuers of the checks to give final approval whether the checks should be deposited into the association’s account. The treasurer indicated that a total of six hundred and seventy five dollars ($675.00) was outstanding to the association due to returned and post dated checks. According to the National Financial Secretary, the association’s net worth is $12,046.99(please refer to a breakdown of the financial report circulated at the convention hall). Following the financial secretary’s reports questions were raised regarding the payment of the due from the North Carolina’s Chapter of MCAAA. There were reports and counter reports of Carolina’s settlement of her dues. However since there was no written record to that effect it could not be established whether the chapter has lived up to its financial obligations. The secretary also indicated that the association’s account statements for the fiscal year, August 1, 2005 to July 31, 2006 are available for viewing. She then explained the procedure involved in the dispensation of money to any chapter hosting MCAAA’s convention. On the question of payment of money owed the association and what can be done to retrieve it, the president said that it was important distinguish the types of money in question. He said they are dues owed the association by chapters and money loaned to a chapter to host a convention. He said besides the withdrawal of voting and speaking privileges for chapters owing the association, there was nothing much that could be done about chapters that are in financial default. He further indicated that to the best of his knowledge he does not know of any chapter that was given money to host a convention but has failed to make settlement to the association. Commenting on the failure of some persons not living up to their pledges, Ms. Amanda Nelson-King said while it was true that the association does have limited authority in retrieving pledges, it was important that members be guided by a sense of integrity and responsibility to live up to what they have vouched to do. She said there is no sense in issuing a check or making a pledge when one knows that he/she will not live up to such.
The financial secretary, Ms. Roseline Swaray-Peal suggested that the association should set a limit to money given to chapters for hosting a convention. She said her suggestion was intended to control financial and material losses due to over spending. She said based on her observation over the years too much food was being prepared and there was a lot of over spending. She said it was important that a cap be placed on how much the association could give to any chapter to host a convention. She suggested that the sum of $ 2,500.00 be expensed to any chapter that hosts the convention. In response to Peal’s proposal, Samuel Slewion asked for the history of expenditure to a host chapter which might have prompted the proposal. Mr. James B. Fahnbulleh did not seem to allude to the notion that losses were being occurred on the part of the MCAAA as a function of the association giving money to chapters to host the convention. He recalled when Rhode Island was given $ 4,000.00; the chapter raised $ 8,000.00 amongst others. Also person speaking at the session suggested that expenditures be shared between the association and the host chapter. The president was quick to react to the suggestion urging the association to carefully study the idea of sharing expenditure because in the past the association was losing money and some association were unable to host the convention which brought about the association footing the cost of hosting the convention. Finally with a motion the issue was resolved with an agreement to set at the limit of two thousand five hundred dollars ($ 2,500.00) on a trial basis. It was decided that a committee will study the cap after the next convention and make recommendation as regards whether or not it is effective.
The next issue was reports from the various chapters of the MCAAA. The reports started with the Georgia Chapter which was not present. Therefore there was no report from Georgia. The Maryland chapter was represented by its head, Mr. James Fahnbulleh. He reported that the chapter has recently held its elections and he was elected president. He presented the association with a check of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the chapter’s dues for 2005 and 2006. New Jersey was represented by one delegate. There was no contribution. California and Texas were not officially represented. There were no reports. New England which itself as the most cohesive and hard working of the various chapters said the chapter was working vigorously. The representative, Amanda Nelson-King then made a check payment of one thousand dollars ($ 1,000.00) to the association then challenged other chapters to emulate the New England’s gestures. Mrs. King then congratulated the outgoing national president for his contribution to the association and urged him to continue to work for the association even when he is out of office. The host Pennsylvania also contributed one thousand dollars as its dues for 2005 and 2006. Speaking on behalf of the chapter its president, Mr. Patrick Pannah congratulated the out going president and admonished the incoming administration to strive for the upliftment of the association.
Following reports from the various chapters, the president turn over the gable of authority to the advisor to the board, Mr. Daniel O. Mensah so to allow him address the audience on the state of affairs of the association. A full version of the president’s delivery is available on the association’s web site (www.monroviacollege-alumni.org) for the viewing of the membership and the public in general. Following the president’s delivery, a motion was raised to accept the delivery for discussion. This motion was overwhelming endorsed. The Financial secretary in response thanked the president for a splendid delivery. She also thanked him for his visit to Liberia especially to Monrovia College.
Following the president’s statement and other discussions relative to it, discussion about a computer lab project was begun. The president asked Messrs James Fahnbulleh and Nehemiah Brent to brief the association on how to enhance the computer project. The president said during his visit to Monrovia he held discussion with the administration and students of Monrovia College. He said during his discussions at Monrovia College, he asked the administration and students leadership what they wanted the association to do for them or what they and the association could do together. He said following their discussions, it was realized that the need for a computer lab for the school featured prominently. It was predicated on the urgency attached to the need for a computer lab by the Monrovia College administration and students that the president decided to make some demarches for the realization of the project. The president then called on Messrs Fahnbulleh and Brent to brief the association on how the computer lab project could be enhanced. In response to the call, Mr. Brent pledged ten computers for the project and said that the computers will be ready within a month. He said he needed to install some programs on the computers for adequate usage in Liberia. Mr. Brent described the computers as being in great condition. He said they are all Pentium IV, 512 RAM with 1.8 to 2.4 gigabytes. He said the computers are equipped with office XP processors. In his concluding statement the former coach of the college’s female basketball team urged his fellow monkeys to strive to restore Monrovia College to her old glory.
Meanwhile, Mr. James Fahnbulleh who is also webmaster of MCAAA said that he is involved with discussions with a number of individuals at the school in Monrovia. He emphasized the need for pictures involving the activities of the school to be featured on the site. He said he has being discussing the issue with Mr. Harris at the school. In a related story, Mr. Nehemiah Brent has indicated that an official of Monrovia Ms. Patricia Doe is in the USA. He said in a telephone conversation with Ms. Doe she emphasized the need for a power generator in addition to the computer lab. He said Doe told him that the school depends on the church for the supply of power which she said is not sufficient enough to sustain the computer lab.
Following the deliberations by Fahnbulleh and Brent Samuel Slewion proposed that the association should reach a decision on the computer lab and generator’s project. A vote which endorsed the computer lab and generator’s project was conducted. Support for the project was overwhelming.
The most important event of the day was the election of corps of officers to steer the association for 2006/2007. The president requested Mr. Slewion to conduct the elections. Slewion accepted the challenge then thanked the president for his preferment. He announced that there were 25 persons eligible to vote. Following his remarks the floor was opened for nominations. For national president Mabasi Paasewe-Totimah who emerged to be the chief nominator at the session, nominated Mr. Daniel Mensah while Roseline Peal nominated Mr. Ruel Dempster to run for the same post. However, Mr. Dempster declined the nomination since Mensah was running for the post. This approach was viewed by many at the session as an indication of unity and selflessness. Meanwhile white ballots were cast for the posts of national president, vice national president, general secretary, and treasurer since there were no opposing contestants for the post. Meanwhile MCAAA elected the following persons to steer the affairs of the association for 2006/2007. Those are as follows: Daniel O. Mensah, National President, Roseline Swaray Peal, national Vice Chairperson, Nicki Roberts, and General Secretary. Frances joined was reelected unopposed to the post of Treasurer. The hottest contest of the day came when the post of financial secretary received two nominations. Those nominated were Minnie Travers Tomah of Texas and Phebe Gray. After brief remarks by the two candidates the election was conducted by secret ballots. Voters were given pieces of papers on which to write the name of the candidate of their choice. After the ballot count Ms. Phebe Gray who is also a PhD candidate emerged victorious 11 to 9 votes. Another white ballot was cast for the seven members of the Board of advisors. Those elected were Minnie Travers-Tomah, Ruel Dempster, Herbert Snetter, Nehemiah Brent, Amma Massaquoi, Mrs. Snider, and Gray. Installation of the officer was expected to be held at the Ball according to the President.
The state of Minnesota was elected to host the annual convention of the MCAAA in 2007. Minnesota defeated Texas by 11 to 9 votes.
The elections were followed by announcements. In one of the announcements the soccer game that was to be held between the Old Timers of Philadelphia and MCAAA was cancelled due to the wedding ceremony of one of the old timers. Another announcement indicated that a member of the association, Mr. Tarpeh could not attend the convention due to the death of his mother. Members were urged to sympathize with the Tarpeh family. Ruel Dempster announced the meeting of the newly elected board members following the session.
Meanwhile the outgoing Mr. Richmond Flowers has announced that consultation were under discussion with former presidents of the MCAAA to organize themselves into a committee of former presidents. He said the former presidents are willing and ready to help the new administration in what ever way. Flowers also reported that his Vice President, Gbessi Jones was in Monrovia assessing things. He did not elaborate. The Business session then ended with closing prayers.
This report was compiled and submitted by: Dave Toh Jah, Levittown/USA
