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A SAFE RETURN FROM FELMAUSA’S
CONVENTION IN PHILLY By: Sekou Kenneh, Opinion Leader MN 10 July, 2010  Fellow
Felmausans, I'm delighted to inform you that we have safely returned
home after a long journey from the Twin Cities (Minnesota) to
Philadelphia, PA for FELMAUSA’S convention 2010. All thanks and praises
due to the Almighty Allah who is the guardian and protector of us all. I
wish to extend my profound thanks and appreciation to all of our
brothers and sisters in Philadelphia, PA for the level of hospitality
accorded us during this year’s convention.My heartfelt commendation goes to the Leadership of LIMAP, notably President Mohamed Bility and the energetic officials of the Liberian Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania (LIMAP), for hosting one of the best and successful conventions in the history of the Federation (FELMAUSA). Special thanks go to the former members of the disbanded constitutional review committee headed by Hon. Francis Duwana for their patience, commitment and dedications to the well-being of our beloved community; God’s willing, your efforts will not be forgotten. I also wish with humility and profound gratitude to extend my sincere appreciation to brother Mohamed Sheriff and his family for their generous reception accorded us while we were in Philly for FELMAUSA'S 2010 convention. Not forgetting my own sister-in law Makoya Dorley Toure and her husband, Mohammed Toure AKA (Tata-madee), the Bayoh family, amongst others. Moreover, I would like to say thank you to FELMAUSA'S President, Hon. Mohammed Dukuly and the entire executive leadership of FELMAUSA for their resilience in the mix of numerous unforeseen circumstances in our community. Let me also say a big thank you to Hon. Abe Kromah and the entire members of the FELMAUSA'S Board of Directors for being the role-models of our community. My hat off to FELMAUSA'S former President Hon. Richmond Mohammed Konneh who laterally took the Federation(FELMAUSA) from its embryonic stage to infancy(where FELMAUSA is today); Mr. Konneh is also credited for initiating the Education/scholarship project that is consider today as one of the major undertaking by the Federation(FELMAUSA). I truly hope that President Dukuly would be able to take the organization (FELMAUSA) from its infancy (where Richmond left us) to its maturity (Bigger and Stronger FELMAUSA) I think you all are doing good, and we must learn to appreciate each other even when we some times disagree because, it is believed that “One who does not appreciate the LITTLE, would not appreciate the BIGGER. And one who doesn't appreciate his/her fellow human, would not appreciate the Almighty Allah".(The Creator), Though I stand corrected. In that regard, we are grateful for every good things you have done for us the (Mandingo community). But we need to do more. Don't get me wrong, while we must appreciate each other, we must also be able to honestly and respectfully engage each other on some of the issues that continues to retard the advancement our community; specifically, in the areas of Efficiency, Transparency and Accountability. Efficiency: Our leaders need to make some adjustment with respect to their effectiveness in performing their obligations as community leaders; they must make adjustment in a manner where they don't have to be reminded by anyone about their responsibilities. Considering the fact that they are custodians of our trusts, they must not make us the (Mandingo community) to regret our decision to entrust them with the leadership of our noble community. In my view, leadership is not merely the title but rather, the quality and the ability to execute your responsibility as a leader. Therefore, our leaders need to take their job seriously. Transparency: Both the Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors of FELMAUSA need to work together in an open hands, where both organs must be aware of every single Dollar that would be taken from the organization’s coffer. Accountability: Our overall performance on accountability is very poor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is very troubling, that we have all the financial experts, but yet we are unable to provide an accurate check- and balance-system for our one and only Federation (FELMAUSA). Unfortunately, the only time we tend to prove our expertise on accountability is only when we are either two weeks away from every convention, during the convention, and or a month after the convention. Those are some of the reasons why we (FELMAUSA) always have to loan money from individuals to organize our convention. What a shame! The fact that everyone is talking about the success of this 2010 FELMAUSA'S convention that was recently held in Philadelphia, financial while, I'm profoundly concern about the manner in which the proceeds would be managed, since money has in fact always been one of the major contributing factors to most of the unfinished problems in our community. I think our money has to be cautiously and wisely spent, the community’s funds must be spent for its intended purposes only, but not to satisfy any individual desire or fantasy. Remember that, the convention is our organization’s (FELMAUSA) only source of income. Therefore, any money generated from the convention must be managed appropriately in order for us to be able to undertake some of our projects and also stage the next convention without borrowing money from anybody. Regrettably, there are some lackadaisical behaviors if not eradicated could impede our progress, specifically on the part of some of our leaders, and that is, the Executive Leadership of FELMAUSA would only acknowledge the existence of the Board of Directors around the convention time, when they need money (the membership due) from the various chapters to organize the convention. On the other hand, FELMAUSA'S Board of Directors would only be reminded of their responsibility to hold the Executive Leadership accountable, only when they are ask to pay the membership due, at which point they would start to talk about accountability. What a conflicts of interest! I'm glad that we have adopted a new constitution which I believe would help to eradicate some of those behaviors provided, if the constitution would be given the consideration it’s deserved. Thank you very much Sekou Kenneh, Opinion Leader MN Always remember that whatever we do or say, we would be judged by history. |
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