Liberian Community of Syracuse
General Meeting 3/6/10
527 North Salina St. (CYO)
1. The meeting was called to order by Leo Dossen (President) at 6:45pm on 3/6/10.
2. Invocation: Ma Sarah
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Emmanuel Tambah (Secretary) was not present with minutes due to work obligations; minutes of the 2/20/10 meeting will be reviewed at the 3/20/10 meeting. Mardea Warner was asked to take meeting notes in his absence.
4. Recognition/Introduction of Visitors, Friends and Family Members: As of @7pm there were no visitors.
5. Discussion of Standing Committees:
Leo informed the group that to this date, there had not been any committee reports. It was stressed that this lack of information was preventing the yearly calendar from being developed. Mardea reported that the Networking and Opportunites Committee had an initial meeting with 3 of its 4 members; and was in the process of coordinating individual schedules in order to meet with the full committee. Leo indicated a similar difficulty in scheduling meetings was occurring with the Executive Committee. Discussion included the following: questions about committees not working/not doing their jobs; setting a deadline date for committees to meet and submit their yearly calendar plans; holding committee chairmen/women responsible for scheduling regular meetings and reporting back to the LICOS body. A sign-up sheet was passed around for members present to indicate their interest in serving on any of the existing committees.
6. Letter of Invitation from ULA-A LICOS received an invitation from the United Liberians Association in America, Inc. of Buffalo inviting us to attend its United Liberian Women’s Program on Saturday, March 27th from 8:30pm-1am or later.Discussion included the following: whether to accept the invitation; the importance of mutual organizational support; who is actually available to go (taking into account LICOS membership work schedules and the relatively short notice); should a group of mothers and youth be asked to go; logistics around getting the information out to the community/transportation/financially supporting those who go.The invitation was accepted and Leo plans to present the letter at church on Sunday (tomorrow) to the community.Clement Bango and Chris Daye expressed an interest in representing LICOS at the event. There will also be additional discussion about the details of attending the ULA-A in Buffalo at the next LICOS meeting on 3/20/10.
7. Plans for July 26th (Independence Day): Please see attached sheet.
8. Committee Report:
There were no committee reports other than information stated in #5. Mr. William Fannoh requested that members pay their dues. Members in good standing are to pay $5 per meeting or $120 yearly.
LICOS Liberian Independence Day Celebration
July 26, 2010
Suggestions and Ideas
Charging/making pledges to help pay for the event
Cultural troupe performance/coordinated performance
Parade in downtown Syracuse/marching band
Matching/coordinated outfits-women (head tie and / Liberian Lapa with LICOS 2010 T-Shirts) and some men with lapa
Sther Liberian communities will be informed of LICOS informal dress code and encouraged to participate
Publicity will go out to other organizations, the public and media outlets (television, newspapers)
Finance committee needs to start developing the budget for this event as soon as possible
Organize regional soccer leagues (with paid participation) for soccer tournament. Currently there is a group of young adults looking for assistance sponsorship/pledge opportunities. Group interested in hosting a “pre-tournament” as preparation for the tournament at the July 26th Celebration [from Clement and Chris].
9. Other Matters:
Mr. Chris Dayee requests LICOS support for his child’s Baby Shower on Saturday, 3/20/10.
Leo presented committee appointment letters to LICOS members.
Prince Sherman, newly arrived from Boston, expressed his appreciation for LICOS and his interest in learning more about the organization. Leo welcomed him and gave some information concerning the LICOS mission, meeting dates and times.
A suggestion was made to select a youth leader president-the executive committee will look into it.
Mamalo Bango invited all of the women to help her celebrate her 50th birthday on Saturday, 3/13/10 at 8pm, 617 Lodi St. Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share.
Happy Birthday was sung to Mamalo and Mardea for upcoming and past birthdays respectively.
10. Benediction: By Mrs. Yowah Nuah
11. Adjournment: 8:30pm
Meeting Minutes
Respectively Submitted,
Mardea Warner
