35th National General Assembly
UNION OF LIBERIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN THE AMERICAS (ULAA)
National Headquarters:
1200 G Street NW, Suite 800 ~ WASHINGTON , DC 20005 ~ Tel.: (202) 434-8999
www.ulaaliberia.net
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the Constitution of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), requires the convening of the National General Assembly annually,
Assembly Presiding Officer, ULAA National President
Anthony V. Kesselly leads the way
Whereas, the National Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of the National Administration, designated September 25-27, 2009 for the convening of the 35th General Assembly in the State of Georgia,
Whereas, the National General Assembly constitutes the highest decision making body with the constitutional authority for the revision of the activities of the Union , the formulation of annual plans, the addressing of outstanding issues and the handling of grievances that may arise between sessions,
Whereas, the 35th National General Assembly having convened in the City of Decatur in the State of Georgia acknowledged the commitment of the National Administration to the furtherance of the ideals of the founding fathers and the appreciation of the new challenges brought to bear by the changing demography of Liberians in the Americas,
Audience of Assembly delegates and observers
Whereas, the National General Assembly recognizes the cloud placed by the seemingly incessant campaign of misrepresentation, misinformation and distortion perpetrated by a former Chairman of National Board of Directors and his cohorts,
Whereas, determined to enhance cohesion within the Union while being guided by a commitment to the tenets of democracy,
Whereas, having received the recommendations of special break-up discussion groups and after intense deliberations by delegates to the Assembly at Plenary, the 35th National General Assembly now resolves thus:
I. ULAA Cohesion
Reaffirms the decisions of the 34th National General Assembly, including the elections of national administrative officers, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Union, and hereby embolden the National Administration to pursue all means, including mediation and legal action to preserve the unity of the Union, thus curtailing the orchestrated campaign of misrepresentation and character assassination being perpetrated against the Union by former Chairman of the Union Board of Directors, James Larsah, and his cohorts.
II. National County Associations
Mandates that Membership of the Union be opened to National County Associations operating in the Diaspora of the United States who meet the criteria of Membership into the Union; and that County Associations with membership in the Union be awarded Five Delegates to attend Annual Conventions of the Union and participate in all activities and programs of the union with all rights and privileges appertaining to delegates of Chapters of the Union.
III. Payroll Deduction Contribution
Launches the Liberia Diaspora Development Fund by initiating a program to encourage Liberians within the confines of the Union to make bi-weekly contribution of $2.50 through direct deposit salary deduction,
National General Secretary Isaac S. Zawolo sets the scope
and content of deliberations
IV. Transparency
Ensures that financial reports are made consistent with the constitution to provide transparency and accountability in the activities of the Union ,
V. Constitutional Matters
Adopts the revised Constitution presented by the ULAA Constitutional Review Committee having inserted all agreed amendments thus abrogating all laws, dissolving all commissions and terminating all appointments deemed to be inconsistent with this Constitution,
Eastern Regional Vice President Menseh Monie Jones calls up
chapters in her Region to give their reports
VI Immigration
Recognizes challenges to obtain legal status for undocumented Liberians and especially those on DED, but devise a three-prong approach, including participating in nation-wide campaign and advocacy for the enactment of legislation under a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, pushing for the enactment of the Liberia Fairness Act, continuing to lobby for extension of DED; and to ensure that these approaches are effective the Union will and support its chapters to build partnership and collaboration with other national immigration campaigns and advocacy groups, encourage the participation of people on the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) in all immigration campaign and advocacy activities, including rallies and protests, and maintain on-going alliances with Congressional allies, including Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Congressman Donald Payne, Congressman Keith Ellison.
NLC Members Tarlow Miller, President of Central New Jersey and
J. Shiwoh Kamara, President of Liberian Association of PA beaming
as the Assembly progresses
VII Diaspora Voting & Dual Citizenship
Agrees to set up an International Diaspora Task Force to in collaboration with ULAA, EFLA, COLUSUS, LiCOHN and other Diaspora Liberian Organizations to develop plans and programs relative to creating an intense lobbying mechanism to ensure the enacting of a law in the Liberian Legislature making dual citizenship acceptable in Liberia and work towards the development of policies and structures accommodative of Diaspora Voting for Liberians.
VIII Paying of Tributes:
The Union, in recognition of the sacrifices and commitment to the Union and immigrant causes in the United States, pays tributes to the late Joseph Mamadee Ghorpu-Dolo Woah-Tee, former president of the Union who was brutally murdered in May 31, 2009, and the late Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who lost his battle to brain cancer in early September, 2009. The demise of the two gallant men will continue to inspire the Union to marshal the courage to continue its struggle for the downtrodden and masses of Liberia as well as immigrants.
Crunch session by Break-up Group on the Draft Constitution
IX: Venue of the 36th General Assembly
Identifies The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) as the Host of the 36th National General Assembly of the Union, to be held in the State of Minnesota in September 2010.
Done this 26th day of September in the year two thousand nine A.D with delegates from following Chapters and observer organizations present:
1. Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA)
2. Liberian Association of Pennsylvania (LAP)
3. Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM)
4. Organization of the Liberian Community in Illinois (OLCI)
5. Liberian Association of Central New Jersey and the Metro Areas (LACNJMA)
6. Federation of Liberian Community Association in Massachusetts (FoLiCAM)
7. Federation of Liberian Associations in Ohio (FOLAO)
8. Association of Citizens and Friends of Liberia (ACFLi)
9. Staten Island Liberian Community Association (SILCA)
10. Liberian Organization of the Piedmont (LOP)
11. Liberian Association of Wisconsin (LAW)
European Counterpart Leader John N. Brownell, President
of the European Federation of Liberian Associations
(EFLA) addresses his compatriots at the Assembly
Observer Organizations:
European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA)
Conference of Liberian Organizations in Southwestern United States (COLOSUS)
Liberian-Canadian Organization of Hamilton-Niagara (LiCOHN)
Liberian Association of Kentucky and Southern Indiana (LAK/SA)
Movement for Democratic Change (MDCL)
Sinoe County Association in the Americas (SCAA)
National Bomi County Association in the Americas (NBCAA)
Signed: ______________________
Isaac S. Zawolo, Jr.
NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY
Attested: ______________________
Anthony V. Kesselly
NATIONAL PRESIDENT |