Dear Colleagues,
I would like to thank Mr. Alaka for providing insight into a number of issues which have been discussed on the Forum in the recent past weeks. From his recent response, I have learnt a bit of how the West Nile Foundation came into existence (from the Virtual Network of friends of West Nile (VNFFWN)). I had initially and probably wrongly thought that the origin of WNF was from a group of Ombaci OB's club. Thanks to the initial members or participants of the VNFFWN for their tenacity in keeping the group alive and evolving their activities into West Nile Foundation. Indeed the current leadership of WNF has done a number of wonderful things to represent and/or help the West Nile Community in various capacities as Mr. Alaka listed. These people deserve a big applause and appreciation for their efforts as individuals, and as a group for their volunteerism. They have done so because they have strongly believed in the cause of West Nile. The tremendously increasing number of new members joining in the discussion at the Forum in my view is the evidence that there is a lot of interest in WNF. We definitely need the numbers and contribution of every one and all who want to see West Nile region change. As Mr. Alaka put it, WNF has brought together Moslems, Christians, Arua Park guys, Civil Servants, Obs, OG’s, and all tribes in West Nile together. That is excellent because our diversity can only be our strength if and when we stick to the real issues that have enabled us to come together as a people. However, there are a few observations from Mr. Alaka's message which I thought needed to be corrected. 1. About the Education Project which Fr. Ruffino was requested to lead, and the Science Cafe Christine introduced to WNF, I really do not think Fr. Ruffino and/or Christine wanted these entities to be registered separately as Mr. Alaka seemed to have suggested in his mail (read item number 6 in Mr. Alaka's mail). Unless this was something that happened is secrecy of some few. If I can remember correctly, what Fr. Ruffino asked or requested was a clear terms of reference (TO) for the activities of the Education Committee since they were supposed to meet with various schools and local leaders. I know at that time the registration of WNF had not yet been effected or implemented. I also think in the case of Christine's Christian Café, what were requested were the modalities of how to reach the rural communities in West Nile and not that she wanted the Cafe to be registered independently of WNF. The issues which were raised were modalities of how to operate within the framework of WNF and if there were any questions or issues raised they were legitimate issues which were to for the better implementation of the activities. The key issue here was to find ways of reaching the community in West Nile not registering Science Café again unless the registration issue was done in secrecy. 2. About the suggestions that people could meet to discuss or finalize the Draft strategic plan which has been idle for quite some time during the family day, this suggestion was made not in a bad faith but with the view that the people who are volunteering may not have time to meet to discuss some of the pertinent issues of the organization at other times as they may be busy also with their personal lives. The suggestion was not meant to suggest that the affairs of WNF should be discussed in drinking joints or bars as Mr. Alaka portrayed. However, if I am not mistaken I have observed that a number of the meetings of WNF have taken place at the Choma Restaurant (whatever place) which I believe is a drinking joint. So if those other meetings can take place there I do not see any difference with the family outing. I do not think the place of where such discussions are held should matter, but the importance of the issues discussed should be the driving factor. About the membership contributions which I believe is something which should have been emphasized long ago, I however do not think the strict time frame of December 2010 as being the last date for membership contributions in order to access the Forum is reasonable. There has never been any clear policy on membership brought for discussion on this forum. The only issue which was clearly agreed upon and that required contribution was the hunger project to which quite a number of people contributed without any problems. I am not saying paying membership is a bad idea, but I think we need to have a clear policy on membership because we have to look at various factors about this amount and the time frame to pay this amount. Sh. 100,000.00 /= may be easy affordable by some people in one payment, but I do not think not everyone can afford that in one payment. We have some of the students who may not be in position to afford such payment at one go. If the policy agreed upon is for everyone to pay a uniform membership fee of Sh. 100,000.00/= we should also have a provision in which we give a enough time frame for people to look for this money to pay, say in 6 months or so. We have to be realistic that we all have different financial situations and have to be very accommodating of everyone in their situations. Some people may manage to pay that amount in installments of say Sh.20,000.00/= or so amounts and will need time to make the total amount. I think a community organization with diverse and various calibers of people like WNF should expect various and divergent views and suggestions. I know how difficult it is to volunteer to lead a group of people with various ideas, views and expectations. Managing such organizations is not easy; however, the approach to managing the issues, views, suggestions and expectations should not be in a reactionary mode. The date fixture of membership dues and its attachment to the access of WN Forum by members which Mr. Alaka expressed in his last message in my view is reactionary. I think this issue needs to be carefully discussed (be it by the adhoc committee or elected committee) so that there is a clear policy established for membership. I wonder what criterion was used for listing members for registering the organization. I know that NGO’s can be registered as non- membership and membership depending on who will be the beneficiaries of the organization if and when the organization is dissolved. At this stage we should be looking to finalize the draft strategic plan into a working document so that real organizational structures of the WNF are put in place, and clear policies are developed to guide the activities of WNF. I believe the current adhoc committee of WNF have the ability to prepare and establish the structural framework of WNF and I think that should be the focus because people are observing and appreciate things that are being done to make the organization stronger, and at the same time people observe things that are not being done and will question why things that are not being done to make the organization stronger. Vasco Oguzua On Sat, Nov 27, 2010 at 3:09 PM, Caleb Alaka <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I did not want to comment on this discussion, however, I felt that the > Justice and sensitivity of the matter demands my input. > > 1. Long time a go, we did not have a Virtual Network for Friends of West > Nile. We had some website called 'AMA tualu'. I do not know whether it > exists or not. The fact that we now have this virtual network is a big step > we should appreciate. I do not know whether people know where the the idea > originated from but if you read between the lines Ejiku's rejoinder you can > guess where the idea originated from. > 2.From the VNFFWN the West Nile Foundation was born. Some of you can > remember the diatribe which surrounded the formation of WNF. > 3. The objectives of WNF are articulated in its Memorandum and Articles of > Association with a big input from every one and especially Nile Care > In-corp. From Canada. > 4 The Strategic Plan, mission statement, vision, ideals and the structure > of the same have been widely circulated. Jackson A John has been pivotal in > this. > 5. The Next Step is the mobilization of members and the formation of the > secretariat. To oversee its day to day operations. > Now that apart, we have had several interventions including but not limited > to inputs in the Government University in West Nile, SOS were people lost > property, com batting accidents on our roads, engaging in debates which > percolate down, rendering assistance to University organizations from West > Nile, strengthening obs and ogs organizations and of course the West Nile > Nite. I want people to be frank and confess about a single fora which brings > . Should we tell people how many bereaved families from Arua have gained out > of West Nile Foundation, > 6. Yes we could not register a subset of the Foundation Like the Father > Ruffino Educational intervention or even the science cafe. That would > tantamount to parochialism and obscurantism. Why should we aim at a tree > instead of a forest > 7.Every struggle in human development is spear headed by some people who > assume leadership. To imagine that now we have no leaders in all these > endeavors amounts to intellectual dishonesty. Yes at a time t. which can > even be tomorrow, we shall convene a general meeting to elect leaders once > all the structures are in place especially the membership and the > secretariat. > 8. We should not shy away and imagine that we can operate and go to the > ground without money. Why should we not agree that from 1st January 2011, > the virtual network and the WNF and its website will only be accessible to > people who have paid their annual subscription fee to WNF. For you who have > seen the 5 year Strategic Plan of WNF, you know what the Foundation wants to > implement, From offering scholarships, to building private secondary > schools, running adult education and formation of an investment arm for the > organization. > 9. So members, we have come from a long way. our generation has at least > done some thing, At least we have united our people even if it is via > cyberspace. Lets not pour scorn on the efforts of those who have sacrificed > a lot. Even the hosting of the Virtual Net Work is not mere manna from > heaven. We do not know who pays for it or why the person hosts the same. > Lets be grateful for what the Lord has given us. But now the debate should > be about payment of the annual subscription fees so that he/she who has > become a member at law by being a fully paid up member can legitimately > question the leadership of the organization and participate in the process > of electing the leaders of the organization. But as of now, those who are > claiming that we need to elect leaders have no voting powers, they are not > members and have no mandate to question any thing save for those who were > the initial subscribers to the Memo and Articles of association and those > who have ever contributed funds for affairs of the Foundation who have a > right to demand for account abilities of monies collected from them and who > have a say in how to use the money So lets prepare ourselves to have a real > say in the affairs of WNF by becoming paid up members first. The registered > documents indicate that membership is 100,000/= for those in Uganda and 50 > US Dollars for those abroad. We hope members can begin paying their > subscription to Anguzu Rogers and get membership cards fro 2011 since the > period of transition ;lapses by Dec. 31st 2010. > > > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > [email protected] > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > > WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > All Archives can be found at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > >
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