Have some of us being deregistred thru these arguments and processes. Andua
On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 1:57 PM, Vasco Oguzua <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 gp 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. >> _______________________________________________ >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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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