THE AGENDA FOR THE SIERRA LEONE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INCATLANTA, GEORGIA USA: JAN, 2007 – DECEMBER 2007
1. BUILDING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
The Sierra Leone community in Atlanta plans to restore trust and confidence in the community by working on the following trust/confidence building measures: Practicing inclusive agenda/rules that encourage every Sierra Leonean to be stake holders and participants to the programs and activities of the community. Diversifying projects/missions that embrace every segment of the Sierra Leonean society both in the Diaspora and at home. Building transparency and financial accountability of the funds/budget of the organization. Practicing Servant leadership: accountability to the people’s need and aspiration.
2. BUILDING A WEB-SITE FOR THE ORGANIZATION
To create a visibility for the organization, establishing a web-site presence is a very important public relation strategy. Our organization can be reached through the web site and our missions, activities and participation by other Sierra Leoneans can be made possible through this medium. The web-presence can support us in the following areas: Advertising our community and show-casing what we do and who we are. Receiving contacts/public donations through our web site. Membership e-mail and other contacts through this medium. Excellent public relation in maintaining a credibility status for the organization.
3. POSITION THE SL-COMMUNITY AS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION
The Sierra Leone community Association, Inc is the parent body of the satellite organizations in Atlanta and the surrounding areas. To position it as the umbrella Organization, we must perform the following leadership responsibilities: Take a bold and courageous leadership to define our organization as the symbol of national identity for all Sierra Leoneans. Position it to become the resource center for all other diverse groups/organizations. Organize a leadership conference that focuses on national identity with the common goal of working together for the progress of our nation (Sierra Leone). Leading the humanitarian effort to impact the area of education and human development for Sierra Leone. Organize community events that embrace all segments of the Sierra Leone ethnic, cultural and tribal make-ups in Atlanta, Georgia.
4. INCREASING MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION THROUGH INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
The SL Community plans to increase it membership base in the first year of 2007 by 60%.This can be achieved through incentive programs and following: Information sharing about SLCA through flyers, word of mouth and publications. Membership drives to register Sierra Leoneans to be members during community events. Our visibility through the web-site presence that will highlight our activities and missions and encourage members to register on line. Membership benefits/programs that caters to their welfare and cultural needs. Encourage participations and value each member’s contributions/supports to the community. Memorabilia’s about Sierra Leone, S.L.C.A. annual membership cards& calendar. Motivational script: when we call and compliment people for their contribution to the community.
5. INCREASE REVENUE BY 60% FIRST YEAR
The backbone of every organization is sound financial revenue and a fiscally responsible leadership. The SL community would increase it revenue base by launching the following sustainable fund-raising projects as well as relying on membership registrations, monthly dues and other community sponsors. April 28-independece day fund raising dance. August-summer Callaway outing-ticket sales/t-shirts…. Etc. December Community Award fundraising event to groups/Businesses. The Sierra Leone community must be recognized through outreach services to other committees and organization. Example, TV stations, Boys & Girls Club and other sponsored TV programs.
6. BUILDING A TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNATBLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM
The life expectancy of any organization depends on the transparency and accountability of its finances and the credibility of its leadership. The SLCA must put in place concrete transparency practices to earn the trust of both its members and donors. Proper documentations/record keeping of all financial activities of the organization. Quarterly audit report, from an independent source, on the financial records/funds of the organization. Publication on the web-site our 990 form: both revenues and expenses. An on-line access to the organization to instantly verify discrepancy/funds. E-mail financial reports & agenda of the Association before general meetings.
7. MUNICIPAL DECLARATION OF APRIL 27 AS SL NATIONAL DAY
The SL community are law abiding residents/citizens in ATL and Georgia. We would like to be officially recognized as members of the Atlanta and Georgia community. The SL community would like the city of Atlanta to recognize APRIL 27, as Sierra Leone NATIONAL DAY in celebration of our independence day- the day our country became free from British colonial rule. The commemorative events include: An official independent day ceremony at city hall-ATL. The Sierra Leone flag flying high at city hall on that day. Picnic event after the city hall ceremony. A fund raising dance/cultural event on that evening.
8. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The SL community would invest in education both at community level and in Sierra Leone as whole. A scholarship committee would be appointed to spear-head this joint effort and impact this critical human development area which have received less attention/support. The objectives of the SL community would be as follows: Empowering progressive students to further their education. Fighting against the 70% adult illiteracy rate in SL. Helping under privilege/handicap children to gain educational opportunities. Building a future generation of leaders who can serve our nation.
9. PARTNERSHIP SUMMER KIDS PROGRAM WITH BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The SL community will be engaged in a partnership program with the Boys & Girls Club on their excellent summer activities/programs with the kids. Our goal is to create an environment where our children enjoy the richness and benefit our unity and our existence as a community organization. We intend to work with the Boys & Girls Club on these following areas: Their winning summer activity and athletic programs. Youth/leadership mentoring programs. Community basket ball league. Drug prevention workshop. Civic education about SL to teach our children about our cultural heritage (S.L.C.A.).
10. SUMMER PICNIC PROGRAMS
The SL community is a family oriented organization that values the need to harmonize and bring people together in a relaxing atmosphere. As part of our fund raising program, we will organize summer picnic/outing to build up the social strength of the organization in an effort to improve the general welfare of Sierra Leone community. We will organize summer picnic/fund raising programs on the following schedule calendar dates: April 28 our national Independence Day celebration. August summer picnic/outing program & fund raising dance. December Community Award/fundraising cultural event.
11. BURRIAL INSURANCE/LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP
Our customary belief in honoring the dead with a decent burial is a very old practice. With the overwhelming need to relieve the community of the burden of always raising money to burry a love one, we would embark on providing a group burial/life insurance program for our members. We have the following objectives in mind: Provide an affordable group insurance managed by the organization. Secure an official funeral home to conduct our funeral/burial needs. Appoint a burial committee to co-ordinate/organize burial arrangements with the bereaved families.
12.CRIMINAL/IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
The Sierra Leone community is cognizant of the fact that we are an immigrant people living in a very complex and diversified society. We intend to provide legal support by retaining an experience criminal attorney that can assist our members during legal troubles. Also, the SL community can provide good referral and retain an attorney to assist members with immigrational needs. We can achieve this by doing the following: Officially retaining a criminal/defense attorney that can assist members. Providing an immigrational support through our immigration attorney. Invite immigration support groups & organize seminars/training about new immigration laws.
13. BUILDING PATRIOTISM AND THE PRIDE OF BEING A SIERRA LEONEAN
The Sierra Leone community in Atlanta intends to pilot a project of building patriotism and pride of being a Sierra Leone through the following Channels: Organize community leadership conference that expose people to the great works and history of Sierra Leonean leaders both at home and in the Diaspora Exhibition of the great cultural arts of Sierra Leoneans both in terms of its creativity and cultural richness. Promoting nationalism through self-reliance and awarding honor to individuals/organizations/businesses who have contributed to the progress and development of Sierra Leone.