Farewell Address By The Outgoing President, Charles Mbamara, CPA on December 21, 2003 |
To the Honorable Representative Members of Umunachi Community Organization, Inc., USA, at the final meeting for the year 2003, and as the Chairman of the Organization. UMUNACHI KWENU! RIE NU! NUONO! MUONU! PRAISE THE LORD!! It has given me great pleasure to serve as the President of this community for quite a while. In the beginning, I thought it was a joke, choosing me of all people, to be the President. That thought disappeared after Presiding over my first meeting. I quickly realized that when you are presiding over the actions and benefits of one or more people, you are dealing with the opinions and needs of thousands. Do you ever wonder why there are only a few political parties representing the thoughts and opinions of millions of people? Yet, when a meeting is conducted to talk about the needs of each group, only few individuals come forward to squarely represent and tackle them. Umunachi meeting is no exception. Each member represents decades of thought, opinions, and feelings, developed over time and people. Therefore, when an individual member raises an issue, it is therefore of paramount importance that the individual's invisible status as a member of "The House of Representative" be acknowledged. Dealing with each member's need with such tact is one of the foundations on which a strong and progressive membership organization can be run. Politics: Umunachi Community Organization has always encountered, and survived its share of political turbulence. Once in a while, feelings combined with politics attempt to develop strange bedfellows. We have lost some members and we have also gained some. But I stick to the old sayings of my Grand Father that "I rather have only one good and trusted brother, than twenty dangerous ones." Any one member can get up today and challenge any of the issues that have been discussed and resolved. It is also more likely that they may even find giant flaws on how the decisions were made. But the big question is, "what are your intentions?" Your intentions can never be good, when as a member, you sat with your hands in-between your legs, sipping some wine, as the meeting resolved an issue; then you come up later to criticize how that issue was resolved. Or worse yet, you absent yourself from the meeting and expect your opinion to count when others actually came to the meeting to discuss and vote on the issues. It is always wise to project your opinions and knowledge of the "issue", for the membership to hear and discuss. Chances are, your idea may be the best. So, being absent, or keeping an idea to your self, only to be used "to arm" yourself for a "battle" is like pissing against the wind. You will lose. It is therefore very important that you are outspoken on the issues. It is also important to finally support whatever conclusion the meeting considers the popular one, as signaled by the majority of the members' vote. Sometimes, your opinion will win, while someone else's will loose, and vice versa. Investments at Home & in the US: Several ideas have been presented for us, on investments and retirement planning. As a community it is easier to start an investment club. A couple of years ago, at a meeting that was held at Mr. Magnus Ujunwa's residence in New Jersey, I suggested that we contribute certain amounts of money during each meeting, to be used in buying an investment property like a house. If we had started that plan, today, we probably would have owned our first joint property. That would have been a base to refinance and buy more properties. With a plan like this, this organization may, within a short time, be able to develop and own millions in real estate. We have Lawyers and CPAs in our group. It is not like we are going to pay for these services. At home, we should come up with ventures that can sweeten our retirement to Umunachi, some day. We are all getting old, and fast. Let's not falter when we embrace the reality of retirement to Nigeria, one day. We should use our resources and positions today, to develop community based programs that can make the lives of Senior citizens more enjoyable as they move into the sunset of their Golden years. Note that if we build the foundation for these social programs today, our children and grand children, who will take over this powerful organization in the future, will be forced to keep, finance and support the programs, when we can no longer do so ourselves - as we too descend into the golden sunset. That is reality, my people. Peace Programs One of the most distinguished traits of the Umunachi family meeting, here, is our desire to make peace. I will like to use this opportunity to thank all the members who have not faltered when you could have. I acknowledge several situations, when members felt like their "point" had not been fully communicated or addressed, but had rather chosen to keep quite for the sake of peace. These members know themselves, and I once again thank them in the name of God, and the Umunachi people. We have to continue making peace here and at home. Our actions and support last Easter, brought wonderful tears of real joy to my eyes when Mazi Innocent Njoku, and Chief Alams (Odokora), on behalf of Umunachi Community Organization, Inc, USA, attended a peace conference at home with the Nigerian Branches; and together with Chief Ejiogu (Omenanwata I), made some decisions that were comparable to a Chairman's office, in making peace with all. I know you also share my feelings as I acknowledge Chief Benjamin Ejiogu for his own personal and official efforts in maintaining peace at Umunachi, and her neighbors. It is not easy. This is just the beginning of the peace process and responsibility. Peace is like Gold, and trouble is like a Thief in the night. We should therefore keep watchful eyes on the thief. Our policy of dropping all businesses to make peace should always be continued. Praise the Lord. New Constitution Mr. Eugene Anyikwa and Mr. Oliver Mbamara's services are still being beckoned for an expedited completion of our redrafted Constitution. Mr. Anyikwa's dedicated progress in fathering this process is also appreciated. We wish you more grease to your elbow, and more sweat to your armpit. New Births and Deaths We have several additions in the form of new births and adult members. We have nevertheless, and naturally, suffered some loses as a result of death, and lost memberships, especially in our extended families. Let God be the Guide. Members Progress My tenor witnessed several advancements by member. Two additional Lawyers; purchase of New Houses; earning of Masters degrees; the media literacy program, serious Membership Drives which saw the birth of New babies (potential and future full members of Umunachi); visits and change of residency of various aunts and uncles; and most of all, God spared our lives. To God the Glory. Family Problems and Assistance The presence of Family problems is as old as the oldest profession itself. Here, to kill us. We must therefore see it as such, and refuse to let it succeed. The difference between the African Community and the Western Community is that "it takes a village to cure a man, in Africa, and One Police man to ruin your life, in Western Life." We should therefore form the village policy, and look out for our brothers and sisters when they are going through family problems. Try not to be involved in any gossips, no matter how certain you think it is the truth. Like the say, "Do not let your name be whistle able. Name yourself 'Ose Ocha', and make it morally difficult to be whistled, without making it look that something else is being said." Gossip destroys trust, and without trust, no one can confide in each other, let alone receive the needed emotional support. Anyone who says that they have the key to family unity and peace should please share the secret with the other members. For my family and I, I ask from the Lord. Thank you, and it has been fun working with you guys. I hope my honorable successor, the noble, and humble Mazi Innocent Njoku recognize Umunachi for its grandeur, and treat it as such. I have full confidence in his ability. May God help us all. Charles O. Mbamara, CPA President December 21, 2003 |
