Summer 2006- Newsletter
2006 Summer Newsletter_2006mk.pdf
As we continue to focus on 2006 three priorities:
· re-energizing our organization
· Improving communication
· providing more value to our members,
INGA is actively looking for new ways and means of strengthening our organization as a community based type of organization.
We will continue to reach out to other organizations and communities through collaboration and/or participation in multicultural activities.
Inga leadership challenges
Inga will be a dynamic organization with strong motivated leadership and management system and processes in place to achieve its objectives and goals and move forward with its plan.
The key organizational and management areas identified by the leadership include but not limited to:
· Visibility
Although we are a small community, one of Inga goals is to increase the Congolese cultural awareness and improve the perception of the Congolese presence in North California. The question still remains, how to do it effectively.
Leadership development
We need to find new ways to fill the pipeline of volunteer leaders to ensure depth and knowledge transfer required for future leadership. Programs and mechanisms must be put in place to train a cadre of community leaders.
· Continuity
INGA has to assess its volunteer’s staff and relationships; as well as its board and community structure, to ensure management systems and processes provide continuity in the future. Here again, there is a need to evaluate and measure progress and results.
· Trust and competency.
Every member should look at INGA leadership with an open mind and find ways to build trust in the community. INGA will function better as a community by attracting competent board members, building core competencies, and leadership levels in the organization.
· Accountability.
During this quarter, INGA embraced a system of accountability and transparency demonstrated in its first ever financial report made public to all. This high transparency standard holds not only the board of directors but also all the members accountable. As part of our process improvement, we are working on improving the financial accountability in more clear goals- oriented and budgeting process that connects responsibility and accountability.
Addition to the community
During this quarter three newborns were added to our community. Please join me in congratulating Julita & Makuba Sekombo, Alice & Lokoko Kitenza, Dr Fidele & Sally Mutima, Leandra & Thierry families and welcoming these future members and leaders in INGA.
Summer accomplishments
During this quarter, all our efforts were concentrated on the execution of this year activities plan.
· Mother’s Day
Great Success for the whole community, as men and children all came together for the first time in an organized manner celebrate and honor all the mothers of INGA. Men were at work serving the Queens with drinks and foods they prepared.
· Father’s Day
Ladies if INGA decided to organize a surprise party. It was a wonderful time very appreciated by every man present. Kids and parents, we all enjoyed playing various relaxing games. It was great, and a time well spent
· 2006 Independence day The theme was Congolese cultural awareness. It was a great opportunity for the organization to reach out other communities and organizations in the Bay area. A very diverse attendance;
An intellectual stimulation was observed during the symposium composed of four topics.
1. Congo: our past, Present, and future. Written by Fungula Ngondji. (was not able to attend due to illness)
Presented by Manu Kapapa
Fungula reminded us, who we are as people, our origin and specially the responsibility and the potentials of the Congolese intellectuals in the Diaspora.
2. Congo-Zaire: Vers quelle destinée. By Sylvain T.Mbumba. A deep analysis of the political situation in Congo, all the different transitional steps to democracy, challenges from Zaire to Congo. Democracy is a continual process
3. Development & Democracy in contemporary DRC.
By Prof. Patrick Cannon. The focus was given to the rebuild of the DRC infrastructure and means of attracting foreign investments in the aftermath of the elections this year. The Lutundula report was recommended as a tool to achieve a baseline of accountability and confidence.
4. DR Congo: Major Milestones. By Annie Zombil. This was a refresher class of the history of Congo through all the important dates, the presidents and all the flags.
Many thanks to
- The speakers for their work
- All the INGA volunteers and
- All the participants for making this special Congolese day a success.
Special thanks to:
- Professor Cannon for his interest to the DRC cause.
- Congolese women for their dynamism
BBQ in Stockton
Through this event the organizers, mama Mapasa and Mama Annie Bazinga demonstrated a high degree of team work in the coordination of the activities. INGA members came from all over the Bay Area to attend this community event.The choice of the park was perfect, we all felt safe and every body volunteered in something, flipping hamburger, setting tables, etc...
In absence of Robert Kidianga who was out of the country, as usual, Annie Zombil made sure that the kids were occupied with soccer and others games.
At the end the INGA cleaning crew, was very impressive. Good job guys and let’s do it again!