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| March 2008 Volume 1, Issue 4 INGA ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL Make It Happen The media coverage on the Congo is full of sad news. You may rightly be asking yourself how long this situation is going to last. When is the Congo tragedy going to end? For us as a community, the question should not be about when the tragedy is going to end. We do not have much control on that. Our question should be: "What am I going to do to make it happen, to alleviate the suffering of my brothers and sisters in the Congo?" It is assumed that the world is made of three kinds of people: those who make things happen; those who fallow others and those who prefer to sit there and watch: the spectators. The difference between these three categories of people is not determined by their intellectual abilities or by the amount of their material possessions. It is determined, by the strength of their convictions. Let us continue to share our convictions and to build our community as we strive to make things happen. As a nonprofit organization, we cannot grow to reach our goals unless every one of us stands up and brings something to the table, to make things happen. Since the election of Delphin Kyubwa as President of our Association, two and half years ago and his renewed second mandate in November 2007, things have been happening under our own eyes and everybody is becoming, amazingly aware that Inga Association is a dynamic and active body of Congolese living in Northern California. We have witnessed this dynamism during the General Assembly that took place on February 16 in Berkeley. Although every Congolese living in the Northern California region could not make it to the Assembly, the meeting was a great success. Participants shared their ideas, projects, observations and challenged unclear inputs according to the rules and regulations set upon by INGA Bylaws. We invite you to send your feedback to the leadership team as you go through the 2008 activities/ projects. Fungula Fumu, Editor | |
| INSIDE THIS ISSUE Editorial...........................................1 From the President .............................2 Leadership Corner.............................. 2 Community Life..................................6 Necrology ........................................8 New Borns/Additions...........................9 Events Calendar................................10
Communauté des Congolais et Amis de la Californie du Nord Community of Congolese & Friends of Northern California Dear Community Members and Friends On behalf of the Leadership team and the members of the local councils, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuous support to INGA Association. We are very grateful for your confidence in our leadership. We started the year 2008 with a lot of challenges and hopes and we look forward to exploring them with you. We invite you to discover our vision for the current year and how we plan to take on those challenging opportunities one at a time as community. As always, your suggestions and advices are more than welcome to help strengthen our community. God bless you all. Delphin B. Kyubwa President LEADERSHIP CORNER—NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM Mr. Fidele D. MUTIMA, General Secretary. He is in charge of administration and monitors all Association’s messages and correspondences. This is one of the key positions for INGA Association. Before joining the leadership team, he was the spokesperson of the independent electoral commission when his impressive writing and leadership skills were discovered. Mr. MUTIMA brings to INGA a broad skill of leadership, sense of dedication and commitment. He is a family man and busy professional and holds two master’s degrees. Mrs. Annie ZOMBIL, Treasurer. She works in collaboration with local treasurers and is in charge of all financial matters of the INGA Association, including collecting members’ dues, admission fees at all events, donations, and ensuring a sound fiscal discipline. She has served in this position in the last two-years and has done a wonderful job. Her sense of commitment and dedication are most shown when comes the seasons of annual financial reporting to members and as well as IRS. Mrs. Zombil, a nurse by profession, brings to this position a strong background in medical office management and administration, and various youth coaching leadership experience. When comes to making a fiscal decision, the treasurer’s common statement is "Let’s not spend too much money that we may need tomorrow." FROM THE PRESIDENT 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ LEADERSHIP CORNER—NEW LEADERSHIP CONTINUED Mr. Thierry MUKAZ, Director in charge of the social committee. In this role, he is in charge of INGA social matters. Mr. Mukaz is a proven community leader who served two-years as the general secretary before deciding to do something more in line with his passion for social activities in our community and back home in Congo. He is determined to lead the community in this new social direction. A graduating-senior in political science at Sacramento State University, Mr. Mukaz brings needed enthusiasm to the community in the area of social affairs. Mrs. Valy WEBSTER (commonly known as Mama Mapassa), is the Director in charge of ladies committee. A very loyal and dedicated member of the leadership, Mrs. Webster has a lot to offer to this community she loves so much. Her love of people probably has something to do with her career in the banking industry where she has to interact with people regularly. She is a graduate of Institut Superieur du Commerce (ISC) Gombe-Kinshasa and is currently taking classes in local community college. Mr. Calvert BALUMBU is the Director in charge of the youth’s committee. This family man with diverse community talents connects very well with the youth whom we want to be integral part of the community. His community mission is to counsel the youth in their different endeavors and encourage them to be part of the community. That’s the goal of Calvert because it takes a community to raise a child. Calvert brings also to this position, a strong leadership experience from the prior leadership team. In many events, he also plays the role of the DJ. Calvert attended Howard State University of California. Mrs. Mimi Mandiangu KIMFUEMA is the Director in charge of the children activities committee. In INGA Association, kids come first. Mrs. Kimfuema is a senior in the nursing (RN) program at St. Mary/Samuel Merritt College, and family woman who brings to INGA a strong desire of promoting and raising awareness of our Congolese cultural values to our Congolese-born American children. A very devoted community leader with a vision of the community values that she is dedicated to impart to our children, especially during gatherings of adult such as parties or other events. 3 From the left Delphin Kyubwa, Mimi Mandiangu, Calvert Balumbu, Mama Mapassa, Fidele Mutima, Annie Zombil, and Thierry Mukaz.
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS: In addition to the leadership team, the following four (4) special project officers work collaboratively with the leadership team. Mobilization and Fundraising- Coordinator: Mr. Joel BULAYA Christmas Tree for Children- Coordinator: Mr. Muderwa Pacy NTWALI Community Newsletter- Coordinator: Doyen Fungula Fumu NGONDJI Maintaining INGA website- VACANT (proper training will be provided for interested volunteer)
LEADERSHIP CORNER—NEW LEADERS CONTINUED 4 LEADERSHIP CORNER—NEW LEADERSHIP CONTINUED REGIONAL COORDINATORS: a. Sacramento and vicinity Mrs. Lisette Munung, Regional Treasurer Mrs. Francoise Bulaya, Communication Coordinator b. San Jose/Salinas/Watsonville and vicinity
Mr. Makuba Theodore Sekombo, Regional Treasurer Mr. Davin Nganga, Communication Coordinator
c. Fremont/Oakland/Berkeley and vicinity Vacant, Regional Treasurer Mr. Jerry Asisa, Communication Coordinator d. Antioch/Pittsburg and vicinity
Vacant, Regional Treasurer Vacant, Communication Coordinator
| | e. Patterson/Stockton and vicinity Vacant, Regional Treasurer Mrs. Annie Bazinga Tucker, Communication Coordinator f. San Francisco/Hercules/Vallejo and vicinity
Vacant, Regional Treasurer Mr. Mbuta Mapanda, Communication Coordinator If you would like to help in any of these vacant slots, please send any email to ingacouncil@yahoogroups.com or contact any member of the leadership team.
5 COMMUNITY LIFE INGA PROJECTS FOR 2008 The General Assembly approved six projects that are the initiatives of some members of our community. The following chart gives a general picture of these different projects for 2008. Details will be provided by the different coordinators at appropriate times. 6 AME INITIATOR DESCRIPTION/ACTION Social Action for Congo (SAC) Thierry Mukaz, Director of Social Committee Collecting clothing and school furniture to send to Congo. SAC is designed to be a long-term project that will touch alternatively all the provinces of the country, starting from Kinshasa. These items will be picked up from the local leaders’ places and stored at Delphin’s residence until their shipment to Kinshasa. Ladies’ Retreat Valery Webster, Director of Ladies Committee A day off for all the ladies!! Away from their families to relax and reflect on different issues of family life, and share experiences. Children Cultural Day Mimi Mandiangu, Director of Children Activities Various cultural activities for children when adults are participating in community events such as on Independence day, New Year, BBQ, etc. Youth Activities Calvert Balumbu, Director Youth committee Organize some activities to attract the youth and encourage them to be part of the community, and the leadership team. Car Wash (CW) Joel Bulaya, Director of Fundraising Fundraising activities to help finance some of the above mentioned initiatives and others. The CW project will start in summer in different locations where our members live. Auction/Dinner Joel Bulaya Details later. COMMUNITY LIFE CONTINUED FINANCIAL MATTERS On February 17, 2007, at the general assembly meeting, members voiced their concerns to see little bit more at end of the year as carryover to next year budget. This put a pressure on the leadership team to cut down some expenses and become fiscal conservative, especially when comes to costs associated with some social gathering events. Members also wanted the association to connect with members socially when they are grieving and helping new comers. The leadership team is pleased to say that in 2007, it met and exceeded its fiscal goal with more than projected total net balance of $1,523.845 (projected) vs. $1,794.05 (actual). Overall, we had projected to raise $7,315.17, and actually realized $6,744.37, which is $570.08 less than projected in the 2007 operating budget plan, but saved almost $300 at the end of the year than projected. In total, we spent more than $1,100 in social assistances to members, which include buying calling cards to new comers, Inga participation in members’ unforeseeable circumstances such mourning related assistance or calling cards. On the revenues sources side, as always San Jose/Salinas region was on the top. Congratulations to our local regional leaders (Makuba Sekombo and Davin Nganga) and their community members. Keep up the good work!! For this year (2008), our goal is to raise $9,397.29 including the $1,794.05 left over from 2007 budget year. At end of the year, we plan to save about 2,500$ (27%) of that amount as carryover for the 2009 budget. Without your support, we cannot meet this goal 2008 NEW YEAR'S PARTY A SUCCESS STORY The 2008 New Year's Celebration was a Success Story of Inga Association' shistory. The location, to begin with, was extremely nice. Security is not an empty word to describe the majestic and beautiful "Holly Redeemer Center", located at 8945 Golf Links Road, in east Oakland. Out there, anyone could sleep serenely at night without worries. For this reason, our members wish to make the Holy Redeemer Center our "favored" rendezvous for upcoming events. The Parking lot is sufficiently broad. The participation was beyond our expectations allowing the organization to collect enough funds to cover all expenses, thanks to the "Pay Pal" system that facilitated some people to pay at a discount rate, their tickets through the INGA Association website. 7 COMMUNITY LIFE CONTINUED A team of Congolese ladies led by Mama Mapassa, well known for their cooking expertise, contented everybody with a delicious Congolese cuisine. There was an abundant great variety of foods and beverages. What elated everyone was the music, expertly diversified to meet the needs of the young, the middle-aged and the elders. A team of Calvert Balumbu, our almost perfect DJs knew how to please everyone. The success of this celebration was not just a coincidence. It was due to the combined effort of members of the board of directors, the joint community leadership team, and other volunteers. Congratulations to all! 8 NECROLOGY- LATE EDUARD DUFRAND On January 1, 2008, INGA community lost one of its members. Eduard DuFrand, 76. The funeral services took place in Sacramento, on January 12, 2008. Eduard was remembered by participants as a friendly and very generous person. After the funeral services, a light refreshment was served by INGA at the home of Baudouin Bulaya in Sacramento. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ INGA was blessed with the following additions in the community. 1. Mr. Tresor Nzinga and Maman Therese Osako (San Jose) have recently moved to California from DR Congo. 2. Mother-in-law of Davin Nganga (the strong community regional coordinator of the San Jose/Salinas region) 3. Mr. Tshitshi Tshimanga 4. Father Crispin, Jesuit, Berkeley 5. Father Simon, Jesuit, Berkeley 6. Father Jean-Pierre, Jesuit, Berkeley 7. Lori and Mike Kabangu NEW BORNS and ADDITIONS NEW COMERS
9 Our congratulations go to the Claude Kamanyola family for their baby-girl Safi Ida. EVENTS CALENDAR UPCOMING INGA COMMUNITY EVENT Congolese Cultural awareness (July 5, 2008) Please, save the date!!! This big community event of the year will take place at the Holly Redeemer Center in Oakland, at a very nice, huge, and secure hall. The event will have 3 parts. A conference and an exhibition of African fashion models and various Congolese cultural activities for kids, and an evening dancing reception. We are looking for keynote speakers for the conference portion of the event. Last but not least, we will eat, dance, and celebrate the Congolese lively culture. As usually, tickets will be sold with at discount rate online. On that day, some members of the community will be publicly acknowledged for their outstanding community services, dedication or leadership. Long live to INGA Association and may God bless you all! INGA PO BOX 255192 Sacramento, CA 95865 www.ingaassociation.org Contributors: Fungula Fumu, INGA Leadership, Father Jean Nyembo, and Kakazi Kitenge
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