Topic: U.S. Gambian Community Organization Community is an essential part of human society that must never be taken for granted. Throughout our history, one can continually see the importance of it. The Bible and the Koran both speak of the importance of coming together in a community. So it is with Gambian community. We will cease to recognize ourselves as Gambian if we do not have community with other Gambians and remember who we are. In the past, we have organizationally failed to establish a formal and intentional Gambian community organization for Gambians in the United States. While there are small organizations here and there throughout the United States, there is a great need for an umbrella organization to allow all Gambians throughout the Unites States to connect. What is envisioned is that we begin to take the initiative to build bridges and connect all Gambians throughout the country, to inform them of what we are doing, to learn about what they are doing, to offer and receive opportunities, and to assist each other when needed.It is very important that we do not forget who we are and where we are from. We need to identify with each other as fellow countrymen and women, and dedicate ourselves to keeping that connection and caring for each other. What is being planned is the development of an umbrella community organization that is based in the Washington DC area, but assists in keeping local communities of Gambians from all over the United States connected with each other. It would not replace local community organizations, but rather simply assist them in connecting with other Gambians. The importance of connecting the Gambian community in America cannot be overstated. Living community with Gambians of America will provide us all with only great benefits. No harm will ever come from this community, only good. The most important aspect of the success of this endeavor is the support and encouragement of each Gambian in America. Without individual desire for community we will fail, but if each of us come together, we will always have benefits to reap. All Gambians are invited to attend a Gambian meeting schedule to take place on July 21st 2002 at Howard University Blackburn Center, rooms 148 and 150.The meeting will start at 2:00pm prompt. The purpose of the meeting is to: 1.Establish a Gambian umbrella organization that would benefit all Gambian nationals irrespective of political and social affiliations. The propose organization will seek to coordinate actions with other Gambian organizations, nationwide, regarding issues that affects all Gambians and will seek to address those issues effectively. 2. Identify a name for the propose organization. 3. Layout a detail objective of the organization. 4. Structure the organization. 5. Draft a constitution for the organization 6. Elect an interim committee. Your input and participation is highly solicited. If you have any questions or need further clarification, you can contact me on (301) 972-0546 or by e-mail [log in to unmask] Please come help us help ourselves. We can’t give up on ourselves. Beran S. Jeng _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~