Ngaga, I am glad that you brought these relevant points. I must commend the Atlanta July 4th Organizing Committee for organizing a program of this magnitude to the satisfaction of many participants. Its really hard to run all these events together within few days without any predicaments. So I hope they will learn from their mistakes. Before I answer your question concerning low turnout at IJarman show, I think it is pertinent to discuss the mission of many participants at "Hotlanta" July 4th .Most people fall under one or more of the following major categories: 1 Meeting old friends 2 meeting former class mates 3.Making love (looking for would-be wife or husband) 4 partying 5 explore business opportunities and 6 Recreation. Evidently people can have fun and fulfill their mission without paying for expensive parties or IJarman if a central location is provided for them by the organizing committee. Hence the perpetual hang out at entrances during paid occasions. To avert this negative attitude, all programes, food and beverages must be paid by everybody. No prepaid contributions by Atlanta residents. Tickets prize can range from $3.00 - $5.00 . With 4 major events such as Friday welcoming party, Saturday night jam, soccer final and Sunday night reunion concert and awards, an estimated proceed of $24,000 - $40,000 can be achieved. The organizing committee should embark on a massive sensitization campaign of what to do with the proceeds so that many people will not hesitate to pay any amount to support a worthy venture. If I know the profit accrued will be used to buy equipment for Farafene Hospital or provide computers for Gambia University Extension Program or even support Gambians here, a $15.00 gate fee for IJarman is absolutely nothing. Therefore, next year lets see banners showing your mission/s everywhere, provide income and expenditure statements of last July 4th Reunion on your website and to all participating soccer teams even they are not affiliated to your organization, provide incentives to those who spend their time and energy to make this a success (i don't care if their time is compensated), attract more local sponsors, edify and clearly demonstrates a strong sense of transceparency, accountability and confidence in all your activities. I am sure you will make it -you are physically and mentally. July 4th Reunion could be a valuable asset for all gambians in America. The event attract over 2000 Gambians in America and elsewhere. Therefore we should make good use of it. LETS EVERYBODY THINK HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT. LETS BRAIN STORM NOW! A friend of mine went to Eritrean Reunion in California where over 15000 Eritrean met and raise over one million US Dollars to help Eritrean children affected by war and famine. We should emulate them. We got the potentials. The Mandinka saying goes 'Tolung'o ka sobe-ya sataley' (leisure and work together) and Wollof - Tukey su-tah new heeb la , for judoo ba-hulofa, translated as-- If Diaspora makes you dishonored then you were not grateful in your own land. Wollofs please correct me if the translation is wrong. Lamin PF Manneh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------