Kinijit DC Metro Support Chapter Appoints New Board Members

February 11, 2008

By Kinijit DC Metro PR Committee

 

Kinijit DC Metro Support Chapter (KDCSC), at its General Assembly held on February 9, 2008, appointed a thirteen-person Board of Directors.

 

The accomplishments of the outgoing board were narrated in an elaborate power point presentation covering areas like organization, finance, public relation, lobbying, diplomacy and member services. One of the principal achievements, as underlined by the report, was the building of an organization that is dynamic, transparent and accountable. This is a clear departure from past practices and exemplary in nature for other community based institutions to emulate.

 

Among the achievements in the organization field were fully computerized accounting system which provides instant report on revenue and expense and a Standard Operating System (SOP) which guarantees consistency of operation.

 

Kinijit DC Metro Support Chapter, by virtue of its geographic location, played a leading role in the diplomatic and lobbying aspect of the democratic struggle and in efforts to secure the release of Kinijit leaders and supporters. These included:

• Lobbying the US Congress and the US administration

• Organizing protest rallies

• Holding candle light vigils

• 5-KM walks to plead the cause of imprisoned Kinijit leaders

• Creating and distributing bracelets & T-Shirts to promote the cause of Ethiopia’s democratic struggle

• Fund raising events to help families of imprisoned Kinijit leaders

• Running Kality Radio aimed at focusing attention on the plight of imprisoned Kinijit leaders and elected parliamentarians.

• Running “Ye-Kinijit Medrek” radio program with educational purpose and to counter adverse propaganda campaigns.

• Playing a leading role towards forming Kinijit North America Association of Support Organizations (KNAASO).

• Sharing experience with sister chapters in North America, Canada and Europe.

Ato Yilma Adamu, outgoing Chairman of KDCSC, addressed the meeting on current Kinijit Ethiopia related issues followed by exit-report which was delivered by Ato Sisay Hey, board director.

 

The final and most important item on the agenda was the election of new board members. Ato Desta Girma, Chairman, Ato Getachew H/Mariam, Secretary General and Ato Workiye, member of the Election Committee, explained the process the Committee adopted to make sure the election proceeded in accordance with generally accepted election standards.

 

After adequately publicizing the election via radio, web sites, emails and fliers, the Election Committee started to receive email and fax nominations on committee-designed forms. Both nominators and nominees were verified for Chapter membership. Others who did not meet the criterion were disregarded.

 

Finally, the Committee posted names of candidates who met the election criteria and distributed the election form. Members who were present at the meeting cast their votes in a secret ballot electing 13 directors.   

 

Once again, this election proved beyond a shadow of doubt that Kinijit and its affiliated organizations take democratic elections very seriously. It is in search and in defense of democracy that hundreds lost their lives and thousands got imprisoned during the 2005 election. The only way an organization can be trusted to deliver democratic governance is if and only if it practices same in its own organization.

 

Kinijit DC Metro community should be proud of itself for demanding high standards and for conducting its second free and fair election. Huts off to Election Committee members (Ato Desta, Ato Getachew, Ato Werkiye, W/O Desta and Ato Tesfaye) for their professionalism and dedicated community service.

 

We say thank you and adieu to the old directors and welcome the new. We are confident they will be up to the task.