The President's Remarks - Asanteman Association Washington Fund Raising Event

KROBEA ASANTE ? YE BO HO BAN!

The Chairman, Mr. Charles Ofori, Nananom and Distinguished Guests, on behalf of the Executive Council, Asantefuohene Nana Agyenim Boateng, Asantefuohemma, Nana Ama Achiaa, the Council of Elders, and the entire members of Asante Association of Washington Metropolitan Area, I welcome you to our Annual Fundraising Dance.

We have gathered again to celebrate another successful year. During our inaugural celebration last year, the Executive Council offered various initiatives that we thought might interest our members.

Part of our goal was to have a guest speaker at our monthly meetings about matters of importance to our members. This year, we are proud to say that we have had guest speakers on how to be become homeowners, how to invest our money and how to stay healthy. We have scheduled a computer class in July for our members as well as the general public. We will continue to make the monthly seminars part of our agenda and we are open to suggestions. Our doors are open to all Asantes and anyone who is interested in the promotion of Asante culture to be part of this great association. I plead with members to continue their efforts to recruit well-meaning people to our association.

Our plan to organizing a trip to Ghana, particularly Kumasi, is taught to be such a wonderful idea by the Asanteman Council of North America (ACONA) that it has adopted and dubbed it ?Asanteman Homecoming 2007.? ACONA has set a goal of 500 participants and the trip is scheduled for 2007. I urge members and our invited guests to plan to be part of such historic trip. While in Kumasi, the Homecoming Committee will organize activities to include, town hall meeting, discussion between participants and business leaders, conference with Paramount Chiefs, visit to historic sites and possibly, a visit with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene.

As part of the Otumfuo Education Fund, the Executive Council will soon propose a plan, similar to the one adopted by the Asanteman Council of New York, in awarding scholarships to students who will be chosen by our members. Asante Association is closely working with ACONA member associations to launch other initiatives of importance to Asantes and Asanteman, which we shall make public very soon.

We must continue to work towards our goal of building an Asante Cultural Center. Again, it may seem impossible but I believe Asante Association has members with the know-how and the abilities to make this venture a reality.

On behalf of the Association, I would like to thank the Chairman of this function and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ofori for accepting our invitation. Our thanks also goes to Mr. & Mrs. Ampofo for their presence here with us today, the Chairperson of COGA, Ms. Mary Damuah and all the COGA Representatives. Also to Mr. Adolf Afful, Nana Nimo Twumwaa Achiaa and the rest of the Entertainment Committee, thank you very much for a job well done. The Executive Council and members of Asante Association extend their sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your support and participation. To our sponsors, thank you for supporting our cause again. God bless you and hope to see you all next year.