President Annual Report- 2007 - 2008

Carlton Foster - President of GIHANA 2007-2008

GIHANA Annual President’s Report

This is the Annual Presidential report for the term 2007-2008. I would like to begin by stating the two main goals for the organization.
(a) To bring together and nourish the social, psychological and spiritual character of GIHANA's members and affiliates through group functions, social activities and meetings like this banquet. And
(b) To seek ways to plan and implement projects for the primary purpose of benefiting the development of the school and its pupils.

To achieve these goals, we started with:
1) Banquet in Pembroke Pines, Florida in August of 2007.

2) We had an election the next day in the Park where we elected current officers.
a. President (elected) - Carlton Foster from Miami Gardens, Florida
b. Vice President (elected) - Adan Hamilton from Canada
c. Secretary (elected) - Sheroline Eccles from Miami Gardens, Florida
d. Assist. Secretary (elected, later resigned) - Paulette Sutherland from Logansville, Georgia
e. Treasurer (elected, later resigned) - Julius Records from New Jearsey
f. Treasurer (appointed) - Dalvin Williams Treasurer Miami, Florida
g. Assist Treasurer (elected, later resigned) - Ernie Lewin from Valdosta, Georgia
h. Assist Treasurer (appointed) - Dale Marr from Brooklyn, New York
i. Public Relations (elected, later resigned) - Sydney Gooden from Atlanta, Georgia
j. Public Relations (promoted from assistant) - Norrine Tavares from Brooklyn, New York
k. Assist. Public Relations (appointed) - Yvonne Hopwood from Columbia, Maryland
l. Board Member (elected) - Barbara Monroe from Miramar, Florida
m. Board Member (elected) - Mallie Herron from Brooklyn, New York
n. Board Member (elected, later removed) - Douglas Gooden from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
o. Past President (adopted) - Edgton Wright from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

3) We created a manual - with a duty list for each officer, and then quickly establish four committees, and each committee met and set short and long term goals to meet our objectives:
a. Project and Sponsorship - Headed by the President
b. Fundraising - Headed by the Treasurer
c. Hospitality, and - Headed by the Secretary
d. Communication - Headed by the Public Relation Officer

4) The Hospitality committee started a membership drive, and also started the plans for this Banquet tonight, which was later given to the Reunion committee (consisting of Bancroft Morgan, Monica Downer, Maureen McDowell, Rosemarie Ludford, Monica Downer, Norrine Tavares, Dalvin Williams, and Paulette Sutherland).

5) The Communication committee has published 4 bi-monthly newsletters and sent frequent notification and News brief articles via e-mail to the alumni e-mail distribution list.

6) In July 2008, the Fundraising committee raised US$5,000 from a major raffle where 1st prize was a 4-day stay at Couples Hide Away in Negril and Airfare sponsored by Air Jamaica.

7) In November, 2007, the Project and Sponsorship committee got the Board’s approval to send US$500 to the school to assist with their lunch program. The school reported that the funds have been utilized in the following manner:
a. Supplemented the nutritional needs of ten students , by providing a cooked meal per day.
b. Assisted in transportation costs for needy students.
c. Purchased three pairs of shoes @ JA$1500 each.
d. Provided assistance in cash and kind totaling JA$11, 000 to three fire victims

8) In February, 2008, Mr. Sydney Gooden, through the association, donated US$450 to the Athletic Team at the school by sending them sports jackets. Carlton Foster also assisted with another $100.00

9) The same month, Miss Yvonne Hopwood, made a donation of US$200.00 towards the school Book Fair and reading project.

10) Also, Mr. Salim Mohammad, formally known as Milton “Rusher” Scarlett, another member of the association donated a laptop and cash award to a student at the school.

11) In May, 2008, the association sent $1,788 to the school to help with the Science Lab.

12) There were other projects that we wanted to undertake, such as:
a. Establishing a Thrift Shop at the school
b. Installing two water coolers at the school
c. To start the “Sponsor a Child” program, but time and other circumstances did not allow us to continue. Hopefully the next Board will be able to pursue some of these projects..

13) As for expense, we kept administrative expense down to approximately $20 per month. .

14) Our only major expenditure was to spend $300 and apply to the USA – Internal Revenue Service for tax exemption status. This status will help the association, its contributors, and alumni to get a tax write-off when they make donations to the association.

15) The association has come a long way since its inception in 2005, and this is due to the hard working Board members and dedicated alumni. Please get involve in the affairs of the association.

16) On August 3, 2008, we will have the election of new officers for the term 2008-2009. Please come out and vote.

17) Please accept this Presidential report of the affairs of GIHANA for the term 2007-2008. Thank you.