ADSAA Status:
• ADSAA is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonreligious,
association established in 2004 with the main aim of helping Azezo schools.
Bringing all alumni and friends together for the purpose of facilitating
any kinds of help for Azezo schools is also amongst its prime goals.
• ADSAA is a tax-exempt organization that
is legally recognized by the Federal government of the United States.
When such a status was given to ADSAA in 2005, it was just for a probation
periods of three years only. Following the normal review process of
its activities during the previous three years, the Internal Revenue
Service of the United States had very recently (less than two months
ago) conferred ADSAA a permanent nonprofit and tax-exempt status provided
that ADSAA maintains its good standings in subsequent years. This means,
going forward, ADSAA can function just the way it is as long as its
activities are strictly legal and is doing the right things to fulfill
its mission.
• The completion of this task required extensive
paper works, attorney involvement, and frequent discussions among board
members over the past three years. The single most important achievement
of the current board members is the attainment of this status. This
we think is good news to all of us.
Projects:
• ADSAA had completed two projects in the
past. For details, please check our website “azezo.org”.
We have communicated this info with most of you in the past, and only
brief summaries are indicated below:
• In the first project we got several books
from “International Books Project” and sent it to Azezo.
The “International Books Project” spent $13,000 and ADSAA
spent about $1,700 to ship the books. Alumni here in the US and in Addis
helped out in this effort.
• In the second project, we built a toilet
for the Azezo High School. One of our alumni volunteered to go to Azezo
and build the toilet. The toilet was initially built to conform to modern
standards (with water tank and water flush after every use). This didn’t
work out for a number of logistic and technical reasons. The toilet
has to be converted to the traditional latrine pit (outhouse), and for
the most part is now functional. ADSAA spent about $10,000.
• Among other things, the board has learned
three things that are essential for a success of a project. First every
project need to be inclusive of all alumni members, second every project
must be thoroughly reviewed before implementation, and third an effective
communication channel must be established among stakeholders of any
project.
• ADSAA always want to do small projects
that would be easy to initiate, execute and follow up. Members are encouraged
to have a say or provide proposals of new projects for discussion. Although
the main focus right now is on membership drive, we would like to hear
from you about the kind of projects that you would like us collectively
to work on and how you fit in the whole venture. While we are thinking
of a new project, ADSAA must enhance its communications with the schools
in Azezo and with alumni members here in the US, in Addis and elsewhere
to effectively handle the whole exercise.
Reunions:
• ADSAA hosted two alumni reunions during
the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) annual gatherings,
one in Atlanta (2005) and one in Washington DC (2008). Both were successful
and attendees were very delighted. Such events are great opportunities
to meet alumni members, renew friendships, and catch up with each others
life. The intent is to have such gatherings once every year. All members
and friends are encouraged to attend if they can.
Memberships:
• Membership is not growing as much as we
want to see. Some alumni may not be aware of ADSAA’s presence
and some may have various reasons of their own for not joining ADSAA.
ADSAA needs all alumni and friends to come together. Each and every
member should spread the words and bring everyone onboard. There are
lots of young alumni members who continuously arrive here in the US,
and we should put an effort to reach them out.
• There are about 40 or more alumni members
in the Washington DC area alone. The apparent absence of these alumni
members has been a big void for ADSAA in the past. However, all of the
alumni members that had attended the recent alumni reunion had expressed
a strong desire to join ADSAA. Three residents of the area have committed
their time to discuss the situation and occasionally attend the board
teleconferences to see up close how ADSAA functions. This is a good
development, members of the board of directors are excited about it,
and something good will definitely come out of it.
• Lots of people here in the US have a sense
of pride and a great deal of happiness to get associated and identified
with their former schools and Alma matter. We want you all to have such
feelings for your elementary, junior and high schools. We really need
you. We are desperate. We feel that this is a life-time opportunity
for all of us to come together for a common purpose.
Officers:
• The board of director’s service
period has long expired in 2006. According to ADSAA bylaws, a new board
must be reelected every two years. This didn’t happen for various
reasons. If we all care for ADSAA’s survival, we have to make
it a dynamic organization with lots of people eager to share some of
the leadership roles. We need fresh blood; we need new energies to move
us all to the next level.
• If you have any questions
or concerns, or need more information or want to share your ideas about
ADSAA, please feel free to contact your president (Dejene Ahmed, dejeneay@msn.com),
Vice President (Abraham Azene, abeazene@msn.com), Treasurer (Zenebe
Belay, zenebebelay@yahoo.com), Secretary (Dawit Mulugeta, dawit33@yahoo.com),
Public Relation Officer (Mesfin Tsegie, mtsige@hotmail.com), Publication
Officer (Shewarega Asefa, shewazo@yahoo.com), Eastern Region Representative
(Senait Teferra, stefera1@yahoo.com) and Western Region Representative
(Tesfaye Tadesse, azmeraye9@yahoo.com). Our telephone numbers are listed
at azezo.org. And also if you are from the Washington DC area you can
contact Muluken Gezahegen (mulukeng@hotmail.com), Abebe Zewdu (azewdu@verizon.net)
and Birhanu (birhanu_t@juno.com).
