BCA-USA MIRROR
PROFILES IN SERVICE: BCA-USA Q & A WITH BCA-USA VICE PRESIDENT Ma Florence Bassa was elected Vice President of BCA-USA in 2014. It was her first time running for any elected office in the association. During her term in office, she has shown great leadership and dedication to the organization often stepping in to run NEC calls in the absence of the president and supporting committee chairs and chapter presidents. From traveling to BCAUSA events as well as supporting BCA Europe, her dedication and leadership has earned admiration and praise from all who have worked with her. Here, she reflects on her time in office.
BCA-USA Mirror: It’s been four years since you were elected Vice President. It seems to have gone by so fast! Tell us how you became a member of BCA-USA and why you ran for leadership in BCA-USA in 2014? Ma Florence: Matters of BCA-USA constantly came up in our monthly Nda-Kum. I learnt in my very early years in the USA, what this association was all about. I became interested but was not financially viable to commit as a member. Then came 2004 when Minnesota had the privilege to host the convention and also to welcome His Royal Highness to the US for the first time. I was by default involved from the start to the finish point; under the leadership of my late brother Ni Levai Babaya. The excitement was immeasurable but I still did not commit myself until 2005. My first convention out of state was in 2006 after I had finished school and established a career. The excitement of meeting family and friends from all over the US once in a year never stopped till date. As far as running for the office of VP, it never occurred in my mind that I could. The more involved I got with BCA-USA business, the more people began to notice me and to recommend that I run for a leadership position. So in 2014, a number of persons approached and encouraged me to do so. After some considerations I decided to give it a try. BCA-USA Mirror: During your tenure, you also 28
BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA
faced some health challenges and through it all your commitment to the organization was never shaken. You still showed up for conference calls and travelled to events. We are so happy to see you have recovered. What was it like for you? Ma Florence: You know, life comes in a package. Sometimes the going is smooth and on other times not so much. We learn to joggle all the elements that life presents to us. Challenges are part of the package; most of which makes us stronger and even more determined. In my case I could not let the poor health take over my life. I had too many responsibilities which gave me the drive to keep going. I had to be a mother, sustain the finances for the bills and at the same time, be Na VP. BCA-USA Mirror: What did you enjoy about your
