BCA Eastern Chapter: Bigger and Stronger

By Ni Gabby Njinimbot, Interim Chapter President

The Eastern Chapter is up to a whole new level. We went from a near extinction to organizing a mega 4th of July cookout, and hosting a hugely successful mega cultural festival in March this year which drew attention from dignitaries from across the country. Membership increased tremendously in the past year due to the hard work of its executive and its council of elders. The chapter currently boasts over 220 members which is just over a third of BCA-USA’s membership. The Eastern Chapter was well represented at the 2017 Leadership Summit in Las Vegas summit as well.

Two members of the Eastern Chapter were also blessed with two top traditional honors from the palace by his Royal highness Fon Doh Ganyonga III. Ba Sam Alex Ngati is now Ba Nkom Gwanbidbila, Ma Justine Njafu is now Nah Jallah. Ba Sam’s wife, Ma Hannah Ngati was also crowned as Yaah of Sawi in her home village of Bum-Sawi

The Eastern Chapter is very blessed that during this past year it has not lost anyone since the passing on of Ba Nkom Fomuso.

The Eastern Chapter will be organizing its election of a new executive in June this year to continue moving the chapter to higher heights. I want to take a moment to thank my executives for all the work they have done in the past year to keep this chapter strong. It’s a lot of sacrifice and I am deeply indebted to them beyond measure.

We continue to be strong and looking forward to this Dallas convention. Long live BCA- USA●

BCA-USA SOUTH EASTERN

BASKING IN THE GLORY OF HOSTING A VERY SUCCESSFUL 30TH CONVENTION WHILE STRIDING TO THE FUTURE

By Ma Esona Fomuso

Southeastern Chapter (SE-Chapter) a.k.a. ALTWOOD was the host of the 30th annual BCA-USA convention which just as it was the host of the first ever convention/family reunion. We promised and delivered above and beyond. It started with a welcome dinner hosted by the chair of the board of BCA-USA who is no other than Ba Dr. Eric Fogam on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017. Then on to the official welcome dinner and a cultural jumpstart on Thursday, May 25th. On to the community outreach and exercise sessions, and an unprecedented extravaganza for a fundraiser dinner on Friday, May 26th with a record turnout, thanks to the fantastic work of the fundraising committee and the unprecedented Friday night ticket sales by the SE-Chapter. Saturday general assembly was wellcoordinated, featuring a vibrant keynote address from Ba Fogam, and the night was crowned with the superb performance by legendary musician Petit Pays privately sponsored by 13 of BCA-USA’s members from around the globe. We thank you for your generosity. The SE-Chapter choir led the singing during the nondenominational service on Sunday and went on to participate extraordinarily in the cultural night. To crown it all the Memorial Day BBQ was filled with excess ensuring that no member left ALTWOOD hungry. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the amazing SE-Chapter members for their dedication and hard work toward having a successful convention last year. Meetings

Northern Texas Chapter had its first meeting post formal installation, on Saturday March 22nd 2017. It was a very successful meeting and well attended. We had over 23 sons and daughters of Bali in attendance. Three new members paid their national dues, two returning members paid their dues for 2017-2018 fiscal year. Moving forward, the chapter will be holding meetings on the fourth Saturday of the month. For now, the chapter will be meeting monthly until after the 2018 convention. One of our main goals is getting our children involved and teaching them our culture. They are our leaders of tomorrow, including leadership in BCA-USA. During our last meeting, with Ba Culture’s guidance, they were able to introduce themselves in Mungaka and also learned how

Ma Esona Fomuso to greet the house the traditional way.

Membership

The SE-Chapter continues to grow as we strive to uphold the values of BCA-USA and pass down our cultural values to the next generation. The chapter currently has 60 members which include 43 adults, five seniors, nine youths, and three minors. Seven of our members are new (two adults and five youths). In the effort to support one another locally and nationwide, 46 of our members are part of Nkap Ntod benefit program including four youths and five seniors which is up from last year’s participation by six new members plus two

South Eastern Chapter members at the 2017 Leadership Summit in Las Vegas

minors.

We suffered some losses since the last convention, the loss of our chapter president’s (Ma Esona Fomuso) dad Ba Nkom Gwanwobga Titus Fomuso who was also a BCA-USA member and part of the Eastern Chapter. Then we also lost the Pa Joseph Tuma, the father of Ni Paul Tuma. We also enjoyed the addition to our family through Ba Fobesi and Ma Loveline Fobesi, who welcomed baby Matthew Bungha Fobesi to their family.

Meetings

Due to the large geographical area that the SE-Chapter covers and the number of Ndah Kums within the area we have our chapter meetings four times a year. We are currently working on by-laws for our chapter to align with those of BCA-USA at large. Members of this chapter continue to be dedicated to the core values of BCA-USA as well as show their desire to be leaders in our society. This was reflected in our participation at the 2017 Leadership Summit hosted in

Las Vegas in October last year. With 12 members of our chapter attending the Summit, the South Eastern chapter had the largest number of participants at the summit.

The SE-Chapter continues to show leadership with the over eight Diamond VIP packages bought by members for this year’s Pearl Anniversary in Dallas. We plan on participating in the celebrations in grand style and would like to encourage anyone who is currently undecided not to make the mistake of missing out because some things just cannot be captured on videos or pictures. The whole of South Eastern Chapter sends heartfelt greetings to all those who can’t make it this year. Happy 30th Anniversary BCA-USA. Big D here we come! Proudly Bali Ma Esona Fomuso BCA-USA South Eastern Chapter President●