Get to Know the Great Lakes Chapter

REBUILDING AND GROWING DESPITE CHALLENGES GET TO KNOW THE GREAT LAKES CHAPTER

By Ni Fidelis Kaspa Interim President, Great Lakes Chapter

Hearty greetings from the plains of the Great lakes to all our people everywhere.

The Great Lakes chapter is one of the most territorially extensive chapters of BCA-USA. Extensive because, it covers all the greater states of the Midwest Il, IN, MI, OH, KY. Unfortunately it has been like a dormant volcano for a good while. Like a dormant volcano because it engulfs a huge human, material and other resources but have since been characterized by inactivity hence almost unheard-of or unknown to many.

However, the chapter once stood up and successfully hosted the BCA-USA in 1994 in what was described as a hit base on the standards of the time.

For a long time, the chapter has struggled to hold self together in vain due to reduced adhesive forces between members, probably caused by the geographic disparity that creates a low density of members in the regions. The foregoing coupled with a generalized state of “lack of enthusiasm” and other negative human traits factors simply made a bad case deplorable.

In a bid to reenergize this chapter to stand up and reach for its deserved potential, the present administration under the leadership of President Ni Clarence Ndangam embarked on a couple of strategies. One of these strategies was my appointment to serve as interim chapter president with a major focus on closing the gaps within our membership and regrouping. This same administration promised us support (like was seen in other chapters that rose out of a similar conundrum like here) in consolidating our chapter once this initial phase was achieved. In order to bring

Ni Fidelis Kaspa the organizational structure closer to the people, our chapter capital was moved from Detroit MI, to Chicago IL. Efforts were made to identify, contact and invite all members and even potential members to heed to this plan to reactivate the chapter. With the benefit of modern communication tools, we were able to address the challenges posed by geographic distance by organizing a virtual regrouping to plan the way forward. Helas! The slumber was still such that reawakening was not going to be as rapid as we had hoped. We did not get round to having a single conference call, hold elections nor could we

come together in person.

However through my persistent outreach to known chapter members, we had some frank conversations. As a result, we were able to catch up with most of our chapter activities vis-a-vis the national body. We also increased our membership from 12 active members to 24 by an addition of 11 new members and 1 returning member. We anticipate that this number will rise because our outreach both within and without our membership has enticed many brothers and sisters previously out of our circles to consider joining the association. Almost all our members enrolled and are active and regular members in the Nkap Ntod program that was launched two years ago. Some newer members will be joining-in as their eligibility is indicated according to the actual standing regulations of Nkap Ntod.

All hands are still on deck to sort ways out of the chronic state of disarray in this chapter. I am persuaded to believe that an influx of new breed of Bali men and women with slightly different attitude toward socio cultural gathering will be very helpful as part of a solution. Some of our very passionate members

with myself are extending a hand of invitation to our fellow Bali Nyonga brothers and sisters in already congested localities to consider relocating to our region in particular in the Chicagoland area. I can guarantee without risk of contradiction that this way, life is not only good but can be promising, in the domain of employment, education, social welfare, business etc. We are teaming up and ready to lend our support and mentorship to those that may consider this option (of relocation).

Alongside the BCA-USA Chapter, it is worth mentioning that there is one Ndakum – Nda Bichang that is operational in the Chicago area to serve as a meeting point for Banyonga in this area and beyond (in fact extending to all Midwest region). It was founded on November 20th 2013, when a few Bali Nyonga men, and women decided to break the spell and create the first ever Bali Nyonga Ndakum in the city and region. Nda Bichang is having a steady growth in the number of participating members. However, like all living things and organizations it is still struggling to overcome those challenges/difficulties that are inherent of the young making strides to grow. Hence, despite these years gone by, work is still underway to put in place reliable structures and status to guide us through this vulnerable stage.

So far and as expected Nda Bichang has been a resource point for BCA-USA as the totality of new members of BCA-USA for this chapter transited through this Ndakum. More are expected to follow. Friends of Bali will also be defined and welcome. We will be glad, if the older, bigger and stronger Ndakums all over the country, and abroad will lend us any form of support in this task which is part of nation building.

Although not populous, the GL Chapter will be present at the pearl anniversary celebration of BCA-USA in Dallas and looking forward to a successful and fun filled convention. We extend our congratulations to the good people of the Northern Texas Chapter for the great convention in the days ahead.

Long live The GL Chapter Long live BCA-USA. Fidelis KASPA Interim Chapter President●