[Dear Board Member: I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to update you on our activities since our last board meeting, and to thank you for all your belp during my first four months as Executive Director.]
[Dear Board Member: I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to update you on our activities since our last board meeting, and to thank you for all your belp during my first four months as Executive Director.]
The letter reports on Washington Office on Africa Educational Fund 's First Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium on Southern Africa. A number of WOA and WOAEF board members contributed to its success. Over 1,500 people from nearly every region of the country attended the symposium, including more than 1,000 people who braved the snow to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson, Maghan Keita, Representative Walter Fauntroy, Damu Smith, and others speak at the kickoff rally. We received many compliments for the organization of the conference, the high quality of the speakers and panels, and the overall inspiring and enthusiastic spirit of the meeting. The success of the conference reflects WOAEF's many years...
The letter reports on Washington Office on Africa Educational Fund 's First Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium on Southern Africa. A number of WOA and WOAEF board members contributed to its success. Over 1,500 people from nearly every region of the country attended the symposium, including more than 1,000 people who braved the snow to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson, Maghan Keita, Representative Walter Fauntroy, Damu Smith, and others speak at the kickoff rally. We received many compliments for the organization of the conference, the high quality of the speakers and panels, and the overall inspiring and enthusiastic spirit of the meeting. The success of the conference reflects WOAEF's many years of commitment to providing high quality educational services to the anti-apartheid movement. The Ndilimani Cultural Troupe's Tour was also a great success. The Troupe, which is SWAPO's cultural group, toured eight U.S. cities and performed before capacity crowds in New York, Newark, Chicago, and the Bay area. A grant from the UN Council for Namibia enabled WOA to act as the National Coordinator for the tour. The staff is working hard to implement the Five Point Platform discussed at the last Board meeting. On February 19, at a news conference co-sponsored by WOA, Representative Ron Dellums and Senator Alan Cranston re-introduced the Comprehensive Economic Sanctions Bill. In addition to our pushing for sanctions, we will be working on aid to southern Africa bills, on crafting new language for a Namibia-specific sanctions bill, and on finding sponsors and support for legislation preventing further aid to UNITA. WOA also is involved with the April Africa Peace Tour (APT), and the April 25 Mobilization around Central America and Southern Africa sponsored by churches and unions. We are also trying to gather support to produce a slide show and video based on findings by Dorothy Thomas's trip to Angola for WOAEF last fall. The most difficult aspect of the Executive Director job has been the preoccupation and concern for WOA/EF's financial situation. We are also very short-staffed. The funding a cash flow situation is very tight at this time. The letter includes a reprint of a newspaper article "Anti-apartheid activists gather for special forum" by Vicki Baldassono.
