United Methodist Association of Communicators-Africa Region (UMAC-AR)

Minutes [Pending Approval at next UMAC-AR meeting ]

of June 30, 2006, 8:30am

Held at Africa University, Zimbabwe

Attendance: Sarah Mawerere (Uganda), Rev. Lloyd Nyarota (Zim), Nabirye Teddy (Uganda), Dauda Marafa Goding (Nigeria), Lynette Regede (Zim), Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau (DRC), Phileas S. Jusu (Sierra Leone), Alfred Lali (S. Africa), Isaac Broune (Cote d’Ivoire), Andengs Hussaini Ibada (Nigeria), Mbabaye Pepi (Burundi), Christiana Rogers (Sierra Leone), Marie Manisha (Burundi), John Kaumba Makalu (DR-Congo), Arthur Mpoyo Mbuya (DR-Congo), Jackie Kamon Kashal (DR-Congo), Rev. Louis Loma Otshudt (DR-Congo), Rev. Bobistché N’Guessan Bruno (Cote d’Ivoire), Sinanga Juvénal (Rwanda), Simon Sipiwo Gunuza (S. Africa), James Mwoho (Uganda), Armindo Chaúque (Mozambique), Antonio Wilson (Mozambique), Taylor Walters (secretary/USA), Konah Parker (president/Liberia), Chantal Otshudi (DR-Congo), Daniel Mhone (Malawi), Melita Jelena Santos Panzo (Angola), George Namale (Malawi), Guests: Rev. Tadfadzwa Mudambanuki (UMCOM), Barbara Nissen (UMCOM), James Humbane (Portuguese interpreter), Andrew Manyawu (French interpreter), Min Min Soe (Zambia)

Meeting opened with prayer.

Secretary Taylor Walters presided over beginning of meeting because President Parker had stepped down since last meeting.  Election start-time was delayed due to questions over what constituted a quorum, since initial attendance was low and it was unclear which former attendees were just running late. In the meantime, other issues were discussed.

It was observed that the document adopted by the group at the last meeting did not specifically name our group the United Methodist Association of Communicators-Africa Region (UMAC-AR).  It was the consensus of the group to have such a sentence added to the document.

The group discussed the possibility of having an UMAC-AR Blog and/or website.  Logistics, advantages and costs were discussed. Cost-saving options such as requesting permission to ask the United Methodist Association of Communicators http://www.umcommunicators.org/ (advantage: re-enforce relationship between UMAC and UMAC-AR) or The Kamina Project http://www.kaminaproject.org (advantage: UMAC-AR secretary is its director and webmaster) to offer subpages space to UMAC-AR was discussed. It was the will of the group to ask The Kamina Project to be the interim host of UMAC-AR’s webpages until UMAC-AR develops the resources to manage its own site.

Officer Elections:

Barbara Nissen of United Methodist Communications (UMCOM) presided over the elections.  She and Rev. Tadfadzwa Mudambanuki of UMCOM counted the closed-eyed vote.

President: accepted nominations: Konah Parker (Liberia), Rev. Louis Loma (DR-Congo)

                Elected: Konah Parker

Vice President: accepted nomination: Rev. Louis Loma (DR-Congo)

                Elected: Rev. Louis Loma

Secretary: accepted nominations: Taylor Walters (USA/DR Congo), Rev. Betty Kazadi

Musau (DR Congo), Lynette Regede (Zimbabwe), Isaac Broune (Cote d’Ivoire)

              (there was a run-off election between Taylor Walters and Rev. Betty Kazadi

Musau)

              Elected: Taylor Walters

Assistant Secretary (French Speaking): accepted nomination: Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau

(DR-Congo)

              Elected: Rev. Betty Kazdi Musau

Assistant Secreatry (Portuguese Speaking): accepted nomination: Armindo Chaúque (Mozambique)

              Elected: Armindo Chaúque

Finance Secretary: accepted nominations: Lynette Regede (Zimbabwe), John Kaumba

Makalu (DR-Congo)

                Elected: Lynette Regede

Publicity and Advocacy: accepted nominations: John Kaumba Makalu (DR-Congo),

Dauda Marafa Goding (Nigeria) (Rev. Lloyd Nyarota of Zimbabwe and Phileas S.

Jusu of Sierra Leone declined their nominations)

              Elected: Dauda Marafa Goding

Meeting was closed in prayer with the agreement that we would continue unfinished conversations on the discussion board (kp.spws.net)