President’s Welcome Message

BCA-USA MIRROR PRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE

Dear Members and Friends

On behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Directors (BOD) of Bali Cultural Association in USA (BCA-USA), I am honored to welcome you to the 33rd Annual BCA-USA Convention hosted this year by my home chapter, the Eastern Chapter.

Thank you to each one of you for being a BCA-USA member. A profound thanks to all who have made the journey to this year’s convention in Herndon, Virginia. BCA-USA continues to grow and thrive because of the commitment and support of our members. I am very pleased to welcome those of you that have been attending conventions for a long time as well as those who are attending for the first time. Whether you are a first-time or veteran convention attendee, I hope you will find value in participating in this year’s convention. I equally hope you will leave the convention with an affirmed/renewed commitment to BCA-USA and the promotion of our cultural heritage.

We have not been able to meet in-person since the 32nd Annual Convention hosted in Minneapolis in 2019. The past two years have certainly been challenging, as every organization, community and individual has felt the impact of COVID-19. With nationwide and state restrictions on large gatherings, conferences and large meetings had to be shifted to a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 we hosted a virtual town hall in lieu of the convention and in 2021 we had our first virtual convention using Zoom. The approval of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent uptake in vaccinations has helped with reducing the spread of the pandemic resulting in the lifting of restrictions to large gatherings. However, we are not out of the woods as far as the pandemic is concerned. So, part of our preparations for this year’s convention has entailed ensuring the health and safety of our members and children. For instance, convention babysitting for kids will not be available this weekend owing to the unavailability of vaccines for children under five. As part of our COVID-19 protocols, hand sanitizers and masks will be available throughout the convention weekend.

After six years (with a 2-year extension due to the pandemic), this is my last year as president of BCA-USA. As I step down, I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of what we have accomplished during my time in office. 1. Record membership growth and Ŋkab Ntɔd enrollment. As of 2022, we have over 1000 members registered compared to 369 when I took over in 2016 and over 900 Ŋkab Ntɔd members. 2. Bore Hole Project: Sponsored construction of 5 boreholes in Bali. A historic accomplishment by BCA-USA. 3. Youth revival - Establishment of a BCA Young Professionals

Network bringing together college students and young professionals. We created a BCA-USA Youth Instagram page, which has now garnered over 100+ followers. 4. Strategic partnership – Formalized and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BCA-USA and Ŋkù’mɨ̀ Fɛd Fɛd in 2022 establishing Ŋkù’mɨ̀ Fɛd Fɛd as a BCA-USA partner to help with executing projects in Cameroon. 5. Supported healthcare in Bali during the pandemic (construction of COVID19 isolation ward at the Bali District Hospital) to assist healthcare in the community during

Lifetime Achievement Award instituted in 2017

pandemic. 6. Established a scholarship program for BCA high school graduates 7. Led development of new bylaws and

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for committees (based on the 2015 constitution).

A draft of the bylaws have been approved by the NEC and the BOD pending further editing by the Constitution and Elections

Committee (CEC). 8. Provided financial support for Mungaka

Bible Re-translation project 9. Membership and chapter engagement through chapter visits and virtual meetings.

Chapter Renewal visits and outreach to

Northern Texas, Great Lakes, Northern,

North Eastern 10. Foreign relations - engaged and mentored other BCA chapters in the diaspora (BCA

Ireland, BCA Ontario) and led the largest delegation of BCA members to attend BCA

Europe convention in Berlin, 2018. Created a BCA Diaspora Leadership forum - which encompasses leaders of all key BCA groups in the diaspora - from Canada to Europe (Ireland, UK, Belgium, Germany etc.) and

Middle East (Qatar and Bahrain) 11. Established a Bali Humanitarian Relief Fund

to help raise funds and offer humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict in Bali. 12. Record fundraising (for MPC, Humanitarian

Relief) and overall highest ever BCA-USA cash balances. 13. Redesign of BCA-USA Website, and renewal of Publications Committee to provide regular BCA-USA Newsletter, which has significantly raised membership engagement and created BCA-USA T-Shirt. 14. Led historic Leadership Summits in

Las Vegas and Miami, which combined

Strategic decision making with fun time for participants. 15. Revamped annual convention to include more events for Youths (Kids), fun chapter parades and awards and recognition (including launching of the BCA-USA

Lifetime Achievement Award) 16. Created the BCA Vibes group in 2017 to enhance member engagement and information sharing. 17. Developed cadence for NEC calls to guide monthly meeting agendas.

Additionally, during the virtual Leadership Summit in 2021, members in attendance voted

BCA-USA visit to BCA Europe Convention, Berlin, Germany, 2018

Launched BCA-USA Scholarship Awards for high school graduates

for BCA-USA to sponsor the acquisition of an ambulance to serve the Bali community. In the last few months, a committee to oversee the ambulance project has been set up and the committee’s chairs confirmed by NEC and BOD. The committee has started working on this project and will oversee the execution of the project.

The achievements of the past 6 years would not have been possible without the support of our members as well as the various committee chairs and chapter presidents who assisted in executing some of these initiatives. Thank you all for your support and dedication. Along the way, we encountered some speed bumps, but these did not deter our focus to make BCA bigger and stronger.

I am immensely grateful for the support of my wife Helen Ndangam, my family and friends who have encouraged and uplifted me throughout my service to BCA-USA, first as Secretary General (2012 - 2016) and subsequently as president (2016 - 2022). Thank you all so much. As I step down, I am pleased at how far we have come as an organization. I am cognizant that as BCA continues to grow, more work needs to be done. I encourage you to get involved in your local chapter or volunteer in committees. These avenues provide opportunities to serve BCA and help take the association to the next level.

The Convention Planning Committee has worked hard since February to plan this year’s convention. On behalf of myself and our members, I extend our profound appreciation to this year’s Convention Planning Committee, co-chaired by Ni Augustine Njinjoh (President of Eastern Chapter) and Ma Kehmia Tangeh (Public Relations Officer). I invite you, your family, and friends, to join us as we use this weekend to celebrate our successes, deliberate on ways to keep strengthening BCAUSA and supporting Bali, as well as elect a new leadership team to keep growing our organization.

I wish you a wonderful convention weekend as we celebrate meeting in-person again. God Bless BCA-USA. Clarence Ndangam National President, BCA-USA president@bca-usa.org

He0fiiil

VIRGINIA Shella A. Olem MAYOR

T (703) 435-6805 Mayor.Olem@hemdon-va.gov

TOWN COUNCIL ShellaA. Olein, M'if'/Of Cesar del Aguila, \/Ice Mayor Nal1aAlilm Pradlp Dhakal Signe Friedrichs Sean M. Regan Jasblnder Singh

May24,2022

The Bali Cultural Association USA

Dear Members & Guests of The Bali Cultural Association (BCA) USA:

On behalf of the Town of Herndon and our citizens, welcome to the Town and to the greater Herndon area! We are thrilled you are here to gather and celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of the BCA-USA National Convention this Memorial Day Weekend. This reunion will provide Bali people in the diaspora an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the diverse heritage of the Bali Chamba people of Cameroon. Herndon is a town with small-town charm and has something to offer everyone ~ from our state-of-the-art Herndon Community Center, to our Course, to the Washington and Old Dominion trail, renowned Herndon Centennial Golf to our quaint downtown ~ we know you will enjoy your time here. Herndon boasts more than 100 great restaurants with cuisine from around the world and is located just minutes from the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Of course, Washington DC is just 22 miles from Herndon, a straight shot via Metrorail's Silver Line. For more information about our restaurants and upcoming events, please visit the town's website at www.herndon-va.gov. Once again, we welcome you to our community and hope all those in attendance have a wonderful time in Herndon and the Northern Virginia area. Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive BCA-USA National Convention.

Warm Regards,

Sheila A. Olem Mayor

777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4602 hemdon-va.gov