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Derrick L. Harvey - President
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I assumed the presidency of this Association in January, following my election in
October 2007. I gladly take this opportunity to extend greetings to all Jamaicans
and friends-of-Jamaica living in the greater Atlanta area. Special greetings go
to the entire membership of the Atlanta Jamaican Association. Let us make this a
great year for our Association!
As President, I am committed to making 2008 a highly successful year for AJA in
terms of its growth, development and its involvement with the community at large.
I ask all members and friends to join hands and hearts together with mine to make
this a year of measured accomplishments in all our endeavors.
The challenges are great, but we must meet them with a firm resolve to succeed.
Prominent among these challenges is the need to increase our membership and to promote
greater active membership involvement. Not only in the activities of the Association
but also in the life of the community here in Atlanta, through an expanded outreach
program.
The first of three initiatives I laid out for the Association this year, is that
we must find ways and the means to attract and hold the interest of the youths and
young adults we are planning to invite to the Association. We must make every effort
to get them involved in the Association. The Association has just celebrated its
thirtieth birthday, October 2007, and it is imperative that we make a bold effort
to develop a comprehensive Youth program. If the Association is to survive for another
thirty years, then it must constantly be infused with new blood of young and older
adults.
Secondly, we must follow-up on our desire to have a greater collaboration between
fellow Jamaican organizations and groups. This will involve inviting all the leaders
to a round table discussion to examine the pros and cons and determine the way forward.
Some positives would be achieved if each group is willing and ready to embrace a
unified approach to growth.
A third pressing issue concerns the acquisition of a place the Association can call
home. This was one of the major objectives stated by the founders. So far
that achievement has eluded us. But I am encouraged by the zeal and energy which
the recently established Building Committee has demonstrated. I am confident
that their enthusiasm and drive will produce substantial results this year.
I look forward to working with all interested parties.