Thinking Aloud A Member Perspective on MACUDA America’s Future

As we slowly make our way to Delaware for yet another annual congregation, it will be good to take stock of the past fifteen gatherings to see what worked well, what failed, what needed adjustment, and what should be rejected outright.

In my humble opinion, we have learnt nothing in the past fifteen times of our meetings. This has principally been due to our personal egos, our positioning within the Mankon community in terms of our financial prowess, educational achievement, our relationship to those in power and, to a lesser extent, our inferiority complex.

In all, we have failed because we failed to charter a clear path on what we want to achieve as an association. We willingly refused to accept the fact that every successful 501(c) organization holds its merit on its ability to achieve its vision and mission by raising funds.

The Membership Problem

As a membership-oriented organization, MACUDA America needs to tailor its activities based on physically identifiable members who adhere to its mission and vision. These members should be the only parliament that makes decisions — and the elected executive committee executes them on their behalf.

Our first failure is the thought and imagination that everyone with Mankon lineage in America is — or should be — a member of the association. In past conferences and gatherings, we have been erroneously “blessed” with people who exert their influence on resolutions without having a stake in the association’s activities.

Types of Members Who Skew Progress

• Those who pay membership fees only when they attend a convention and tend to be very vocal (once every few years).
• Those who attend because they want to visit a relative in the hosting city and are pushed to pay dues.
• Those who attend because of proximity to their home state and will be absent if distance is extended.
• Those looking for a potential partner and disappear once their objective is fulfilled or unfulfilled.
• Those who show up because of the food, music, and ambiance.
• People active at branch level but who reject most decisions from the national association.

The Real Members

Thirdly, you have the die-hard members — the coalition of the willing — who pay their fees, attend meetings, but tend to be less vocal. As the Englishman says, “empty vessels make the loudest noises.” Their voices get drowned in the noise. But like Mr. Boxer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, they keep working harder either way.

On Charity

We erroneously believe that because we sailed oceans and flew skies to be in America, we can shape Mankon and Cameroon through charity. History has proved us wrong.

“While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.” — Chinua Achebe

Conclusion & Proposed Agenda for Delaware 2022

• What worked well: We have had total fun whenever we gathered in the past 15 times.
• What failed: We failed to come up with measurable, tangible, socio-economically friendly activities that benefit bona fide members. Members who pay dues derive zero benefit from the association.
• Financial module: Fluid and cannot sustain any meaningful charitable efforts.
• Environmental note: We have created environmental hazards by sending obsolete items to Mankon.

I am of the opinion that the following items be tabled and debated at Delaware 2022:

1. Mankon Insurance Scheme — gives a measurable benefit for a token rate and is not charity.
2. In addition to the “elephant in the room” that we all know, and are working at the directives of the Kwifo of Mankon.
3. Framework for the implementation of the MACUDA America real estate “Ndah Mankun”.