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Members of the Advisory Board, Executive Committee members, members and heads of the various committees, fellow members and aspiring members.  We are proud to inform you that the state of the Association (AFIRA) is satisfactory but it could be better. 
Upon our ascendency to the presidency of this great organization, we were tasked with various responsibilities.  Prominent amongst them was the furtherance of efforts to acquire a property in Cotton Tree, Lower Margibi County to construct a public library to cater to the three high schools and several other schools in Cotton Tree and its surroundings, including Division 44 elementary and Junior High School, and the Harbel High School.  We were also tasked with the responsibilities of executing a short-term project, reaching out to the management of the Firestone Plantations Company and asking for the opportunity to equip the community library in Camp 2 with modern books and laptops.  Further, the Executive Committee was tasked with the responsibility of appointing an Advisory Board.  In addition to these key responsibilities, the Executive committee also embarked upon other initiatives to ensure an effective administration.  These initiatives included the filing of the 501C 3 document with the IRS, modification of AFIRA’s website, collection of pledges, increasing and stabilizing our membership, and identifying with bereaved members.
Shortly after the 2017 Annual Convention, the administration purchased 2 lots in Cotton Tree from the Sundaygar Karngar Corporation (Corporation).  With the 2 lots earlier given to it by the Corporation, AFIRA now has 1 acre of land in Cotton Tree.  The land was surveyed, and the deed probated.  The probated deed is currently stored in AFIRA’s Safe Deposit Box at Wells Fargo Bank.  With the land purchased, the organization began searching for an architect to design the library plan.  Mr. Alexander Mulbah who resides in Liberia was contracted to design the plan.  In a subsequent general assembly meeting, members decided that the construction of an event hall on the property would not only solve the problem of an ideal venue for events but that it would also help AFIRA generate money to sustain the library.  The library plan is currently being completed and it includes an event hall.  Final approval of the plan is pending approval from the general assembly because the board would not unconditionally approve a modification of the plan because it did not believe that the constitution gave it the power to do so. 
On the issue of the short-term plan, the Executive Committee wrote the management of the Firestone Plantations Company a comprehensive letter, introducing the organization, seeking a cordial working relationship, and asking the management of FPCO for the opportunity to provide books and laptops for the library in Camp 2.  The letter was taken to the managing director’s office by the president in February of this year.  The administration has not received any respond from the management of the Firestone Plantations up to date, but efforts are being made to reach out to the FPCO management.
The Advisory Board was appointed by the Executive Committee and include Rev. Wynston Dixon, Ms. Elizabeth Garwo, Mr. Richard Tamba, Ms. Maybelline Sinue, and Mr. Daniel Kieh.  The 501C 3 has been filed with the IRS.  The IRS responded and acknowledged receipt of our filing.  The Administration has made payment to an individual to modify our current website.  The process is nearing completion.  On the collection of pledges, the Administration sent out several reminders through text messages and email messages.  Up to date, the Administration has received 55.21 percent of the total pledged of $11,575.00.
Our membership has remained stable since the last Convention in Minnesota.  We have had the same number of members attending our teleconferences.  While a couple of members have not frequently attended the teleconferences, some other new members have identified with the Association.  We must admit that we could do a better job in recruiting new members.  The Administration will strengthen the Membership Committee immediately after the 2018 convention.   Addressing the issue of bereavement has been a constant problem.  We have struggled as a body to decide how to handle bereavement, hence the need to revisit the Constitution.  Notwithstanding the problem associated with the appropriate means of handling bereavement, the organization has identified with several bereaved members since the last convention.  We acknowledge that we did not do a very good work in identifying with our members, but we hope to improve based on your help.  Finally, the organization donated three boxes of textbooks to the Mother Attis High School in Cotton Tree in February of this year.
Our plans for the next year leading to the 2019 Convention is to do a ground breaking for the Library Project.  Additionally, the administration will work with the General Assembly at this convention to identify a short-term project that the organization can implement to create awareness in the Firestone area.  Once again, the State of AFIRA is satisfactory and the Administration will work towards improving on its mistakes to make the State of the Association Strong by the next Convention.
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