Fellow Alumni and Friends,
On behalf of your newly elected officers (click here), I would like to thank all of your for your support and commitment to our beloved Ricks Institute in Virginia, Liberia and to our Association. We would like to congratulate Dr. Zwannah Dukuly for the fine job he and his corp of officers have done over the last 4 years. Our thanks and gratitude also go out to all of the past leaders for all of their contributions to our cause over the last 20 years. We have a lot to be proud of.
We are excited about what lies ahead. As I indicated in my web message (click here), our task over these next couple of years is simple. We must maximize our contributions to Ricks in Liberia since more than ever, the need is clear and we can make a difference. We must also sustain our organization and ensure that we get our members involved in the programs needed to support our school. We need your ideas and your INVOLVEMENT.
Christie Hall is a project that we have undertaken. We need to put a roof on that building and help to restore and prepare it for occupancy (click to see info on our website). Principal Olu Menjay has done a WONDERFUL job at Ricks. The contributions our Association has made over the years, coupled with the major contributions that Principal Menjay has been blessed to secure have put Ricks in the familiar number one spot among schools in Liberia. We are proud...and will continue to work closely with Principal Menjay and his administration to keep Ricks flourishing. Stay tuned for more about happenings at Ricks.
To be successful as an organization, we need everyone. Please join me as we reach out to Alumni and Friends. We will keep our website up to date so that you have the latest information. We will also communicate with the membership frequently throughout the year via email. Please bookmark our (recently revamped) website http://www.ricksinstitute.com.
So...what's coming?
* A report about the recent 20th Convention in Charlotte, NC
* The ability to order a 20th Anniversary T-Shirt off our website
* The ability to order several other items including a beautiful lapel pin with the Ricks logo
* Fund raising information
* Information on paying your dues and donations
* Up to date information about happenings in and around our Association
* Several spotlights
...and a whole lot more
I was speaking with one of our members the other day who told me that he was planning on contributing $25/month ($300 a year) as a donation and $10/month ($120 a year) towards their class challenge. $420 is a lot to pull together and pay at the next convention, he mentioned, but paying it via the website on a monthly basis is a manageable way to make a pledge and keep it. What a concept...and our website is all set to faciliate this kind of arrangement. Please consider making a similar commitment to help our little sisters and brothers in Liberia
Please write to us and share your comments or ideas. You may write to me at chairman@ricksinstitute.com or drop a line to communications@ricksinstitute.com. If you have contact info for any of your friends or classmates, please send them to communications@ricksinstitute.com.
Thanks for your continued support and sacrifice.
Regards,
David A. Thomas
p.s. Here are a few pictures from the 20th Convention in Charlotte, NC (click here). If you are interested in ordering a picutre, please send an email to communications@ricksinstitute.com