Liberian Community Association of Illinois, Inc. (LCAI)
1507 E. 53^rd Street, Suite 886
Chicago, IL 60616

June 25, 2011

Fellow Liberians:

 

Greetings from the Liberian Community Association of Illinois, Inc.

By now you probably have heard about the formation of the Liberian Community Association of Illinois (LCAI).

Why was there a need to form another Liberia organization?

Months ago four letters were written to OLCI President Mohammed Toure and OLCI Board of Director pertaining to issues and concerns as they related to the organization and its membership. These letters were ignored and were never acknowledged.

 

Below, please see facts pertaining to some of the concerns expressed in our previous letters:

 

• During past election, potential Board members brought in cars load of relatives and tribal members to vote on their behalves. These are people that we have never seen before but only appeared during elections.
  

• A prominent member was unilaterally and unconstitutionally suspended indefinitely without due process. The letter was signed by the Board of Directors and the President Toure and circulated on the Internet. Despite their signatures on the letter, neither the Board nor the President is taking responsibility of authorizing the suspension.
  

• We submitted 4 (letters) separate letters with member signatures to the President and the Board of Director expressing concerns about the organization’s gross disrespect and innumerable unilateral decisions to no avail. Neither the Board of Directors nor the President was courteous enough to acknowledge any of our letters. Either President Toure or the Board of Directors was not cognizant as to how an organization works, or they figured that they were above the Bylaws of OLCI.
  

• OLCI uses membership dues to make unilateral payment to the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas  ULAA-K. Let OLCI members decide if they want to write ULAA a check. Don’t impose it upon them.  
  

• During the last election, the Board Chairman, Mr. Isaac Vowal, was hand-delivered a letter with signatures of other members expressing several issues regarding the direction of the organization. In a childish tantrum-like manner and with an uncontrollable outburst of rage he folded the letter into a ball and slammed it on the floor in the presence of the entire OLCI membership.
  

• After Vowal, the Chairman of the Board of Director’s childish outburst and the Election Commission’s refusal to hear our grievances regarding the fraudulent and pending election, our candidates with over half of OLCI’s members present boycotted the election and will not recognize Mr. Tamba President of OLCI.  
  

 

As you can see follow Liberians, OLCI was laden with conflicts, disrespect for members, unilateral decisions, isolation of fellow member, the elders  youths, and the formation of a clique. As a result of their self-aggrandizement, a group of concerned, professional and intellectual Liberians came together to organize themselves to be known as Liberian Community Association of Illinois, Inc. which was incorporated in the State of Illinois.

 

Without a doubt OLCI leadership (or lack) of OLCI is the culprit to creating the wedge within the Liberian community in Illinois. They have drifted away from the Liberia people in Illinois. OLCI is fiscally and financially irresponsible. They dibble and dabble into the organization’s checking account and make payments as it is their personal piggy bank.

 

Let’s face it fellow Liberians, besides having party, what have OLCI done for you as a Liberian in Illinois? When was the last time OLCI presented a financial report that reflects earnings or losses from their innumerable parties?

 

Whatever happened to the immigration and social-economic concerns that the non-functional Board members claimed they would pursue?

 

When was the last time OLCI filed a tax returned?

 

When was the last time OLCI used her 501(c)(3) status to write proposal or grants to advance the needs of her membership. Example: education, immigration awareness,  youth empowerment, women empowerment and socio-economics?

 

This fiasco, gross disrespect and slap-in- the-face of responsible Liberians in Illinois by a handful of self-centered individuals will NOT be tolerated. The selection of Richard Tamba, an ineffective former Board member, as OLCI’s current president can best be described as a MOVE-On!  

 

 

Sincerely,

Charles S. Mombo, Interim President
Liberian Community Association of Illinois
(Follow LCAI on facebook)

 

Related posts:

1. Chicago’s OLCI First Quarterly Meeting
2. Memorial Service for Stephen Daniel Clarke