Members Present

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

1. Joseph Healey – The Moderator of www.Afriprov.org website, jghealey@aol.com +254 572 522 977 — Directing the meeting.
2. Cephas Agbemenu– cyagbemenu@yahoo.com +254 723 307 992 – Assistant Moderator. Chairing the meeting.
3. Margaret W. Ireri – margwireri@yahoo.com +254 722537 774 – Secretary and Treasurer
4. Elias Bushiri Elie – e.bushiri@yahoo.com +254 701 391 149 – Assistant Secretary
5. Sr. Grace Njau – annegracenj@gmail.com +254 722 260 078

OTHER MEMBERS

1. Alimas Kaluta Adrien – +254 706 360 250
2. Angelique Chelo – angelcheylo@yahoo.com +254 707 367 671
3. Cikuru Bishangi Devotha – devothac200@gmail.com +254 718 227 541
4. Francis Njuguna – osnjuguna@yahoo.com +254 720 434 819
5. Gabriel Odhiambo – gabrielodhiambo1@gmail.com+254 726 369 593
6. Hondi Muhimanyi Placide – hondimuhimanyi@gmail.com +254 701 408 731
7. Kevin Namatsi Okubo – kevinnamatsi@gmail.com +254 715 307 874
8. Ricardo Benon Benjamin – ricardobenon1@gmail.com +254 701 606 345
9. Sikitoka Mboni – sikitoka@yahoo.com +254 721 925 624

10. Etoka Malusise – etokae@yahoo.ca +254 714 695 659
11. Joseph Kai Kariuki – josephkaikariuki@gmail.com +254 700 446 884
12. Roger Akouete Adjomayi – akouete4@gmail.com +254 725 932 201, +254 731 580 461
13. Patricia Nderitu – pnderito@gmail.com +254 711 580 942
14. Atemu Ishiabwe — +254 723 129 409
15. Anastasi Oisebe – annastasioisebe@gmail.com +254 705 600 979
16. Angela Riziki – angelrizik@gmail.com +254 716 101 971
17. Hugues Ilunga — hugue.ilunga@gmail.com +254 717 028 973

Apologies

1. Elysee Meta – elizemeta@yahoo.com +254 722 705 778

2. John Mbiti Mbuvi – mbiti.john5@gmail.com +254 721 124 661
3. Laur Mwepu Luiza – laurjudithmwepu@yahoo.fr +254 725 806 611 (Moved to Canada)
4. Sudi J. Wamukota — sudiwamukota@yahoo.com +254 722 405 690
5. Tyty Mukendi wa Mulumba – mukendiwamulumba@yahoo.fr (Currently lives in Canada)

 

Opening

The meeting started with a prayer by Sr. Grace Njau. The chairperson then welcomed all the members to the meeting. He introduced the agenda for the day by providing hard copies of the agenda to all members.

Introductions

A guest, Hugues Ilunga, introduced himself and was requested to make a decision whether he wished to become a regular member of the APWG or just is a visitor.

Reading the minutes of the previous meeting held on Saturday, 21 May 2016

The minutes had already been circulated on the website and therefore, they were not read at the meeting. However, the chairperson provided hard copies of the previous minutes for ease of reference.

Matters arising from the previous minutes

a) The second half grants were given to the members who had completed their projects fully and met all the requirements:

1. Kevin Namatsi Okubo – Chiga (Uganda)
2. Angelique Chelo – Chonyi (Mijikenda – Kenya)

 

b) Feedback on incomplete projects:

The following members who are currently working on new projects have requested for more time to complete their works.

1. Hondi M. Placide – Kele (DRC) – first half grant given on Saturday, 21 May 2016
2. Rogers Adjomayi – Fon (Benin) – first half grant given on Saturday, 27 February 2016
3. Patricia Nderito – Maasai (Kenya) – Had not presented proposal, but would do so immediately.
4. Tyty Mukendi – Mashi (DRC) – first half grant given in 2014. He had done the complete collection, but other sections of the booklet had not been completed.
5. Elysee Meta — Embu (Kenya) – proxy said she was continuing with collection. She was requested to first present a correct proposal for the project.

 

Fr Joseph Healey’s 50th Anniversary

The Moderator explained that he had celebrated his Priestly Missionary Mission in Africa. Special prayers were led by Joseph Kai Kariuki in the Kikuyu language in celebrating his great achievement.

Internet User Workshop

Ricardo Benon and Elias Bushiri conducted the training. The members were taught how to access the Afriprov website resources such as polling for their favorite proverb of the month, Facebook postings, reading the minutes of meetings and how to access the Ebooks. The members confirmed that they have been using the www.afriprov.org website.

Continuity and Future of the African Proverbs Working Group (APWG)

The continuity of the APWG was deliberated. The moderator said he is going to retire in a few years’ time, and therefore the need to deliberate on the continuity and survival of the group and the projects. The Chairman observed that transition was a normal process in every culture. However, we need to find the modalities for a smooth transition and survival of the group. It was noted that, the most important issue which needs immediate attention is the financial support for the group.

The Executive Committee informed the members that they had a meeting and agreed to open a bank account with the NIC Bank at the ABC Plaza on Wanyaki Way in Westlands, Nairobi. This would facilitate the transfer of funds directly from the benefactors into the members account using online banking via Mpesa. The account will be operated by a team of the executive committee members. The account is now officially opened under the name “Maryknoll Fathers – APWG.” The first funds were deposited on 17 November, 2016. In order for the executive to be able to operate the account effectively and efficiently, the bank has arranged for a training workshop for the executive members concerned. This workshop is scheduled to take place on 23 November, 2016. Thereafter, members who qualify for their grants will be sent their money.

FUTURE SUPPORT FOR THE GROUP

The members proposed that a sub-committee be formed to deliberate further, and seek possible solutions to the matter of financial sustainability and sources of resources. The following members volunteered, or were nominated to, this ad hoc committee:

Chairman: Gabriel Odhiambo
Members: Joseph Kai Kariuki
Ricardo Benon
Patricia Nderito
Cikuru Devotha
Francis Njuguna

Revisiting the APWG Guidelines for Grants

Various guidelines were revisited and explained to the members.

1. Attendance of meetings. The members were required to attend a minimum of 2 full APWG meetings within a year. It was mandatory to attend on the day a member was being awarded the Grant, and to do the presentation of the Proposal for their research.
2. Membership contributions. All members would pay early in the year in cash or Mpesa on telephone number +254 723 307 992. Those receiving grants must pledge that the contribution of Ksh.1,000/= to be deducted before paying the first half-grant to the member.
3. The first half of the grant would only be paid out after the “Minutes” of the Full APWG meeting have been posted on the website (www.afriprov.org). This would inform the benefactors about approved, undertaken and completed projects.
4. The number of projects approved for grants has to fit the annual budget – the finances available at the particular time.

Submission of completed projects

The Moderator congratulated the members for successfully completing many projects within the year. He said the APWG Nairobi Chapter is the most successful in the production of proverb projects in Eastern Africa. The members submitted seven completed project booklets to the Moderator. Grants would be given for those projects after the minutes of the meeting have been posted on the www.afriprov.org and the online banking set up.

The following have submitted their final projects to the moderator.

Project Country Collector Grant

1. Bangubangu DRC Elias Bushiri Full grant
2. Chiga Uganda Kevin Namatsi 2nd half grant
3. Chonyi Kenya Angela Chelo 2nd half grant
4. Duruma Kenya Margaret Wambere Full grant
5. Runyankore Uganda Alimas Kaluta Full grant
6. Teso Kenya Gabriel Odhiambo Full grant
7. Nyanga DRC Sikitoka Mboni Full grant

 

Presentation of new research proposals

As required by the new guidelines, 16 proposals were presented to the meeting. The executive committee would re-check and ensure all the members presenting them had met all the requirements before approval. They would check attendance of meetings, participation on internet, interest in other member’s projects and payment of their annual membership dues. The members would then be informed to proceed with the collection of the proverbs.

1. Babwari DRC Sikitoka Mboni
2. Bakwele DRC Elias Bushiri
3. Banyabwisha DRC Cikuru Devotha B.
4. Hemba DRC Atemu Ishiabwe
5. Kipsigis Kenya Sr. Grace Njau — new presentation
6. Makonde Kenya Margaret Wambere
7. Nande DRC Alimas Kaluta
8. Nandi Kenya Joseph Kai — new presentation
9. Rendille Kenya Ricardo Benon
10. Sabaoti Kenya Jeremiah Sudi
11. Samia Kenya Gabriel Odhiambo
12. Sango DRC Laur Mwepu
13. Tachoni Kenya Annastasi Oisebe — new presentation
14. Tambwa DRC Etoka Malisawa Peter — new presentation
15. Tugen Kenya Kevin Namatsi
16. Zoba DRC Angela Riziki — new presentation

 

Upcoming Proverbs of the Month for 2017

The list was read to the members.

1. January 2017 Chonyi (Mijikenda) Kenya Angela Chelo
2. February 2017 Bangubangu DRC Elias Bushiri
3. March 2017 Duruma Kenya Margaret Wambere
4. April 2017 Runyankore Uganda Alimas Kaluta
5. May 2017 Teso Kenya Gabriel Onyango

 

Other months of the year would be filled in at the next meeting.

Membership contributions

2016 outstanding membership fees:

The members who paid their outstanding 2016 membership fees Ksh.1,000.00 did so.

1. Ricardo Benon 1,000.00
2. Angela Riziki 1,000.00
3. Annastasi Oisebe 1,000.00

 

2017 Membership: advance fee payments

Members who paid their 2017 membership fees.

1. Fr. Joe Healey 1,000.00
2. Cephas Agbemenu 1,000.00
3. Fr. Don Sybertz 1,000.00

 

The members were encouraged to pledge to pay before the new project’s first half grant was released to them.

Editorial costs

As resolved during the full APWG meeting held on Saturday, 7 February 2016, the committee members who edit individual projects will be rewarded with 10% or ($50) of the total grant. This and the annual membership fees will be deducted from the grants before payment to the member. The committee will continue to edit the works by sending back their work with specific feedback and guidelines on how to correct their work to meet the required standards. However, stress was put on the need to produce high quality work. NOTE: The booklets should indicate the page numbers.

Any other business

There was no other business to be discussed.

Date of the next meeting

This will be communicated at a later date by the Executive Committee.
Lunch was provided by the host, the Assistant Moderator.
There being no other business, the meeting came to an end at 3 p.m.