Enderta Regional Development Association (ERDA) is a non-profit association. It is a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. ERDA is organized exclusively for development purposes to enhance and support developmental activities in the region. ERDA, like other non-profit organizations, will play its role in the economy by increasing community participation in self help development activities to benefit the people who reside in the Enderta region of Tigrai, Ethiopia. More specifically, ERDA will play a major role in improving the quality of life in the community by combating disease, poverty, and illiteracy and the like.
In the eve of July 4, 2008, member of the association arrived at Washington DC, the nation's capitol, a few to mention, California, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Chicago, Maryland and also Canada. As we all remembered, Washington DC has been already congested with fan of the Ethiopian soccer tournament from all the states. Thousands of Ethiopians, as some estimated 37,000, were already in DC. to meet friends, relatives and watch the game. It was a very colorfully event decorated with American and Ethiopian flag. All restaurants were a sense of celebration with different music and dances of different nationalities. It was a very special event taking place every where, in commemoration of soccer tournament. It was in the next morning we got a chance to meet and talk about Enderta regional development association and how to proceed forward. All members were excited to know each other and confer together about how to strengthen the effort of development that is going to take place in our region in particular in Enderta. More importantly, we talk how to reach our brothers and sister here in United States of America in order to include them to participate in association's effort to help the people. The conference started on time and discussed different topics (agenda). First of all, the meeting evaluated the report presented by president, secretary, vice president and treasurer about accomplishment so far and how to proceed in the future. There was a very interesting discussion and a good participation to make the organization strong to fill full its objective. Secondly, new board members were elected with a full participation of the members and off course democratically. Some amendment to the by law were also made according to members comment. Latter there was a question and answer time; various questions were raised and forwarded. Actually, the board and the members gave answers to the question. Finally, the newly elected board members and the existing board members met for the first time to fill various positions of the committee and the meeting was adjourned. Staring 8PM to 1:30 AM there was a time for reception, dinner and drinks and off course music. Thanks to the famous musical we had a very good time, good entertainment with sksta and telhit. The event has been successfully with out a single incident and thanks to the participants it was peacefully concluded.
New member were registered and exhibiting members paid their membership fee and pledge and donation were collected during annual meeting and during reception. All together during our first adversary, $15000 (fifteen thousand three hundred dollars) in the form of pledge, donation $587 (five hundred eighty seven dollars) were collected. Further more, annual member's fee cash collected was $ 1640 (one thousand six hundred forty dollars).