Saturday, June 2, 2012



LETTER

Open letter to Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America

Ethiopian Unity Women's Voice Congress & Ethiopian Almee June 11, 2004
Ato Dawit Agonafer
President
Ethiopian Sports Federation In North America
3150 Hilltop Mall Road
Richmond, A 94806
info@esfna.org
January 27, 2004
Via E-mail/Mail
Subject: Requesting a diversity Executive Board:
Dear Ato Dawit Agonafer,

On behalf of the Ethiopian Unity Women's Voice Congress & Ethiopian Almee, I'd like to congratulate you, on your recent promotion to President. I wish and hope that your leadership in Ethiopian Sports Federation North America, not only will help the ESFNA, but will bring peace stability and togetherness as one society in Ethiopian community.
I'm writing you this long letter to request the formation of diversity executive board directors before the end of February 2004. For the last 20 years, the organization's culture have been known to Ethiopian Communities as affirmative action, disparate impact, glass ceilings and glass walls policy. The solution to end all the conflicts in our community is in the hand of the newly appointed executive board directors. The advantage of diversity is equal opportunity. Since the 1964 Civil Rights Act, various federal, state, and local laws have been passed to promote equal opportunities for a variety of protected groups, mostly notably women and minorities such as the Ethiopian men and women. An organization can't function with half of its brain work force (men). Diversity is the answer to solve the 20 years community's conflicts, because it is more than a male and female issue. It is a process that makes us more productive and a stronger community as united team (Ethiopians)
Since 1988, I have never attended the tournament, because of the federation's affirmative action, glass ceilings and glass walls policy. For your information, Executive Order Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender or national origin. I chose to stay away from attending the tournaments since it has no benefits and the purpose of the majority of Ethiopians
.
You may not know, but my life is devoted to Ethiopia, its people unity and rights. I'm not about distorting the ESFNA, but rebuilding, repainting and reorganizing it. To demolish an organization or a building, a work of many, it will not take initiating ideas, strategies writing, communicating, but demolishing. In order to do that, I don't need to correspond or to do many people's homework as a problem solver and peacemaker. The fact is that by writing the "Short History of ESFNA", I have saved most of you from being generalized for the individuals' mistakes. Those individuals knowing their wrongdoing, they were using all of you as a tree in order to hide from taking responsibilities and apologize for politicking and frauds organizing. Facts are the solutions of problem solving. I believe I saved the federation partially. For the rest part, it is in the hands of the new leadership. Let me give you one example, it took one pilot, and 30 seconds, to destroy the World Trade Center, which was the work of many talented individuals. To pick up the bodies, the debris, and to clear the area, it took weeks, months and years as well as the nation's work force both men and women. I'm not one of those terrorists. Those who are terrorized among the federation officers are tererized not by me but by their action and greed and power drankness. I know what it takes to build an organization of communities. I was born and raised in the middle of Ethiopian men in uniform. Those heroes of mine didn't teach me mafres ageren ena wegenen metegenen inji. (They thought me how to repair not to demolish my country and my people). Therefore, no one should not expect from me to polish, cover up, the wrong doing of individuals in order for them to live above their means while they abuse our unity.
I believe strictly that every single revenue from ESFNA, tournament, should benefit the players, the youth and Ethiopian community ingernal. My concerns more than any thing else are the Ethiopian children who are born out side of Africa. We all should make the children and the young people a priority so we can teach them on how to take over responsibilities. Enough is enough. The time is now for our communities to get start to be part of the benefit from the revenue. (Example, seven hundred thousand US dollar was collected from the 2002, Tournaments. This money came purely from the pockets of Ethiopian individuals) The money from the revenue will help to buy Ethiopian Community Centers, in each city, so our children can have a place to meet, to learn about both (US/Ethiopia) cultures, languages, leadership, how to survive and live in the uncertain world system, by involving them in the communities activities which include the ESFNA annual event and year around activities by educating and sharing with them our professional and life experiences. The ESFNA, must have a youth program both, boys and girls as part of its organization program. The activities and the Girls' soccer players should be motivated in the Ethiopian communities where ever we are living. Girls Succor players are booming this days.
In order to convert the affirmative oriented leadership in to diversity, two people should be elected from each city by the community. For example, from Mutual Assistance Association For Ethiopian Community in Dallas. Among the two, one person will serve on the executive board. On the other hand, one of the elected people will work with the local team (s) representing the community and its need such as programming and organizing activities to benefit the community. This strategy is democratic not affirmative action. Nomination local and national must take place. The election should include both male and female with the capability of leadership, organization skill, education, experience, and community oriented personality. The next action is a Task Committee in order to execute the nominating, voting and electing prosigers. The last action is to have a meeting. I suggest the meeting to take place in Washington D.C., where the majority of Ethiopians are living or in Seattle Washington. The meeting and the discussions should be consisted of community leaders, team leaders, ESFNA executive board, educators and the Seattle host committee as well as community advocates.
Wendm Dwit, for your information, in the past the ESFNA Officials told me that the reason why women are not allowed equally to serve as Executive Board members, is that women are not playing soccer and they have no team. The same answer was given to three radio hosts (weekly radio program hosts) in Washington D.C., too.
In order to help and understand that why women don't have to play soccer in order to organize and decided on how an event should be organize or how it should benefit the community. Manegeing is different from playing. I will like to share with you the following short story of mine. In 1994, I was elected by international and American sport organizations to serve on the "World Cup 94" Host Committee in the United States. There were 7 people. Responsibilities? In short, from organizing the World Cup 94's opening ceremony to international, local dignitaries security and before and after World Cup games hospitalities.
In addition to the World Cup 94 Host Committee, I served as Spoke Person and Official Host of Nigerian National Team "Super Eagle" during World Cup 94. My responsibilities include from the American and international press relations to organizing training schadual (Sport fields) and restaurants selection. Therefore, I strongly believe that an individual (s) should be a member of the ESFNA executive board, not based on soccer playing talent, but the ability, capability of leadership, organization skill, education, and experience.
Please note and understand, that I'm not interested or advocating for myself to be on the executive board, to get publicity or to get financial support. In fact, I have been the first image booster of the ESFNA since 1988. As a new President, you are in title of all the history of the federation. I suggest you, to get documents from Ato Haile Tefera (News articles, pictures that were taken by wendim, Ahmed Nur of Arlington Virginia during the 1988, Tournament). It is important to know the contribution of the individuals (without the interest of personal gain). For more information, please visit
In addition to diversity the executive board, it is necessary to form an ESFNA diversity advisers committee. Resicling the former executive directors is not the healthy idea at all. For the most part those men don't have what it takes to lead an organization such as ESFNA. This includes auditing, public relations and organizational image building skills. We must stop the idea of handpicking individuals based work force, but the abilities to porfom a task. Keeping them forever it is not going to bring peace and unity but what I call tatibo chiqa. Wendem Dawit, I hope uniting the community and converting the ESFNA in to diversity-oriented federation and giving the opportunities for the girls /boys as teams to be part of the ESFNA permanently, will be your priority, in order for all of us to celebrate the Seattle Tournament. Imagine the boys and the girls shining the stadium, not as spectators as usual, but by entrtening as players their age groups, families and individuals. Imagine the young people and the children having pride and seen as the hope of Ethiopian unity by many. Finally, to get start the meeting in order to elect Task Force Committee or if you need my assistances in any way you think is beneficiary to the ESFN and to the our communities, please make sure you call me or e-mail me. I know it will not be easy on you and the newly elected for the first time Executive Board directors to direct the illness of 20 years, to the right direction. I'm positive you will make a change soon. Thank you for your time. Your Ethiopian sister.
Truly,
Yeharerwerk Gashaw
President/CEO
Cc: Ethiopian Communities Organizations, Sport Clubs, EEDN, Business Communities, and Youth Organizations. Communities radio programs, new papers (Ethiopians).
P.O. Box 821384 Dallas Texas, 75382 USA, Phone # 214-563-0363