About California Menoua Association
Have you ever wondered about the genesis of California Menoua Association? If yes, you are not alone.
Well, we have gotten the story for you. Get yourself a cup of café UCCAO and enjoyed your reading.
According to Marie Cecile Djotsa Bikele (the initiator of the association), sometime in 2015, she had a wake-up call after one of her friend reminded her that most of the community in Cameroon has an association here in California except for the people of Menoua. Being a daughter of Menoua, she took that as a challenge and motivation to do something. Her goal for the association was to gather together the sons and daughters of Menoua and do what other association were not doing like investing into a project that will generate some income for the members.
With her motivation, Marie Cecile will contact Boniface Tsohnang, Bertin Ngnibogha and Nadege Ngnibogha and share her ideas of having an association of Menoua sons and dughters here in California. They will all agreed but she will be reminded by Bertin that John Djoukeng had initiated a similar proposal two years ago (around 2013) but failed due to lack of participation.
They will all agreed to give a second chance and decided to call any son and daughter from Menoua resident in California. It is during this time that Josiane Kenfack Goueth, Bob Rolan Takou, Jean Claude Nguimzon and wife, Emmanual Ndounna, Martial Nanfah just to name a few were contacted and informed of the idea of having an association for Menoua sons and daughters here in California.
According to Marie Cecile, another striking but sad event that pushed them to actually start the association was the passing away of a son of Menoua here in California (May His Soul RIP) and the messages and testimonies during the wake keeping were so touching calling for togetherness of sons and daughters of Menoua.
These second incident will force the sons and daughters of Menoua contacted to start their first meeting on the 3rd Sunday of the month at Pere Boniface resident. The women will bring food and the men will bring drinks for the potluck. They will meet, drink, and speak Yemba in those early beginning.
After six (06) sessions, the idea of having a president to lead the association was shared by Marie Cecile. Most members contacted to become the president turned down the offer for various reasons. Finally, Marie Cecile accepted and become the first president of the association. Josiane, Emmanual, Martial were selected as part of the new bureau with Martial being the secretary. Pere John, Bertin and Pere Jean Claude were the president’s advisers and Pere Boniface was the Chairman. It is also during this period that the first name of the association will be adopted as Southern California Menoua Association” with the Slogan “Lenang Nkongnih” meaning leaving in Love. Other sons and daughters of Menoua leaving in California will be contacted to join the association. This went on into 2016.
Below are some of the main activities of the association some of which started in the early beginning of the association.
Lenang House Visitation: In the mid-2016, it was decided to rotate the meeting venues and through this, members will be able to visit and know other members residents and their family members. With this, each member will contribute $10 that was collected and handed over to the member/family that will host the next meeting.
Lenang Tontine (Ngangui): Lenang tontine was also set up in the early beginning of Lenang and was a voluntary participation. Interested members will buy shares whose first value was $200 per share before it was later increased to $250per. Prior to the meeting date, the tontine members will send in their tontine money and it will be collected and handed over to the beneficiary(ies) of the month. The beneficiaries are selected and classified through draws at the start of the tontine season.
Lenang Pinic, Christmas and End of Year Party: Through these events, Lenang strick to showcase is culture and tradition especially in the domain of food, dance style, dressing…) with its members and invitees. The first Christmas party organized was in December 2017 in Palmdale and the first end of year party organized was in September 3, 2018.
Lenang Solidarity Fund: Lenang solidarity fund is a mandatory sum of ($200) imposed on all registered members of Lenang. The fund is used to support member(s) when they lose someone close like a parent, or a child and when a member of lenang passed away. A pre-established amount will be withdrawn from the fund and handed to the grieving member/family. When this happens, all lenang members will be required to replenish their solidarity fund balance to $200 per member.
Lenang SAGI: Lenang SAGI is another form of solidarity fund which is activated when a registered SAGI member passed away. Each member of SAGI will contribute their share to get the sum of $15,000.00 that will be handed to the grieving family members.
Lenang Children: Lenang Children was created in the early beginning of their association with the goal of transmitting over our culture, tradition to our children. This is done through inviting children to our meeting to see, listen and copy our examples. To introduce our kids to their friends from other members family. Promote education and success by rewarding the outstanding children.
Lenang Charitable Project: Lenang charitable project started in 2021 and the goal here is to raise fund internally and externally to undertake charitable projects in the domain Education, Health and Economic Development here in the US and in Menoua Dschang Cameroon.
Today Lenang count about 30 members and the doors are always open for new and returning members. An annual registration fee of $50 is charged to all its members. The organization is runed based on the bylaws that was adapted by its members.
Today the goal of the association is to become a registered Nonprofit organization. The purposes of the nonprofit are:
- Engage in charitable activities with focus on access to education and health,
- Engage and empower the Menoua community in California,
- Promote the Menoua culture and traditions in California.