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Volta Club, Inc. History The formation of the Volta Club started in July 1982. Before then, several social groups existed such as Novisi, Novienyo and Modern Agricultural Company. The Volta Club News, Volume 1, No.1, 1984, edited by Emmanuel Kudjo Ave, first Editor, states that the Club was formally formed on December11,1983. The newsletter reads, "After many preliminary and consultative meetings of various social groups, the Volta Club, Inc. was officially formed on December11, 1983." It is not clear why that date was the 'formal' date. Other correspondence on file used March 4, 1984 as its date of birth— apparently, using the date the Club's Constitution was promulgated. This explains why the 5th, 10th and 20th anniversaries were celebrated in 1989, 1994, and 2004 respectively. Thanks to Samuel Eric Kwame Avor who led the interim committee—United Working Committee of Ewes—which gave birth to the Club. The Volta Club aims at bringing together all people from the Volta Region of Ghana for a united Ghanaian Community in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Currently, membership in the Club is not only limited to people from the Volta Region of Ghana but also all Ewe speaking people or people of Ewe heritage from Ghana, Togo and Benin. According to the Volta Club News, all persons who contributed twenty-five dollars or more towards the hosting of representatives from New York City and Chicago in Washington, District of Columbia on November 26, 1983 became automatically members of the Club, provided they started paying their monthly dues of five dollars ($5.00) effective March 1, 1984. The following Interim Executive Officers led the Club from October 1982 to December 1983: * Chairman, Samuel E.K. Avor; * Vice Chairman, Emmanuel K. Ave; * Secretary, Godwin K. Agodo; * Treasurer, Eric A. Azuma; * Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer, Ambrose Dzakwasi. After the inauguration of the Club, these Executive Officers led it from March 4, 1984 to 1986 * Chairman, Samuel E.K. Avor * Vice Chairman, Dr. Felix Korto * Secretary, Ambrose Dzakwasi * Assistant Secretary, Isaac Vodi * Treasurer, Eric A. Azuma * Financial Secretary, Gabriel Pomary; * Ex-Officio, William Ayenson. In the twenty-five years of existence, the Club has had ten Chairmen * Samuel Avor (January 1984 – December 1986) * Gabriel Pomary (January 1987 - December 1987) * Emmanuel Ave (January 1988 – March 1989) * Eric Azuma (April 1989 – December 1991) * William Ayenson (March 1992 - December 1994) * David Aku (January 1995 - December 1998) * Felly Blege (January 1999 – December 2002) * Frank Kalepe (January 2003 December 2004) * William Adzimahe (February 2005 – December 2008) * Edwin Agbonyitor (January 2009 – Present) Since its formation, the Volta Club has taken some major strides, especially in the area of benefits to its members and nonmembers such as assistance in birth, death, sickness, and in health. The Club's newsletter - Volta Club News – carried news and information extending beyond its boundary. Owing to its appeal to the reading public, in 1992, the name of the newsletter was changed to The Volta Sun with Isaac Vodi as its editor with far reaching goals. In fact, The Volta Sun is credited for serving as a forum in propagating the formation of the Council of Ewe Associations in North America, (CEANA), which now embraces all Ewes from Ghana, Togo and Benin resident in the United States and Canada. The Summer & Fall 1996 edition of The Volta Sun was published as African Time so as to reach out to a broader audience. The last issue of the African Time published was Winter & Spring 1997. Why? Thanks to the advent of the Internet which killed the interest of the Editor and Publisher, Isaac Vodi. Before the issue comes out, a reader would say: "Oh, late news. I have read it on the Internet.” Since celebrating the 10th anniversary in September 1994, the Club has deeply been involved in the support of CEANA programs and projects–the award of scholarships to needy students and the shipment of medical equipment to the West Africa Region, construction of classroom block at Sovie and Tanyigbe and E-Granary library project in Volta Region. The Volta Club is a leading, reputable and respected organization in the Ghanaian, Togolese and Beninoise Communities both at home and abroad. The Club championed the formation of both the United Volta Organization (UVO) now CEANA and also the Council of Ghanaian Associations (COGA) in the Washington Metropolitan Area. In 1987/88, under the leadership of Dr. Ephraim Dagadu, the Club acquired over $5m worth of medications from pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. and shipped them to seven hospitals in the Volta Region of Ghana in collaboration with the then Ewe Unity Club of New York under the auspices of the UVO. In 1986, an added growing edge was the formation of the Volta Ensemble, the cultural wing of the Club. This group successfully dramatized and staged a classic production of Hogbetsotso, a dramatization of the escape of Ewes from bondage in the historic past; and also putting up an impressive Durbar in 1988 for five paramount chiefs from the Volta Region of Ghana touring the United States. Contact Information: Volta Club, Inc. P. O. Box 4721 Silver Spring, Maryland 20914. www.voltaclub.org The Chairman, Mr. Edwin Agbonyitor, can be reached at telephone number 301-922-1262 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 01 August 2009 22:01 |