The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Embassy in Conakry launched the inaugural conference of the Guinea-United States Alumni Association (GUSAA) on Thursday, November 29, 2007. The association represents dozens of alumni of Department of State Academic, Cultural, and Professional Exchange Programs.  Nearly fifty alumni took part in this meeting which brought together lawyers, civil administrators, media professionals, members of academia, civil society leaders, parliamentarians, military officers and business leaders. The meeting aimed to jump start an association which would act as an umbrella group for all Guinean Alumni of various USG programs.

Opening presentations by the Cultural Affairs Assistant, the APAO, and the Information Resource Center Director energized the group and got them thinking about what they could accomplish together and online through the State Alumni website. During the morning session, the networking and “Aha!” moments created a palpable sense of excitement as each individual introduced themselves, their current employment, and the program in which they participated.

The afternoon continued on with presentations from the Public Affairs Section from U.S. Embassy Dakar and the Secretary General of the Senegal Alumni Association to whom PAS Conakry would like to express its sincere appreciation to for their active participation in the conference. The successful creation of GUSAA is due in no small part to their candid presentations on realistic goals for an alumni association, the importance of being an accredited organization, and the mechanics of building membership.

After PAS Conakry and PAS Dakar’s contribution in the early afternoon, a small group of alumni who had volunteered their time to help with the planning of the event submitted a series of proposals to the group. At the end of the debate, the newly formed association concluded that the preparatory committee with the addition of two members should continue to refine the association statutes and by laws; organize a general assembly before February 15, 2008 to elect the executive board and to vote on the organization documents; and finalize in January 2008 the association’s project on civil rights for incarcerated persons to be approved during the general assembly.

The wonderful turnout for the event is owed in large part to personal telephone calls from the planning committee. Despite the best efforts of this team and the assistance of the core alumni group, PAS Conakry could not reach every Alumnus. However, news coverage of this event on independent and government radio and national television station (RTG) coverage has already resulted in several new alumni contacts some unknown even to the current PAS staff.

For those Alumni just finding out about the newly formed association, please send an email to conakrypd@state.gov with your name and contact information, call Serge Akhani or Kim Crawford at 30.42.06.61/62/63. We’ll be sure to include you at the next meeting and get you the information packet from the first conference.

Photo Gallery Guinea Alumni Association Bursts into life