National Chairman Welcome

Welcome to Willingboro, New Jersey, venue of our 21st Reunion.  It is hard to believe that it has been that long.  The Ricks Institute Alumni Association, USA Inc. has continued to render unflinching support to Ricks Institute in Liberia.  We are proud of the dedication that our members have shown over the years.  Preparing young minds for the future and enabling them to sustain themselves and their families, to give back to their country and become good citizens, to simply make a difference...can be very daunting.  It takes a lot of resources to accomplish this.

Over the last year, RIAA, USA Inc. has fostered an even stronger relationship with Dr. Olu Menjay and the Administration at Ricks Institute in Liberia.  A lot has been accomplished, a tribute to the Administration's hard work.  Our Alma Mater has regained the prestige of being one of Liberia's finest schools, often a showcase for foreign visitors and friends of the Liberian Government.  Despite all of this progress, the current economic turmoil all over the world requires that we continue to focus our attention on the needs at Ricks.  There are still many "hungry" minds that need feeding and we play a vital role in meeting that need.

Convention 2009 will prove to be yet another spectacular weekend of events. The New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Chapter has invested much time and work in planning and preparing. This will prove to be a time of true "reunion" as we gather with school mates and friends to laugh, relax and more importantly, deliberate on how we can continue to play a significant role in the future of our Alma Mater.

Sincerely,