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Editor’s
Corner
by Bill Faudree, FOL E-zine Editor
Liberia has gone to the polls. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been chosen
by the majority of voters to be President of the Republic of
Liberia. Friends of Liberia has congratulated the new President and
all newly elected officials and we have promised to work with the
new Government of Liberia to rebuild Liberia. The Fall 2005 E-zine
focuses on the Liberian National Elections and the hope for a new
beginning for our friends in Liberia.
Although Friends of Liberia did not send an observer team for the
election, we did help Jim Bowman, FOL Treasurer, make the trip as an
observer with the Liberian Council of Churches. Jim represented us
in Liberia for the first round of elections on October 11th. On the
FOL Project page we have Jim’s comprehensive, personal account of
his election experience. For the run-off election on November 8th
Frank Ardaiolo, former Chair of the FOL Board, observed the election
and represented Friends of Liberia. As noted on the Project page
Frank’s report on the run-off election and Jim’s final report on his
observations will be posted later on the FOL website (www.fol.org).
As noted several times in the e-zine, the National Elections
Commission in Liberia has a great website (www.necliberia.org). The
NEC has published a wealth of information about both elections. It
is fascinating reading, recommended to all our members and others
interested in Liberia.
So here we are again. How many times have we as individuals and as
an organization arrived at this moment? The dark times are over? The
hope of a new day? To move on you have to be optimistic. We thought
many times before that “this” would be the beginning, and then our
hopes were crushed. Friends of Liberia is hoping again. On the FOL
Report page Debbie Mattina, our new Volunteer Coordinator, reports
that we have heard from many members who are ready to work with FOL
to fulfill its mission. FOL is revitalizing its committee network to
get ready for the work ahead, but many small jobs need to be done
also. We have jobs for everyone, if you think this is the time to
contact us and say, “What can I do?”
Keep dreaming about what Liberia will be! But dreaming is the
beginning; it’s time to go to work.
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