Consul General Eldon Alik convened a town hall meeting last June to share updates on projects in the community. He also introduced the new Vice Consul Gerrick Kelen and newly organized non-profit AenEmmaan. The group’s secretary Greg Kabua reported on the mission and purpose of the organization to focus on men’s health, wellness and family relationships. The need for a men’s organization was brought up by Anlur Pedro, and Patrick Boaz has been elected president of the group.
With the announcement of AenEmmaan, Alik both recognized the women who thus far have headed the primary organizations in the community and called for the men to step up and show that they have a lot to offer as well. He also stressed the importance of a college education to increase the success of the rising generation. Like many others, Eldon Alik had a few false starts in his college education, completing his degree one year before his eldest son. Alik said that he has been to many graduation parties earlier this summer, but only high school graduations.
There are several upcoming events to look forward to:
- The Consulate has reserved Tyson Park for May Day 2022. So, we can start planning our sports teams for next year: children, youth, adults and elders.
- The First Lady has been doing a clothes drive for the outer islands and is still accepting donations of clothes and money for a shipping container through the end of July.
- ACOM reported not only on their Telemour youth program but also reminded everyone to look forward to Stroll the Atoll on July 31.
- The town hall also picked the last Saturday before school starts — August 7 — for a summer community clean-up day. Everyone agreed it would be nice to make it an annual event, suggesting a section of Dick St to Ronald Wobbe and calling it the Marshallese trail.
- Several groups are making plans for Jaluit Day (September 4) and Manit Day (September 21). ACOM is planning for a parade and ceremony. When asked what MEI was doing, Melisa Laelan said “Manit Day is for everyone. It’s going to be all of us. It’s a very special day.
This Town Hall was significant in being completely in-person. The announcement of the meeting on the RMI-Consulate page on Facebook said: “Elikin juon terre eo eitok joj ar jab maron̄ ebaake dron. Juon in iien emman n̄an adwōj bar jijet ibben dron im bwebwenato. M̧ōņōņō im ron̄ ļōmņak ko amiwōj kajjojo n̄an wōnmaanļo̧k ko n̄an jukjukinbed in ad.” It has been a long time since we’ve been able to meet together. It is, indeed, good that we can gather again.