Dear ESAI Members and Friends,

The ESAI executive team would like to wish you and your family a far better year 2010. As the new arrives, we would like to reflect on all our achievements within this past year and our future plans for ESAI. As you know, we had planned on introducing a few major changes to the organization to make it stronger. There were a few tasks we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of our term. Below are the tasks and short details of where we are with respect to each task.

- The first task was to get ESAI incorporated and recognized as an official organization. This was one of the first things that we completed. ESAI is now incorporated in Ohio.

- The second general task was to do a few projects that could help our members or fellow Ethiopians. We have done the Angel Tree project which raised money to the Selamta Project. We have also collected about three thousand books with the collaboration of a few organizations/ESAs and individuals and sent them on the way to Ethiopia. Once they arrive, they will be distributed to different Universities.

- The third  task was to make ESAI tax-exempt. We have done all our paper work and are now waiting for finalization before submitting it to the IRS. Even though this has taken longer time than we expected, it is in the final stage before a verdict is given by the IRS.


- The final main task was the changes to the ESAI website and membership status. We have rolled out a new website where members can have easy access to different resources. We also defined what ESAI member means and the privileges provided for becoming a member. We are working on creating more incentives for joining ESAI.

These were the few main tasks that we have accomplished within our time. For the next few months before the next Executive Team steps in, we would like to do a few more things. For starters, we would like to submit our tax-exemption request to the IRS. We are also going to work on recruiting members and registering official Chapters of ESAI. Elections will be held for a new ESAI Executive Team after the Toronto Summit. Most importantly, we will work on creating a Board of Advisers for ESAI.

Lastly, the ESAI Executive Team would like to invite everyone to make a new year's resolution for ESAI. We hope your resolution will include becoming a member of ESAI and actively participating in the group. Become active in ESAI. Take leadership positions. Spread the word. We can all benefit from ESAI and help the group grow.

Happy New Year!
Executive Team