Saint Hubert Seminary Alumni Meets

The Saint Hubert Seminary Old Students Association of USA met at the Memorial Day weekend in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. The two-day annual Conference, under the theme: "Sustaining the Momentum" was attended by some thirty-five members from ten States.

The Conference was called to order by the President of the Association, Nana Amoako Adusei-Poku. Nana Adusei-Poku recapped the activities of the previous year with smiles and challenged members to make the year ahead even more a success. Nana was pleased to see the infant Association that started with only ten members now boasting of fifty-two active members from every corner of the United States. He tasked members to spread the word to other old students as well.

The Guest Speaker for the Conference was Mr. Charles Otchere, President of the United Kingdom branch of the Association. Mr. Otchere was brief in his address. He commended his colleagues for making a long-awaited dream become a reality. He offered this infant Association what he called the secrets to success: love and togetherness. He asked members to put their various God-given talents to the benefit of all in the Association. He also admonished his colleagues to give back to the Seminary what they have received from her. Before Mr. Otchere left to catch his flight back to London, he donated five hundred dollars ($500.00) to the Association.

Born barely a year ago in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the U.S. Chapter of the Saint Hubert Old Students Association appears to soar like an eagle. Within this short period, the Association has set up structures and sytems to allow its members to stay connected and engaged. The aim of the Association, like almost all Alumni Associations, is to foster a lifelong connection between the Alma Mater (St. Hubert Seminary, Kumasi) and members, and to promote goodwill and support for its members.

The Association was able to pull off its Second General Meeting at the Homestead Suite Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia from May 24 - 25, thanks to Mr. Victor Appiah (aka Puzuzu), a Manager of the hotel. From across the United States, including the Buckeye State of Ohio, the Empire State of New York, the Old Dominion State of Virginia, the Peach State of Georgia, the Old Line State of Maryland, the Lone Star State of Texas, the Garden State of New Jersey, the Colorful State of Colorado and the Keystone State of Pennsylvania, the "Angels" came to reflect on ways to give back to their Alma Mater and seek their common interests while in residence in the United States.

One exciting moment at the Conference was the entry and presence of a number of the pioneer students with whom St. Hubert Seminary began classes in October 1970. They included Messrs Pius Wiafe-Akenteng, Paul Ofori-Agyemang and Augustine Yeboah-Sarpong. Also present was the Reverend George Adusei-Bonsu, formerly a Catholic cleric of Kumasi, who was one time a teacher for most of the old students at the Conference. The pioneesrs thanked the younger ones for initiating the Alumni Association, and pledged their full support for them.

The members at the Conference represented about twenty professions. There were medical doctors, lawyers, nurses, computer engineers, and accountants. Others were college professors, bank managers, hoteliers, pastors and radiologic technologists, and so on. Mr. Peter Brenya, a founding member of the Association and a financial consultant delivered a twent-minute talk on the management of personal finances. Among other things, he showed members how to maintain and keep a good and hish credit score. Pastors Buabeng of the Lutheran Church and Daniel Mensah of a Charismatic Church in Alexandria took time to address members on spirituality, and encouraged them to take their spiritual lives seriously. A five-member committee was tasked to review and work on the Association's Constitution.

The interim officers of the Alumni Association were unanimously confirmed for a three-year term. They are: Nana Amoako Adusei-Poku (President), Mr. Martin Osei-Assiamah (Vice President), Rev. Edward Buabeng (Chaplain), Rev. Daniel Mensah (Treasurer), Mr. Daniel Amponsah (Secretary), Messrs Christopher Adu-Sarpong, Edward Opoku-Agyemang, and Charles Osei Mensah (Regional Coordinators), and Albert Ata-Poku Adusei (Public Relations Officer).

The next general meeting, that is expected to attract even more members as a result of the success of this one, is scheduled for the 2009 Memorial weekend in Pennsylvania. For more information on the St. Hubert Seminary Alumni - USA, please contact the President at (703) 987-5051.