From: Board Chairman Teshome Wagaw

Dear EAF Executive Committee Members:
Our next meeting is firmly established to take place on Sept 23 beginning at 1:00PM in East Lansing at the Mehretus. I hope we all will be there promptly, for we have a lot of ground to cover. Following I would like to outline some points which I think you may wish to entertain for discussion in depth. I also hope other members would contribute their share or comment on mine. Besides Dr. Sisay will forward some items for the agenda.

As time and the environment change, intuitions have to change or adapt to the circumstances, if not they Will become obsolete or useless. I think we all want EAF to continue to prosper and even enlarge and reach beyond what we have been able to achieve so far.

I think we need permanent personnel whose sole job would be to look after the business of EAF. To begin with the position would be on part time bases, but as needs arise it will be full time. The person in charge would be designated as director, or some other appropriate title.

I think we need financial resources to function fully consistent with our ambition for EAF. Hence the need to explore ways of raising funds. Without adequate means we cannot carry out our mission. With the money we can establish periodicals that would be published frequently; we can commission studies in the field, or commission books and formal papers that would be distributed to our clienteles. We can also sponsor workshops, seminars, occasional conferences, or invite persons from wherever they may be to share their studies or considered opinions with us.

We need to accelerate our contact with the field. I think representatives of the Executive committee or the whole committee should undertake a tour of the institutions of higher learning and other similar entities in Ethiopia.

I think we need to affirm, restate, or delineate the identity of EAF. We wish to stand clearly by our goals. So far the identity has been very badly blurred as to create confusion. We can begin by insisting that the Logos of EAF and its missions as well as activities should appear in all our legal activities. We are not, should not be adjunct to anything else, unless a genuine and clearly defined cooperation is in our interest.

Ethiopia is engaged at this time in expanding the number of institutions of higher learning. They've decided also, it seems, to support one or two institutions as centers of excellence beyond and above others. Addis Ababa University maybe the first. For these objectives and activities there would be need for additional qualified personnel, text books, lab equipments, and others. We in the EAF may wish to participate in any activities in these areas. But once again as we think of these activities, we must keep in mind, and share the same with the relevant people and organization as what EAF stands for and why it is supported by the members.

As I see it we have before us excellent opportunities to help shape a system of higher education that would provide help cultivate the necessary high level human resources, which is ultimately the engine that would redeem Ethiopia from seemingly perpetual backwardness.

If we do not wish to capitalize upon any of these opportunities, we just as well close shop and revert to try to do what we could as individuals in our respective ways. But the collective effort assures better quality of products in any of the areas in mind.

These are some of the things that came to mind at this time. Please keep in mind also that these statements of mine are meant to stimulate dialogue and elicit further reflective thoughts. Please remain reminded that these statements are rough first draft, but the ideas are what I am aiming at this juncture.

Ins In summary let me conclude by razing some questions four our consideration: Do we need to edit, update, or alter our goals? As appreciative as we are of what have been accomplished up to now, must we not recommit our dedication to reinvigorate, renew our collective thoughts and actions to-do even more and even as we must adapt our ways of doing what we must do in line with the changing circumstances? What are the best ways to participate in making contributions, through EAF, in the building of high level human resources beginning right now and the long range? EAF like any organization would continue to function in the real political, environmental and cultural milieu is given. Hence in order to carry out our central mission, we must fight to maintain an EAF which is independent, nonpartisan, committed only to the pursuit of making contributions for the development of Ethiopia along the lines of the cultivation of the human resources through Ethiopian Higher education development.

What additional resources do we need to launch our programs, and how shall we go about securing such funds? What are the programs that we can reasonably undertake, given the prevailing circumstance here and in Ethiopia?

How can we restructure and reshape the existing leadership and other personnel? Where shall we get additional people who share our vision and are compatible with our thinking?

How can we become daring and radical thinkers for EAF?

Sincerely.

Teshome Wagaw
EAF Board Chairman
Professor Emeritus
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
September 23, 2006