Name of Organization: MECUDA Washington DC Metro Area Inc. (MECUDA WDCMA Inc.)

Community Name (AKA): MECUDA Washington DC

About Us: Outside MECUDA General in Cameroon, MECUDA DC is the first MECUDA organization in the USA created in the late 1980's at the urging of a group of Metta sons and daughters. This group was formed to bring sons and daughters from Metta residing in the USA under one umbrella. Through MECUDA DC, members can support the immediate community and also promote development efforts of MECUDA General in Cameroon.

In the past 25 plus years, MECUDA DC has progressed and gone through many changes in administration, membership and development initiatives. These changes were all necessitated to suit developmental needs as well as changes in time. Some improvements include a change of its name from simply MECUDA DC to MECUDA Washington Metro Area (MECUDA WMA).

Recently, as Metta population spread through the USA including Washington Seattle, there was a need to further update its name to better represent the DC Metro area; so MECUDA WMA was changed to MECUDA WDCMA (MECUDA of Washington DC Metro Area) as we are officially known today. It is worth mentioning that the original name MECUDA DC is still very popular among the Metta community when referencing MECUDA WDCMA Inc. in a conversation. MECUDA WDCMA Incorporated is a non-profit public charity organized, chartered under

Maryland State laws. It is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; Contributions to MECUDA WDCMA are deductible under section 170 of the code. It also qualifies to receive tax deductible bequests, devices, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the code.

Membership into this organization is open to people at least 18years of age, Sons and daughters of Metta origin by birth and persons related to them by marriage. Honorary membership may be conferred to individuals and associations that support the objectives and identifies with the interests and aspirations of the association.

Some of the goals and objectives of this group include, coming together to learn, improve and promote our culture and tradition, and share with the community at large, the cultural values and dignity of Metta people; then pass same to our posterity. One of our objectives is to promote development by initiating micro projects in villages in Metta. We also support one another in the USA in times of sorrow, good tidings and otherwise. We strive to resolve differences amongst members in a way that maintain unity for progress.

The group’s sources of income include registration and reactivation fees, annual dues and charitable donations from individuals and other organizations through fund raising activities. The General Assembly owns and directs the affairs of the group, meets every last Saturday of the month and makes decisions by way of simple majority vote. Executive and Board members are not paid; they render voluntary services and simply enforce the bylaws.

To promote Metta culture and maintain our heritage in this generation and generations to come, we get our children involved in all meeting and cultural activities. We currently have a MECUDA Youth dance group where our children sing and dance to Metta tunes using same dance moves as our family back in Cameroon. The children are thought different lines in Metta at every meeting, they ask questions and listen to meeting discussions. Metta is the predominant language of communication during meeting sessions. We have seen our children and adults pick up new words and phrases during every meeting session.

To stay within current need and modern technology, text messages and phone calls are used to disseminate information. A yahoo group email account is also available to broadcast information

amongst members. Computers and projectors are used to demonstrate activities, and also to maintain transparency and accountability during project and finance reports.

MECUDA WDCMA continues to grow in number as more and more Metta elites resident in the Washington DC Metro Area become aware and involved in our development efforts.