Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA) A Nonprofit Organization P.O. Box 40822, Cincinnati, OH Communiqué

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1 Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA) A Nonprofit Organization P.O. Box 40822, Cincinnati, OH Communiqué americaupu@gmail.com To: From: Date: Re: All Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA) Members and Guests The Convention Host, the Convention Planning Committee and the UPUA Executive Committee May 13, 2018 Important Information Regarding the 2018 UPUA Convention At UPUA s Annual Convention in Houston in 2016, it was resolved that the 25th Annual Convention of Urhobos in North America will be held during the U.S. Labor Day Weekend (Thursday, August 30 - Monday, September 3, 2018) and be hosted by the Urhobo Progress Union, Michigan. Convention Theme: Coming Together and Working Together: A Real Recipe for Improving the Lives of Urhobo People. Venue: At the BOT Meeting of April 13, 2018, it was resolved that the 25th UPUA Annual Convention will be held at the Detroit Marriott Troy, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI, Important facts about the 2018 UPUA Convention Venue-Detroit. Detroit was founded in 1701 when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac established a Fort and settlement in the present area. The name means Straite in French and is derived from the narrow river connecting Lake St. Clair with Lake Erie in Michigan. Detroit achieved the status of City in 1815 and became the capital of the State of Michigan. In 1847, the capital was moved from Detroit to Lansing. The Detroit metropolitan area is home to about 4.3 million people, making it the second largest after Chicago in the Midwest of the United States. When Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in Detroit in 1903, the city was only the nation s thirteenth largest city. Despite the effect of the 1967 Detroit riots, the city maintained its leadership as the historic heart of the American automotive industry. Detroit became known worldwide as the Motor City. Some of the most significant and exciting tourist attractions in the Detroit Metro area include the Greenfield Village and Ford Museum built by Ford. The Greenfield Village was a model for the 1

2 development of other outdoor museums. Today, more than one million visitors a year come to the Edison Institute, learning about American history, as well as the views of Henry Ford. Mackinac island is another tourist attraction that gives a visitor an idea of the city s history and development before the invention of cars. Visitors can take a ferry to the island and spend days touring the island on a horse-drawn carriage, hiking or visiting Fort Mackinac. In addition, the Museum of African American History is located at the Cultural Center in Detroit. The Museum holds the world largest permanent exhibit on African American Culture. This museum owns more than 35,000 artifacts archival materials. Some of the best and most luxurious hotels and Resorts are to be found in Michigan. With the beauty of Great Lakes and many State parks, finding beauty and serenity in Michigan and the Detroit Metropolitan area is easy. A ride can take you from Ann Arbor to the bustling metropolis of downtown Detroit. Detroit international riverfront is a tourist attraction and a landmark overlooking the beautiful city Windsor, Canada. It extends from downtown Detroit to the Ambassador Bridge in the West to Belle Isle in the East. The beautiful and historic Ambassador Bridge links the city of Detroit with Canada. Delegates with the appropriate travel documents can take a 10 minutes ride from downtown Detroit through the tunnel or Ambassador Bridge to Windsor, Canada for sight-seeing. Guest Room Rate & Reservation: The hotel is offering $ as a group rate per room per night (plus applicable state and local taxes). The room rate includes breakfast for two (2) people. Parking at the hotel is complimentary. Reservations for the event must be made by individual attendees directly with the Detroit Marriott Troy Reservation at Please mention Urhobo Progress Union America, or UPUA to get the group rate when calling to make your reservation. Reservations may also be made online through the hotel link on UPUA website: Hotel check in is 3:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 p.m. Cut-Off Date for Hotel Reservations at the Group Rate: The cut-off date for hotel reservations at the group rate is Thursday, August 16, Please call the hotel as soon as possible to reserve your room. Note that a major credit card will be required at the time of your reservation; however, the credit card will not be billed until the end of your stay. Air Travel Arrangements: We recommend that you book your flight to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). It is also recommended that you book your flight as early as possible to ensure the best airfare deals. Airfares are likely to go up across the U.S. as we approach the busy Labor Day weekend. The distance from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to the hotel is about 31 Miles or 35 Minutes drive. The hotel does not provide a shuttle service from the airport. Transportation Options from Detroit Metropolitan Airport: Transportation to the hotel is available by taxi service from the airport. Attendees with the Uber and Lyft taxi apps on their phones may also utilize these services for their transportation arrangements on arrival in Detroit. There are also several rental car services located within the airport that attendees may take advantage of. There are plans by the UPUA Michigan Chapter to put together what may be a more affordable transportation arrangement to pick attendees from and to the airport at the end of the Convention. If you are interested please contact the Chair of the LOC, Mr. Monday Akaba on or before August 5, 2018 at If there are not enough interested attendees, and the economics of scale is not sustainable, the voluntary transportation arrangement by the local Chapter will be dropped. 2

3 Convention Registration Fees: The Convention registration fee will be $80.00 per person (13 years and above). The ticket price for children 3-12 years is $45.00 per child. Children less than 3 years are free. Raffle Draw: Raffle tickets are $2.00 each. Several fabulous prizes will be won. All Convention attendees/delegates are expected to register online at and pay the Convention registration fee. Payments can also be made online for raffle tickets and Convention brochure advertisements, as well as for the city tour planned for Sunday, September 2, Online registration, purchases, and payments will begin on Monday, May 13, International Convention attendees/delegates who register and pay online will be issued an invitation letter, if requested, for visa purposes. Convention tickets will be issued at the venue of the Convention. The Convention tickets ensures access to all Convention activities beginning on Friday night, such as the symposium and panel of discussion, Saturday night Convention reception and entertainment, cultural events, Sunday night dinner/gala, as well as a copy of the Convention brochure (for adults only). Payment for Convention registrations, raffle tickets and Convention brochure adverts can also be made to UPUA and through UPUA Chapters by checks, made payable to UPUA. Checks should be mailed to UPUA Treasurer, Mrs. Fanti Riebelle-Okotie, Dracaea Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA Deadlines for Receipt of Mailed Payments for the Convention Registration, Raffle Tickets, and Brochure Ads: Online registration and payments by members or Chapters are highly encouraged. Chapters that choose not to register their members online, but prefer to do so locally, should pay for the registration fees, raffle tickets and adverts by issuing checks and money orders made payable to UPUA and mailed to the Treasurer, Mrs. Fanti Riebelle-Okotie, Dracaea Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA The first installment from the Chapters for ticket sales must be received before Friday, July 20, 2018 second installment must be received before Friday, August 17, 2018 Please do not mail any payments after Friday, August 17, Convention registration fee/convention ticket prices will increase by $10 after Friday, August 17, 2018 for online, in-chapter and Convention site registrations/purchases. Please note that limited tickets may be available during the Convention or at the gate on Sunday, September 2, 2018 and sales will stop when the banquet hall capacity is reached. Remember, tickets are required for admission, and tickets are not refundable. NOTE: ALL MEMBERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE CONVENTION. THOSE WHO PAY FOR CONVENTION BUT DO NOT ATTEND THE CONVENTION SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR PAYMENTS AS CHARITABLE DONATIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE UNION AND THE URHOBO PEOPLE. ALL MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO BE ENCOURAGED TO SELL/PAY FOR THE RAFFLE TICKETS DISTRIBUTED TO THEM. RAFFLE TICKETS ASSIGNED AND SENT TO THE VARIOUS CHAPTERS ARE NON-RETURNABLE AND NOT REFUNDABLE. Donations: The Convention is a fundraising event and donations are encouraged. UPUA Chapters are expected to make their donations before the Convention. Donations, including those from UPUA Chapters can be made online at or by check mailed to the 3

4 Treasurer, Mrs. Fanti Riebelle-Okotie, Dracaea Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA Additional fundraising will take place at the Convention. Program of Activities Ø Fun for the Family In keeping with Article 9.2(i) of the 2004 UPUA Constitution (as amended in 2006), which provides that the annual Convention shall include a program for children and the host (Urhobo Progress Union, Michigan), has put together a family program. Please bring the entire family to enjoy Detroit at this year s Convention. Ø Broad Outline of Convention Business Activities Thursday, August 30, 2018: Arrival of Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Trustees (BOT) members; EC and BOT meetings concurrently at 4:00 P.M. There is a Joint EC and BOT meeting at 7:00 P.M. If you are part of these important meetings, please plan your flight to arrive early to ensure punctuality. Friday, August 31, 2018: Arrival of Convention delegates from 4:00 P.M. If necessary, there will be a continuation of the EC and BOT meeting from 10:00 A.M to 3:00 P.M. In addition, there is Friday night young adults party from 6:00 P.M to 1:00 A.M. Welcoming of Convention guests and delegates by the host Chapter (UPU Michigan) will be at 7:30 P.M. Saturday, September 1, 2018 (8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M.): There will be a General Membership meeting followed by a Symposium. Speeches will be delivered by the keynote speaker(s) and other dignitaries from Nigeria, Europe and North America. Each UPUA Chapter President will make a brief presentation during the General Membership meeting. Furthermore, provision has been made for UPUA young adults and other young adults to meet and brainstorm. For more information on the young adults programs, please join the facebook group called weheart Urhobo and sign on to Urhobo/ Saturday, September 1, 2018 (6:00 P.M. onwards): Reception and entertainment for Convention delegates and guests by the host Chapter. Sunday, September 2, 2018 (9:00 A.M. 10: 30 A.M.): Inter-denominational church service. Sunday, September 2, 2018 (11:00 A.M 12: 00 noon): The Election of Chairperson of UPUA Board of Trustee, for the January 1, December 31, 2020 tenure. Sunday, September 2, 2018 (12:00 noon 4: 00 P.M.): A tour of Detroit will be organized by the host for children, family members, Convention delegates, and guests Sunday, September 2, 2018 (6:00 P.M. 1:00 A.M.): Gala Night, Cultural Extravaganza and Music/Dinner/Dance, raffle draws and fund raising for UPUA s charitable and community development projects in the U.S. and Nigeria including scholarship awards. Monday, September 3, 2018: Departure of guests and Convention delegates. Note: The above program of activities is subject to change. More detailed information will be communicated to you as preparation for the Convention progresses. Convention Brochure: The brochure will be standard 8.5 x 11 size, glossy color (cover & inside) for the most part. However, black & white advertisements will be accepted. This is an 4

5 excellent opportunity to advertise your business, and for individuals and Chapters to send goodwill messages. Your friends and business associates can also utilize this great opportunity to reach out to a unique audience. Deadline for submission of advertisements is Friday, August 10, All advertisements must be paid for in advance before they will be published in the Convention brochure. Convention Brochure Advertisement Price List (Please submit your advertisement with the form which will be sent by separate .) Inside Front Cover $ Outside Back Cover $ Inside Back Cover $ Center Spread $ ($300/per page) Full Page $ ½ Page $ ¼ Page $ Yours in Service to Urhobo, Signed: v Olorogun Dr. (Mrs.) Onome B. Dema, President Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA). v Dr. Felix O. Okpe, Esq. Secretary-General, Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA). v Mr. Paul Awusa, Chairman, National Convention Organizing Committee (NOC). v Mr. Ufuoma Pela, Director of Publicity, Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA). v Mr. Monday Akaba, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee (LOC). 5