Summary of 2009 GEAR Activities and Events
December 31, 2009
§ GEAR was registered on February 12, 2008 with the necessary articles of incorporation to be a Non-Profit/Tax-Exempt Organization in the State of Ohio. On November 9, 2009 the IRS approved GEAR to be a full 501 (c) (3) with Tax Exempt status.
§ The GEAR constitution was completed and adopted. Though the process was long and time consuming, we believe we have a decent working document which captures the spirit of which GEAR was formed. One aspect in this constitution was to recognize the role MKIDA played in the conception and nurturing GEAR, especially at its infancy. As a result, MKIDA will be an automatic corporate member of GEAR and a member of MKIDA will also serve as a member of the GEAR executive committee.
§ Two research projects focusing on identifying factors that impact Gusii students’ academic performance are being undertaken. Some preliminary findings from these studies are expected to be made available at the 2008 MKIDA/GEAR conference. It is believed that these studies will serve as a basis for a research proposal to be prepared with intent to seek funds to carry out major studies based on primary data to be collected on the ground.
§ The Fourth Annual GEAR conference was held in July 2-4, 2009 at the in Dallas, Texas where further progress was reported. At this conference, the venue for the Fifth Annual GEAR conferences was announced.
§ The Fifth Annual GEAR conference will be held in Kisii, Kenya on August 4-7, 2010.
§ A membership recruitment message has been sent out targeting specific areas in the Diaspora, where a large number of constituency members reside.
§ Efforts are underway to identify well performing schools in Gusii to be recognized as GEAR Schools of Excellence. The objective is to identify such schools and give them certain resources to support and offer encouragement to teachers and school administrators in order to enhance school effectiveness in the region.
Summary of GEAR Progress Report
GEAR select committee has been meeting bi-weekly for the last one year. The following are some of the accomplishments to date:
- GEAR was registered on February 12, 2008 with the necessary articles of incorporation to be a Non-Profit/Tax-Exempt Organization in the State of Ohio. We immediately applied for and obtained a federal employer identification number (EIN) which allowed us to open an organization account at KeyBank National with the Chair and Secretary/Treasurer as signatories. Our Legal Secretary, Laban Opande, has started working from the initial articles of incorporation to file for the tax exempt status.
- We have completed drafting the GEAR constitution. Though the process was long and time consuming, we believe we have a decent working document which captures the spirit of which GEAR was formed. One aspect in this constitution was to recognize the role MKIDA played in the conception and nurturing GEAR, especially at its infancy. As a result, MKIDA will be an automatic corporate member of GEAR and a member of MKIDA will also serve as a member of the GEAR executive committee.
- Two research projects focusing on identifying factors that impact Gusii students’ academic performance are being undertaken. Some preliminary findings from these studies are expected to be made available at the 2008 MKIDA/GEAR conference. It is believed that these studies will serve as a basis for a research proposal to be prepared with intent to seek funds to carry out major studies based on primary data to be collected on the ground.
- The GEAR website has been completed with the help of Matunda Nyanchama.
- The Third Annual GEAR conference is being planned to be held on July 11-12, 2008 at the Twin City where further progress will be reported. At this conference, the venue for the Fourth Annual GEAR conferences will be announced.
- A membership recruitment message has been sent out targeting specific areas in the Diaspora, where a large number of our constituency members reside.
- Efforts and underway to identify well performing and needy students to be considered for GEAR sponsorship. The objective is to identify good mannered and well performing students with financial limitations to finance their secondary education. GEAR will then sponsor such student(s) throughout the secondary education. At graduation, this student will now be come a GEAR Alumni.