Things to consider in scheduling a meeting
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* Were there religious events going on? | * Were there religious events going on? | ||
**For example, in my area "Ekpo" might be out and about collecting gifts. In some places and times this was very serious business | **For example, in my area "Ekpo" might be out and about collecting gifts. In some places and times this was very serious business | ||
| - | **An important person might be putting on a "second burial" to honor a specific ancestor | + | **An important person might be putting on a "second burial" to honor a specific ancestor |
| + | **Don't forget church holidays, or official government holidays | ||
* Where were the Tax collectors going to be in the division? | * Where were the Tax collectors going to be in the division? | ||
| - | ** Revenue agents would sweep an area making sure everyone had paid their head tax. My Divisional Officer gave me a general idea where collectors would be if they were out. | + | ** Revenue agents would sweep an area making sure everyone had paid their head tax. This could be very distruptive. |
| - | *Were their security issues | + | **My Divisional Officer gave me a general idea where collectors would be if they were out. |
| - | **There was always talk of bandits. Some villages would put up roadblocks. | + | **Sometimes I canceled meetings or changed the dates. I never told the village why. |
| - | **Sometimes there might be a | + | *Were their security issues? |
| + | **There was always talk of bandits. Some villages would put up roadblocks at night with different societies being guards. Usually this was not an issue in the daytime. | ||
| + | **Sometimes there might be a dispute being brought before the local district court | ||
*When were the community work days? | *When were the community work days? | ||
**For example, at certain times of the year Oil Palm fruits would be harvested by the village from all trees regardless of individual ownership. Sort of a property tax that supported the school and other community projects. | **For example, at certain times of the year Oil Palm fruits would be harvested by the village from all trees regardless of individual ownership. Sort of a property tax that supported the school and other community projects. | ||
Revision as of 14:26, 15 November 2007
Things to consider in scheduling a meeting
I was reading a journal I wrote while in Somalia about my Peace Corp experience in Ikot Ekpene. I forgot about all those little things that went into something as simple as fixing a day for the next community meeting. The Rural Development Officer, in charge of Ikot Ekpene Division (me) probably scheduled 10 to 20 community meetings a month.
- Basic 101, when were the major and minor markets for the area being held (cross those off)
- The Effics/Ibbibios and Annangs used an 8 day week, refered to as the market week. Usually a clan would have or attend a major market on one of those days. There might be a smaller market on another day.
- Best practice was to note next to the meeting in my calendar, the day of the market week.
- Were there religious events going on?
- For example, in my area "Ekpo" might be out and about collecting gifts. In some places and times this was very serious business
- An important person might be putting on a "second burial" to honor a specific ancestor
- Don't forget church holidays, or official government holidays
- Where were the Tax collectors going to be in the division?
- Revenue agents would sweep an area making sure everyone had paid their head tax. This could be very distruptive.
- My Divisional Officer gave me a general idea where collectors would be if they were out.
- Sometimes I canceled meetings or changed the dates. I never told the village why.
- Were their security issues?
- There was always talk of bandits. Some villages would put up roadblocks at night with different societies being guards. Usually this was not an issue in the daytime.
- Sometimes there might be a dispute being brought before the local district court
- When were the community work days?
- For example, at certain times of the year Oil Palm fruits would be harvested by the village from all trees regardless of individual ownership. Sort of a property tax that supported the school and other community projects.
