annualreport2002

IIHFD

Annual Reports

2002

MOVING AHEAD WITH THE IIHFD: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 2002 REPORT

I took some time off during the holidays to reflect on the passing year. During that moment, I could not account fully for the whereabouts of the year 2002. To me, it felt like 2002 climbed onto the back of a galloping horse and rode away into an unknown sunset—never again to be seen. In any case, it is refreshing when I realized that everything that has a beginning must of necessity have an end. Truly, the year 2002 has now gone into the archives.

As a group, we did make some slight achievements during the year 2002. It is in this year that EBSCO, an Internet publishng giant decided to acquire the rights to publish our journal, Review of Human Factor Studies (RHFS), on line. This agreement has now been completed and the first issue of the journal to be carried by EBSCO will appear this year. If your school library does subscribe to EBSCO’s online products, you’ll be able to access articles from the RHFS online. It will also be easier for your students to read those articles you ask them to.

In 2002, we also produced a special issue of the journal on the human factor and globalization. This issue has been very well-received. So far, we have produced two special issues of the journal and we’ll continue in this direction in the future.

In June/July 2002, I was in Ethiopia visiting a group of leaders who are interested in improving the lives of their people in the Illubabor Region. I traveled very widely in this area—visiting various communities of people to access the economic and business opportunities that exist in those areas. My visit was very productive and rewarding. I have now completed my field report for the leaders and plans are under way for me to return to Ethiopia this coming summer—2003. During this visit, we’ll commence work on a micro-credit/micro-enterprise program to kick off the plan to assist people to take full control of their lives. We are currently working with certain American businessmen and women who would provide the necessary funding with which to get these projects of the ground. I am, therefore, very encouraged and excited at what we’ve accomplished to date at the IIHFD and the great hopes we have for the future.

In the year 2002, we planned to set up the Human Factor Research Center in Ghana. Unfortunately, however, we were unsuccessful in this regard. We will lose the piece of plot donated to us in Techiman. But this event will not destroy our long-term dreams and plans for the setting up of this center in Ghana. We hope to commence plans in 2003 to locate another more secure plot of land. We will also work harder to seek the requisite financial assistance for this project.

Our attempts to begin a Tutorial Service Program (TSP) in San Diego, California, have run into many legal problems and challenges. But we have not given up as yet. We’ll continue to prospect for the opportunity to work with inner city children—especially those from migrant families. We did not hold any IIHFD seminar/conference this year. The good news, however, is that our colleagues in Zimbabwe have successfully planned an international conference for July 2003. If you wish to attend this conference in Harare, Zimbabwe, please contact Claude Mararike at: mararike@sociol.uz.ac.zw The primary theme of this conference is: Africa’s Contributions to the World. I urge you all to participate in this conference.
We did not do any grant writing as a group this year just because we lacked leadership in this area. This is one of the primary reasons why we need some of you to assist us in this regard. If we can have a team of three or four scholars to work together on grant proposals on behalf of the IIHFD, we’ll be very thankful. Indeed, this is an area in which we need to grow so we can bring in some research dollars to support our research agenda and practical development programs. We will work to establish a viable IIHFD team of committed people in Ghana this year. I will keep you posted on this issue.

We are now a fully registered charitbale organization in the United States and we have a lot to do to prove our existence in this country as an international development research organization. Our leadership team is strong and we all are committed to make great advances as we move into the future. Through the efforts of this team we continue to sustain and publish our journal. We will do our best to keep going. Permit me to thank everyone of you for your input in many differenct ways—especially your financial contributions. Together, we can achieve more.

PLANS FOR THE YEAR 2003
For the year 2003 we plan to:

1. Raise funds for the microfinance/micro-enterprise project in the Illubabor Region of Ethiopia.
2. Publish a special issue of the journal on the critical assessment of the HF concept and theory. In this issue, we will present critical reviews and analyses of the HF research for the last ten years. By so doing, we’ll be in a better position to look back and forward. I will be circulating the call for papers to you in the next few days.
3. Develop the relevant infrastructure for the commencement of the IIHFD Publishing Press. If you have any ideas and/or information as to how best to go about this, please write to us at the IIHFD office. Our hope is that the IIHFD Press will provide our members the glorious opportunity through which they can publish their new human factor-related ideas in a book form. We’ll begin with monographs ranging between a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages and then expand as we achieve further successes. Our focus will be on popular issues of concern for all humanhity today. If you have ideas for monograph proposals, please write them up and forward them to me via e-mail attachment file.
4. Plan and prepare for an international conference for the year 2004. Details of this conference will be forwarded to you in due course.

REQUESTS
We need some of you to assist us in certain areas. The areas in which we need assistance are listed below. If you or any one you know can help us, please let us know as soon as possible.

1. Academic Book Publishing
2. Website Management
3. Journal Promotion
4. Journal Indexing
5. Fund Raising through Grant Writing

Thank you very much for your continuing input and support. We are on the right track. Let’s continue to run as fast as we can without looking back—and wisely too. Our achievements have great implications for the human future. Have an excellent year and God bless.