The general meeting proceeded, with Peter Ekeh presiding, along the following issues:

1. Suggestions for increasing membership and funds:

• Dan Kalegha queried that not enough is being done to remind members to pay their membership dues
• Both Isaac Mowoe and Joseph Inikoro added that some members, on their own, have called to find how much they need to pay and when they should. They advised members to assume some responsibility and that members should not expect to be reminded of their role all the time.
• Edirin Erhiaganoma called for improved ways for raising funds.
• Joseph Inikori urged that the Editorial and Management Committee to organize a membership drive to bring in more persons into the society.

2. Communiqué

• Peter Ekeh briefed members that the Committee to work on the Conference Communiqué has been set up with members drawn from Isaac Mowoe (as Head), Andrew Edevbie and John Oyibororho. Isaac will prepare the draft and circulate to other members. Others outside the committee should contact Isaac if they have suggestions they like to see included in the communiqué.
• Igho Natufe advised the Committee to ensure that all discussions including the various presentations are reflected in the communiqué.
• John Ofurhie suggested that the communiqué be published in order to bring its message to the masses at home. To this end, Peter Ekeh offered to contact news organs like the Urhobo Voice, and groups like Urhobo National Assembly for help.
• Joseph Inikori suggested that we expand our contacts to include the Delta State Government, the various local governments in the state and newspapers in efforts to get the message to the masses.
• Michael Nabofa also advised that copies of the communiqué should be distributed to the various Urhobo Student Unions in Nigeria. He pledged to help with the distribution.
• Diesode Omenih called Urhobo Historical Society to organize a campaign to bring the Idjerhe Fire Disaster and its impact, to the attention of the world. He therefore urged the Committee to let the world know the series of instances of abuses directed against Urhobo people by the Nigerian Central government.
• Both Duke Ophori and Dan Kalegha offered to help review the communiqué when it is ready for publication.

C. Issues of Membership Dues and Other Sources of Funding, Revisited

• Dan Kalegha suggested that UHS makes efforts to secure tax exemption

• Harold Erho appealed to members to support UHS activities by contributing generously whenever they can
• Peter Ekeh called members’ attention to some of UHS immediate needs which include money to rent more space for UHS web site, www.waado.org, and to type books in efforts to reproduce them for the web site.
• Faith Inikori offered to sponsor the typing any one of the books earmarked for the web site and hasasked the Secretary to assign a book to her.
• John Ofurhie donated $200.00 to help ease UHS financial burden
• Joseph Inikori asked members to help advertise the good work of UHS to prospective members and whenever possible to submit the names of such individuals. The Secretary will follow up on the suggestions by sending out formal invitation to the suggested persons to become members.  
• Grace Ophori suggested that the Secretary be also empowered to send letters to appeal to various Urhobo organizations to help fund UHS activities.
• Edirin Erhiaganoma also suggested that members can also ask others within UHS, whom they feel can give additional assistance beyond membership dues.
• Diesode Omenih would like UHS to print and distribute brochures and fact sheets about its activities. He also asked UHS to explore the possibility of charging users, fees for assessing certain information on www.waado.org. Peter Ekeh however countered that academic sites like waado, are not allowed or supposed to charge user fees.

4. 2002 UHS Annual Conference and General Meeting

• Suggested sites for the conference and meeting, as made from the floor, include San Francisco, California, Buffalo, New York and London, United Kingdom
• Isaac Mowoe advised that the choice of England should await making contacts to find out about possible help for hosting from known individuals in that country.
• Amid concerns for the cost of hosting especially with regards to accommodation for attendees, Joseph Inikori suggested that it could be less expensive to stay in houses instead of hotels.
• Duke Ophori expressed concerns about the sitting of the conference and general meeting in London, UK and urged members to consider Buffalo, New York, instead.
• Igho Natufe reiterated earlier suggestions made during a meeting of the Editorial and Management Committee to hold the annual conference and general meeting at Buffalo, New York, this year, London, England the following year and Warri, Nigeria, preferably at Petroleum Training Institute in the third year.
• Edirin Erhiaganoma remarked that the choice of a venue for the conference and general meeting should depend not only on the availability of local support but also on the cost of traveling. While the choice of London, England may encourage attendance from Urhobo dignitaries both in Nigeria and Europe, and help to broaden membership, going to London in one year and to Nigeria, the following year, could be a tremendous burden on members who will be anxious to attend both of the conferences.
• Joseph Inikori called for a poll of members to find out how many of them support the idea of hosting the conference and general meeting in London, England.
• Peter Ekeh suggested that further discussions about London, England be deferred until the Editorial and Management Committee had a chance to investigate the choice and report back to the general membership.
• Duke Ophori called for the postponement of a London conference until a later date and offered to host the 2002 UHS Conference and General Meeting in New York, New York.
• Both Diesode Omenih and John Oyibororho also promised to work towards the success of holding a New York City Conference.
• Michael Nabofa reminded members that 2003 is the year of political elections in Nigeria and will probably not be an ideal time to hold conferences like that of UHS in the country.

• Peter Ekeh complained about the law suit between two US based Urhobo organizations, the Urhobo Organization of North America (TUNA) and Urhobo Progress Union of North America (UPNA). He agonized over why the two groups chose to use the court for settling their differences.
• John Ofurhie, Pesident of TUNA, briefed UHS members on the development of the law suit, indicating willingness of TUNA to withdraw and settle the matter out of court.
• Dan Kalegha asked for clarification of Isaac Mowoe’s suggestion of seeking permission from Urhobo groups particularly those in Nigeria before filing suits against corporate bodies like the oil companies.
• Joseph Inikori provided some clarification, indicating Isaac’s advice is restricted to only legal issues that clearly affect the overall interest of the Urhobo nation.