About Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation (ETFF)
Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation is a non-profit professional organization incorporated in the State of Virginia, United States. This Organization is created with singular task of reclaiming the land of Ethiopia. This challenge has become more urgent after the recent major forest fire that devastated one of the last remaining virgin tropical forests in the southern part of Ethiopia. To meet this challenge, ETFF, plans to work in close cooperation with government ministries and educational institutions, UN agencies, such as FAO, research universities worldwide and NGOs, and other world organizations and people of goodwill who identify with this mission.
ETFF is free of any religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. It welcomes the membership and contributions from any individual or entity, which supports the program of reforestation in Ethiopia. Most importantly, ETFF would like to join hands with Ethiopians in Diaspora to reclaim the land of our forefathers and rehabilitate it. ETFF is Co-Founded by Dr. Badege Bishaw and Mr. Demissew Gedamu. Its founding members have established ETFF upon the approval of statutes of the organization. Membership in ETFF includes the widest possible representation of persons of Ethiopian origin, and friends of Ethiopia from anywhere who support its objectives.
The ETFF bylaws contain the objective of the foundation, membership responsibilities and administrative organization will be Co-Chaired by Dr. Badege Bishaw and Mr. Demissew Gedamu. Dr. Bishaw will head the executive committee in charge of the reforestation and all scientific branch of the foundation, and Mr. Gedamu will head an executive committee responsible for entire cooperation, logistics as well as technical issues of the foundation. The remaining positions of the executive branch are the treasurer, registered agent and secretary, which are appointed by the president of the foundation, Mr. Demissew Gedamu.
The main office of the foundation is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.Membership to ETFF is open to all but most importantly to persons of Ethiopian origin and friends of Ethiopia who uphold the objectives of the organization. Members in good standing are those who continue to support the mission of the foundation and fulfill their membership obligations. Ten-dollar monthly membership dues per person are expected to be paid on semi-yearly basis. Membership dues can be paid directly on line and members can monitor the activities on line.
ETFF members who reside in principal cities around the world where a significant number of constituent group live, may be organized in accordance with relevant by laws issued by the foundation. Such chapters may be headed by elected chapter convener whose responsibilities would be to co-ordinate chapter activities and act as liaisons with the foundations headquarters.
