History
SOBA Dallas was founded in early 1995 as one of the first five chapters of SOBA America. Its pioneer president was Soban Cornelius Ndemba. After hosting the National Convention of May 1998, SOBA Dallas gradually lost momentum and eventually faded. In late 2005, a core group of Sobans living in the DFW metroplex led by Dr. Henry Simo, decided to re-launch SOBA Dallas. Some of these Sobans were Edwin~Daniel Ndoko, Dr. Francis Njie, Dr. Henry Njie, Mr. Sona Elonge, and Mr. Frederick Itoe.
Ever since, SOBA Dallas has grown from its original seven members to over twenty-three active members. SOBA Dallas eventually hosted the National convention in May 2011 and a Mini-Convention in November 2013. In many ways SOBA Dallas has reinvented and established itself as one of the most dynamic, innovative and pacesetting chapters of SOBA America over the past five years.
SOBA Dallas has successfully attracted and retained the attendance of Sobans from before 1970 to those who graduated within the last 10 years ago. Bridging the gap between the old and the young is not just a slogan but a reality in Dallas. We have members as young as 23 years old of age and of ages across the spectrum. We pride ourselves in locating new Sobans who move into town and welcoming them to our meetings.
SOBA Dallas has forged strong relationships and collaboration with our local community as well as other alumni associations.
Mission
- To promote unity and solidarity amongst its members and members of SOBA America;
- To promote channels of communication with SOBANS in other parts of the world;
- To explore ways and means of helping members of SOBA Dallas;
- To explore ways and means of aiding our alma mater;
- To maintain a sense of attachment to Sasse College and to reinforce the prestige of the same;
- To be generally concerned with anything relating to the development of Sasse College.
- To create an atmosphere where Sobans locally and worldwide can network and engage in joined ventures, which can be mutually beneficial to both or all parties.
Executive Officers
Meetings
Our meetings are held once every month on the Sunday before the last Sunday of the month at 5pm. We host meetings on a rotating calendar where meeting dates for the next two years are chosen in a random draw (see pics).
Activities
Family Christmas party & Love Fest)
SOBA Dallas adopted a version of a love fest December party from a sister chapter. It has been going on since 2012. SOBA Dallas meets each December and Sobans give gifts to their spouses or significant others. Each Soban has to take turns talking about their wife, appreciating her and giving her a surprise gift. This is followed by an all-night party. Our guests and regular donors are also part of the events. (See pictures of last event)
Annual family barbecue
SOBA Dallas members, their spouses, relatives, kids and close friends get together twice a year for a barbecue. This was instituted so that families could get to know each other better. Kids, spouses and significant others get to meet and interact. This has helped built a strong bond among all our families, making us all one big strong family. (see pics)
“Born House” (Child Birth)
SOBA Dallas visits each Soban who is blessed with a newly born. We do donations and gifts per our bylaws. A check is issued by SOBA Dallas to the Sobanese of the house.
Death Benefits
We offer local death benefits to Sobans and their family members. As covered in the 2023 updated bylaws, bereavement benefits are as follows when members meet the stipulated eligibility criteria;
- Registered Member: $250 per member contribution.
- Family Member (Sobanese, Sobanite, Father and Mother of the Soban): $125 per member contribution.
A check is issued to the family at the end of the drive.
Enrichment
We have a segment of each meeting dedicated to members or guest doing a presentation on issues, which could be beneficial to the group. Some past topics have included tax presentations, insurance presentations, discounted products in the market and sales of a wide range of equipment.
Community Service
Volunteering time and money to serve our local community in different capacities. We offered a Cameroonian lady a motorized wheel chair worth $5000 (five thousand US Dollars). This lady had no family to assist her in the US and had just arrived the US in 2014, before loosing her mobility. A check of $200.00(two hundred dollars) was also issued. Some of our members volunteered time to assist her with therapy.
Awards
Lifetime Achievement award – Pa Ngando
Pa Ngando was honored with a lifetime achievement award for over 20 years of service to S.J.C Sasse and made an honorary chair of SOBA Dallas for life during the 2011 National Convention in Dallas (see pics).
Sobanese of the year Award
Any Sobanese(s) who has/have gone out of their way over the year to exemplify the best of a Sobanese spirit is/are recognized and given a gift paid for by SOBA Dallas. This helps recognize some of our most unsung heroes, our spouses or significant others. (See picture of our past recipients).
Soban of the Year Award
This award goes to the Soban with outstanding participation and attendance to all scheduled chapter activities of the previous year. This award is usually presented during our Love Fest Events.
Other Awards include the prestigious SOBA Dallas Pioneer & Legacy Award and the SOBA Dallas Lifetime Achievement Award, given at the discretion of the Chapter President in consultation with his Executive Team.
Gifts to S.J.C
Sports equipment gift to SJC: SOBA Dallas as a chapter works to give back to SJC Sasse. We awarded a sports gift package to SJC worth about $2800. The package consisted of soccer jerseys, balls, gloves and other sports attires with SJC logos and SOBA Dallas logos. This was handed to S.J.C in a ceremony on campus by Mola Edwin Ndoko to Father Peter Nouck (See pics/video).
Recent Notable Guests
Hosted Bishop of Buea: During the last visit of the proprietor of SJC Sasse, Bishop Immanuel Bushu, SOBA Dallas made sure that His Lordship had the best of times in Dallas. We picked him (plus Fr Cajetan) up at the airport, helped coordinate all his activities including his meetings with community members, celebration of mass, organization of a sumptuous dinner in his honor etc. At the end of his trip, we safely dropped him off at the bus terminal for his trip to Houston (see pics).
Hosted Bishop Nkea: We had lunch hosted by Soban Tony Atabong for the Bishop at his beautiful residence. He granted us a lengthy audience and gave us an inside into the difficulties his diocese faces in running schools.
Completed Projects
SOBA Dallas 2012 Suits project: SOBA Dallas embarked on a suits project to ensure that all its members had SOBA Dallas suits with our logo. By December 2012, this vision became a reality. SOBA Dallas became the first chapter to provide SOBA suits to all its 16 active members. SOBA Dallas is the only chapter where all its 18 members ordered the new SOBA America suits (See pic).
SOBA Dallas Polo shirts: With the difficulty of appearing at all events in SOBA Dallas suits, SOBA Dallas opted for Polo shirts for less formal events. These shirts were evident at the 2014 convention deliberations in Minnesota. All SOBA Dallas members appeared dressed in same polo shirts with SOBA and SOBA Dallas logos. It was a first at a national convention (see pics).
Current project
The Sasse Science Lab Revitalization
Our current science labs, though once state-of-the-art, are now outdated and in dire need of modernization. With advancements in science and technology, it’s crucial that our students have access to modern facilities and equipment that can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of scientific principles.
For more information, please visit 2024 SOBA Dallas Fundraiser
Conventions and Mini Conventions
1998 National Convention
Dallas was the proud host of the 1998 Convention which helped cement the seeds of the new chapter in Dallas. During that memorable event, one of the main organizers, Grand Joe Mahop, was blessed with a baby on the same day the convention started. We could not have had more drama in our preparation. However, other Sobans and visiting Sobans stepped in to make it a memorable convention.
2011 National Convention
This was an election year convention. There was a lot of lobbying and campaigning. We had a strong delegation from Atlanta and Houston vying for SOBA America’s leadership. At the end of day, it all culminated in the Election of president Beltus Ntopi as the president of SOBA America. This convention was hosted at a single location, Blue Cypress Hotel. Our deliberations, gala and accommodation were all in the same venue. It was one convention for the ages. Our guest of honor Pa Ngando received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding service and dedication to S.J.C Sasse. He was made an Honorary Chair for life of SOBA Dallas (see pics).
2013 Mini Convention
Dallas hosted the most attended Mini Convention in SOBA America’s 25-year history. There were more than 45 visiting Sobans in attendance. The 2013 mini convention raised a net profit of over $8000 (eight thousand dollars). It was a great show! Most Sobans who attended it would tell you it was not different from a national convention. SOBA Dallas demonstrated how mini conventions can be used as an asset by different chapters (see pics).
2022 National Convention (The Year of Many Firsts)
1. Technology & Logistics
- Digital Integration: First convention to use QR codes for real-time guest information and modern QR scanning for hall access/occupancy tracking.
- Media: First to have events streamed live online and via SOBA America TV.
- Payments: Transitioned to the first-ever cashless convention.
- Communication: Utilized WhatsApp groups for VIP guest support, table drafts, and coordinating free airport transportation, utilizing the Convention Hotline.
2. Social & Entertainment
- New Venues: Introduced the first boat ride party (with a cigar sampling event) and an outdoor swimming pool party.
- Gala Highlights: Featured the first circus performers (LollipopLyra), a full live band, and a video slideshow honoring fallen SOBANs.
- The True “One-Stop” Concept: The first time the Friday welcome event and all subsequent events were held entirely at the convention hotel.
3. Sports & Wellness
- Competitions: Launched the first SOBA America Tennis Open and Uncle T’s 5 O’Clock Wellness & Strength challenge (with cash prizes up to $1,000).
- SOBA America Soccer Jersey: SOBA America for the first time fielded its soccer players for the Sunday’s soccer game with its official home jersey sponsored inhouse by the SOBA America TV.
- Recognition: First convention to hold a formal trophy and medal ceremony for all sporting events during the barbeque.
4. Community & Philanthropy
- Service: Introduced the first organized volunteering activity for SOBANs to give back to the local community.
- Fundraising: Raised over $1,000 for service staff and over $7,000 through the first-ever pre-convention donation vouchers.
- Spiritual: Held the first Thanksgiving Mass for the safety and success of the event.
5. VIP Perks & Branding
- Exclusive Benefits: Provided a dedicated hospitality lounge and free makeup services for female VIP patrons.
- Gifts & Symbols: Distributed customized SOBA Dallas gift bags with corporate sponsorships and introduced the “Convention Shield” to be passed to future host chapters.
- Official Recognition: Secured the first city proclamation, officially declaring May 29, 2022, as SOBA America Day in Addison, by Joe Chow, the Mayor of Addison, Texas.
for more on the 2022 National Convention, visit 2022 SOBA America Convention, Dallas, Texas.
SOBA Dallas is consistently represented by an average of twenty or more members at all national and mini conventions over the past 9 years.