Selam,

Although we may come from different cultures and varying races, we all come from one land. We all have our memories, both good and bad, of this land we came from. We may have wounds that left us a scar to remember, however above all, we have a land to serve, our parents and grandparents to take care of and to be a role model for our children and grandchildren. We inherited this wonderful county blessed with an ancient civilization and an enormous history; we all walk in pride for our sovereign nation. Let us sit back and ask ourselves then, what did we contribute to this world, with the knowledge that we have acquired, to make it a better place to live in? I am proud of my fellow Ethiopians who are working in government or private sectors in different levels of responsibilities. We have enormous accumulated knowledge in a variety of sectors; among these is the transportation sector which is playing a crucial role in current Ethiopian developments. I am asking you all to contribute a spoon full of knowledge to help bring this dream of development to our land! Remember the saying that, “When Spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” We can fulfill this dream, when we act as one and only one. This organization is a PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION BEYOND OUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR RACE.

Our goal:

· Prepares seminars in transportation in Ethiopia.

· Introduce Western Engineering design and construction standards according to our climate and soil type to meet the current design criteria

· To participate in construction projects in Ethiopia and beyond

· Review projects and make suggestion for the betterment of our country and beyond

· Build Bridges to connect Ethiopian scholars/Engineers with the Engineers all over the world.

I am asking you all to lay down a foundation of unity and love for the land that we love, the nation that we are proud of and the title that we all proudly identify ourselves as—EHIOPIAN!

Please pass this email to your friends (Ethiopians/non-Ethiopians) who believes in unity and love, to change our world to make it a better place to live and develop our homeland with the knowledge we have gained. I also need any of your suggestions, feedbacks and questions regarding the start of this project.

Thank you,

Misrak Sultan

MassDOT D4 Project Design Section & D4 Bike and Pedestrian coordinator

Misrak.Sulltan@dot.state.ma.us

Happy New Year

Alazar Tesfaye - CDOT