Although the bylaws state the benefits that the organization provides, some of them are not obviously stated because they either do not rhyme with the format of the bylaws, or they are their byproducts. So we think it is important to mention them as follows:

• First, the organization provides Tanzanians here with a sense of oneness, which mirrors the national unity at our homeland. This means despite the fact that there are more than one hundred tribes in Tanzania, speaking more than one hundred languages, we look at each other, identify and treat each other as Tanzanians. It is a vital element that serves our community extraordinarily well, just like it serves our country very well. Unity for our organization is an inviolable guiding tenet upon which everything we do is predicated. It does not only galvanize us, but also provides us with a sense of security and confidence.

• Second, while at first glance it may not look like a separate entity from the first benefit of the organization, a closer look reveals that it is. TCO has been, and continues to be instrumental in guiding Tanzanians who are new to this country specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mostly young people that come to reside in the Bay Area and its vicinity, have been helped in a myriad of ways including finding places to live, finding employment, getting advice on educational, social and legal issues. In sum, this provides them with a rather amicable environment conducive to association, paving the way for stronger friendships, collaboration, and the like.

•  Third, the organization provides an open field for organizing and holding various individual social events. It has become a nucleus for such activities. The activities include but are not limited to wedding ceremonies, birthday celebrations, graduation ceremonies, holidays’ get together and religious events.

•  Forth, it is increasingly becoming evident that TCO is starting to play an admirable roll in supporting small businesses individually owned by some of its members. It plays a roll in the sense that its members now are actively participating in activities that promote those businesses, are direct consumers or pay for services provided by members of the Tanzanian community.

•  Fifth, members of our organization take personal, any tragedies like death when it unfortunately happens to one of our members, our members’ relatives, or to any Tanzanian – member or not. Members participate in every aspect associated with such situations, helping and comforting those affected. The organization also gives financial support to those affected by the tragedy according to the provisions of the organization’s bylaws.

•  Sixth, members are committed to the education of their children. Volunteer members, working with parents, teach children the language of Kiswahili – Tanzania’s national language. They also teach them Tanzanian culture, and in details explain traditions and customs that the culture encompasses. Furthermore, whenever members meet, they make sure that their children are present and learning by observation and participation.

  Becoming a member is as easy as A, B, C.

Prospective member has to be a Tanzanian (born in Tanzania), an offspring of a Tanzanian, or a spouse of a Tanzanian. (Then she/he will have to do the following: )

• contact any member of the organization’s Executive Committee, or visit TCO’s website www.uzalendo.org to obtain a copy of the bylaws.

• locate the membership application form available on TCO’s website in the ‘Contact Us’ section. An individual can also contact any member of the organization that she or he knows, to get information on how to contact members of the Executive Committee. Then the prospective member should read the bylaws and if she or he is in agreement with them, must print, sign and date an attached agreement form.

• send the signed agreement form, along with a $25.00 one-time sign up fee and at least one-month regular fee of $15.00 to the organization’s Treasurer.  Upon receipt of the individual’s form and fees by the Treasurer, he/she becomes a member of TCO effective the first day of the following month.