Newsletter

The Quote

"There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone's life".

The first book added to books of interest is "Inventing Home" by Akram Khater, PhD. The book is about Lebanese emigration and identity. Dr. Khater is Director of International Programs at North Carolina State University; his website is listed under the book's information. An article about the book and Dr. Khater is also posted on this site.

Several events have been added to the events page. Please send in any other announcements you wish for us to share.

In the last newsletter there was a note about emails that we receive asking about resources to learn the Lebanese language. We initiated a little research and found out about a couple of sites which will be posted under the heading " More Resources". One of the resources is a site which we have featured in one of our past newsletters. The site is www.shoofimafi.com and it has a link called "Let's Talk Lebanese" which is very educational and can be a great starting point.

The Chicago Lebanese Club (CLC) is a nonprofit organization of Lebanese and Lebanese-Americans in the Chicago area of Illinois, USA. The Club currently has registered over 550 members and is in its sixth year of existence. The Club has experienced steady growth since its inception in January of 1998 and expects this increase to continue. Although there are several concentrated areas and neighborhoods where a variety of Middle Eastern people reside in concentrated numbers, the Lebanese community is more commonly spread out around the Chicago area than other ethnic groups. The Chicago area has an estimated population of eight million residents, with about 65 suburban communities. The Lebanese population is represented in just about every “area” of Chicago. This can create a geographical challenge when coming together as a community. However, CLC works to reach all these communities through their networking and membership.

The Lebanese people living in Chicago come from all different regions in Lebanon, as well as many different religious backgrounds. CLC attempts to connect and unify this Lebanese community without regard to religious or regional backgrounds in Lebanon. The policy of the club is to keep the club open for membership to anyone from Lebanon, as well as those individuals that have some Lebanese heritage in their background. This specific spirit is founded in their mission statement, which says:

The Chicago Lebanese Club (CLC) is dedicated to preserving, enriching, and promoting the Lebanese Culture, and aims to serve the Lebanese Community in and outside Chicago through cultural, educational, humanitarian, and social activities. CLC is a not-for-profit organization and is not affiliated with any particular religious or political cause.

The Club organizes various events and activities to promote and unite the Lebanese community in Chicago. Events range from educational, humanitarian, charitable and cultural organized events. CLC provides a social interaction for Lebanese people, and at the same time, provides a support group to the community. This interaction also aids in the promotion and awareness of Lebanon throughout the general population in Chicago. The Club is especially helpful to Lebanese immigrants and is networked with other clubs.

The Club enjoys several annual events where members come together. For example, in March CLC holds its annual party celebrating the formation of the group. Lebanese skits, live music, traditional dance (dabke) and an all-around formal party kick off the year where over 200 people attend. In the summer months, CLC holds an annual picnic with games, food and a family atmosphere. Few years ago CLC held an educational event titled: “If Lebanon Told Its Story” and over 175 people from around Chicago attended to listen to various members talk about various historical as well as cultural aspects of Lebanon.

Besides annual events, CLC members network weekly through email and their web site. Furthermore, members will informally get-together on the weekends, as well as open meetings throughout the year. Activities such as going to the movies, playing beach volleyball, playing cards (Tarneeb), and weekend travel are common. These events are publicized through CLC’s quarterly newsletter and their large database emails. The Club’s newsletter is posted on the Club’s web site and available for viewing. The newsletter publishes upcoming events, reports on past events, and informs the membership of what the Club’s Committees, Executive Council and Board of Directors are working on.

CLC encourages people from Lebanon (either visiting or coming to live) to contact the Club when in the Chicago area. Moreover, Lebanese people from other cities in the United States have networked with the CLC. From Phoenix to Florida, CLC works to promote Lebanon and the Lebanese culture throughout the United States.

An example of a recent humanitarian event was the Club’s success in raising money for an orphanage in Lebanon. A few years ago $5000 was given by the Club to the Happy Childhood Home in Zeeraya, Lebanon. Last year CLC sponsored two children in need through a Lebanese organization called Auxilia.

Membership in CLC is a nominal yearly fee. The cost helps offset many operating expenses and events. CLC does not turn down any member who is unable to pay. The Club was formed to help and unite Lebanese people, and remains dedicated to preserving its Lebanese ancestry and heritage. Members have roots in all regions of Lebanon, as well as Lebanese Americans who have lived in America for several generations.

For more details or information about CLC, please visit their web site at http://www.leb.net/clc or email the Club at chicagolebclub@hotmail.com.

LEBANESE-BORN PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OPENS SECOND SEASON

OF LIVE, CLASSICAL THEATRE IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

Four plays by Cedar Production featuring 30 actors are now on stage at The Whitmore-Lindley Theatre in North Hollywood, California and have received this rave review from "NOHO>LA Megazine": "Bite off more than they can chew? Hardly. Cedar members are up to the task and deliver 100%."

The accomplished actors associated with Cedar Production clearly share a love for classical theatre and represent their Directors and Producer with fierce devotion to their craft.

CEDAR'S PRODUCER AND LEAD DIRECTOR

Produced by Waleed Issa of Anfeh, Lebanon, this season's opening classical theatre presentations run the gamut from intergenerational comedic themes ("The Boor" and "She Married Well'), a look into the lives and struggles of 1935 labor strikers ("Waiting for Lefty") to soul wrenching Greek tragedy ("Euripides Medea") with great passion and good pacing.

The dream of becoming an actor brought Producer/Director Waleed Issa to America where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio. After getting his B.F.A. and acting in dozens of plays, he headed to Los Angeles and established Cedar Production. Last year, Waleed produced and directed five classical plays including "The Philadelphia Story" and "Antigone". This is Cedar Production's second year, and Waleed has opened the year with four classical plays, two of which he is currently directing.

Besides acting, Waleed expresses his deepest feelings through the pure art of poetry; his work has been published in dozens of papers and his book, "The Weeping Candle" can be found on www.CEDARPOETRY.com. Despite his busy schedule, Waleed has just finished his second book of poetry entitled, "Reflection of My Soul" which will soon be released.

Waleed has also written a screenplay inspired by the work of poet laureate and fellow Lebanese-American, Kahlil Gibran entitled, "The Rose Maiden" which he hopes to produce one day.

POSITIVE PRESS REVIEWS

Cedar Production has received these kudos from regional publications:

"This production contains wonderful acting and powerful emotions among the four [plays]. If the evening could be said to possess any themes, they would include family relations, passions and resolving difficult situations. All four [plays] contain bubbling emotions of romance, love, revenge, and betrayal. Families exist in turmoil; some pleasantly resolve their predicaments, while others tragically destroy any sense of hope." -- "Tolucan Times"

"Bite off more than they can chew? Hardly. Cedar members are up to the task and deliver 100%. The entire cast is sublime and Issa as director pulls out all the stops." -- "NOHO>LA Megazine"

"An artist, my dear audience, is a slave of his craft. His soul and his heart are the torches by which he lights his way as he heads on the mysterious road of art toward discovering his greater self. On his journey, his eyes are dazzled by the sparkling stars of imagination, his mind is educated with words of ageless wisdom which purify his soul and cause his heart to fear their awakening lessons. It is only after he reverently and loyally offers his entire being to his master that an artist is set free to wander the night in the house of dreams, unfolding before your eyes, his audience, the journey of his craft.

We hope you enjoyed this issue. Please forward this to a friend. To receive this newsletter send blank email to cedarnews1-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

	The Quote
	Website Update
	Feature Story- The Chicago Lebanese Club
	Feature Story- American Lebanese Dramatist