Cedars USA
Newsletter
|
|
|
Contents Of This Issue:
The Quote
"Committing yourself to trying to accomplish a goal, is very different from committing yourself to accomplishing a goal."
Events- Check out the event page for more details
 | BEIRUT NIGHTS - Elevating Lebanese Night
Life in Los Angeles. Weekly event starting March 30th. Beirut Nights Dance Club was founded by Lebanese
Songwriter and composer. Since Beirut is known for its fascinating nightlife,
|
|
Lebanese Ladies Cultural Society (LLCS) - Southern California
Gala Dinner- April 1st Los Angelos Ca. |
| The second International Conference on Khalil Gibran - April Event sponsored by the Khalil Gibran Research and Study project at the University of Maryland. It will be held April 8 to 10. For more information please call 301-314-7714 or send an email to bushrui@cidcm.umd.edu. The organization website is www.gibranstudies.org. |
|
Southern federation Conventionl- July |
|
Lebanese Cultural Festival
-
www.americanlebanesefestival.org
Sept 9, 2006 |
|
House of Lebanon March 10th event report and upcoming event on May 6th
We are filled with joy that so many of you
came to our Get-Together dinner on Friday March 10th. Byblos was filled to
capacity. We were fortunate to have with us Stanford Holst the author of the
critically acclaimed book " Phoenicians: Lebanon's Epic Heritage", the
inspiring history of the early Lebanese people revealed for the first time,
the result of thirty years of research. Mr. Holst graciously autographed every
one of the 75 books we sold. We made more than $1000 profit because of the
special pricing that we received from the publisher.
We were delighted to have with us a large
number of the House of Lebanon Young Adults and Professionals Groups, and the
House of Lebanon Artists Group and many new comers from other organizations
joined us. Byblos buffet was probably the best we have
ever had there. The music and the Dabkeh team were quite colorful and
entertaining. A special thanks to Amira Matar, Elie Kawkabani, and Hadi Khalil
for organizing the evening, it was flawless.
Finally, you should be receiving in the mail the invitations to our Annual Banquet on May 6th at the Beverly Hills Hotel at 6:30pm. We are honoring Mr. George Hage and he will be receiving the "Ray R. Irani House of Lebanon Pride of Heritage Award". Mr. Hage is a prominent industrialist, and an LAF Honorary Director. Mr. Hage is the CEO of Hitron USA, started in 1990 to become one of the fastest growing companies as ranked by Forbes Magazine in 2001. Our Keynote speaker is the charismatic national rising star mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. The program will include the orchestra of Dr. Jihad Racy and other features.
|
|
NYC Club event update 3/18/06 |
|
ALNM update- www.alnm.net |
American Lebanese Profile- Bassam A. Bassam, MD
| Born in Lebanon, received MD 1973 and moved to USA 1976. He is currently a
resident of Mobile, Alabama since 1985. Position: Professor of Neurology, Director of Neuromuscular Program University of South Alabama- Mobile, Alabama Dr. Bassam completed his training in Neurology at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan Fellowship training in Neuromuscular Disease and Electromyography at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Board Certified American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology & American Board of Neuromuscular Disease and Electro-diagnostic Medicine Scholastic and Academic Achievements: * Academic interest in peripheral nerve and muscle diseases, neuropathic pain and clinical Electromyography. * Published several book chapters, articles and abstracts in peer reviewed journals. * Several research grants, and trials in treatment of neuropathy and muscle diseases. * Numerous national and international presentations and workshops faculty at national professional meetings of various professional organizations. * Active member or fellow of various national professional organizations, and served as a member or chairperson on various national professional committees, and Board Examiner in the field of Neuromuscular diseases. * Received several professional awards and recognition. * Recently featured on Min-Loubnan TV program at the LBC. Dr. Bassam is very acting in American-Lebanese activities including the American Lebanese Medical Association, and he is the Vice President of the Lebanese American Club of Mobile, AL and Alabama State Vice President of the Southern Federation. |
We Loved Each Other So Much -Fairuz Produced by Pieter Van Huystee http://www.frif.com/new2004/much.html
 For
half a century, the Lebanese singer Fairuz has been a living legend in the Arab
world. Her home is Beirut, once a thriving seaport known as "the Paris of the
Middle East," and a haven for those fleeing religious or ethnic persecution. In
1975, however, a civil war that was to rage for fifteen years disrupted this
idyllic situation. Throughout the civil war Fairuz remained in Beirut, and
everyone - whether Christian, Muslim, left-wing or right-wing, people from all
the groups that were murdering each other - continued to love this singer with
the nightingale voice.WE LOVED EACH OTHER SO MUCH portrays the love of diverse Beirut inhabitants for this diva. Through the music, and the myths that grew around Fairuz, they tell their life stories, and narrate the tragic, stirring history of their city. Their reminiscences, combined with Fairuz' songs and her story, provide a moving commentary on Lebanon's tumultuous history, traces of which are still visible in Beirut's devastated cityscape and bullet-scared building. Today Fairuz is a cultural phenomenon whose appeal has spread far beyond the Arab world. Offering viewers a revealing and captivating introduction to this singer, and her place in Lebanese history and culture, WE LOVED EACH OTHER SO MUCH also powerfully shows how music and the emotions it stirs can transcend political and religious differences. "Offers many wonderful moments, both light and intense. Fairuz's songs seem to make the difficult situation of the Middle East easier for everyone." Al Jadid: A Review & Record of Arab Culture and Arts "Highly Recommended! Just as great writing does, all great filmmaking transcends its subject. WE LOVED EACH OTHER SO MUCH is supposed to be about the legendary Arab singer Fairuz, but is so much more. Intimate and poignant... documentary filmmaking at its finest." - Educational Media Reviews Online ** 2004 Middle East Studies Association FilmFest ** 2004 San Francisco Arab Film Festival ** 2004 Vancouver International Film Festival The price listed is an institutional price, since most of our customers are colleges, universities, schools and public libraries. Those interested in purchasing copies for home use only should feel free to contact our sales director Alexandra McAdams at alex@frif.com . |
Lebanese ingenuity can get you to the Olympics-
From the MIT Alumni Newsletter
http://alum.mit.edu/ne/noteworthy/news-features/antaki.html?tr=y&auid=144554
Alumni Home >
News & Events >
Noteworthy > News & Features
Patrick Antaki '84, a self-employed engineer and entrepreneur living in Texas, is not your typical Olympian. He's never even been much of an athlete, except for some recreational rugby. So how did he end up competing in the Winter Olympics in Torino? He decided to make it happen. Antaki saw televised coverage of the sled racing sport called skeleton four years ago during the Salt Lake City Olympics, when the sport reappeared after a 54-year hiatus. He's never had visions of Olympic glory, but Antaki was looking for something different to do. Different turned out to be a sport involving one person on a sled careening down a slick bobsled/luge track at speeds up to 80 mph. There are no brakes, and subtle weight shifts serve for steering.
Some 12 international competitions and nearly 500 runs later, Antaki secured a coveted spot at the Torino Games representing his birth country of Lebanon, where he has dual citizenship. He's the first non-skier to represent the Middle Eastern nation in the games and joined two skiers to form the 2006 team. How did he do it? "Nothing was for sure, of course, but I did my homework, read everything I could about the sport, talked to a bunch of people, and actually tried it. And even though I was really terrible at it for the first year, I had a pretty good idea of what it would take to get up to the level where I could get into the Olympics," Antaki says. "The message is simple: if you're smart, and you study, even though this is an athletic thing, using your brain actually does help." Antaki qualified for the Olympics in January at the Challenge Cup in Germany, securing the last of eight spots in the level of worldwide competition one tier below the World Cup circuit. He beat out 21 other competitors for the slot. The Olympic competition played out according to Antaki's expectations, although he was slightly unnerved at the media spectacle. "It's the first time I actually was in the same race with the world's best in the sport," he says. "My goal was just to get there and to finish and that was it, fully expecting to be last." His last place finish, eight and a half seconds behind the gold medal winner, however, was encouraging enough to set his sights on Vancouver in 2010. The trick to skeleton, Antaki says, is negotiating the many variables: a slider's weight and speed, the weather, ice quality, how well the sled's runners are polished, how one enters turns. "This is very much a skill sport, and it just takes time to get good at it." And, of course, Antaki puts his MIT degree in electrical engineering to good use. "I very quickly realized that there was no science developed in this sport," he says, noting the contradictory advice he received from fellow racers. "Over time, I've figured out that people don't really know what works. It's just a lot of trial and error." As a result, Antaki souped up his training sled with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a camera to record data and compare runs to discern useful tactics. "I think I'm at the point now where this is really going to help," he says. "My theory is that it will help me to get better faster." Next year, he'll spend time in Calgary and perhaps Lake Placid, training at two of the handful of tracks in North America. And next time he competes with the world's best, he vows that he won't be last. "I know exactly what I have to do to get to that level, and it's going to take time," he says. Time and a little science and engineering. By Amy Marcott February 27, 2006 |
Turning Point Publishing House
| Are you planning a trip to visit relatives in Lebanon, or simply nostalgic
for the homeland and wanting to find out a bit more about daily life in the
country? Search no further …. Turning Point, an independent publishing
house, based in Beirut, Lebanon, produces quality guides and books about Lebanon
or on a Lebanese theme. We got started in 2000 and have been busy ever since,
with several interesting book projects in the pipeline.
To date we have produced three different guides ‘At Home in Beirut’ – third edition to be released in October, ‘Family Fun in Lebanon’ and ‘Map ‘n Lebanon – Beirut’. Detailed, informative and colorful, they are a vital resource for any visitor to Lebanon and take the headache out of planning what to do during your precious vacation time. Our humorous guide to the Lebanese called ‘Life’s Like That! – your guide to the Lebanese’ with fifty entertaining character illustrations accompanied by witty texts are certain to have you and your family doubled up with laughter. A fantastic gift idea for a Lebanese relative. An activity book, Play and Learn about Lebanon, has been produced with 6-11 age group in mind with. Kids will have fun doing the puzzles, dot-to-dots, word searches, mazes and at the same time learn about Lebanon. This is a great resource for a school project about the country. Our books are available at www.Lebanesebooks.com Or please contact us at turningpoint@sodetel.net.lb |
Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN)
| TOKTEN offers Lebanese expatriates the
opportunity to play a role in the development of their homeland through
short-term missions. The TOKTEN concept is a global UNDP mechanism for tapping on expatriate
nationals who achieved professional success
abroad and mobilizing them to undertake short-term consultancies in their
countries of origin under UN aegis with a modest fee such as air fair and
perdiem. These UN missions will be implemented in Lebanese ministries and
public institutions. UNDP Lebanon is relaunching the "Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriates Nationals" (TOKTEN) project. The objective of this project is to obtain the expertise of Lebanese expatriates who are motivated by a desire to contribute in the development process of their country of origin, to reinforce national development efforts and transfer of skills and know-how. If interested in implementing UN missions and contributing in the development of Lebanon please send back your resume to ariane@toktenlebanon.org . For further information please visit www.toktenlebanon.org |
American-Lebanese Clubs
The following clubs were recently added to our directory of clubs and organizations.
| DCLAP (D.C. Lebanese American Professionals). DCLAP (D.C. Lebanese American Professionals) is a non-political, non-religious club aimed at promoting professional and friendship exchanges between Lebanese/Lebanese-American young professionals in the Washington, D.C. area. The club was founded in March 2004, and presently has approximately 300 members. DCLAP holds monthly Dinner Get-Togethers, as well as monthly Movie Clubs featuring Lebanese and International film productions. The club also organizes community service activities in the D.C. area, and occasionally coordinates additional activities (i.e. picnics, parties). More info on the club’s website: http://www.dclap.org . |
| Lebanese-American Club of Jacksonville, Florida The Lebanese American Club of Jacksonville is an association devoted to the promotion of the Lebanese heritage through cultural, charitable, social and educational programs. It is not identified with any religion or denomination sect or creed. www.lebaneseamericanclub.com |
| Northern Ohio Lebanese-American Association The Northern Ohio Lebanese American Association is dedicated to preserving, enriching, and promoting our Lebanese Heritage and traditions. The focus is on the following component: Social, Cultural, Educational, & Humanitarian. www.nolaa.org. |
Featured Businesses
| Sojuma Travel -
www.sojuma.com We are a CLIA Agency specialized in cruises. Along with cruises we offer vacation packages as All Inclusive, Hosted and Escorted tours, Air Tickets, Hotels, Limousines and Cars worldwide. We offer customized packages, individual and group specials, and additional optional trip insurance. For your A to Z travel please feel free to visit www.sojuma.com for monthly specials and itineraries. It will be our pleasure to assist you. As friends of the Lebanese Club we will strive to pass on the best travel and vacation deals and accommodate your budget needs. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Simply send us your request and we will respond in a timely matter. At Sojuma Cruise & Travel we treat everyone like family. |
| Qitup DJ-
www.qitup.com/arabic/ Professional DJ's that use state-of-the art high tech sound & light equipment. Offering the best quality in sound and a dazzling light show that you will not find anywhere else! Clean music of all styles available (no obscene lyrics). Several packages available for big or small events. NO hidden fees and.....we play the music YOU like to hear! Call for a no obligation quote today. Q It Up will travel ANYWHERE to do your event, and we’ll do it like no other. · Arabic music mixed with any other style of music. · Bilingual speaking DJ (Arabic, English) · Video editing is available. |
| Fadi's Mediterranian Grill
www.fadiscuisine.com Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill (with five locations in Houston and Dallas) brings culture and excitement to your taste buds! AT FADI'S Mediterranean Grill, you'll enjoy the freshest, most flavorful entrees with true Mediterranean spices all fitting in a low fat low calorie diet without sacrificing authentic Mediterranean taste. Fadi's Grill supports and host activities for the American Lebanese National Mission www.alnm.net. ALNM is an active social/civic organization featured several times in our newsletter. |
Sister City Project Beirut-Los Angeles
It is finally official, Council President Garcetti and Councilmember Zine are leading a delegation’s visit to Lebanon to finalize the Sister City agreement between the City of Los Angeles and the City of Beirut. This is truly historic! More information will be provided in the future.
Website Update-
new links and resources
|
New Editing Assistance & Translation, helping
you succeed!
www.neat-edu.com (Lebanese
organization)
NEAT was recently launched
by a group of editors
and translators who decided to support high-school and university students
in
their struggle to success. With that priority on their agenda, they came up with a reliable method to offer their skills and experience to the students at very special rates while catering to corporations and institutions at a reasonable price. Visit the website site to submit a document or for more information. |
| Products- Check out these products that may be of interest to you & helps support this site. |
| Articles- Read the speeches about Dr. Debakey and Dr. Salem at the ALMA event. |
| www.byblosnyc.com New York City > American-Leb Links |
| www.djnadim.com DJ in Canada > International Links |
Emails received
|
From:
info@trustycom.com Sent Monday, March 27, 2006
From Lebanon: |
|
From: clcenter@cyberia.net.lb
Date: Sun, March 12, 2006 12:08 pm From Lebanon: |
March 21st declared Lebanese Heritage Day in
Brooklyn
The inauguration of the first-ever Lebanese Heritage Day in Brooklyn took place
at Brooklyn Borough Hall on March 21st with an official proclamation by Brooklyn
Borough President Marty Markowitz and a demonstration of the graciousness of the
entire Brooklyn Lebanese community. Five individuals and one club were honored
for their civic contributions to the Brooklyn community. This event, exhibited
the hospitality and collective efforts of the Lebanese-Brooklynites, each with
their own contribution to make this dream a reality by donating services, food,
beverages, and artifacts. The Lebanese flag flew over Borough Hall whose cupola
was also lit in red, white, and green – the colors of the Lebanese flag –
another historic first.
For over two months now, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, with the
initiative of a committee consisting of nine Lebanese-Americans, have worked
together to bring about this significant occasion - Lebanese Heritage Day in
Brooklyn - whose time is more than overdue. Bay Ridge, Brooklyn boasts one of
the oldest Lebanese communities, dating back to the 1890’s, establishing roots
and ties that are now well over one hundred years old. The Lebanese have made
many contributions stemming from various fields to the United States and are
proud to claim numerous prominent individuals as their own from poets and
writers, Khalil Gibran, Mikhael Neaimeh and Elia Abou-Madeh, to politicians,
activists and movie director, Spencer Abraham, Ralph Nader and Tom Shidyac,
respectively. In 1926 poet Khalil Gibran wrote the following message to his
fellow Lebanese immigrants in America: "I believe in you, and I believe in your
destiny. I believe that you are contributors to this new civilization."
The first citation was presented to Dr. Alice B. Cury Farkouh. Dr. Farkouh, a
long-time administrator in Brooklyn’s educational system, said she was honored
to be recognized by the Borough President and the Lebanese community. She went
on to add, “I am not the one being honored today. The Lebanese are being
honored.” Captain Amin Kosseim, the highest-ranking Lebanese-American in the
NYPD and advocate for youth harmony, thanked his mom after receiving his
citation and was dubbed the “finest of the finest” by the Borough President; Dr.
Ayman Shahine, who has delivered over 3,500 babies, and operated for over 2,000
women in Brooklyn, brought his wife and baby up with him to receive his
citation, and said he loves Brooklyn because of its acceptance of all the
diverse culture and food that it has to offer. Lawyer and Legal Adviser, Robert
W. Thabit, said “It’s a great day to be a Lebanese-American in Brooklyn and I am
proud to be one of them – those being honored today are only the tip of the
iceberg. God Bless.” Finally the Salaam Club of New York was presented with the
sixth award and it was mentioned that the Brooklyn Borough President is an
honorary member of the Salaam Club. Unfortunately one honoree was unable to
attend, entrepreneur, Albert Nigri.
One more special presentation was made by Brooklyn Borough President Marty
Markowitz in honor of Bishop Gregory Mansour, of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of
Brooklyn, commending the Bishop for a lifetime of service and more importantly
for coming to Brooklyn. Chorbishop Thomas accepted the honor on behalf of Bishop
Mansour, and referring to words the late Pope John Paul II said, “Lebanon is
more that a country. It is a message,” adding, “I hope as Lebanese-Americans we
bring that same message to Brooklyn and the U.S.”
As a gesture of appreciation, the organizing committee presented Borough
President Marty Markowitz with ivory worry beads and a silver embossed plaque
that had “God Bless Our Home” embossed on it. The Borough President said the
worry beads would come in handy for his next election and thanked the
organizers.
Once the official ceremony was completed, the attendees were invited to listen
to Poet Anis Zbeidi, watch the Cedars Group perform the dabke and other
traditional dances, and then partake in a feast abundant with authentic Lebanese
food, sweets, wine and beer all donated by local Brooklyn restaurants. March
21st 2006 -- Lebanese Heritage Day in Brooklyn – is a great first step toward
acknowledging the Lebanese-American’s contributions to its adopted country.
Quoting Former President Clinton, “Lebanese Americans have
played
a great role in the history of the United States, with major achievements in
medicine, business, law, government and the art. Through your dedication to the
principles of constitutional democracy and your faith in America’s future, you
have made the Lebanese-American community a vital force in our society and an
aspiration to all Americans.” (1992)
We hope you enjoyed this issue. Please forward
this to your friends and ask them to subscribe to the Cedars-USA free
monthly email newsletter.
If you wish to help or if you have
links, resources that
or articles for the newsletter email us at
info@cedarsusa.com or
cedarsusa@yahoo.com.
