March / April 2008

Contents Of This Issue:

Quote

" Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you."     - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

American Lebanese Profile
Abbas Chamsuddin, MD
Associate professor, Interventional Radiology. Emory University Hospital.

Named among America's top radiologist in 2003 and again in 2007 through his hard work and research. He has published and
lectured nationally and internationally. He caries three board certification in his specialty and remains a great asset for Emory.
Of the factors involved in his success, Dr. Chamsuddin attributes the most to one person, the support of his wife, Nadine.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he is from a small village in the Chouf called Joun. Dr. Cahmsuddin graduated from the American
University of Beirut (AUB) Medical school in 1991. His residency was completed at AUB in 1993, University of South Alabama,
Mobile, Al in 1997 ; and North Shore University Hospital and Long Island, NY in 1997. He completed his fellowship at University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN in 1999.

Physicians at Emory University Hospital recently performed  a procedure called Ultrasound Assisted Thromboloysis to destroy
deadly blood clot in a patient suffering from deep vein thrombosis. The procedure was performed by Dr. Abbas Chamsudin. 

After recovering from colon surgery and subsequent chemotherapy, one patient found herself in a very critical condition.
Doctors were nervous about performing surgery however she was given hope that one doctor at Emory could successfully
perform the surgery. You can read the testimony of another patient at the link below.

The common denominator between these patients is Dr. Abbas Chamsuddin. Since he joined  Emory in 2004, he has
been performing cutting-edge techniques to treat diseases that in the past was limited to open surgery.

We are proud to add Dr. Chamsuddin to our prominent American-Lebanese List. 
Here are additional links about Dr. Chamsuddin.

http://whsc.emory.edu/press_releases_print.cfm?announcement_id_seq=10064

http://www.radiology.emory.edu/faculty-and-staff/staff-faculty-member/person/104/index.html

http://www.mdjunction.com/doctor/review/abbas-a-chamsuddin/106024

 

Mr. John Stephen

Article was sent to us after the newsletter went out. 
please read Mr. Stephen's Biography at this link  http://www.cedarsusa.com/profiles/Politics/johnstephen.htm

Please visit www.stephenforcongress.com to learn more about Mr. Stephen and if you wish to contribute to his campaign.
Please share with your friends.
 

TK READ, JD, LLM
ATTORNEY, ARTIST & WRITER

TO MY FELLOW LEBANESE AMERICANS:

George was gracious enough to give me this space and if you would give me but a moment of your time, let me tell you what I am about, what
my pledge to you is, and what I am need from you (don't worry, it is only information).

My family, the Karems, came from Becharre in the 1920's.As a small girl, my grandfather Fred told me that our family had been 'Keepers' of the
Cedars of Lebanon and described the Cedar trees as wonderful, almost magical entities. For me theCedars have always loomed larger than
life as a symbol of both Lebanon and unfulfilled family (and on a larger scale, human) obligations.

Lately it has become even more important that their story be told and appreciated. Like many areas of the United States, my small corner,
Rockdale County, Georgia, has been overdeveloped. Forested land is still being excavated, even while the foreclosure rate here is one of
the highest in the country. The fall-out is collapsing home values and a decrease in the standard of living for everyone.

I have had a modicum of success as a lawyer and web business woman (see www.tkread.com , www.gama.com  and www.youdrawstraws.com ),
and was able to take some time off work which I used to write a children's novel about the Phoenicians, and yes, the Cedars. In my book, Milly Thomas and the Sun-Struck Phantom, Milly is a 14 year old Lebanese American who inherits the mantle of 'Keeper of the Cedars.' As the book
unfurls, Milly attends Solar Sails Academy, which is hidden in the mountain on the other side of the Khalil Gibran Museum in Becharre, learns to captain a Phoenician space ship for the Phoenician Merchant Marine, and meets the Lady of the Mountain. At the climax of the book, Milly, in
her capacity as Keeper, fights Gilgamesh, the ancient King of Uruk. Gilgamesh is a real, historically documented king, held responsible for chopping down huge numbers of Cedars, and, by more than one account, attributed with causing Noah's Flood. He was the first mass excavator on record, performing his evil deed over 4000 years ago and his recklessness is wonderful fodder for the story.

What I need from you is an introduction. To get published by one of the traditional publishing houses these days you need contacts within the
industry and an editor who loves your material. I would like to find an editor or agent of Lebanese heritage who will take Milly Thomas and
the Sun-Struck Phantom and get it out there where people can read it and really think about it. If you know such an editor or agent, please
provide me with whatever form of contact that you can, whether it be an actual introduction, or simply provision of a name and address.
I can be reached at tk@tkread.com .

Finally, here is my pledge to you. I pledge that I will donate 40% of my net profits from the book's publication and sales to a reliable non-profit
in Lebanon for that organization's use in saving the Cedars or other significant environmental efforts. Sure, it could be next to nothing, but may
be it will be a whole lot more.

Thank you for your time and when you see Milly Thomas and the Sun-Struck Phantom hit the shelves in a year or so, please buy a copy!

TK Read
 

Featured Organization: TOKTEN

The TOKTEN concept is a global UNDP mechanism for tapping on expatriate nationals, who had migrated to other countries and
achieved professional success abroad, and mobilizing them to undertake short-term consultancies in their countries of origin,
under UN aegis.

The TOKTEN approach is regarded as an added dimension of technical cooperation, which contributes to reducing the adverse
effects of the “brain-drain”, with several advantages as such as the shared language and traditions, relatively low cost and
speed of implementation.

The TOKTEN program is based on a spirit of volunteering, which means that TOKTEN volunteers are not paid direct salaries but
are entitled to roundtrip air ticket and a daily subsistence allowance (DSA).

In the case of Lebanon, TOKTEN demonstrated its relevance due to the large number of highly skilled Lebanese professionals that
migrated and settled abroad in the past years, and due to the country needs of all the advanced skills and high level capabilities
it can mobilize.

Please share this information with your contacts. Click here for an informational pamphlet.
www.toktenlebanon.org
 

Act For Lebanon

Greetings,


We are an NGO registered in USA and Lebanon. Our mission is to work from the grassroots by supporting the Lebanese human resources
(Lebanon best asset and wealth) in order to raise civic awareness, implement positive thinking and create the new generation of
executives and leaders for a democratic, progressive and developing nation.

Act for Lebanon supports:
1- Education by developing, financing and promoting schools that adopt diversity and co-existence, like Baalbek Community School...

2- Worthy Events that promote our true culture, thus encourage international entities to invest in our country and raise the nation from
he chaos and effect of the war. Like: Beirut International Marathon, Beittidine Festivals, Baalbek Int'l Festivals, and so on.

3- Worthy, individual talents that convey our best image to the world and set as a role-model of excellence, perseverance and
determination to the young generation beyond, as an example: Eduard Maalouf, Omar Khouri, Nael-Ogden Smith, and others.

From among our ambassadors in the world: Maxime Chaaya.

I invite you to visit our website for more details and information: www.actforlebanon.org  and our very active facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20972675509

Thanks for highlighting our mission and encouraging all Lebanese and Lebanese friends to join and support.

Claudys Kantara
Act for Lebanon Coordinator

Please visit the website and share with your contacts, this is a goal worth supporting and your club may want to develop contact and
support this organization.

Carole Choucair Oueijan
Mosaics and Oils
www.FineArtbycarole.com 

Won the 2008 Juror's Choice Award from the Mosaic Arts International 2008

You can also check the list of winners of the SAMA Mosaic Arts International 2008:
http://www.americanmosaics.org/SAMAindex.aspx?id=ExhibitionGallery
 

Lebanese /Moroccan Party  (Dinner and Show)

Tripoli Restaurant  
Established 1973

Authentic Lebanese Cuisine
156 Atlantic Ave. (Corner of Clinton St.)
Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights), NY 11201

We offer fine dining in an elegant atmosphere which can be considered romantic. Take-out food available for pickup & for FREE delivery. Gift Certificates available for all occasions. Please contact us for information on catering for any special occasion such as:

* Weddings * Engagements * Bridal showers * Bachelor parties  *Christmas parties * Birthdays * Anniversaries * Banquets

Private room available for parties. We can book live Arabic bands with belly dancing. You may contact us at (718) 596-5800.
Please visit the website for more information www.tripolirestaurant.com

Books, Resources and More

Events  - Check our events page for more details and more events.

Friends vs Lebanese Friends

Friends: Never ask for food.
Lebanese friends: Always bring the food.

Friends: Will say "hello."
Lebanese friends: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

Friends: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Lebanese friends: Call your parents Uncle/Dad and Aunt / Mum.

Friends: Have never seen you cry.
Lebanese friends: Cry with you.

Friends: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Lebanese friends: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.

Friends: know a few things about you.
Lebanese friends: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

Friends: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
Lebanese friends: Will kick the whole crowds' ass that left you.

Friends: Would knock on your door.
Lebanese friends: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"

Friends: Are for a while.
Lebanese friends: Are for life.

Health- Benefits of Green Tea

Seven reasons to drink green tea   from www.food.yahoo.com

The steady stream of good news about green tea is getting so hard to ignore. You would think that the daily dose of disease-fighting
inflammation squelching antioxidant (linked with heart protection) would be enough incentive, but wait, there is more:

1- Cut your cancer risk
    Green tea has anti-oxidants that protect against cancer cells.  Study after study has found that people who drink green tea reduce
     their risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon and/or prostate cancer.

2- Soothe your skin
    The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling.  Try it on inflamed breakouts and blemishes, sunburns, even puffy
    eyelids. It also blocks sun triggered cancer.

3- Steady your blood pressure
    People who sip just 1/2 a cup a day are 50% less likely to wind up with hypertension.  Prevents contraction of blood vessels.

4- Protect your memory
    It appears that the big dose of anti-oxidants fights the free radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5- Stay Young
    The healthier your arteries are, the younger you are.  Green tea fights plaque build up in your blood vessels.

6- Lose weight
    Turns out green tea speeds up your body's calorie burning process.

7- Fights infection and helps with Asthma.

The Time is Now

If you are ever going to love me
Love me now, while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow
Love me now, While I am living.

Do not wait until I am gone
and then have it chiseled in Marble
Sweet words on ice cold stone.
If you have tender thoughts of me,
please tell me now.

Disclaimer and Notes to our readers

- Disclaimer
   This website is not associated with any gov., political or religious group.  The site focuses on Americans of Lebanese Ancestry.  We try to include only links and events
   that fits within our vision, but this is not always possible so what other clubs do or say is strictly their own responsibility or opinion.

-  Join
   We hope you enjoyed this issue. Please forward this to your friends and ask them to subscribe to the Cedars-USA free email newsletter. 

-  Help
   If you wish to help or if you have links, resources, community news, books, nominations, articles promoting excellence and community service please email us at:
   cedarsusa@yahoo.com or info@cedarsusa.com.

- Privacy
  Your privacy is important to us.  Your email address will not be shared with anyone, and our mailing list will never be used for any purpose.

Join the Mailing List

Enter your name and email address below:

Name:
Email:
Subscribe  Unsubscribe