November 2009

Quote

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are" . Joseph Campbell
Thanks to Mirna Lattouf, Phd for sharing this quote.

WAFA J. HOBALLAH, ESQ., LL.M.

Wafa J. Hoballah, attorney at law is admitted to practice law in the States of New York and Lebanon. She is a registered special legal consultant on the laws of Lebanon and the Middle East with The District of Columbia Bar.  She is a graduate of the University of The Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, California, University of Salzburg, Austria, the Lebanese University, Faculty of Law, and the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Ms. Hoballah’s International law practice specializes in business, commercial and corporate law in and between the United States, the Middle East and West Africa, focusing on major aspects of international business transactions, negotiations, due diligence investigations, development & financing, and joint ventures.

Ms. Hoballah’s National practice focuses on assisting Lebanese nationals with family, probate & estate matters particularly as it relates to Religious & Civil laws and its compatibility with local United State laws.  Ms. Hoballah is an expert on U.S. Lebanese Comparative laws including religious laws as applied by the Lebanese courts.

Another area of Ms. Hoballah’s practice concentrates on U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law.   Combining her personal & legal experience with her cultural backgrounds, Ms. Hoballah provides legal services sensitive to the ethnic, business and cultural needs of the community including Political Asylum and Violence Against Women Act petitions.

Ms. Hoballah is the vice president and a founding member of the Los Angeles-Beirut Sister Cities Organization, a chartering board member of the Lebanese American Foundation “LAF” and the immediate past Chair of the Board of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.

For more information about her practice please visit www.middleeastlaw.com , which we added to our American-Leb directory.

We are proud to add Ms. Hoballah on  our prominent American-Lebanese directory.

Mr. Eugene Nicholas

Mr. Nicholas is from ND and served in the ND state legislature for over 30 years as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. He is a progressive farmer in ND and has won many awards as well as being nominated as Under secretary of Agriculture for Agrigulture Secretary Ann Vennamin.  He retired from politics in 2006 but has remained active in farming operation in ND. He is a third generation farmer who has kept our farm in the family since my grandfather began farming in the late 1800’s.   His  grandparents were born in Zahlah , Lebanon and came to this country in the late 1800’s and settled in Northern ND .

Mr. Nicholas was a state representative from 1974 through 2006, including service as chairman of the North Dakota House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. Mr. Nicholas also serves on the board of directors of Country Bank USA, Cando, North Dakota, and the board of governors of Golden Plains Frozen Foods LLC. Mr. Nicholas previously served on the board of directors of the U.S. Durum Growers Association.

We are proud to add Mr. Nicholas to our prominent American-Lebanese directory.

3 Roses of Lebanon   www.rosannacacace.com

Rosanna Cacace always wanted to be a typical American girl, but growing up in a multi cultural family with crazy old traditions and a flamboyant Lebanese mother isn’t easy. There is nothing typical about this half Italian, half Lebanese-American girl. Through the growing pains of her youth, Rosanna shuns away from her mother’s Middle Eastern roots. As the tragic story from her mother’s past unfolds, Rosanna discovers the hidden beauties of her eccentric loving family and her exotic Lebanese heritage.

Rosanna's love for acting began at the early age of 4. Being a native to Los Angeles she didn’t have to travel very far in pursuit of her dreams. Once she started attending college, she also decided it was time for her to pursue her acting career. Slowly she realized she wanted to do more than just wait for the phone to ring. After dedicating much of her time to advocacy work for women’s rights, Rosanna wanted to combine her passion for the arts and her passion for social activism. With the encouragement of her wonderful mentors and teachers, she began contemplating writing a solo show.

The only problem was Rosanna had no idea what to write. Although she was intrigued by the women of the Middle East , she didn’t know where to begin. Once she started taking a solo show workshop classes at The Secret Rose Theatre everything came together. With the help of Kaz Mata-Mura, Rosanna began writing down her own personal experiences as a Lebanese/American woman. This led her to journey back in time to visit the pasts of both her mother and grandmother. After 3 more years of writing and rewriting, Rosanna is finally ready to share her family’s compelling and heart warming story. 

For more information please visit her website at www.rosannacacace.com or email at rosanna.cacace@yahoo.com 

Book: Peddlers on the Prairie
Prairie Peddlers : by William Sherman, Paul Whitney, John Guerrero

This book was recommended by a friend.  We hope to do an interview wit one of the authors, Mr. Paul Whitney who can share with us more
about his experience in helping write this book.   We did find few copies on Amazon.  

This is the only review we found.
Plains Folk: Lebanese  by Tom Isern, Professor of History North Dakota State University
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/2003/100203/04plains.htm

I carried along for in-flight reading on a recent junket a book from the University of Mary Press. People kept craning their heads around to study the
dust jacket, their quizzical faces, and sometimes their direct questions, indicating how peculiar the topic must seem to the casual reading public.
The book is "Prairie Peddlers: The Syrian-Lebanese in North Dakota," by Father William C. Sherman and his two collaborators, Paul C. Whitney and John Guerrero.   Prairie readers, get past the apparent peculiarity. This is a notable book that foregrounds a people too long consigned to the margins of our regional story.  Popular usage termed these folk "Syrians," and the U.S. census called them by various names, but they are in fact the Lebanese, and they appear historically throughout the Great Plains. During my boyhood in western Kansas I knew the Jahay boys as farmers and goose hunters in the Arkansas River Valley, and the Rohars as veteran custom harvesters. South Dakota has sent two men of Lebanese ancestry, James Abourezk and James Abdnor, to the U.S. Senate.  

People like these punch through worn stereotypes.  One of which is that of the title phrase, "prairie peddlers." People of other ethnicities commonly interacted with the Lebanese in this fashion, the immigrant peddlers arriving at farmsteads in boxy wagons, or later in well-laden trucks.
There is nothing untrue about this stereotype, as Father Bill and his co-authors show. Most all Lebanese families relied on peddling to make an economic start in the new land. The writers refine the old image, however, by showing that considerable numbers of Lebanese women, including even Muslim women, took to the road as peddlers. This historical image of immigrant women traveling the land, negotiating transactions along with their place in the world, is stunning. (Consider it the next time we decide to erect a monument to pioneer women.)

The authors also chronicle the rapid movement of Lebanese into other commercial endeavors, establishing them as anchor businesspersons in prairie towns.  Not that they were deficient as farmers--they came to homestead and did as well as others at it. There were enclaves of homesteaders up and down the plains, but the largest concentrations in North Dakota were: in Pierce County, near Rugby; in Mountrail County, at Ross; and in Williams County, around Williston.  That the Lebanese succeeded in farming was remarkable for two reasons. The first is, obviously, they came from a Mediterranean land and had to adapt to the continental steppes of North America. Second, at one point the U.S. Department of Commerce ruled them ineligible for citizenship, and therefore ineligible for homesteads, because they were not "white persons" (a decision that was, fortunately, reversed by federal courts).
The Lebanese settlements comprised both Christians and Muslims. The Christians comprised Orthodox and two branches of Catholicism, Maronite and Melkite. Others regarded the Muslims as more exotic; indeed, the basement-mosque built at Ross in 1929 has acquired a certain celebrity, as it is said to be the first mosque built in America. The authors carefully hedge that claim, specifying it to mean the first building constructed as a mosque, rather than converted to such use.

In our regional story to date, the Lebanese have figured as local color. Remembered are individual peddlers who established relationships with farm families, generous hospitality at meals featuring kibbi and tabbouli, and snapshots of religious ceremonies. The background of such benevolent images was an environment of social discrimination and ethnic slur. "Nonetheless," the authors point out, "wherever they resided in North Dakota, they never seem to have felt sorry for themselves, they never saw themselves as ‘victims.’" Indeed, Bismarck businessman Floyd Boutrous was such an outspoken exponent of American values that he became popularly known as "Mr. Constitution."

Prairie peddlers? Way more than that. "An American success story," this book says, and shows.
 

Books by Mirna Lattouf, Ph.D.

 

Women, Education, and Socialization in Modern Lebanon 19^th and 20^th centuries Social History

 Much has been theorized about the positive correlation between education and the change in women’s status in society.  Yet, in 2000, a United Nations report on women indicated that although there has been much effort to eliminate discrimination based on sex, with greater opportunities and access to education, or formal learning, the most bias was due to socialization, or informal learning, as expressed through cultural values, norms and traditions.  The report also stated that although governments claimed to be dedicated to erasing illiteracy and improving educational opportunities, they are very quick to claim cultural relativity when asked to review other elements of concern, such as harmful laws and customs.  Education of girls and women has not accomplished the anticipated social transformation, especially the socially constructed patriarchal ideology which places them as primarily providers of biological and sexual services and unpaid labor.  In a follow up report in 2000, the United Nations showed continued disparities in all areas and a growing gender gap in literacy, computer skills, and political participation.        

In a study on women and higher education in Modern Lebanon one finds the Lebanese case mimics international trends in the unwillingness to confront and reinterpret the strict ideology which impose on women the primary and at times sole function as “mother and wife.”  In Lebanon, one also finds that this hegemony has obviated the transformation of much female educational progress into change in the role of women in society.  Although education has become more accessible, the hierarchy of opportunities is maintained and is more complex as it now intertwines class, religious affiliations, and sex/gender.  As Lebanese women break barriers in sex roles, there are points of concern.  First, although there has been a tremendous increase of women attending universities, participating in the labor force, and the political sphere, there is little change in the way society views women, as “wives and mothers.”   The socialization process of children is so deeply ingrained that it obviates any progress in the formal educational process.  Second, most women still register and graduate from traditionally female fields. Third, when efforts are made to change harmful laws and customs, women are accused of creating divisions in their communities and being unfaithful to their people and traditions.  Fourth, governmental policies in the 1990s seem to push women back into the home.   The government argues, as others in the past have, that the rebuilding of the nation will require sacrifices from everyone.  The state must prioritize the issues with which it deals.  And, women’s issues are considered secondary. Finally, one must not underestimate the role of the religious authorities in the reinforcement of the strict division of labor and gender roles between the sexes in Lebanon.

This book will explore these issues, provide a historical background for the socio/political influences on the educational system, and provide a holistic picture of the actually lived experiences of Lebanese women.   It will finally open the discussion for how can Lebanese women actively and cautiously participate in the formation of new truths, which will generate more inclusive and empowering myths for both girls and boys in the future?

Mirna was born in Beirut, Lebanon.  Her famiy moved to the United States when she was 11 years old.  She grew up in New Jersey.  She moved to
Arizona to complete her Phd and stayed.  She has been a faculty at Arizona State University for the past ten years. You can contact the author at Mirna.lattouf@asu.edu. 
 

One year review of Negotiate like a Phoenician

The latest book from KeyNegotiations, Negotiate like a Phoenician, has turned out to be a very successful first edition, surpassing even Dr. Habib Chamoun’s expectations. The initial printing of Negotiate like a Phoenician was sized to be sufficient for our cross-cultural workshops on negotiation and best business practices; however, requests for the book via Internet at www.keynegotiations.com  have come from around the globe (Australia, Austria, Argentina Germany, France, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Poland, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Mexico, and the USA, to mention a few).

Dr. Chamoun wrote this book to recapture the essence of an ancient business practice he calls Tradeables and requested his long-time friend and business partner Dr. Hazlett to collaborate in researching and documenting our Phoenician mercantile heritage. Because of the great success of Negotiate like a Phoenician, there has been two printings in English of Negotiate like a Phoenician already and two printings in Spanish. There is a hardcover and soft cover edition in each language.

Dr. Chamoun has given book presentations across the USA in cities such as New York, Houston, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and in Ottawa Canada, also in different European countries such as Italy (Rome), Spain (Madrid), Austria (Vienna), Germany (Frankfurt, Berlin and Oestrich-Winkel), Equatorial Guinea in Africa and all over Mexico and Latin America in places such as Monterrey, Mexico City, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Torreon, Toluca, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Merida, Guayaquil and Quito Ecuador, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa Honduras, Guatemala City, Managua Nicaragua, Bogota Colombia, Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba Argentina, Montevideo Uruguay, Sao Pablo Brazil, Montego Bay Jamaica. The book is used as reading material at different universities worldwide for the course of negotiation and conflict resolution. Due to popular demand, more book presentations will be announced in 2010 in addition to open-enrollment workshops based upon book concepts.

In the near future there are presentations planned in September 2009 in Cancun, Mexico, and Guayaquil Ecuador, in October 2009 In Guatemala City, Guatemala, Istanbul Turkey, Mexico City at the WLCU 50th anniversary celebration, Merida Mexico, In November 2009 in Durango Mexico, Buenos Aires Argentina and Montevideo Uruguay, Austria, and December 2009 Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Congratulations Dr. Chamoun on the success of your book.
If you haven’t gotten your copy there is one waiting for you at www.keynegotiations.com

 

Rene Moawad Foundation 4th Annual Gala
PRESS RLEASE  Washington, DC  October 2, 2009

The Rene Moawad Foundation, USA, a non profit organization promoting sustainable human development in Lebanon (www.rmf.org.lb ) will be holding its 4^th Annual Miami Benefit Gala Dinner on Saturday October 17th at the JW Hotel Miami on Brickell Ave,

The Foundation will be honoring prominent Lebanese-American and Miami resident Dr. Richard Elias, an internist with a specialty in cardiovascular disease and presenting him with the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Community Service Award. Dr Elias has been Chairman of the Florida Heart Research Institute, formerly known as the Miami Heart Institute, for 35 years.

The gala is usually attended by over 350 people from the Lebanese-American  Community and many American friends of Lebanon. Norma Jean Abraham will be chairing this event and RMF Boare Member Rima Otrakji will be organizing it with her team of volunteers. The Master of Ceremonies will be Dr. Julio Gallo, Medical Director of Facial Plastic Surgery of the Miami Institute for Age Management and Intervention. Dr. Elias’s Award will be presented by RMF USA Chairman of The Board and DC resident Abdo Sabban and H.E. Nayla Moawad, former first lady of Lebanon and Minister of Social affairs, Founder of Foundation and its Honorary Chair, who will come from Lebanon especially for this occasion. The evening will also feature a dazzling fashion show by Lebanese Fashion Designer Tony Ward and a musical and singing performance by Lebanese Diva Graziella Seif, who are also coming from Lebanon. The gala will also feature a silent Auction.  

RMF is a non- profit, non-governmental organization with a main objective of promoting the social, economic, and rural development of Lebanon. The Foundation on the ground, with a field staff over 90 people, has been doing tremendous development work in the field of agriculture, education, women’s empowerment, and democratization work, amongst other things. Funding for RMF’s diverse programs have come from international donors including EC, EU, USAID, NED as well as other private donors.

RMF-USA was established in 1993 in Washington, DC as a non-profit (501)(c)(3) US organization with its own independent board in order to expand RMF-Lebanon’s activities and diversify its sources of funding and support.  Since its creation, RMF-USA has succeeded in assembling a large number of Lebanese-Americans and other Arab-Americans united by a common will of promoting peace and stability in Lebanon through development.  The Foundation’s annual benefit dinners are now held in three major US cities, Washington, DC, Miami and Houston.. The proceeds of this year’s event will support the Foundation’s Educational and Recreational programs that focus on the  “Adopt a Student” program that helps needy kids in Lebanon by covering the cost of their tuition and school supplies as well as building three public playgrounds. 

Here is the invitation car and please go to the website for more details.

An event of fun, entertainment, dancing and great Lebanese food.  Informal setting to enjoy your friends and make new ones. 
When: Friday October 2nd
Where: Mirage Restaurant 16925 Ventura Blvd.  Encino, CA. 91316 8:30 PM  $50 per person
Online reservation on houseoflebanon.com,  of call HOL office 310-789-5867 or email Ms. Amira Matar at amatar123@hotmail.com
online reservation http://www.houseoflebanon.com/news_events/socialevents.html

 

Honoring recipient of House of Lebanon 2009 Ray R. Irani "Pride of Heritage" Award Mr. Vatche Manoukian.  Ditsinguished Lebanese
Citizen, International Business Leader and Philanthropist.  The award will be presented by Dr. Ray R. Irani, chairman and CEO of
Occidental Petroleum

When:  Sunday, October 18th, 2009
Where: The Beverly Wilshire Hotel  9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA  90212. 
Time : Reception 5:30   Dinner 6:30

For more information call Mrs. Karen Srour  310-789-5867 and for reservation call Mrs. Hanan Mamzeh 949-499-1622.
You can also visit www.houseoflebanon.com for more details.
 

2nd Annual Lebanese American Festival

Hosted By St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission of Las Vegas
www.lebaneseamericanfestivallasvegas.org    or www.stsharbellasvegas.org


Friday: October 9th 2009, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Saturday: October 10th 2009, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Sunday: October 11th 2009, Liturgy 11 to 12 Festival Noon to 8:00 pm
Location: 10325 Rancho Destino Rd. Las Vegas , NV 89183

Join us in celebrating: Authentic Lebanese Food/Beverage, desserts, arts/crafts, live entertainment, games and rides for the entire family.
Take a souvenir Photograph in a Lebanese Background setting, taste our culture and take some flavors home to share.

Blood drive on Sunday 12 to 4 made possible by United Blood Services!
All donated Funds & proceeds to benefit St. Sharbel Mission programs.

Dignitaries and officials to attend the Festival on Friday at 6:30 for the unveiling of the St. Sharbel Statue specially made and shipped from Lebanon .

Sponsors include but not limited to: MGM Mirage, Environmental Ink, Knights of Columbus and Coke.
For More information and participation please contact

Raymonda C Dagher 702-280-7940      rchahayed@cox.net 
Sherial Bratcher 702-285-8984    Sherial@sherialbratcher.com 

 

SEAL News - www.seal-usa.org

Dear Friends,

SEAL’s annual fundraiser was sold out, and we thank you once again for making the event a great success!   We wish to also thank once again our guest
of honor, Ms. Reem Acra, along with Mr. Carlos Ghosn who introduced her.  We were honored by their presence and inspired by their speeches. 

The following generous donors helped us raise money by offering exciting prizes for our raffle:  Clerc Watches, Middle East Airlines, the Intercontinental Mzaar Hotel, PATCHI, Mr.Mohamed Shoucair, Tabbah Jewellers, the Jumeirah Essex House hotel, Lalique USA, Aishti, Bond Street restaurant, ilili restaurants, the Oscar Blandi Salon, Bulgari, Aquarius Broadway LLC, as well as other friends of SEAL who wish to remain anonymous.  We would like to express our gratitude to them once again. 

As most of you know, we have many worthy projects in our pipeline and your donations are very much needed.  We are fully transparent, and 100% of your contributions go directly to Lebanon.  We ask the SEAL friends who were with us last Friday, as well as those who couldn’t make it, to please continue supporting us. To make a tax-deductible financial contributions, please contact our treasurer at jtager@seal-usa.org.

We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next event!   The SEAL Team

(Congratulations on another great event.  Keep up the great work.  Please visit the website to learn more about this great organization and
support them financially, by referring friends, or by sending them a note of encouragement and support.)

Notes and Disclaimer
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