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House of Lebanon E-Newsletter July, 2009 | |
House of Lebanon Picnic Highlights
Friends...Music...Dance...Great Fun |
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Pride of Heritage Banquet Honoring
Vatche Manoukian
The House of Lebanon Ray R. Irani Pride of Heritage Award will be given to Mr. Vatche Manoukian on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The banquet committee, chaired by Rachid Eletel has been working to coordinate all aspects the banquet. Also participating on the committee are Banquet Co-Chairmen Dalida Keuroghlian, GG Ghazarossian and Anise Garabet.
Each year, tribute is paid to the honoree and this year's tribute book, coordinated by Dalida Keuroghlian is accepting tribute ads. To pay tribute to Mr. Manoukian and to the House of Lebanon, contact Dalida Keuroghlian or Karen Srour, Executive Director at 310 789-5867 or ksrour@houseoflebanon.com |
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Upcoming House of Lebanon Events
July 31st
HOL Young Professionals Social Evening at MirageDate: Friday, July 31, 2009
Time: 8:00 pm - 2:00 am
Location: Mirage Restaurant
Address: 16925
Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles California 91316
Telephone Number: 818.788.9800
PayPal Price: $35.00
Door Price: $40.00 PayPal Link
August/September - TBD
Hiking with the Artists' Group
October 18th
House of Lebanon's
Ray R. Irani Pride of Heritage Banquet honoring Mr. Vatche Manoukian at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California November/December - TBD HOL Young Professionals Charity Event at Isaiah House |
HOL Artists' Exhibitions & Performances
Carole
Choucair Oueijan
Tesserae: The Art of
Mosaics
International Group Exhibition
2nd City Council Art
Gallery
435 Alamitos Ave, Long Beach
Reception: Saturday,
July 11, 7-9 pm
http://www.2ndcitycouncil.org/
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Dalah Faytrouni and Reem Hammad
Colors of The Arab
World
Art Exhibition June 11-Nov 12, 2009
Friends Gallery, (213)
489-1900 x 120
634 S. Spring St. Los Angeles, 3rd Floor
Downtown LA Artwalk is
July 9th, 6:30 -8:30 pm
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WANTED:
Youth of Lebanese Origin
Ages 17-25
and a stay in a summer residence near Beirut. The program was established in an attempt to
promote a better relationship between young Lebanese Emigrants and their mother
land, and to let them know better their country of origin its cultural,
environmental features and tourist sites in all the Lebanese provinces, through
seminars and excursions that will be offered during the camp.
Participants will stay in Lebanon at the Ministry's expenses; they
will only pay their trip to Lebanon.
Participation forms and the program are available in the
Lebanese Embassies
and Consulates and at www.emigrants.gov.lb
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Dear Friends of the House of Lebanon,
Thank you to all who attended the annual House of Lebanon Picnic at El Dorado Park in Long Beach. Thanks to a few avid photographers, we are sharing an overview of the event and hope you will join us next year, Sunday, June 6, 2010.
Our E-Newsletter keeps evolving month after month, as we are adding new information relevant to the House of Lebanon and the Lebanese community around Southern California and throughout the world! If you have any suggestions on information you would like to see in upcoming issues, please email us at editor@HouseofLebanon.com.
Have a safe and relaxing summer!
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Annual House of Lebanon Picnic Highlights
Picnic participants
enjoyed the afternoon at El Dorado Regional Park listening to the music of
international DJ Dandana, meeting old and new friends, playing a competitive
game of volleyball sponsored by the HOL Young Professionals and dancing Dabke
under the instruction of Stephanie Sullivan. Hadi Khalil and Amira Matar who
coordinated the picnic for the House of Lebanon received our thanks and praise
for a job well done.
HOL Artists' Carole
Choucair Oueijan, Dalah Faytrouni and Natasha Atalla painted a
variety of flowers, Lebanese flags and other fun objects on the hands
and faces of children and some adventurous adults.
Vendors offered goods
and services to attendees, including delicious Lebanese food from Cham-ya,
ice cream & sweets from Sweet Dreams Ice Cream, Lebanese souveniers
from Sami Al Habre, jewelry and Middle East accessories by Urwish,
Worldnet Telecommunications operated by Ztelephony and Arab TV
packages from Reach Media.
Kanan Hamzeh, President of the House of Lebanon offered these words at the event:
Good
afternoon ladies and gentleman and welcome to the House of Lebanon Annual
Picnic. We are proud that you joined us despite all what is going on today, the
elections in Lebanon, no doubt you want to know the results, we hope it will
happen in a peaceful and orderly manner. We would love to show the world how
Lebanon practice free and democratic elections. And of course we have the Lakers
game later this afternoon, and so many other things.
Anyway
we hope you and your family will enjoy spending the day with us. We have a rich
program that Amira and Hadi will tell you all about. And on mentioning them, I
would like to thank Amira Matar and Hadi Khalil for working very hard to put
this picnic together for your enjoyment. Also I would like to thank the House of
Lebanon Artists Group who are giving kids beautiful faces this afternoon. And
the House of Lebanon Young Professionals Group who organized the Volleyball Tournament.
Both groups have programs all year long, and we encourage you to join them.
Please talk to them and find out more about their programs. Many of the
Lebanese American Directors are here as well, starting with our Chairman of the
Board Dr. Hanna Shammas, please talk to them and they will fill you in about
our plans for the future.
Standing
next to me is our Executive Director Mrs. Karen Srour, who is also ready to
answer any questions or take any suggestions, and we always welcome your ideas
and thoughts. Have
a great afternoon.
And everyone did indeed!
Backgammon
Photo sent in by Kanan Hamzeh
Dabke instruction by Stephanie Sullivan
Photo sent in by Kanan Hamzeh
Face Painting
Photo sent in by Carole Choucair Oueijan
Youth Dabke Dancing
Photo sent in by Amira Matar
HOL Artists Dalah, Carole & Natasha
Photo sent in by Carole Choucair Oueijan
Young Professional Sponsored Volleyball Match
Photo sent in by Michael Alti
Proud to be Lebanese
Photo sent in by Natasha Srour
 ShoppingPhoto sent in by Natasha Srour
Volleyball Tournament Teams
Photo sent in by Zeina Hamzeh
Friends of HOL from Tripoli, Lebanon
Photo sent in by Kanan Hamzeh Dr. & Mrs. Salaymeh and Hanan Hamzeh
Photo sent in by Kanan Hamzeh
Dr. Hanna Shammas and Mike Chambers from Partners Bank of California
Photo send in by Kanan Hamzeh
Save the Date for 2010
HOL Annual Picnic
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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House  of Lebanon Director Profile
Elie Kawkabani
Born in
1966 in Beirut, Lebanon, Mr. Kawkabani immigrated to the US in 1984, where he
earned a Bachelor's degree, followed by an MBA from the University of Southern
California in 1990.
Mr.
Kawkabani is a seasoned entrepreneur, now embarking into his third venture in
his professional career. Today, Elie is
the CEO of TV2MORO, Inc., (www.tv2moro.com) an ambitious new project that is utilizing
today's internet power to enhance foreign language speakers' entertainment
experience by providing live streaming and on demand ethnic channels and
programming directly to people's television sets, without the use of any
satellite dish or traditional cable connection.
Prior to
Tv2MORO, Elie was the President and CEO of REACH Media Inc., which specialized
in distributing media products that cater to ethnic communities across North
America. The company's products include
foreign and U.S. produced programs and films distributed via linear channels,
PPV, VOD, Cable and Broadband SVOD, DVD, Mobile, and other media.
Mr.
Kawkabani has achieved many benchmarks in his position at REACH Media. Under his watch REACH Media evolved into one
of the largest suppliers of channels to Echostar Dish Network, and has achieved
a category leadership position relative to its number of ethnic channel
subscribers.
Prior to
joining REACH Media, Mr. Kawkabani served as President, CEO of Blue Isle of
California. Blue Isle is a clothing
manufacturing company catering to major retail chains offering branded and
private label for young men's and boy's clothing lines. There he was in charge of product development
and sales, as well as negotiating all contracts with customers and vendors.
In addition, Elie is the Founder, President and
Chairman of the Board of Ethnic Broadcasters of America (EBA). This
organization represents 90% of all ethnic broadcasters in the USA and aims to
strengthen the links and cooperation between these companies.
Elie is married to Carole Sfeir Kawkabani, and
together they are blessed with two wonderful children, Marc (13) and Maya (11).
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House of Lebanon Director Profile
 Nabil Captan
Four
years ago, Nabil embarked on a project dealing with the complex and boring subject
of credit scores and credit reports. One
of his foremost findings was that lack of knowledge and misinformation about
credit, and the use of credit, is not only limited to consumers, but also
encompassed educators, regulators, financial professionals and the credit
industry itself. Lack of education is
one thing; however, misinformation was widespread not only by so called credit
experts, mediocre financial professionals and sleazy credit repair companies,
but also in the heart of the credit industry. Take the three credit bureaus; Experian, Equifax & TransUnion as an example, for years
they have been making tens of millions
selling their own versions of credit scores (FAKO) without ever disclosing to consumers that their scores are
never used by lenders. His endless efforts and commitments finally paid off and
resulted in the making of The Credit DVD
Series in English and Spanish. TIME LIFE has picked up the series for
national market testing.
Furthermore, in
order to insure that the Spanish version would be understood by the many
subcultures that comprise the faces of this group, Nabil assembled a team as
diverse as America.
The project's team consisted of: a Cuban writer, a multi cultural director, a
Chilean director of photography, a Dominican sound engineer, an Argentinean
accent police, a Puerto Rican TPO, Venezuelan and Mexican personalities (as
seen on TV and in Films), and a dedicated team from various Central and South
American countries.
His goal is to make this helpful and accurate information as widely available as
possible, to educators, financial professionals and students. Currently Nabil is a
Center Stage Speaker for Wells Fargo
bank. His next presentation is
scheduled on July 22nd, at the Marriott, Warner Center Woodland
Hills.
Nabil Captan is available to answer any questions you may have about the series, future projects,
recent findings and challenges facing educators and regulators when delivering credit
education. He can be reached at Ncaptan@creditdvd.com.
You can also find much more information at www.creditdvd.com. |
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HOL Artists' Group Spotlight
Ceramic Artist....
Reem Hammad
Reem Sayem el Dahr-Hammad was born in Aleppo, Syria and grew up and studied in
Beirut, Lebanon. She began her studies in Fine Arts at Beirut University
College (BUC) before moving to Los Angeles and graduating from UCLA with a
Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. Reem was pursuing a career in Graphic Design
when she realized a need to take on a new direction in Ceramics, an art form
she had come to appreciate during her early studies. After raising her two
boys, she embarked on a new path of artistic expression manifesting her passion
for design in various ceramic styles. She draws inspiration from her
middle-eastern background, Islamic Art and her diverse life experiences as an
Arab- American woman.
 Native American Inspiration
Deco Bowls
She is currently President of IMAN: International Muslim
Women Artists Network and for the past two years, she has been the Visual Arts
organizer for 'God Loves Beauty Festival', an Interfaith Arts Festival in Los
Angeles, CA.
Reem is proud to be a member of the HOL artists group as
it allows her to reconnect with her roots and manifest her deep affection and
allegiance to the Lebanese community and the country that nurtured her soul and
helped shape her mind and her outlook on life.
 Divine Symmetry
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Census 2010 - In Our Hands
With the 2010 Census less than year away, the Census Bureau encourages our community to
participate in the Census to ensure a complete count of the population. An
accurate count is important, as the data directly affects how more than $300
billion per year in federal funding is allocated to communities for
neighborhood improvements, public health, education and much more.
Census forms mailed to every US household in March 2010 will not ask for
social security information, or legal status. All census information collected
are protected by law. The Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with
the FBI, the IRS, Immigration, or any other government agency. No court of law
or law enforcement agency can find out respondents' answers. All Census
employees take an oath for life to keep census information confidential. Any violation
is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years in prison.
Because the
Arab and Lebanese community is undercounted, the Census Bureau encourages our community to fill
out the form and pay additional attention to the "race/ethnicity" question by
checking the "other" box and fill in the blank next to it. An accurate count of
our community will ensure better representation of and stronger presence. For
more information, contact Rashad Al-Dabbagh at 714-936-7203 or rashad.z.al-dabbagh@census.gov.
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New Book Releases by Friends of HOL
My American Bride...A Tale of Love and War
THE BOOK
I sit in the
same small village where I was born, some
ten miles
from the Biblical Cedars of Lebanon ... I wonder if there is value in writing
my story ... I am a Lebanese man of the twentieth century. I was a national
leader in times of unimaginable unrest and strife. My story is inextricably
bound to the story of a Midwest American girl
who became my wife ... my children have grown up and departed each in his or
her own way. My wife, the woman I loved and who is the reason I think of
writing this account, died three years ago. I find myself in dialogue with
myself. The more lonely I am, the more intense the dialogue...
- From the
author's preface
Exactly one year after arriving in 1951
as a student in the USA,
Elie A. Salem met a young American woman with whom he was to fall in love. She
became his wife and went back to live in her husband's homeland as an American
yet, when she died, as his brother would tell him, she died a Lebanese. My American Bride is the hauntingly wonderful
chronicle of a remarkable relationship.
For well over half a century, as her
husband pursued a highly successful career as an academic, politician and
statesman, his wife Phyllis would always be at his side. And this moving
account tells the story. However, there
is another reason, the author hopes, for his book to be read. 'This is not a
good time for Arabs and Americans,' he writes. 'Indeed a wave of hatred and
abject misunderstanding permeates the sphere between them. I write in the hope
that it is useful to tell our story, essentially a love story, at such a time.
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THE AUTHOR
Dr. Elie A. Salem is President of
Balamand University in North Lebanon, after a
distinguished career in academe and politics. He was professor of Political
Science at the American University of Beirut
and Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at AUB from 1974 until 1982,
when he became Lebanon's
Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs during Amin Gemayel's presidency
(1982-88). Dr Salem has written numerous books and articles; most recently, a
study of violence and diplomacy based upon his experience as a government
minister.
 The Origins of Biblical Stories
Author Dr.
Semaan Salem writes about the importance of the Old Testament and its impact on the development of Western thoughts are not in doubt. The Old Testament often quotes the Lord verbatim as He addresses its many prophets, and many believe that it is the living Word of the living God. The Judeo Christian world accepted this dogma and worshiped this unique God, vanquishing all other deities. The intent is not a discussion of faith. We are searching to determine the origin of the Old Testament, its authorship and how that great masterpiece was put together. When the ancient literature of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Canaan became available, comparison of their content and biblical literature became possible. Here, similarities between the ancient literature of the Near East and the content of the Old Testament are
pointed out.
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The House of Lebanon
Young Professionals
Present
An Evening of Dinner &
Dancing
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009
Time: 8:00 pm - 2:00 am
Location: Mirage Restaurant
Address: 16925
Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles California 91316
Telephone Number: 818.788.9800
PayPal Price: $35.00
Door Price: $40.00PayPal Link
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