The American Druze Society held its 1995 annual convention; here are the convention minutes:
In 1995, Washington, D.C. hosted a remarkable and special event, as members of the Druze community in the United States gathered for the annual convention of the American Druze Society. This annual convention was an opportunity for individuals and families to meet and celebrate their rich cultural and religious heritage.
The convention included a variety of events, from educational lectures to fun evening celebrations. The proceedings began with registration and a welcome breakfast, followed by an annual business session, where administrative and society matters were discussed and new leadership was selected.
The convention also featured events dedicated to children and youth, including games, educational and fun activities, as well as artistic performances and dancing. It was an opportunity for old and new friends to get to know one another, share conversations, and strengthen the bonds of family and friendship.
The 1995 American Druze Society convention began in Washington, D.C., with attendee registration in the Grand Foyer. Registration continued throughout the day for early and late arrivals.
Convention Chair, Jimmy Silliman, welcomed the attendees and officially announced the start of the 1995 convention. Dr. Wahba Al-Sayegh opened the official launch with a prayer.
President Sami Merhi welcomed the guests and thanked the Washington, D.C. chapter for hosting the 49th annual convention of the Society. Chapter presidents presented their reports. This was followed by a discussion period regarding changing the name of the American Druze Society and the funds raised for the Cultural Center in Southern California. Then, President Sami Merhi presented his report for the year, noting that 250 new members had joined in 1994. All funds from the perpetual membership campaign were invested in certificates of deposit at Bank Audi in New York.
Then, Julia Makarem from Detroit, Michigan, Ramzi Kaedbey from Dallas, Texas, and Yousef Abdel Samad from Paramus, New Jersey, were nominated for the presidency. Joseph Saffa from Fenton, Michigan, as well as Hisham Abu Zaki, Hani Ishti, Imad Hasniya, May Qassem, and Mr. Ali Assaf were nominated for board membership.
It was unanimously approved to dedicate the 50th anniversary of the American Druze Society in 1996 in Detroit, Michigan, to Uncle Naef Kattar.
Dr. Wahba Al-Sayegh captured the attention of the very young Druze in this workshop. The children were excited to participate in a discussion about their religion. There were many questions among them, and Dr. Sayegh was constant.
On Thursday, July 6, 1995, an informative lecture on the Port of Lebanon shipping was held. Mr. Mohammed Shaheen gave an exciting informative lecture about the Port of Lebanon shipping, which is considered one of the largest ports in the Middle East. The lecture included an overview of the port's history and development.
And on Friday, July 7, 1995, the Orphans Session was held. Mr. Fouad Salim delivered his annual report as Chair of the Orphanage Committee. He explained that "all donations are tax-deductible and can be paid to any branch of the American Druze Society through a designated representative. All costs are covered by the National Office, so 100% of your donations go to the orphanage. These orphans, most of whom are children of martyrs, live thanks to your donations. Please do not forget them!"
A lecture on the importance of the Arabic language was also held in the Jackson Room. Mr. Talal Al-Sayegh gave an interesting and useful lecture on the importance of the Arabic language.
During an evening tour in Washington, D.C., a bus was organized for a "Twilight" tour in Washington. For a nominal fee, guests enjoyed an early evening tour of Washington. They rode an open-top bus for two hours from the hotel, which allowed participants to see the main landmarks of Washington at twilight. Guests who wanted to use the subway did so. They used the escalator at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel entrance to reach the subway station that took them to downtown Washington, a few blocks from the Mall. They were able to visit all the famous places they wanted to see.
Children's entertainment sessions and a wonderful evening party were also held.
On Saturday, July 8, a Youth Workshop was held: "A Liberal Perspective." Mr. Samah Hilal gave a workshop in which he addressed the topic of a "Liberal Perspective." This meeting was a complement to the discussions of young Druze about the future of the Druze community in the United States.
A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the American Druze Foundation was held, where they affirmed their commitment to managing the foundation's affairs in a professional manner, away from potentially divisive political issues. They aim to establish more cultural centers like the one in California. These centers are intended to serve as repositories for documents, publications, and other items related to the Druze community and its unique history. The foundation also aims to encourage and support the publication and dissemination of scientific research on the characteristics of the Druze faith and people.
A Druze youth discussion was held at noon. Mr. Nabil Qassem led a discussion on the achievements of professional Druze in the United States. He invited the attendees to join the Druze Youth Association to enhance cooperation and build a better future for the community.
Youth and Teen Group Discussion: "Discussing Social and Cultural Topics"
Mr. Hisham Abu Zaki oversaw this discussion. Further plans were discussed to strengthen relationships among the youth throughout the year. The enthusiasm of the young Druze was encouraging, and many names and contact addresses were exchanged among them. Many ideas and ways to achieve them in the future were collected.
A gala dinner was held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel. Mr. Jimmy Silliman gave a welcome speech and introduced President Sami Merhi. This was followed by the introduction of the President-elect, Fawzi Makarem.
On Sunday, July 9, 1995, a Board of Directors meeting was held. The new President, Fawzi Makarem, led the Board meeting and welcomed new board members, Julie Makarem and Ziad Al-Imad. Planning for the 50th anniversary of the American Druze Society began, and President Makarem announced that the convention would be held in Detroit, Michigan. He also presented his agenda for his presidential term over the next two years.
