57^th ADS NATIONAL CONVENTION

 JUNE 30^th – July 6^th

2003

San Francisco, California

President         Vice President             President-Elect            National Treasurer

Fadi Zuhayri      Ramona Alley                Rachid Boudiab             Dr. Akram Bou-Ghannam

Board Members

Wajdi Abou Chakra, Nida A. Alandary, Dr. Mark Boukzam, Dr. Naji Ghazal, Abdel Magid Ghreizi, Dr. Nizam Najd

National Office Managers

Asmahan Masri and Rania Jurdi

A Special thanks to the ADS Northern California Chapter, the generous Sponsors, the dedicated Volunteers and the local Druze Community for their hospitality and for making this convention a success

 2003 Convention Chairman

Haitham Ballout

Convention Committee Members

Raghida Aboulhosn, Sally Aboulhosn, Saoud & Sahar Attrach, Haitham & Linda Ballout, Rabih & Amal Ballout, Marwan Boudiab, Foazi & Gofran Barouki, Fuad Bou Salman, Riad & Hind Bou Salman, Samir & Hoda Boushakra, Chadi Chazbek, Aref El Ahmadieh, Mahmoud & Suhaila El Banna, Salma Esrawi, Naji & Ola Ghazal, Refaat Halabi, Lila Ibrahim, Nabil Ibrahim, Rania Jurdi, Maadad & Rima Malaeb, Sami & Ferial Malaeb, Asmahan Masri, Housam & Randa Matar, Joumana Matar, Rima Matar, Nadim Moucharafieh, Nagib & Nadera Mousharafieh, Samer Nassar, Salah & Samar Noureddine, Hafez & Nada Rafeh, Heba Rafeh, Rabih Rafeh, Fahd & Seham Shaaban, Raja & Hayat Souki

2003 Convention Program

MONDAY June 30^th, 2003

Free time for optional activities (e.g. Golden Gate Park visit, Alcatraz trip, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge, shopping, various Museums, exploring different beautiful neighborhoods in San Francisco, etc.)

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Convention Committee/Ladies Auxiliary Meeting – by Chairman Haitham Ballout 

Board Room C

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm ADS National Board of Directors Meeting - by President Fadi Zuhayri

Board Room C

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Registration

Grand Foyer

TUESDAY July 1^st, 2003

9:00 am – 8:00 pm Registration

Grand Foyer

9:00 am - 6:00 pm Optional trip to Napa Valley -Wine Country

If you haven’t made advanced reservation, please check with the ADS registration desk to find out if space is still available on the bus. Pre-Reserved Members: Please meet at the ADS registration desk at 8:30 am

Noon – 4:00 pm Optional Children’s (12 years old and under) trip to Pier 39

Meet at the ADS registration desk at 11:30 am

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Children's talent screening

Grand Ballroom

9:00 pm - 2:00 am Opening Reception Entertainment and Dance

Grand Ballroom

10:00 pm Hospitality Suite

Bayview Room

 

WEDNESDAY July 2^nd, 2003

8:00 am - 8:00 pm Registration

Grand Foyer

8:30 am - 10:30 am Welcome Breakfast

Equinox rooftop restaurant

10:30 am - 12:30 pm Annual Business Meeting  

Pacific D-G

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Druze Exhibit “Markings of the Journey”

Pacific BC

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm “Druze Singles Challenges” Discussion Part I – Rana Halabi

Pacific H-J

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Choosing Compatible Partners in the Internet Age – Dr. Anis Makarem

Pacific H-J

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Kids Talent Show

Grand Ballroom

9:00 pm – 1:00 am Children’s Program and Babysitting (12 years old and under)

Regency Room

9:00 pm - 2:00 am Reception Entertainment and Dance

Grand Ballroom

10:00 pm Hospitality Suite

Bayview Room

 

THURSDAY July 3^rd, 2003

8:30 am – 10:00 am Registration

Grand Foyer

9:30 am - 5:00 pm Picnic at “Paradise Beach Park”

Picnic Buses depart at 8:30 am (off the Market street hotel doors)

Directions to Paradise Beach Park (park’s phone # 415-435-9212), which is located at 3450 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA:

Hwy US-101 North (From Embarcadero, Turn Left on Broadway St., Right on Van Ness Ave., Left on Lombard St., Bear right on Richardson Ave. to US 101 North towards Golden Gate Bridge)

Take the TIBURON BLVD/CA-131/E BLITHEDALE Ave exit

Turn Right on TIBURON Blvd.

Turn Left on Trestle Glen Blvd.

Turn Right on PARADISE DR

Area 1-4 of the Park are reserved for the ADS

8:00 pm - 1:00 am Singles Night Out at Schroeder’s restaurant (phone # 415-421-4778) located at 240 Front Street (between California St. and Sacramento St.; next to Embarcadero Skydeck; walking distance – 2 blocks from the Hyatt Regency hotel).

8:00 pm – 1:00 am Children’s Program and Babysitting (12 years old and under)

Regency Room

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Devotional – Nadim Kassem

Pacific H-J

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm Poetry Recitals - Youssef Abdel Samad and Dr. Anis Obeid

The session will be open to poets and developing poets who want to participate as well.

Pacific D-G

10:00 pm - 2:00 am Reception Entertainment and Dance

Grand Ballroom

10:00 pm Hospitality Suite

Bayview Room


 

FRIDAY July 4^th, 2003

 

9:00 am - 8:00 pm Registration

Grand Foyer

10:00 am – 11:00 pm Druze Exhibit “Markings of the Journey”

Pacific BC

11:00 am – 12:30 pm Building Community through Volunteerism workshop – Dr. Sue ElHessen and Denise Akl
Pacific D-G

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm American Druze Woman to Woman Discussion  - Panel Discussion moderated by Ramona Alley

Pacific D-G

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm American Druze Foundation (ADF) Presentation “Tawheed Faith – Where do we stand?” - Committee On Religious Reform

Pacific D-G

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm Concert Reception

Grand Foyer

7:00 pm – 2:00 am President’s night – Cultural Festival Grand Ballroom

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm Concert Seating (Note that no one will be allowed to enter after the concert starts except during intermission. Please arrive early.

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm “An Evening of Arabic Classical Music” – Simon Shaheen and Near Eastern Music Ensemble

9:00 pm – 9:30 pm Awards and ADS Affairs

9:30 pm – 2:00 am Special entertainment with Nabil Safi

7:00 pm – 2:00 am Children’s Program and Babysitting (12 years old and under)

Regency Room

9:00 pm 4th of July Fireworks

10:00 pm Hospitality Suite

Bayview Room


SATURDAY July 5^th, 2003

10:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration

Grand Foyer

9:00 am - 2:00 pm American Druze Foundation (ADF) Board Meeting

Board Room C

10:00 am – 11:00 pm Druze Exhibit “Markings of the Journey”

Pacific BC

10:30 am – 11:30 am Druze Council of North America Q&A – Sami Merhi

Pacific H-J

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm “Druze Singles Challenges” Discussion Part II – Rana Halabi

Pacific H-J

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm From Our Heritage: “El Hakem Bi Amr-Allah” – Dr. Melhem Salman

Pacific D-G

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Balancing between the Preservation of our Values and Customs, and the Necessity of Community Evolution in the Modern World – Panel Discussion Dr. Melhem Salman, Manal Baz, Peter Hamady, Rania Kassem
Pacific D-G

 

6:30 pm - 7:15 pm Grand Banquet Reception

Grand Foyer

7:00 pm - 2:00 am Children's Banquet Dinner, Entertainment and Babysitting (3 –14 years old)

Seacliff AB

7:00 pm – 2:00 am Babysitting for children not attending the kids banquet dinner

Regency Room

7:15 pm – 8:00 pm Grand Banquet Seating

8:00 pm - 4:00 am Grand Banquet Dinner – Grand Ballroom

            8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Dinner

9:00 pm - 9:30 pm Presentation –

2003 Woman of the Year Award to Mrs. Ramona Alley

2003 Man of the Year Award to Mr. Muneer Zaineldeen
9:30 pm - 2:00 am Live Entertainment and Band – Nabil Safi

2:00 am – 4:00 am DJ Entertainment

11:00 pm Hospitality Suite

Bayview Room

SUNDAY July 6^th, 2002

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ADS National Board of Directors Meeting

Board Room C

12:00 pm Check Out