By Julie Makarem

•  Francisco, California

American Druze Society 51st Annual Convention
The American Druze Society Celebrates Its 51st Annual Convention
TOGETHER FOR FIFTY-ONE YEARS              
.  The National Office consists of :
            President                   Faouzi Mokarem
            Vice President           Abdul-Magid Ghreizi
            National Treasurer   Sahar Muakasa
                 President-Elect                    Julie Makarem
            Board Members:                      Yousef Abdul-Samad
Ziad Alameddine
Romana Alley

Ali Assaf

Hani Chtay                                             
                                                Ramsey Kaed Bey                                                                                                                                Joe Sefa
                                                          Fouad Sleem

                Convention Chairman 1997        Haitham Ballout, Esq.

Convention Chairpersons:
                Convention Committee :            Northern California Chapter
                                                                                May Malaeb
                                                                                Rabih Ballout
Saud Attrache
Nabil Aridi
Khaled Abi-Chahine
Hind Bou-Salman
Linda Ballout
Rabiha Abi-Chahine
Souhaila Elbanna
Naji Ghazal
Teo Elmasri
Basil Elbanna
Fouad Bou-Salman
Yola Ahmadieh
Nabil Naim
Faouzi Barouki
Mahmoud Elbanna
Aref Ahmadieh
Fahd Chaaban
Samir Boushakra
Houssam Mattar
Hikmat Ahmadieh
Raafat Aboulhosn
Hoda Boushakra
Hikmat El-Attrache          

Chapter Presidents: Boston               Fouad Ghannam
                                       Connecticut           Dr. Nabil Zahreddine  
                                       Central Texas        Hani Chtay
                                       Georgia           Sleiman Hamadeh
                                       Houston         Camille Chehayeb
                                       Illinois                          Adnan Korkamaz
                                       Michigan        Amine Musleh
                                       North California       Dr. Faouzi El-Barouki
                                       North Carolina         Rabih Chaaban
                                       Richmond       Nemat Shaban
                                       Seattle                          Ramsey Salha
                                       South Calfornia      Justin Budare
                                       South Florida         Rifaat Alghawi
                                       Tri-State          Ziad Alameddine                                                 
Washington D.C.   Fouad Sleem
                                   Ohio                    Farris Alameh
                                        Central Florida      Issam Hatoum
                                        Pennsylvania        Walid Rafeh                                 

C.O.R.A.                Dr. Wahbah Sayegh, Chairman

C.O.C.A.                Sami Merhi, Chairman

C.O.E.     Dr. Abdallah Najjar, Chairman

Information           Fouad Sleem
Finance

1998.  ORLANDO, FLORIDA
American Druze Society 52nd Annual Convention
            President                 Julia Mullin Makarem       
            Vice President         Sara Aboulhosn
            National Treasurer   Sahar Muakassa
            Board Members:      Youssef Abdul-Samad                                                                                              Ziad Alameddine
                                              Ali Assaf                                     
                                              Hani Chtay
                                              Teo Elmasri                           
                                              Abdul-Magid Ghreizi
                                              Joe Sefa

Council of Presidents: Fouad Sleem     

Convention Chairman  -  Mr. Atef Hatoum

The Omni Rosen Hotel  in Orlando, Florida,  1998  

Convention Committee - 1998    

Marwan Mosrie, Omar Mazry, Ibrahim Mazry, Allam Hatoum, Hind Hatoum, Charlene Beaman, Marwan Naime, Liliana Naime, Issam Hatoum, Lamia Mosrie, Sally Ayash, Amanda Masry, Debra Aboulhosn, Ghassan Elchaar, Raja Ackley, Hikmat Nasr, Ziad Aboulhosn, Mona Shaheen, Amer Elmazry, Lydia Nasr, Jennifer Nasr, Hanna Baz, Mona Masri, Ramzi Mosrie, Suad Aboulhosn, Maher Baz, Imad Mazry, Bedry Hatoum, Davis Hamd, Adel Hatoum, Rowayda Elchaar, Doha Mosrie, Raymond Hamed, Farida Radwan, Aida Masri, Nada Hatoum, Asma Hatoum, Batina Hatoum, Rinda Shehayeb, John Sawah, Asis Elmasri, Samer Silman, and the Central Florida Chapter.

ADS National Committee Chairpersons

National Membership                Ms.  Sara Aboulhosn
Information                                Mr. Fadi Zuhayri
Finance                                    Mr. Ziad Alamaddine
Education and Fine Arts        Dr. Naji Jurdi
Youth of the ADS                     Mr. Teo Elmasri
Tuition Program                       Ms. Lama Makarem

Elections and Nominations      Dr. Rabih Aridi
Druze Orphans’ Fund              Ms. Afifi Masri
Ladies Auxiliary                        Ms. Souhaila El-Banna
C.O.R.A.                                    Mr.  Adel Hatoum
C.O.C.A.                                    Ms. Julia Makarem
C.O.E.                                      Dr. Abdallah Najjar
1998 Convention  Chairman    Mr. Atef Hatoum

Chapters and Presidents
Boston                                    Mr. Ayman Rajeh
Connecticut                            Dr. Nabil Zahreddine
Central Florida                        Mr. Issam Hatoum
Central Texas                         Mr. Ramsey Ghreizi
Georgia                                   Mr. Sleiman Hamadeh
Houston, Texas                      Mr. Karam Bou-Hamdan
Illinois                                      Mr. Adnan Korkomaz
North California                       Dr. Faouzi El-Barouki
North Carolina                         Mr. Mazen Aboushakra
Ohio                                         Mr. Farris Alameh
Richmond, Virginia                  Mr. Nadim Andary
Seattle                                     Ms. Hyatt Aboulhosn
Southern California                  Mr. Fouad Barakat
Southern Florida                       Mr.  Rifaat Alghawi
Tri-State                                   Mr.  Sami Salha
Washington, D.C.                    Mr. Fouad Sleem 
Ohio                                         Mr. Farris  Alameh                              
               

The "Message From The President" 1998

• I am truly honored to have the opportunity serve the Druze people in the United States as the National President of the American Druze Society. The Society has held a special place in my heart all of my life, and now, I am so proud that it is still a very special part of my life. I have always believed that the American Druze Society plays a unique role in the lives ofthe Druze families in the United States, and the Society is instrumental in committing the American Druzes to the highest standards of Druze life here in these United States. When peers gather at an Annual Convention, a chord is struck in each of these young people that Druze morals, so much a part of each one's life, denotes an honorable and ethical life style which they can see is prevalent among each of them.

Because the American Druze Society Chapters play a positive role in the sustenance and support of the American Druze Community, they must continue to look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. The Chapters' role is immeasurable, and only through their continued growth can the Society's distinctive commitments remain intact. These commitments are more important now than they have ever been, and as your National President, I want to serve the Chapters and support their work. The Chapters role should be magnanimous. The Chapters provide a means for our children in which they can relate to the Faith their parents were raised in; they provide the moral and principled characteristics that are so much intrinsic to a Druze.
I am a dedicated Druze and my devotion to the Druze Faith is unquestionable. It was through the American Druze Society that I learned this, and I absolutely believe that the Society is instrumental in committing the American Druzes to the highest standards of Druze life here in these United States. I carried these standards with me throughout the years I lived in Lebanon, and it was through my Druze Faith that I sustained the entire Civil War years and the trials I faced there. Throughout the years I was away from America, I remained active in my role as a member ofthe Society, and it was only natural for me to come back to an active role in the Society when I returned to the United States. To counter the absence of attending each convention when I was living in Lebanon, which is essential for a dedicated member ofthe Society, I continually wrote articles for the Our Heritage publication regarding the Druze Faith and its history, as well as, the many problems that were occurring inLebanon during the Civil War, as well as, my personal encounters. Therefore, can not a dedicated and devoted female Druze who never left the Society - and what it stands for - from the inception to the present - be a leader - and really lead? I think so!!
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of promulgating a new election law to insure that the requirements are met by nominees to all the offices. The necessity of insuring the Society's role and maintaining the democratic expression of people's preferences is utmost in importance. I call on our young members to suggest ideas for achieving this, and I urge them to take an active part in the Society's affairs. Young people should, therefore, be encouraged to run the Society. However this will not happen without the implementation of clear cut rules of democracy and the existence of progressive leaders. The importance of involving them in the many issues of the Society is paramount to the American Druze Society's continued existence. Thank you, Julia Makarem
See 1998 Annual Convention     Annual Business Meeting.
1999.  Rutherford, New Jersey Convention
American Druze Society 53rd Annual Convention
ADS Officers and Board of Directors
President                 Julia Mullin Makarem *
Vice President         Sara Aboulhosn
National Treasurer   Sahar Muakassa
Board Members:      Youssef Abdul-Samad
  Ziad Alameddine
Ali Assaf                                     
*Hani Chtay
Teo Elmasri                            
Abdul-Magid Ghreizi
Joe Sefa
Council of Presidents: Fouad Sleem
 Dr. David Dodge, President of the American University of Beirut, and his wife, Mrs. Doris Dodge were President Julie Makarem’s guests, and they did attend the Convention Banquet and Dr. David Dodge was the guest speaker. 
The annual yearbook for 1999 had been completed prior to the Convention, and it was distributed at the Convention in Rutherford, New Jersey.
ADS National Committee Chairpersons
National Membership               Ms.  Sara Aboulhosn
Constitution Committee           Dr, David Najjar
Information                               Mr. Fadi Zuhayri
Finance                                    Mr. Ziad Alamaddine
Education and Fine Arts          Mr. Samir Makarem
Youth of the ADS                     Mr. Fadi Zuhayri
Tuition Program                       Ms. Lama Makarem
Fund Raising Committee         Mr. Teo Elmasri
Elections and Nominations      Dr. Rabih Aridi
Druze Orphans’ Fund              Ms. Afifi Masri
Ladies Auxiliary                        Ms. Souhaila El-Banna
C.O.R.A.                                    Dr. Naji Jurdi
C.O.C.A.                                    Ms. Julia Makarem
C.O.E.                                      Dr. Abdallah Najjar
1999 Convention  Chairman    Mr. Sami Merhi
Hospitality Suit                         Tri-State Chapter
Chapters and Presidents
Boston                                    Mr. Ayman Rajeh
Connecticut                            Dr. Nabil Zahreddine
Central Florida                        Mr. Issam Hatoum
Central Texas                         Mr. Ramsey Ghreizi
Georgia                                   Mr. Sleiman Hamadeh
Houston, Texas                      Mr. Karam Bou-Hamdan
Illinois                                      Mr. Adnan Korkomaz
North California                       Dr. Faouzi El-Barouki
North Carolina                         Mr. Mazen Aboushakra
Ohio                                         Mr. Farris Alameh
Richmond, Virginia                  Mr. Nadim Andary
Seattle                                     Ms. Hyatt Aboulhosn
Southern California                  Mr. Fouad Barakat
Southern Florida                       Mr.  Rifaat Alghawi
Tri-State                                   Mr.  Sami Salha
Washington, D.C.                    Mr. Fouad Sleem 
Ohio                                         Mr. Farris lameh

Annual Conventions         2000 onwards
2000.  Beirut, Lebanon
American Druze Society 54th Annual Convention

President, Dr. Naji Jurdi
Vice President:  Romana Alley

2001. Costa Mesa, California
American Druze Society 55th Annual Convention
Costa Mesa Hilton

President, Dr. Naji Jurdi
Vice President:  Romana Alley

2002.  Boca Raton, Florida
American Druze Society 56th Annual Convention

July 1 – July 7, 2002

Boca Ratoun Resort & Club

2003.  San Francisco, California
American Druze Society 57th Annual Convention
June 30 – July 6, 2003
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
President
Fadi Zuhayri
Vice President ­Ramona Alley
Convention Chairman – Haitham Ballout

2004.  San Diego, California
American Druze Society 58th Annual Convention
June 27 – July 4, 2004
San Diego Marriott Mission Valley
President  Rachid Boudiab
Vice President  Mark Boukzam

2005. MIAMI, FLORIDA
American Druze Society 59th Annual Convention

President  Rachid Boudiab
Vice President  Mark Boukzam

2006.  Boston, Massachusetts
American Druze Society 60th Annual Convention
June 25 – July 2, 2006

Marriot Boston Burlington

President  Emad Abul Hosn
Vice President  Romona Alley