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History of the Druze in America 1999
RUTHERFORD NEW JERSEY
On June 29, 1999 at the Business Meeting of the 53rd Annual Convention in Rutherford, New Jersey, Mrs. Julia Makarem, National President of the American Druze Society, was physically removed from the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel as National President by the Board of Directors, by the President Elect, Dr. Naji Jurdi and the Convention Chairperson, Mr. Sami Merhi.
Due to irreconcilable differences with the Board of Directors interpretation of the Constitution and By Laws, and the non-permissible actions by the Board of Directors, as well as the non-permissible actions by Mr. Fuad Sleem, Chairman of the Charitable Affairs Committee and the non-permissible actions by Past President Faouzi Mokarem in 1996, Mrs. Julie Makarem filed a law suit. The non-permissible actions by all the named above were Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Internal Naturalization Service (INS) involvement in violation of the ADS By Laws. The present Board of Directors compliance with said illegal IRS and INS actions were the reason for the Law Suit.
[1]( See IRS Case, MY COLLECTION at the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor),
With the approval of the Committee of Elders (COE), Mr. Rafic Rasamney, Mr. Bahij Abul Hosn, Dr. Abdallah Najjar and Mr. Jack Hamady, Mrs.Julie Makarem filed a law suit against the President Elect, Mr. Naji Jurdi and the present Board of Directors. When taking the “Oath of Office” as National President, Julie Makarem swore that in maintaining her position as National President, she would perform her responsibility which is to keep the American Druze Society free from any unlawful actions, thus, preserving the Society’s integrity and character as a “Charitable” organization in the United States [2](See By Laws MY COLLECTION at the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor).
Julia Makarem’s removal from the Presidency was just another incidence of the many “infractions of the BY-Laws,” by the said Board of Directors. The By Laws, which state that a two-third majority of the membership is required to remove an officer of the Society, were again violated with this illegal action by the Board of Directors. [3](See By Laws MY COLLECTION at the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor).
The “bully” tactics of the Convention Chairman, Mr. Sami Merhi, and Board Members: Mr. Ali Yousuf Assaf[4], Leader of the illegal actions of the Board of Directors, Mr. Nabil Kasem[5], leader of removing Julie Makarem as President,
Mr. Joseph Sefa, Mr.Teo Elmasri, Mr. Majid Ghreizi, Mr. Fadi Zuhayri and President Elect Mr. Naji Jurdi, as well as Mr. Ajaj Andari were threatening; therefore, Mrs. Julie Makarem was not allowed to impose the By Laws of the American Druze Society, therefore, President Julie Makarem was physically forced to leave her room in the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in Rutherford, New Jersey immediately on June 29, 1999; thus, she was not able to preside and fullfil her duties as National President of the American Druze Society to the end of her tenure, Saturday, July 3, 1999..
Ms. Sahar Muakassa, Secretary Treasurer gave her resignation from the National Board immediately following the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999. She was not present for the Annual Business Meeting on July 30, 1999. She attended the Convention.
Ms. Sara Aboul Hosn, Vice President, did not attend the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, nor did she attend the Convention. She did not answer the conference call for the vote to impeach President Julie Makarem on June 29, 1999.
Dr. David Najjar, Constitution Committee Chairman was not present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, nor did he attend the Convention. He retired from the position Constitution Committee Chairman.
Mr. Nabil Kassem, Board Member, , was present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, and he attended the Convention. He led the vote to impeach President Julie Makarem in the Board Meeting on July 29, 1999.
Mr. Majid Ghreizi, Board Member, was not present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, nor did he attend the Convention. He did not vote to impeach President Julie Makarem in the conference call on July 29, 1999; he was in Lebanon.
Mr. Teo Mosrie, Board Member, was not present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, nor did he attend the Convention. He voted to impeach President Julie Makarem in the conference call on July 29, 1999.
Mr. Joe Sefa, Board Member, was present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, and he attended the Convention. He voted to impeach President Julie Makarem in the Board Meeting on July 29, 1999.
Mr. Fadi Zuhary, Board Member, was present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, and he attended the Convention. He voted to impeach President Julie Makarem in the Board Meeting on July 29, 1999.
Mr. Ali Assaf, Board Member, was present at the Business Meeting on June 29, 1999, and he attended the Convention. He voted to impeach President Julie Makarem in the Board Meeting on July 29, 1999.
[1] The report of the “Law Suit” for the IRS Case, as well as the infractions of the BY Laws by the Charitable Affairs Committee Chairman, Mr. Fuad Sleem, Convention Chairman, Mr. Sami Merhi, President Elect, Mr. Naji Jurdi, and Past President Mr. Faouzi Mokarem, as well as the Board of Directors is available in “MY COLLECTION” at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
[2] The American Druze Society By Laws are available in “MY COLLECTION” at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
[3] The American Druze Society By Laws are available in “MY COLLECTION” at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
[4] Mr. Ali Yousuf Assaf was Leader of the illegal actions; Mr. Ali Yousuf Assaf correspondences to President Julie Makarem are available in “MY COLLECTION” at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
[5] Mr. Nabil Kasem arranged for the conference call to absent Board Members and led the vote at the Board Meeting on July 29 to impeach President Julie Makarem. He also conducted the Annual Business Meeting, along with Mr. Sami Merhi and Mr. Naji Jurdi on June 30, 1999, and they created a situation of chaos when President Julie Makarem tried to speak from the floor; they exhibited total disrespect to President Julie Makarem in front of the entire ADS body attending the Convention.
++“World Druze Ladies Society,” an organization set up by Julie Makarem in 1998 (See 1998 ORLANDO, FLORIDA) had three representatives from abroad: Lebanon, Canada, and Venezuela. The meeting did not materialize; subsequently, nor did the World Druze Ladies Society due to Julie Makarem’s absence from the Convention.
++During the 1998 Convention, I established a Society of World Druze Ladies. Dr, Nazek Abed, Dr. Insaf Hassan, and Ms. May Abu Hamdan from Lebanon are here to join me in this endeavor. This Society will have guidelines, a mission, and a format that Druze ladies all over the world will find conducive to their joining.
.
++ See:
1998 Annual Convention Annual Business Meeting
Chaired by President Julia Makarem
10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Salon 2
President Report for the Annual Business Meeting (June 25, 1998)
Wednesday, 10:00 A.M. July 1, 1998
President Julie Makarem gave the following report to the Board.
.++(See Report above 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
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