Home

AKA President
AKA Womens President
AKA Y/S President

Dear Kfarsghabi Relatives and Friends

I am very proud to have the support of the previous committee in accepting my nomination for president.

I am equally proud to see the calibre of my new executive and your directors of our company for the coming year. If you think that is good, our new general committee is a wonderful blend of experience and exuberant first timers to the committee.

In relation to the formation of a Women’s Committee this year, a special meeting has been arranged for 28th March 2010 at AKA By The Park, see a special letter also in this mail out from the Women themselves and I hope all ladies will give attending this meeting their best endeavour.

For those that did not attend the recent AGM, I would like to reiterate the news that past president Raymond Haddad reported, that contracts have been exchanged for the sale of Robert St., for $1.1Million. The deposit has been released to us and settlement will take place late June 2010. This obviously will help reduce some of our debt, but we will still have $1.2 Million to service.

Through 60 years of existence, the various Kfarsghab Committees have accumulated significant assets used to provide enjoyment for thousands of our people. It is ironic that at a time when our asset base is richer than at any time in our history, our debt is also at record levels. Our ability to deliver quality functions, observe religious rites, provide a safe meeting place for our young and continue to support our traditional charitable work, depends very much on reducing the interest component in our outgoings. If this can be achieved, we can lower our costs and overheads all round.

It’s not too late for you to help. Here is what you can do so you and your family may enjoy membership of AKA now and into the long distant future –

· Become a member now – we now have convenient credit card facilities - $20 per year never did as much good as it will do here. Make all your family members – encourage the next generation to take an ongoing active role and keep the flame alight.

· Join the AKA 1000 Club – see a plaque in tribute to your family take pride of place in a prominent place in our new clubhouse.

· Consider participating in our no-interest loan program – assign some funds not being employed, in our keeping for say 3-5 years and claim it back when needed.

· Encourage your children and grandchildren to play in our proud AKA Crusaders sports teams. Our cricketers are the most successful in the Parramatta District in recent times.

· Encourage your younger set age family members to join and actively participate in all facets of their operation.

· Support our fundraising events, which are our best opportunity to reach out to you for assistance. AKA has set a major fundraiser for Saturday 19th June and will be held at AKA By The Park.

Like those arriving late to work for the master in the field, gaining equal benefit to those who worked all day, we welcome our Kfarsghab family no matter when they choose to more actively participate in our ongoing community presence. You are all members of the Kfarsghab Association family. This is your entitlement by virtue of your birthright. Your choice is exercised though when you take financial membership. We would like to urge you to not only consider taking your place in the lists but adding all your family members.

I cannot impress upon our community enough that we still need your help

By the time you receive this letter we will have totally refurbished the air conditioning in “Beit Kfarsghab” as well as many other renovations upstairs, and are ready to move to our unlimited potential of downstairs.

Vice President Danny Nehmeh will handle bookings from now for AKA By The PARK. Mob: 0418489002 or E- Mail: danmar22_52@hotmail.com

Finally I invite you to check out our website www.kfarsghab.com.au, where you will find an updated list of Association, Private and Business functions that have been listed and we invite you to contact the Secretary or any member of the committee if you have any dates to report in order to alleviate clashes.

Do not hesitate to call me if you would like to raise any AKA issues

Yours faithfully

Simon Boulous

AKA President (Tel Mob. 0411575897)

AKA 2010 Election Results

Executive Committee

President

Simon Boulous

Vice President

Danny Nehmeh

Junior Vice President

Jim Simon

Secretary

Emil Haddad

Assistant Secretary

Joe Maroon

Treasurer

Raymond Haddad

Assistant Treasurer

George Coorey

General Committee

Peter Abood, Joey Abood,Raymond Abraham,

Sol Abraham, Cess Basha, Brian Elias,

Lee Elias, Daniel Essey, Joshua Essey,

Arthur George, Arthur Haddad, Marietta Haddad,

Adam Hanna, Louis Hanna, Lee Malkoun,

David Maroon, Helen Maroon, Phillip Merhi,

Sean Merhi, Charlie Moses, Len Norman,

Charbel Rizk, Harris Romanous, Sid Saad,

Cheryl Sayhoun

AKA Women’s Committee Elections

28 March 2010

8.00pm at AKA by the Park

Kfarsghabi Ladies

We make this appeal to all Kfarsghabi women.

As you may or may not be aware last year we did not have enough women interested to form an AKA Women’s Committee. This was a disappointing first for the Kfarsghab community and one we wish to reverse this year. We should also point out that coinciding with this trend, women are very welcome on the AKA General Committee and it has been pleasing to see our women accordingly nominate themselves and in number. Notwithstanding the fact that this affords our women the right to take their rightful place in determining the governance, overall strategy, policies and running of the Association, we do believe there is a very strong need for the Women’s Committee to have continuous tenure in its own right.

We are of the opinion that this situation of missing a traditional women’s link is not representative of the wider community and that most would like to see the Women’s Committee re-formed so as to continue the support they provide not only to the functions but more importantly for the role they play in uniting our families and younger children and instilling in them the family values we proudly embrace. As if to underline the effect, last year there were no children’s discos, no playgroups, no Christmas hampers, no organised catering for the BBQs. We cannot leave it up to the General Committee to organise these events properly without our input.

We owe it to the past Ladies Auxiliaries and Women’s Committees and our own community especially our children to continue this tradition.

We cannot do it on our own – the ever-present few - and thankfully, many women have expressed to us that they will offer support. However, we need you to actually sit on the Committee and take an active role in our operation. It would be great to get a cross section of ages on the Committee. In that way, we get varied ideas for functions and the more experienced ones can offer advice to the newer ones. We have had frequent mention that being on the Women’s Committee has taught new generations of our women skills not easily gained in today’s fast paced living environment.

The Women’s Committee elections will be held on Sunday evening 28 March at 8.00pm at AKA By The Park. Please consider coming and bringing everyone you know, and help us to reinstate the Women’s Committee to its rightful, honoured place in our tradition.

Finally, in the words of that other great Australian woman, Helen Reddy –

I am woman – hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

I am strong – I am invincible

I am WOMAN

Signed

Women of Kfarsghab

Dear Younger Set Members & Friends of Kfarsghab

I hope this letter finds you all in good health and happiness.

My name is Joseph Merhi and I am extremely proud to be the Younger Set President for 2010.

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jamilie Lahood and her committee for their hard work and commitment in the 2009 year. I am sure the new committee will continue the good work in 2010.

In this mail out there is a notice promoting the annual Good Friday Trivia Night which will be held on Friday, 2nd April, 2010 at AKA ‘By the Park’. Come along and enjoy yourselves. Make an effort and bring a friend along.

I call on all Kfarsghab youth to be part of the AKA Younger Set to help make 2010 an exciting and successful year where we can all enjoy ourselves in the comfort and safety of our fellow Kfarsghabi and friends.

If you have any suggestions or questions please do not hesitate to email me on the Younger Set Association email address: akayoungerset@hotmail.com. As well, if you or members of your family happen to be planning private functions (21st, weddings etc) please let us know as this could avoid multiple function clashes within the community. We also have on the AKA website our AKA Social & Cultural Calendar Dates Schedule for 2010 and represents only those functions held by AKA. It is updated regularly. www.kfarsghab.com.au

I hope to see all of you there on Good Friday.

On behalf of the AKA Younger Set Committee we thank you for your support and God Bless you all.

Joseph Merhi

AKA Younger Set President