World Lebanese Cultural Union
To: Members of the World Council*
To the WLCU officers and Members (for information only)
Following the Invitation announced on August 30th and the reminder sent on september 27th to attend the next WLCU World Council in Victoria – Canada in 27 and 28 of October 2006
We would like to remind you the folowing :
Dear colleagues
Due to the accelerating events taking place in our beloved motherland, and the various challenges and obligations facing our Union. It is my duty and my privilege to call for yet another World Council meeting this year.
This meeting is expected to be a turning point in the way the World Lebanese Cultural Union runs its daily affairs. Your participation is extremely significant due to the importance of the issues that will bring this organization to a new level .
This meeting was suggested by many WLCU officers mainly our colleagues from Australia whom we respect and adhere to their wishes to apply the rule of law and work hand in hand with a spirit of unity to best serve our country and its causes.
The meeting shall take place in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on the 27th and 28th of October 2006.
The hotel accommodation is free of charge as it is donated by our colleague Najeeb Asfar, owner of the three-star “Travellers Inn” chain of hotels in Victoria. MR Najeeb Asfar is an honorary member of the WLCU, BC Council.
You can click at this link and pick any hotel as they are all in the same vicinity :
http://www.travellersinn.com/rates.htm
PLEASE INFORM THE SECRETARIAT GENERAL ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION BEFORE OCTOBER 19TH for the following reason :
M. Najib Asfar from Victoria is anxious to make this meeting a successful one. He, not only want to offer hospitality to the visitors from out- of- Canada, he also is preoccupied in arranging a program to show the guests the beauty of Victoria and the surrounding areas.
Najib would like to know the names of the guests to reserve the rooms a little ahead of time. It will be easier if the out-of-town visitors could congregate upon arrival to Vancouver Airport , and share a taxi to the Ferry. It will be a good idea to phone one of us and let us know the time of the Ferry’s departures, and we will arrange to pick them up.
Najib is ready to offer 3 day hospitality to the visitors from out- of- Canada. Over and beyond the 3 days, they will be responsible for their extended stay. As for the people living in Canada, the nightly fare will be $49.95 + tax.
We all appreciate the gift offered by Mr. Asfar to the WLCU, and we can understand that he is part of the Hotel with directors and CEOs, therefore we applaud this typical generous Lebanese man who dreams in making other Lebanese proud and happy.
Details about the travel :
The city of Victoria, where our World Council will take place, is the capital of the procince situated in an island called Vancouver Island (5 times the size of Lebanon with a population of 500.000 ), there is an airport in victoria, but it is not an international one.
The main city in the province of British Columbia is VANCOUVER ,
the main airport is the Vancouver International Airport (YVR),
You should book your trip mainly to Vancouver and ask your travel agent to book from Vancouver to Victoria,
or
book your trip to Toronto, Calgary or Montreal then change to Victoria.
or congregate upon arrival to Vancouver Airport , and share a taxi to the Ferry to go to Victoria Island.
The World Council Agenda :
The agenda includes, but not limited to, awaiting your input and suggestions:
– World Secretariat General report
– World Treasury report
– A status report and a call for action presented by the President.- The “July 12 war” in Lebanon, its consequences, UNSCR 1559 and 1701, the WLCU position and the role of the Diaspora, the Sydney Resolutions, chapters affairs, movie documentary, Youth programs, and other confidential issues to be announced at the meeting.
– Report of the Culture and Heritage Committee
– Report of Finance and Economics Committee
– Report of the Committee of Internal Communications
– Internet websites.
– Report of the World Council for Youth
– To put in agreement the World Constitution and bylaws with the Chapters and State Councils ones which could avoid a lot of problems in the future.
– To Review the rules of using the proxies (please prepare your suggestions)
– With an aim of taking part in the rebuilding of South Lebanon, The WLCU decided to launch a worldwide campain to contribute towards the one million dollars project aiming to buy new equipments for Ain Ebel hospital.
(‘see details in seperate email)
In addition to the points already annouced in the previous email, we suggest you to send us any point you wish to add to the Time Table of the World Council.
World President World Secretary General
Anise Garabet Georges Abi Raad
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* For more information see below the World Council article in the Bylaws.
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Article 17: The World Council is comprised of:
– The World President, the Vice-Presidents, the World Treasurer and the Vocals.
– The Secretariat General, which includes the World Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General the Regional Secretaries General, Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, the Assistant Secretary General for Financial Affairs and the Assistant Secretary General for Committees Affairs, without a right to vote
– Presidents of National and State Councils.
– Chairmen of the Committees of Geographical Regions
– The Chairman of the World Council for Youth.
– The Chairman of the Committee for Ladies of Lebanese Descent.
– The President of Council on Foreign Affairs
– The Chairman of the Committee of International Relations.
– The Chairman of the Communications Committee
– The Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee
– The Chairman of the Cultural and Heritage Affairs Committee
– The Chairman of The Business and Economics Committee
Article 18: Authority of the World Council
(A) The World Council shall have the power to:
(i) Supervise the implementation of the decisions of the World Conference by the executive organizations of WLCU.
(ii) Study, discuss and approve the annual budget of WLCU.
(iii) Make the necessary recommendations and decisions to be applied by the executive organizations of WLCU.
(B) Call World Conference meetings to be held in ordinary and extraordinary sessions (Article 15-a).
(C) The World Council will, under normal circumstances, meet once a year in Lebanon or elsewhere, as specified in the call to the meeting. The World President will call for the meeting by way of the World Secretariat General. An extraordinary assembly of the World Council will be held upon a request by the World President, or upon a recommendation made to the President by the Secretariat General or by any of the committees of the geographical regions.
The President will decide on the recommendation within one month from the date of having received it. Within one month from having accepted to call a meeting, the President shall call for the meeting of the World Council
(D) The World President shall chair the meeting and shall be assisted by the World Secretary General and by six auditors appointed by the President, each auditor representing one of the 6 geographical regions.
(E) A quorum is attained in the first session by the attendance of half of the invited members plus one; otherwise by attendees of the second session, irrespective of their number, which will be held, under normal circumstances, within two hours of the posted time of the first meeting.
(F) Decisions shall be taken by an affirmative vote by the absolute majority of the attending delegates and voting shall be made by hand raising, subject to the provisions of article16.
(G) Each eligible member to the World Council is permitted representation at any session of the World Council by a delegate of his/her choice, chosen from the members of the organization over which he/she presides. He/she shall empower the chosen delegate with a written authorization for the specific session. The authorization shall bear the stamp of the organization and the signature of its president.
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WLCU 14th Congress Sydney resolutions:
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1) Retracing the international borderline between Lebanon and Syria.
2) Establishing diplomatic relationship between Lebanon and Syria and exchange ambassadors and opening embassies respectively.
3) Release of the Lebanese political prisoners in Lebanon, Syria and Israel and investigate the whereabouts of people unaccounted for.
4)The general pardon issued in 1991 had an exclusion clause that should be removed to allow all political exiles to return to Lebanon, specially the ones who were displaced to Israel from south Lebanon.
5) Complete implementation of UNSCR 1559.
6) Support the right of return of the Palestinians to their motherland and refuse any kind of permanent settlements in Lebanon.
7) Review all citizenships granted since 1990.
8) Right of all Lebanese abroad to vote in the general elections.
9) Relation with the Lebanese Government:
a- Recognition of WLCU as a non Governmental institution, independent from its authority.
b-Appointment of a Commissioner representing the WLCU with the Lebanese
Government.
