New Jersey Chapter Meeting Minutes, Clifton NJ, Nov 14, 2010

Attendance: Mostafa Khashab, Mona Tantawi, Said Balboul , Mehdi Afifi, Esmat Mahmoud, , Gigi Solomon, Ahmed Fathi, Aly Abul-Kheir, Hashem Sherif, Marliese Elshazly, Mahmoud Elshazly, Tarek Saadawi

Absence: Moeen Mokhtar, Yusry Bekheit, Ahmed ELGammal, Ahmed Ibrahim, Sherif Nasr, Adel Tantawi, Mohamed Khodair, Maged Mostafa, Fikry Andrawes

CC: AEA Board

Minutes:
• 1) The attendees approved last minutes meeting
• 2) The agenda included: a) Plan for 2011, b) how to increase membership
• 3) The Plan for 2011 discussion focused on the importance of providing services to the Egyptian American (EA) community. Services discussed included health services, legal advice, immigration issues, tax preparation, job training, and educational/awareness services, etc. Conclusion is to focus on providing health fair day for the New York City community. Ahmed will prepare a project outline with help from Mona, Said and Mehdi.
• 4) The plan for 2011 discussion included also organizing a half day seminar on “Egypt Sectarian Harmony,” The seminar and topic had unanimous approval.
  Suggested speakers should include local experts in the field. Suggested list included Fikry Andrawes, Gamal Omar, etc. .Hashem, Tarek, and Mahmoud will prepare an outline for this seminar.
• 5) Invite prominent Egyptians who may be visiting New York area, such as writers, intellectuals, for example, some Egyptian actors/actresses may be attending the coming Tribeca film festivals early next year. Ahmed and Mostafa will coordinate these activities.
• 6) Contact and invite local Egyptian newspapers and media outlets for Chapters activities and meetings. Mehdi and Mona will coordinate these activities.
• 7) Increasing membership drive is important and spreading the word is essential task for all members. Paying membership dues has been emphasized.
• 8) Transparency in all aspects, legal, financial, bylaws, etc has been emphasized.
• 9) Committees:
  • Health Fair: Ahmed, Mona, Said, Mehdi
  • Conference Committee: Hashem, Tarek, Mahmoud
  • Media Committee: Mehdi, Mona
  • Guest Outreach Committee: Ahmed, Mostafa
  • Membership Committee: Ali

Next meeting: January 23, 2011 (Snow Date January 30, 2011) at 4 PM, Sultan Restaurant, Clifton, NJ

Action items;
• Health Fair Day outline
• Conference “Egypt Sectarian Harmony,” outline