The Lebanese Forces Students Association of North America

The LeEbanese Forces Students in Montreal oragnized a Lebanese mid-session party on March the 19th in night club Le Social.
The party was a real success for our office since we were able to gather more than 120 people knowing that this is the first party that we organize. We had never thought that the party could make such an impact on the young Lebanese society in Motreal. Every other Lebanese youth association was surprised how we were able to make our first party that successful.

This party was a great experience for us. It helped us in attracting new people to LF and in changing the wrong image that people have about us.

The Lebanese Forces Students Montreal Chapter invites you to participate in the Lebanese mid-session party on March the 15th in club Le Social (1445 Bishop street, Downtown area).

Tickets are for 10$ if bought in advance and 15$ at the door.

DJ Roy Abi Nassif will be playing Lebanese music along with some english tunes.

If anyone from outside Montreal would like to come to spend the weekend here and participate in our party, we would be glad to provide a place to sleep plus transportation. If intrested, please send an e-mail to: Nikitomas@hotmail.com .

On Sunday, February 10, 2008, the LFSANA NE Pennsylvania chapter gathered in Easton, PA at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church to celebrate a mass in the memory of all Lebanese Martyrs. Afterwards, we hosted a brunch in the social hall, where information about what we want to grow in this area was distributed. The gentlemen who made their way to Easton gathered at Queens Deli in Fogelsville, PA and discussed where we are and where we want to go with the organization in the area. Necessary steps were planned to allow for us to grow in Easton, including establishment of monthly meeting. On behalf of the LFSANA NE Pennsylvania Chapter, I’d like to thank all those that made it possible to make it to the mass and activities that followed especially Elie (NJ Chapter President), Mike , Fadi (NY Chapter) and his parents, Simon, Edgar, Wissam (President of LFSANA), and Rani (VP of LFSANA). We’d like to also thank Abouna Kamil Al-Chouifati for a beautiful mass. May God bless the members of the LFSANA who work hard to help this organization strive and move forward. Finally, this was a very successful 1^st event and meeting for both LFSANA and the Lebanese Forces Chapter NE PA , and a great opportunity to meet and coordinate with members of other area Chapters. Our focus now is to grow both NE PA Chapters, spread the Lebanese Forces values, and play a positive role in our communities keeping focused on the Lebanese Forces ultimate goals and strive to achieve them.

On Jan 26, 2008 the Toronto Lebanese Forces Student Association held its first general meeting. All who attended were extremely excited to get started on organizing events that centered on many different issues. Everyone’s main goals were for the group to become a better network for new LF students arriving in Toronto, working with the media to further our cause, and planning many other events for the future. The students were joined by the Toronto Chapter president, Philippe Sader, who reminded the students why they were gathered and what they are working for. Many students became involved in his speech and questions and debate took centre stage.

During the meeting, it was determined that in order to keep focused especially in Lebanon’s current time of need, we must remember what the cause means to us and those who died fighting for it. A quick vote was taken and a secretary was chosen and was approved by the Toronto Lebanese Forces Student Association president. Our next meeting is planned to take place mid-February, followed by regular monthly meetings. Overall, it was a successful first meeting, as everyone got to know each other, and were determined to make this meeting a stepping stone to a very fruitful future.

The Lebanese Forces Students in Cleveland, OH held their first meeting on Saturday, January 19th at the Quality Inn in Richfield, OH.
More than 150 people were present. Guests started arriving around 8:30 and everyone gathered for a brunch. Then the program started; President of the Lebanese Forces Chapter in Cleveland Dr. Chris Nasr, LFSANA Coordinator in Ohio Ms. Abir Hatem, and the President of LFSA were the speakers of the event.

All students and guests were invited to attend a meeting after viewing the movie “Tahet Sama Lebnan.” During the meeting, the LFSA president addressed the students and emphasized the importance of participating in forming the chapters in various universities in the area as well as well as committing to the upcoming events and meetings that will take place in the future. The Vice President of LFSANA and Abir addressed the group about several other important issues that the students show know about as well.

The Lebanese Forces Students in the area are very thankful and honored to have had the LFSA and the Chief Coordinator of the area, Mr. Tarek Madi, present at the event. Their attendance and support were very much appreciated.

Please visit the LFSANA Facebook group to view pictures of the event.
Thank you for all those who attended this event, and big thanks to all those who contributed to its success. We are looking forward to seeing you all in future meetings and events.

The Lebanese Forces NE PA Chapter will hold its first mass for the Lebanese Martyrs in Easton Pennsylvania. The mass will be held on Sunday February 10th. This is a big step for the Lebanese Forces in the Lehigh Valley Area. We need as much support as possible for this mass and would like to invite all chapters to come join us in prayer.

Location:Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
55 South Fourth Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 18042-4536

Date: Sunday February 10th 2008

Time: 10:00Am

Abouna  Kamil Al-Choufiti will begin mass at 10am followed by a brunch in the church hall.

If anyone has any questions or needs directions feel free to contact me at anytime. Thank You

Owtil1@yahoo.com

610-597-8338

The Ottawa Lebanese Forces Student Association organized a fundraising
dinner on September 2nd 2007 at a local Ottawa Lebanese restaurant.

The dinner was an outstanding success, as around two hundred people
attended and a net amount of 4,400.00 was raised. The profits were given
to the Lebanon Lebanese Forces Student Association. Mr. Tony Bared took it
upon himself to deliver the sum to its intended beneficiaries.

A donation of a thousand dollars was also made to the Ottawa LFSA by a
Lebanese-Canadian businessman attending the dinner in question.

The Ottawa LFSA is grateful for the outpour of support received from the
Ottawa Lebanese community in general and from Lebanese Forces partisans in
particular, and the organization promises everyone that this will not be
the last of its fundraising endeavors.

The Ottawa Lebanese Forces Student Association was invited, on Saturday, November 3^rd 2007, to participate in a talk-show on Chin Radio hosted by Andre Ibrahim.

Representing the OLFSA were President Azar Salami and Secretary Charif Khoury. The discussion covered a wide array of issues related to the specificity of the association within the University of Ottawa. Out of respect for the apolitical nature of the show, the OLFSA did not dive into detailed questions regarding Lebanese politics and instead invited listeners to discover the party’s stances through the speeches of its leader Dr. Geagea.  

President Azar Salami mostly focused on the institutional approach of the OLFSA. He described the organization as pursuing the ideals of knowledge and commitment in a spirit of tolerance and open-mindedness. He insisted the OLFSA is willing to help all Lebanese groups on campus, and invited individuals from across the Lebanese political spectrum to get acquainted with the OLFSA and its members and discover the civility inherent to their approach. 

Secretary Charif Khoury invited Lebanese immigrant youth to solidify their relationship with the country. He asked all not to categorically demonize the whole of Lebanese politics and to actually embrace that realm since it is out of political will alone that Lebanon’s problems can be overcome. Reminding listeners of the Aristotelian notion of Man as a political animal, he urged them to help the Lebanese Forces restore its nobility to the Lebanese political realm. 

On Sunday November 4^th LFSANA representatives Wissam and Rani visited Easton PA to meet with the LF youth community over here. They attended the morning mass and met and discussed LF issues with several LF supporters. After the mass Wissam, Rani, Abouna, and many LF supporters met at Owtil Koury’s house for lunch and they discussed many topics about the LF. Lots of progress was made regarding the structure of the LF Student Association in the region.

If you are planning to launch LFSANA chapter in your college I encourage you to contact LFSANA and they will provide you with a lot of help and guidance. What is so unusual about Easton is that a lot of them are aouniehs, and yet we are more organized in every sense. We have a stronger will to achieve and this will be our key for success. Again I encourage as many LF students to work on creating their chapters. We are now in the process of forming a chapter in a local college.

I thank Father Kamil Al-Choufiti for sitting down with us for lunch and giving us his blessing. I also want to thank Wissam and Rani for making the trip up to Easton and meeting with us.

I attended the annual “soiree” of the LSA in Gainesville FL on Friday 11/16/07. The event was very well organized and successful. It brought together many lebanese students in Gainesville and many came from all parts of Florida. I am proud to say that the president of the LSA in Gainseville is a rafi’ and will be working with us in LFSANA to organize LF student events in Florida.

By attending this event (I had to drive 2 hrs to Gainsville from Jacksonville), I got to meet the Lebanese community of Gainesville, and to meet some LF rifa’ who will be joining our team.

I encourage such events for this purpose and I encourage coordinators and chapter presidents to attend any Lebanese events where you can make contacts and be a good example.Always act responsibly and remember you now represent the LF.

Thank you Gui Abi Nader for organizing this excellent event.

On November 4, 2007, the Lebanese Forces Students of Toronto proudly showed the film “Under the Skies of Lebanon” in Mississauga to a crowd of impressed and excited viewers from all over Toronto and the GTA. More than 150 people filled the Lecture Hall of John Cabot Catholic School. People began to arrive at 6:00 pm, and waited anxiously as copies of the movie were sold and refreshments were served to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. The attendants sat with family, friends, and even people they had just met for the first time, and chatted about the movie and wondering aloud about what to expect amongst audio speeches of Sheikh Bachir Gemayel playing over the loudspeakers. The members of the Lebanese Forces Toronto Students as well as different chapter members worked relentlessly to secure a relaxed and fun atmosphere for all.

At about 6:30, a short speech was presented outlining what the movie was about and what it meant to the Lebanese youth movement. Finally, the movie started, and the room went silent. AS the movie wore on, different responses were heard from the large crowd. Before the movie had started, a member of the Toronto chapter who had already seen the movie stated that we should have put a box of tissues at each row. His idea was not very far fetched, as many were drawn to tears at some emotional parts of the movie. Some were taken back to the days in which they had fought in the very same battles outlined in the movie, and others who were too young to have fought were moved by the courageousness and sacrifice of the different martyrs they saw on the screen, both living and dead. The images of war and pain affected everyone watching the movie, but at the same time they were uplifted by the images and sounds of hope that chimed in near the end. As soon as the short tribute to Sheikh Bachir Gemayel appeared on the screen, loud applause filled the room, as well as during one of the many inspiring speeches of Dr. Samir Geagea. But the most resounding applause and cheering came at the end of the film, when the credits were met with a standing ovation from the crowd. In fact, as someone went to the front to address the crowd, they found it hard to speak over the resounding applause that filled the lecture hall.

Many of the audience members came up to the table where the films were being sold to congratulate and thank the students who were involved in making the viewing happen. Many commented on how essential a movie like this was, especially with the political uncertainty facing the nation. Many expressed joy in the fact that the students of the Lebanese Forces we driven to make such a movie, and how it affected both young and old so deeply. They bought many copies to give to their family and friends, and many commented on how well the film was made, and a few even said it had renewed their faith and outlook in the Lebanese cause. Everyone filed into the hallway outside the Lecture Hall and chatted over coffee about the movie and the various points it made. It was a very important part of the viewing that it would initiate conversation within the community, and this is exactly what it did. Different people talked about different topics with their neighbour, branching off into larger debates and conversations.

All in all, the Lebanese Forces Students of Toronto were very happy with the outcome of this kick-off event. Both the impact of the movie as well as the events’ ability to recruit new members to the group contributed to the overall success of the night. The students involved regard the night as being a great initiation into the community as well as a stepping stone in the creation of future events. This was the first event officially hosted by the LFST and it turned out to be one that will not soon be forgotten by all who attended.

Thanks to everyone in the Lebanese Forces Students Toronto who was involved, particularly: Sabine El-Chidiac, Dona Geagea, Michel Chaaya and Joe Moghaizel. Also, special thanks to the Lebanese Forces Toronto chapter on supporting and helping out in this event.