1. Suggestions & Deliberations by Musa Freiji
First Levant Chapters Meeting
Amman Jordan
Oct. 11, 2008
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

2. WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting
Outline
Notes and suggested amendments to WAAAUB bylaws
Recognition of successful alumni and funding of WAAAUB
Solving the dispute with AAA
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

3. Notes and Suggested Amendments to WAAAUB bylaws
Mission
The mission of the Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut (“WAAAUB”) is to engage all alumni of the American University of Beirut (“University”) in advancing and in supporting the educational, research and service mission of the University. WAAAUB will foster the educational, career and social interests of the University’s alumni and will work to preserve and promote the rich heritage and values of the University.
1-1 Strengthen the ties …
Engage all Alumni …
Foster … the interests of the Alumni
No where in the bylaws there is any mention on how these targets may be realised.
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

4. Notes and Suggested Amendments to WAAAUB bylaws
1.2- I suggest that the special committee for amending the bylaws outlines
the practical steps for implementation. Once approved, these can be added to
the bylaws as an attachment.
Status
- WAAAUB does not have a separate legal status.
- WAAAUB’s governance & administrative structure allow it to operate
autonomously within AUB.
- WAAAUB is accountable to the BoT on policy matters and to the
Alumni on operational matters.
2.1 WAAAUB’s autonomy is limited.
2.2 How can WAAAUB be accountable to its AUB’s Alumni worldwide?
What mechanism is to be implemented for such accountability? -
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

5. Notes and Suggested Amendments to WAAAUB bylaws
Chapters
3.1 Serious consideration needs to be given to the formation of Regional
Unions of Chapters wherever possible and agreeable. This facilitates
the work of WAAAUB Board via its Committee for Chapters and other
standing committees.
3.2 If approved, Article VI of the bylaws should be amended to
accommodate this change. Attachment A- Chapter Policies
Procedures will have to be amended too
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

6. Recognition of Successful Alumni and Funding of WAAAUB
As one practical means of implementing WAAAUB’s mission towards the
alumni, I suggest the adoption of the following:
Widen the scope of responsibilities of the Outreach Committee to include reaching out for all successful alumni worldwide.
The Committee to employ capable journalists or engage free lance journalists whose task is to identify and interview successful AUB alumni and publish such interviews in one or more of AUB’s publications.
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

7. Recognition of Successful Alumni and Funding of WAAAUB
The committee is to classify candidates such as business-men or women, professionals, academics, politicians, etc.. and come out with a minimum fee to be paid to WAAAUB for each profession.
The targeted number to be interviewed per year, out of an estimated 10,000 successful AUB alumni, at present, should not be less than 2,000. The estimated yearly income for WAAAUB from this function should be $4-5 million.
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

8. Solving the dispute with AAA
WAAAUB was established on June 20, 2005
Discussions between representatives of the BoT or AUB president and AAA board has been going on for several years prior to the above and since that date, i.e. over 5 years, with no definitive results.
Present AAA president, Mr. Tohmé, is inclined to a accept the following solution:
AAA to be the sole alumni association in Lebanon.
Lebanese regional chapters to report to AAA
AAA to abandon any representation of regional or international alumni chapters.
Professional chapters of AUB to be given the choice of reporting to AAA or WAAAUB directly.
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting

9. Solving the dispute with AAA
I believe above solution needs to be adopted sooner than later for the following reasons:
The majority of the Alumni are Lebanese.
Due to the civil war the percentage of Lebanese graduates is increasing
AUB functions will be attended mainly by Lebanese alumni.
AUB sits on the Lebanese soil
AAA has a history of being the sole AUB alumni association.
The on-going dispute is creating an unhealthy atmosphere and confusion amongst most AUB alumni, especially in the MENA region.
WAAAUB should get more involved in solving the dispute.
11/10/2008
WAAAUB First Levant Chapters Meeting