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Major Committees
Major AABA Programs and Activity
Descriptions
Community Services – Marilyn Ganame, Chairperson
The Community Services committee is comprised of 4 AABA Directors
responsible for several AABA activities; Food Certificates, Aid Program,
and Scholastic Achievement Awards. These 3 programs are intended to
assist those in need and the deserving youth of our Arabic community.
- Food
Certificates – AABA distributes $2,500 in food certificates
to the priests of our supporting churches at both Easter and
Thanksgiving. The intended use for these certificates is to provide
assistance to individuals in need from within each parish. The
recipients remain anonymous, with the hope and prayers of AABA that
their fortune will turn.
- Aid
Program – AABA has its own Aid Fund, where individuals who
become known or identified to the committee and require emergency or
medical care, food, shelter, heat money, clothing, or other
extraordinary situations, may receive direct financial aid. This
program is there to assist members of our community who are in need.
- Scholastic
Achievement Awards – AABA grants three (3) $1,000 awards to
high school seniors who are pursuing a secondary education each
year. Working through the Nicholas G. Beram Veteran’s Association
and the Syrian-Lebanese Women’s Club, AABA is able to demonstrate
support for those deserving students that achieve at a high academic
level. It is our hope that some of these students will return this
support to AABA later in their life.
All of the funds required to finance these programs come by donations
from our supporters. Their consistent generosity has allowed AABA to
maintain and grow its effort within the communities we support and
serve.
Communications – Randy Mudarri (Radio) and Paulette
Mabardy (Web Site)
AABA’s communication program is made up of two
vital, distinct committees that work together in promoting AABA and
community activities. The Radio and Web Site committees provide AABA
with different media outlets to inform the Arabic community at large
about the functions and activities our supporting churches and
organizations are planning or running.
- Radio
– The AABA Radio
Committee is comprised of several volunteer radio announcers, who
work with the programmers at WRCA, 1330 on your AM dial, to produce
the one hour Sunday Arabian Nights Radio Program from 9:00 AM to
10:00 AM, which includes paid advertisers, Arabic music, community
news, and personal messages. There are several methods in which
someone can provide support: Full Business advertisement ($25 for
50 seconds), Business Card advertisement ($15 per business card
reading), or Personal Announcement ($10 per reading). Blank forms
for any of the indicated ads are available upon request, by visiting
our web site AABA Radio web
page, or by using a blank form enclosed in the back of this
booklet. The program is broadcast in English and features new,
modern, and old-time favorite music of the Middle East and North
Africa. The program is non-political and does not express views on
controversial issues. We work with our supporting churches and
organizations in announcing their events and festivities. The
Arabian Nights Radio Program is the oldest and longest running
ethnic radio program in the country.
- Web Site
– The AABA Web Site Committee oversees the new home page of AABA,
www.aabausa.org, the links to
other related sites, documents that can be downloaded, etc. The web
site contains the most current information about AABA, the programs
we support, Cheriton Grove apartments, and our proposed Cheriton
Heights facility. You can also e-mail AABA with any questions,
concerns, or issues you want to bring to our attention. Our e-mail
address is
aaba@aabausa.org
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Planning & Development (P&D) – David E. Hajjar, Chairperson
The P&D committee is currently comprised of 3
AABA Directors, but can include up to an additional four (4)
non-director members from the community and has 2 primary functions:
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Major Projects/Activities - The
primary purpose of this committee is to recommend, develop, and
implement programs that involve major projects or major activities
for AABA. Currently, the P&D committee is overseeing the proposed
90-unit Cheriton Heights mixed income senior housing development
across from the existing Cheriton Grove senior housing complex. The
committee is working with several city agencies, as well as
MassHousing and HUD, to make this goal a reality. We are hopeful of
being selected by HUD as a senior housing project to fund in 2007.
Construction would begin approximately 18 months after selection.
To find out more about this project, visit
www.cheritonheights.org.
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Fundraising Subcommittee - Comprised
of not more than 5 members, this committee develops and recommends a
plan on how to raise the necessary funds for a particular project.
Currently this committee is developing a fund raising plan for
Cheriton Heights, where AABA will be looking to raise over $2
million dollars as its share of the Cheriton Heights project. These
funds will be utilized to create a permanent address for AABA within
the facility, as well as an Arabic Cultural Center.
Social – Lisa Salemi and Olivia Waishek, Co-chairladies
The Social Committee is comprised of 8 AABA Directors. The committee
is responsible for arranging and supporting several activities. Two of
the main activities are:
- Senior Day Trips – The Social Committee plans and
schedules three or four day trips in and around the New England area
for seniors each year during the months of May, June, July, and
August. Transportation, along with lunch and entertainment, are
provided for each senior AABA member at a low cost. The trips for
all AABA senior members are partially subsidized by AABA. If there
are any available vacancies, non-members of AABA are welcome to join
the trip. However, the cost of their trip is not subsidized – they
pay the full cost. These day trips are provided to the senior
members of AABA and the community at large, not only for their
enjoyment, but to give them something to look forward to during
these months. These day trips are one way to keep our seniors
active, involved, and happy, while keeping the cost to at a
minimum. For more information go to our Events page of our website.
- Christmas Party – The Social Committee also runs
the annual AABA Christmas Party, which is usually held on the Sunday
after Thanksgiving. A wonderful luncheon is served and
entertainment (music/skits/comedian) is provided at a low cost. The
Christmas Party is made available to all members of AABA, no matter
what age. Once again, the price for all AABA seniors is partially
subsidized by AABA. The Christmas Party is held each year with the
hope that as many members as possible attend with their families and
friends to enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon. The party also provides
an opportunity for those seniors who may not have “family”, to
attend the party, giving them the feeling of family and friendship
and most of all, participation in the Christmas Season.
Cheriton Grove House Committee – David E. Hajjar, Chairperson
The Cheriton Grove Corporation is the
sister company of AABA that owns and operates the 1st class
60-unit elderly housing complex located on 20 Cheriton Road in West
Roxbury. The House Committee is comprised of 4-5 Directors from the
Cheriton Grove Corporation. Their primary responsibility is to oversee
the overall management of the apartment complex. An experienced
property management firm, The Community Builders, Inc (TCB), manages the
day-to-day operation of the facility. The HC works directly with TCB in
reviewing & approving budgets, implementing facility and service
improvements, and long-range planning. You can read more about TCB by
viewing our web site
www.cheritongrove.org or through a link on the AABA web site.
In addition, the HC is currently overseeing a refinancing plan that
will provide approximately $1.3 million of facility improvements, which
will include new windows, ovens, kitchen cabinetry, apartment linoleum
and carpeting, a complete upgrade of the Community Kitchen, a 2nd
elevator, an emergency generator, a new roof, additional hallway air
conditioning, and other improvements. |
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