How to Re-think and Remake the WLCU in North America, and to be ready to lead the whole Lebanese Diaspora. By Dr Nick kahwaji
To the WLCU leaders and members in North America (USA & Canada)
How to Re-think and Remake the WLCU in North America, and to be ready to lead the whole Lebanese Diaspora.
“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it – but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. “
WLCU, USA and Canada assets (not limited to):
1) Peoples and environment:
-Our Leaders Mostly educated, abiding by the civil rules of the country where they live, and lives in the concept of the law.
-Most of the Business are incorporated, we mostly deals with incorporation and or with government offices (institutions).
-We are influenced by the spirit of the group, the corporation, the team approach, etc.
-Financially, we are in an acceptable position in general..
2)Assets of the UN relationship :Very valuable assets, as the UN is the only international body that recognize the WLCU World Council, and recognize the WLCU as an NGO (unlike the Lebanese government)
-The official registration of the WLCU is in the USA, and at the UN system, we are considered as an American association and not Lebanese in the legal term.
2a) NGO Committee (based in the US):
Associationship with the DPI –UN. (NY)
Accreditation with the ECOSOC council, (NY).
The main activities of the DPI and ECOSOC are in the USA.
3) Media in North American region:
Publishing and hosting of
Who are sponsored by Boston chapter (USA) and BC council (Canada), as they own the 2 domain names.
WLCU-Facebook. : Over 5000 likes. (BC)
The Lebanese Heritage. From BC to the world: Online magazine distributed every month to over 20.000 emails. ( BC )
4) “North American regional” Connections to relevant organisms or institutions:
-Phoenician International research center (North Carolina- USA) affiliated to WLCU. (Cultural)
-International Lebanese Titanic Committee (Canada-Ireland-NDU). (Social)
-Memorandum of Understanding, with the Lebanese Emigration Research Center at the NDU, Continuous activities). (Emigration issues)
-Radio Canada International. (Media in Canada and Lebanon)
-Emigration Research center at North Carolina University. (Freshly started, Relationship).
-Simon Fraser University BC Canada (Academic).
-NGO’s: Train-Train, and Cedars wings
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Historical facts (not limited to)
To understand the following (after reading the Constitution):
The WLCU as an NGO, is half century old, was not born when we started dealing with it (meaning we could not take another fifty years to renovate it).
To understand: that we are “the representative of the Diaspora only, and not the representative of the Lebanese Republic”, or the Lebanese political parties or religious institution.
To accept: that our global action to take place in the Diaspora countries- inside our local communities- and not in Lebanon. (We will interact with Lebanon no problem)
To work from the Diaspora, by the diaspora, for the diaspora, (we would keep the eye on Lebanon no problem).
To accept that there is a leadership crisis in the WLCU, and in the Diaspora.
To Question the following:
Why the big gap exist between the Lebanese descendent and the WLCU? (The WLCU is run by the first generation emigrant, while it was created for the descendant).
Why the Diaspora institutions that is run by the second generations Lebanese are successful beyond the expectation of the local WLCU group?.(Do we lack a vision and they don’t?)
*Why many institutions that is run by the First generations Lebanese, attract way more members then the WLCU,(example: NAM and ADS, Armenian, etc).
To set a VISION:
Now the main question is in what direction we are moving? Or we should be moving?
What is our Goal? Short term, and Long term.
How to start?
When and where to start?
Who is the team that we will TRUST as We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it!
WLCU North American region:
Could we define our Goal in a simple way 🙁 not limited to)
To became a real organization like MADD, Knight of Columbus, “House of Lebanon”, Centro Libanes, Monte Libano club, etc. (meaning a written Bylaws and constitution, shared responsibility and clear accountability, mission statement, vision ,action plan etc).
To develop, enhance, and to sponsor, our NGO committee.
To open the door, to more intellectual, and to call many Lebanese clubs to join us.
To establish, a physical address, an office in NY for the renovated organization. (An official Headquarter, from 50sq.m to 100sq.m).
To deal more effectively with the UN institutions, (where we do belong).
To……
To…….
Finally to answer:
How and When and which Team?? Let’s discuss it.
Sincerely Yours.
Dr Nick kahwaji (WLCU – BC member) (Main representative to the DPI-UN)
Vancouver 12 June 2013