Florida Chapter Raises the Bar, Delivers Excellent Convention

Birzeit Families and friends from around the world enjoyed four days of fun at The Birzeit Society 10th Convention in the magical city of Orlando, Florida, which embraced the Convention from June 30 to July 4, 2010.

The 10th Convention was judged by attendees and guests alike as very successful and well organized. The consensus was that it was the most organized convention ever, and that the Florida Chapter raised the bar for conventions to come and took the Birzeit Society to a new level.

The Convention was held at the legendary Marriott Resort Center in Orlando, Florida, the largest Marriott Hotel in the world. The hotel was bustling with all kinds of Birzeiti activities, including programs filled with entertainment, social events, cultural activities, renowned speakers and indoor and outdoor fun excursions to suit all ages.

Under the theme “Nurturing Our Roots”, the Convention brought together and connected over 500 Birzeitis from around the world in an effort to maintain the Birzeiti cultural heritage and strengthen ties with their hometown Birzeit and their homeland Palestine. The Convention attracted Birzeitis and friends from several countries, including the U.S., Birzeit, Amman, Dubai, Kuwait, England, Australia, Chile, Curacao, and Canada.

|    View Select Convention Photos     |     View the Full Photo Gallery    |     View the Ad Books

Diab Rabie Obituary as announced by his family in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 14, 2010

Diab Jeries Rabie’, born October 10th, 1922, passed away on July 14th, 2010, after a long battle with lung cancer at the age of 87. He came to the United States from Palestine in 1947 as a foreign correspondent to the United Nations and stayed here with an uncle in Wrightsville Beach after the creation of the state of Israel shortly thereafter in 1948. His family fled to the city of Birzeit in Jordan’s West Bank.

June 8, 1936 - March 24, 2010

Asib Suleiman Samander left this world for a better place on the 24th of March 2010 in Biloxi Mississippi. He is survived by his wife Sandra, his children Cheryl, Craig, Brian, and Brenna, his grandchildren Breanna, Angelina, Jacob, and Keira, and by his brother Munib and his sisters Mufideh, Fadwa, Sister Bernard, Rose, and Iftikhar.

The late Asib Samander was born in Jaffa, Palestine and grew up and went to schools in Birzeit and later served as a divisional Sgt. Major in the Jordanian Army before immigrating to the United States to pursue higher education. Throughout his professional career as an engineer, he was an innovator in the field of robotics and conveyor systems and holder of numerous patents and trademarks, revolutionizing the field of packaging and handling globally.

A generous soul and lover of gardens, animals, auto racing, ice hockey, and culinary delights, he will be missed profoundly by his family and friends.

His family has requested that in, lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Birzeit Society to start a scholarship memorial fund for the benefit of needy Birzeiti students. Donations should be sent to:

Birzeit Society
Asib Samander Memorial Fund
P O Box 1822
Norwalk, CA 90651