LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Birzeit Family and Friends,
It is my pleasure and honor to serve as the newly elected National President of Birzeit Society for 2023 and 2024.
I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the outgoing National President, Mr. Samer Rabie, for his great accomplishments, dedication, perseverance, and contributions during the most challenging unprecedented COVID Era. I also want to extend many thanks to the outgoing Board Members, volunteers, and the Birzeit Advisory Committee for their cooperation and continued support.
I would like to congratulate the newly elected Executive Committee of the National Board, many of whom are young and vibrant New Generation members. It is reassuring to see many young leaders on the rise holding officer positions on the National level, as well as, on the local Chapter level.
My Birzeit Society journey began in 1990 immediately after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. I joined the Northern California Chapter and a year later I was elected to be the Chapter’s Secretary. By 1995, I was elected to be the President of the Chapter while also serving as the Secretary of the National Board. I later became the National Second Vice President. Thereafter, I stepped down for few years but I was continuing to help behind the scenes in the Chapter’s annual activities.
I felt compelled to return to Birzeit Society, by becoming the National President, to complete my mission. Birzeit Society is the driving force that keeps me energetic and living with a purpose. It is within my duties to support our sisters and brothers in Birzeit and in Palestine at large. Birzeit Society is dedicated to raise funds to help improve the lives of our Birzeitis who are still suffering from the aftermath of the pandemic with limited job markets, resources, healthcare, and much more. During our first annual meeting this year, the Birzeit Society National Board affirmed our commitment to continue providing support to our people in Birzeit, especially the scholarship program and to support families with medical and financial needs.
All of us at Birzeit Society are eager to work hard to achieve our goals. Your support and participation in the Society’s fundraising activities throughout the year is greatly appreciated. It is because of our members; we can continue to support our family and friends in Birzeit and throughout the diaspora.
Further, like with any non-profit organization in recent years, Birzeit Society has faced a few challenges, including the decline of participation in our social and fundraising events, the lack of commitment to fulfill the obligation towards the annual membership dues, and to keeping our database updated. I believe that we, as a society and community, can overcome these challenges so long as we continue to work together. One way that our members can assist is by simply updating your contact information by logging onto www.BirzeitSociety.org. With updated contact information, we are better able to reach our members, advertise events on a local and national level, and increase the payment of membership dues.
Lastly, and most importantly, it is critical that we make more of an effort to engage our New Generation of Birzeitis in Birzeit Society affairs. I believe it is time TO PASS ON THE TORCH, therefore, we ask you, the parents, to play your role to encourage your children to get involved. One great way is to mark your calendars and bring your children to Birzeit Society’s 16 th National Convention which will be hosted by the Northern California Chapter in SanFrancisco in 2024! Attending the convention will be an invaluable experience for our young Birzeitis to learn their heritage and culture and meet new friends that will last a lifetime. More information regarding the convention will be forthcoming.
Thank you for allowing me to be your President, I am looking forward to a very fruitful year ahead and I am hoping to see more of the New Generation encouraged to join our BIRZEIT team.
Warmest regards,
Mona Saadeh-Totah
National President