It seems a bit early to mention an event set to take place next year, but you know, my dears, just how fast time does fly. Next May, the Rotary Clubs of District 2450, the Middle East region of Rotary International, which comprises Egypt, Bahrain, Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, will host their 68th District Conference in Amman, Jordan. The conference, which will bring together 1500 participants from over 110 clubs from those seven countries, will discuss four main areas: alleviation of poverty; health care; literacy; and the family of the Rotary. The theme of the conference will be "Lend a Hand". The Rotary Clubs are made up of local professional and business figures. The District conference is an annual event where Rotarians gather to share their achievements, goals and expertise and set plans for the coming year.
Moving back to the present, our dear dynamic friend Mona Makram Ebeid, former Member of Parliament and professor of Political Science at the American University in Cairo, traveled to Tangiers, Morocco recently to attend the Assila Festival. The festival is organised by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Ben Aissa, who is also president of the Assila Foundation. Ebeid will be presenting a paper on "The US, Europe and Islam."
Here in Egypt, within the framework of the General Organisation for Cultural Palace's (GOCP) plan to open new cultural centres across Egypt during this year's Reading For All festival, Alexandria Governor Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub and GOCP Head Anas El-Fiqi inaugurated the Cultural Palace of Borg Al-Arab and Al-Basra Library amid a mega celebration featuring folk dancing and Arabic music. The palace organises various cultural activities including workshops for environment related industries and modern mosaic craftsmanship. The two-story building comprises two libraries for adults and children, a computer room, a music hall, a conference hall, an art gallery, a theatre, and a cinema.
The centre is surrounded by a huge garden decorated with several statues commemorating great artists. Al-Basra Library was first established by the Cultural Development Fund and then donated to the GOCP. It includes a library for adults and another for children, as well as a garden with a playground.
Congratulations are in order for my diligent friend Mohamed Amin Moursi, the General-Manager of Public Relations at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who was recently granted a certificate of recognition from President Hosni Mubarak. The award is given to those who exert relentless efforts to serve their country and deal with citizens in a professional manner.
A bevy of celebrities visited the Cairo Sheraton recently. The hotel's general manager, Ibrahim Fahmi, held a reception to celebrate the reopening of the Alaaeddin Terrace and Restaurant, which was attended by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, Tourism Minister Mamdouh El-Beltagui and Senior Presidential Advisor Osama El- Baz, along with other senior state officials, media personalities, and tourism experts.
Sultry Lebanese singer Nancy 'Agram, meanwhile, also paid the hotel a visit on her way to the Marina 2003 concerts in Alexandria, which she recently headlined. 'Agram was welcomed by Assistant Executive General Manager Hani Zarifa and Guest Relations Manager Rene Refaat
Two of my dear friends tied the knot recently, my sweets. Sherine Boushra, assistant teacher at Al-Sadat Academy, and Amir Naiem, a computer programmer at MobiNil, celebrated their special night full of happiness and love at the St Mary Church in Zamalek, before dancing the night away with friends at a fancy hotel. The bride and groom, who fell in love while they were both students at Al-Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, reminded their guests of Sheharazad and Shahrayar of the Arabian Nights.
Pack of Cards
Moving back to the present, our dear dynamic friend Mona Makram Ebeid, former Member of Parliament and professor of Political Science at the American University in Cairo, traveled to Tangiers, Morocco recently to attend the Assila Festival. The festival is organised by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Ben Aissa, who is also president of the Assila Foundation. Ebeid will be presenting a paper on "The US, Europe and Islam."
Here in Egypt, within the framework of the General Organisation for Cultural Palace's (GOCP) plan to open new cultural centres across Egypt during this year's Reading For All festival, Alexandria Governor Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub and GOCP Head Anas El-Fiqi inaugurated the Cultural Palace of Borg Al-Arab and Al-Basra Library amid a mega celebration featuring folk dancing and Arabic music. The palace organises various cultural activities including workshops for environment related industries and modern mosaic craftsmanship. The two-story building comprises two libraries for adults and children, a computer room, a music hall, a conference hall, an art gallery, a theatre, and a cinema.
Congratulations are in order for my diligent friend Mohamed Amin Moursi, the General-Manager of Public Relations at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who was recently granted a certificate of recognition from President Hosni Mubarak. The award is given to those who exert relentless efforts to serve their country and deal with citizens in a professional manner.
Two of my dear friends tied the knot recently, my sweets. Sherine Boushra, assistant teacher at Al-Sadat Academy, and Amir Naiem, a computer programmer at MobiNil, celebrated their special night full of happiness and love at the St Mary Church in Zamalek, before dancing the night away with friends at a fancy hotel. The bride and groom, who fell in love while they were both students at Al-Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, reminded their guests of Sheharazad and Shahrayar of the Arabian Nights.
