MARCH 11, 2019: AABAR GENERAL MEETING (FIRST QUARTER)

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 Great Arab American Bar meeting today!  Thanks to all who attended.  Look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events. 

Congratulations to AABAR's co-founder, Rouhy J. Shalabi, on receiving the prestigious 2019 Vanguard Award from the Chicago Bar Association!

 Thanks to all who came out to support the Arab American Networking reception.  AABAR was proud to join with so many other great organizations including ABPA, AAAEA, BNAA, and NAAMA.  Special thanks to journalist and author Rana Sweis who came to discuss her new book as well.  

Check out this article in the Law Bulletin on AABAR and Law Day by AABAR Officer Khaled J. Elkhatib! Click here to read: https://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/arab-american-bar-association-of-illinois-20190501?fbclid=IwAR1KUI7yzLiXVdMl4x1CzPXlDh9v1c5qBzp7B5ZLxQ6ZNkTimx8lti4HQC8.

 Congratulations to our corresponding Secretary Tony Abou Ezzi on his recognition as a 2019 Emerging Leader and to all the recognized Emerging Leaders identified by the Arab American Business & Professional Association (ABPA) at tonight’s ceremony.  AABAR looks forward to the promising ideas and programs of these leaders.   

Thank you to those who turned out for the joint unity Iftar with the Arab Bar and Muslim Bar Associations.  It was a great event! Ramadan Kareem! 

The Arab American Bar Association was proud to sponsor the All Bar Welcome Reception for Mayor Lori Lightfoot. What a turnout! 

Great meeting tonight in Greek town! Thanks to all who came out!

Check out the article on our Board member Vivian Khalaf in Harpers Bazaar Middle East with a nice shout out to our Bar Association. Congratulations Vivian! To read the article, click here: https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/culture/from-mideast-to-midwest-chicago-based-arab-women

 AABAR was honored to participate in its annual Building Bridges event with the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. The theme this year was “Honoring the Educators”. Congratulations to our award recipients Professor John M. Breen and Dean Ralph Ruebner!  

AABAR is proud to support Arab American Family Services (AAFS) at their fantastic annual gala. Congratulations to those who received awards from the organization. The speech by Shaun King was excellent.

Congratulations to AABAR’s Founding President Hon. William Haddad (Ret.) who was recognized by the Arab American Business and Professional Association for his outstanding service to the community.

AABAR is grateful to all of those who turned out for our 2019 Judicial Reception. Congratulations to Judge Kenneth Wright, recipient of the Equal Justice Award, and Judges Mark Lopez and William Sullivan, recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Awards. 

 AABAR was proud to support Chief Judge Evans’ Courthouse tour as part of Arab American Heritage month. We spoke to high school students from the Universal School, Aqsa School & Andrew High School. They had great questions about the legal profession and process! We can’t wait to have some future lawyers join our Bar! Thank you to Judge Betar and Judge Ghouse for presiding as well as speakers Rouhy Shalabi, Sandra Frantzen, Lana Nassar, and Cory Cassis. 

Congratulations to our newly elected officers for the 2020-2021 term: President Marvet Sweis Drnovsek, Vice President Nura Yanaki, Treasurer Tony Abou Ezzi, Recording Secretary Lana Nassar, and Corresponding Secretary Jawad Shalabi. We are also proud of our Board members for the 2020-2021 term: Judge William Haddad (ret), Jude Samuel Betar, Judge-Elect  Rouhy Shalabi, Sana'a Hussien, Prof. John John Breen, Donna Haddad, and Sandra Frantzen as well as our Advisory Board members: Reem Odeh, Vivian Khalaf, Anthony Nasharr, Khaled Elkhatib, and Cory Cassis. An extra special thank you to our current and outgoing President Sandra Frantzen who has done so much for the Bar over her two year term. We are very proud of your accomplishments.