Wednesday, July 9, 2008, was an historic day culminating the persistent advocacy for the creation of the NJ Arab American Heritage Commission-NJAAHC. A small group of community representatives joined me at the Governor’s office to finalize the plans to formally sign into law the an Executive Order creating the NJAAHC.

In a public gathering in March, Governor Corzine announced his support for the creation of the NJAAHC. We have worked closely with two governors and the different state departments and personnel by submitting a draft by-laws and a concise mission statement. We have also provided all correspondences, all town resolutions and all major newspaper articles and opinions in support of the Commission. In our meeting with the Governor’s Special Counsel, Ms. Michellene Davis, Esq., and Mr. Albert Alvarez, Cabinet Liaison, Office of the Governor, among others, we agreed to host a very special event in October where the Governor, joined by members of his cabinet, the Legislature, representatives from the community and other dignitaries would witness the historic signing into law the creation of the NJAAHC. Names of the selected commissioners will also be announced.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit potential candidates to serve as Commissioners on the soon-to-be enacted Commission. By all means, the Commission’s work will require dedication and direct involvement that extends beyond mere good intentions, political rivalry or favoritism. I believe you share my vision of the limitless potential for this Commission to make mainstream our rich cultural heritage and to celebrate it in a most dignified and proactive fashion. I ask that you or someone else you know, to effectively promote the objectives of the Commission, submit a personal and a professional resume for consideration.  If you are not familiar with the Commission, I urge you to first read the relevant information which is easily accessible on our website. www.aafusa.org.

Please apprise me if you would like to support the commission, once established either by one or all of the following ways: Serving in an active and dedicated manner on the board; recommend other qualified candidates to serve, and/or join the Google list, "Friends of the NJAAHC”.

If you agree with our vision and wish to serve, you need to act quickly. Please note that the Governor’s office has allowed us only a week to submit names of potential Commissioner- candidates.

Here are the general requirements and conditions for membership on the Commission:

  All public members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  The Governor shall select from among all of its members the chair and/or co-chair of the Commission, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  All public members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

   The Commission shall consist of twenty-five (25) members, which shall include eighteen (18) public members and seven (7) ex-officio members.  The eighteen (18) public members shall be residents of the State of New Jersey, who serve prominently as spokespersons for and/or as leaders of organizations in the Arab and Americans of Arab Heritage. They shall be individuals who are active in religious, ethnic, national heritage, or social groups or who are experienced in the field of Arab and Americans of Arab Heritage education. They shall be chosen to the greatest extent practicable so as to afford the Commission with broad regional representation and ethnic and diversity.  Fourteen (14) of the public members shall be appointed by the Governor, and at least three (3) of whom shall have a Master’s degree in the area of Arab studies or language, and three (3) of whom shall be primary or secondary school educators; two (2) appointed by the President of the Senate and two (2) appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The seven (7) ex-officio members shall consist of the Secretary of State, Commissioner of Education, Attorney General, President of the State Board of Education, Chair of the New Jersey Human Relations Council, Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and the Chair of the Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council, or their designees.  Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

Please forward to this email address your most recent resume both professionally and personally. You are urged to include in your submission your thoughts of what the Commission can and should do and how you believe your membership will contribute to the realization of the Commission’s mission. All submitted resumes will be vetted by the steering committee and all will be submitted to the Governor’s Appointments Office for final review. All applicants for memberships in State boards and commissions must agree to a full disclosure of personal information and other such data as may be required. At minimum, you must be a legal resident of New Jersey and be able to demonstrate a special ability to not only carry out the work of the Commission but to enhance the overall quality of life for all the residents of New Jersey. 

Naturally, if you do not share our vision and you do not wish to receive any more mailings on this topic, just send us a short notice and you will be removed from this list.

If you wish to discuss the subject with me personally, you can reach me directly at 973-960-2673.

The commission will be an invaluable inheritance for our children. Partake in the journey and celebrate who you are and from where you came.

Thank you,

For the Steering Committee to create the NJ Arab-American Heritage Commission:

Dr. Aref Assaf, President, American Arab Forum
Dr. Nabil Marshood, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Siham Alfred, Raritan Valley Community College
Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh, Marymount Manhattan College, NY
Mr. Salah Mustafa, President, ADCNJ
Mr. Mohamed ElFilali, Outreach Director, ICPC
Mr. Sami Merhi, President, Preakness Hospital
Ms. Engy Abdelkader, Esq., Legal Services of New Jersey
Mrs. Hanan Munayyer, President, Palestinian Heritage Foundation
Mr. Mohammad Khairullah, mayor Prospect Park
Mr. Mehdi Elefifi, President, NJ Outreach Group

Note: Professional affiliations for identification purposes only.

Aref Assaf, PhD
President
American Arab Forum
www.aafusa.org

General Ethic Rules for Membership in State boards and Commissions