MdMC and 8 local councils by the grace of Allah SWT and your help and support are going strong and providing the results all of us dreamt of six years ago. The news for the month of February is as follows:

• Regular Board meetings of MdMC have been taking place every 2nd Sunday of the month. The March 09, 2008 meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Frederick County at Syed Wasim Haque residence. Currently 7 local councils are represented in MdMC and soon the 8th council, Harford County will join MdMC board.


• The Presidential Forum organized on February 09, 2008 at Islamic Society of Baltimore Alhamdulillah was very successful, over 800 Muslims and non Muslims attended the event and the focus of questions was foreign policy because former Secretary of State Madeline Albright was present at the event. This occasion allowed us to recruit more members for MdMC. The event was covered by media in newspapers and Television.


• The Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs was formed in February and 13 members have been installed to date and the first meeting is scheduled in the last week of March, the name of the members are provided below. The purpose of the commission is to evaluate the needs of the immigrants from the Middle Eastern Countries and make recommendations to the Governor. The other major objective of the commission is to promote the business relationship between the State of Maryland and Middle Eastern Countries. Beside Middle Eastern countries, the commission includes Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh. The representatives are as follows:
  

  Anwer Hasan------Chair------           Howard County
  Khalil Zaied--------Palestine------    City of Baltimore
  Bilal Ayub----------Jordon---------    Montgomery County
  Irma Hafeez---------Pakistan ------    Montgomery County
  Uzart Umar--------- Turkey-----------    Montgomery County
  Iman Awad----------Egypt-------        Harford County
  Sayed Hassan--------Egypt -------      Howard County
  Mohd Magdi---------      Iraq-------------- Baltimore County
  Dorreya Elemenshawy--Egypt-----------Baltimore County
  Dr. Zahid Bokhari---     Pakistan-------Frederick County
  Dr. Miriam Galston--    Israel---------
  Dr. Yoni Zohra-------    Israel
  Dr. Riad Dakheel---     Syria---------Prince Georges County
  

• Also, the Governor has appointed Mr. Omar Davis to the Board of Architects commission for four years. Mr. Davis is from the City of Baltimore and is a Vice President of the City of Baltimore Muslim Council and he also represents the City in the Maryland Muslim Council. Congratulation to Mr Davis for his appointment.


• As of today we have over 9 Muslims assigned to various state boards and commissions and 11 members assigned to the Governor’s commission for Middle Eastern American Affairs.