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Conference in Florida energizes LAU alumni

LAU alumni had the opportunity to reconnect in Florida.

May Sarout, president of the Toronto chapter, discusses how to establish an effective alumni chapter.

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March 27, 2009—

LAU hosted its inaugural Annual Alumni Conference March 13–15 in Orlando, Florida, with over 50 alumni from Chicago, Florida, Michigan, New England, New York, Ottawa, Toronto and Washington, D.C., in attendance.

The three-day event offered an opportunity for former students to reconnect with old classmates and with their alma mater, and to interact with some of LAU’s leadership. It also provided attendees with constructive information about building and growing alumni chapters.

Alumni Relations Director Abdallah Al Khal and Alumni Programs Manager Edward Shiner hosted the event, which also included appearances by LAU President Joseph Jabbra and Vice President for University Advancement Richard Rumsey.

“LAU alumni have such a strong affinity with the university and this is something that needs to be nurtured very seriously,” said Al Khal.

At a dinner gathering, which was part of the conference, in an Orlando-area Lebanese restaurant, Dr. Jabbra provided alumni with an update on many of the recent developments taking place on LAU’s campuses.

May Sarout, president of LAU’s Toronto alumni chapter, which is the oldest one in North America, gave a workshop about how to successfully establish and nurture alumni chapters.

Hiba Yazbeck, an alumna from the Detroit chapter, spoke about volunteerism and how it could be applied to alumni chapters.

On the last day, Jabbra also led a discussion about globalization that was followed by a farewell brunch.

“We are grateful to Dr. Jabbra and Mr. Rumsey for seeing the importance of alumni to the university and for their ongoing support to its alumni program,” Al Khal said. “This is an invaluable key for the continued growth of our alumni base worldwide,” he added.

“This alumni gathering was an idea that we’d been contemplating for some time. I’m excited that we moved ahead with it and that it was so well received,” said Shiner.

According to Al Khal, the alumni conference “was an energy booster for many of the leaders of LAU’s North American alumni chapters.”

“My hope is that its success and the enjoyment of the participants will encourage others to join us for future gatherings,” Shiner said.