| 2nd Moroccan American Convention |
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  efforts to host and communicate with Washington political figures and presidential hopefuls and educate them on the potential of the Moroccan American Community and to promote Moroccan American relations. It listed its participation in fundraising for Sen. Clinton and Sen. Hagel as well as for Gov. Richardson; it also hosted the Mayor of Washington, DC. The Moroccan Society of Houston highlighted its upcoming Moroccan Festival that will take place this summer in Texas. Orlando’s Moroccan American chamber of commerce also emphasized its business and social events and its outreach to Florida’s congressional delegation and influential business figures to promote Moroccan American business exchanges. The Moroccan Society of Life Sciences spoke of its efforts on behalf of Moroccan scientific researchers to have their research papers published in prominent scientific journals in this country. The International Breast Cancer Research Foundation spoke of its upcoming research facility that is now being built in Morocco. The Association of Moroccan professionals in America expanded its recently held event; Moroccan American Bridges 2007 and the scope of its other business initiatives. The American Moroccan Association of Colorado and American Moroccan Association of North America emphasized, among other things, their efforts to educate Moroccan American children and safeguard their cultural and religious heritage.All associations were undertaking various projects in their regions and are busy recruiting community members and encouraging them to participate in civic affairs.The associations forum was followed by a brief speech by Morocco’s Ambassador, Mr. Aziz mekouar, on the current situation in morocco, the status of morocco’s proposed autonomy for its southern provinces, morocco’s effort to incorporate its large overseas community in its economic development. He acknowledged and commended the effort undertaken to create a national mechanism of coordination for the Moroccan American Community which would, among other benefits, help them better communicate with their country of origine. Then Mrs. Nouzha Chekrouni, Minister Delegate at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Charge of the Moroccan Community Overseas, followed with a speech about the Moroccan American Community and the Future of Morocco. She encouraged the involvement by the US based community in Morocco’s economic and social development, she also called for better coordination between the expertise and experience of the Moroccan American Community with appropriate development projects in Morocco. She also spoke of a newly created network called fincome.com that puts to use the expertise of Moroccans abroad, in many scientific fields, in related development projects at home. She said that newly created US based community network will help in the overall coordination between Morocco and its expatriate community worldwide. She also acknowledged the importance of Morocco’s community residing in the us and its role in explaining and defending Morocco’s national causes, especially those relating to Morocco’s territorial integrity, and that the newly created network will, no doubt, be effective in explaining Morocco’s position to the American public. Then the attendees sat around the tables and discussed the mechanics and bylaws of the forthcoming network platform. Among the issues debated were questions relating to representatively, composition of the board, frequency of meetings, financing, and other pertinent issues. By the end of the conference the network was officially setup and with a mission statement, board of directors and a plan of action. The Participants then announced the official creation of the network that will facilitate dialogue and cooperation among members of Moroccan community and enable them to coordinate their activities and increase their effectiveness. The following day attendees were invited to Morocco’s ambassador’s residence for a breakfast and Q & A session. Later in the day, Mrs. Chekrouni attended a community barbeque then a Georgetown Harbor tour & dinner hosted by the Washington Moroccan club.
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