Thursday, November 19, 2009

US Labor Secretary on Wage and Hour Division’s increased enforcement and outreach efforts

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Statement by US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on

Wage and Hour Division’s increased enforcement and outreach efforts

WASHINGTON – ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the increased enforcement and outreach efforts of the department’s Wage and Hour Division: 

“There is no excuse for employers who disregard federal labor standards – especially those that are designed to protect the most vulnerable in the workplace.  The failure to comply with these basic labor standards means that workers are not receiving the money they have earned.  It is both an economic issue and a fairness issue. America’s workers should rest assured that protecting worker rights is a top priority at the Department of Labor.  To make good on that promise, I have hired an additional 250 new wage and hour investigators, a staff increase of more than one third, to ensure that we promptly respond to complaints and can undertake more targeted enforcement.

“In the past three months alone, the department has had several significant enforcement cases, including collecting nearly $2 million in back wages for more than 500 workers.

“In early 2010, the department will launch a national public awareness campaign titled “We Can Help” to inform workers about their rights. The department will work closely with advocacy groups and other stakeholders to ensure that the materials developed for the campaign reach the workers who need them.  We will not rest until the law is followed by every employer, and each worker is treated and compensated fairly.”

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Middle East Leaders Forum Nov. 20, 2009

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Middle East Leaders Forum 2009, "Challenges and Opportunities", generously sponsored by Qatar Airways, forum that will examine the profound challenges, dynamic opportunities and pressing issues associated with the current economic climate and unprecedented business opportunities in the Middle East. GoldenNetworking.com’s Middle East Leaders Forum 2009, "Challenges and Opportunities", will be the forum where businessmen, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, academics and professionals following the developments in the region will obtain crucial insights they can act upon immediately to take advantage of the incredible opportunities presented in the Arabian Gulf.
Middle East Leaders Forum 2009, "Challenges and Opportunities", will feature experienced executives, experts and practitioners from leading organizations:
  • Mr. Mahmoud Salem, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon
  • Mr. Rushdi Siddiqui, Head of Islamic Finance, Thomson Reuters
  • Mr. Ahmed Fattouh, Chief Executive Officer, Baron Group Holdings
  • Mr. Mohannad Aama, Managing Director, Beam Capital Management, LLC
  • Mr. Sharif Touray, Of Counsel, DLA Piper
  • Mr. Omar Taha, Chief Executive Officer, The S&T Group
  • Mr. Jim McCarthy, Chief Investment Officer, Strategic Capital Solutions, LLC
  • Mr. George Assad, Director of International Affairs, Blackstar Group LLC
  • Mr. Karim Babay, Private Investor
  • Mr. Tarek Younes, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Capitol Health Special Fund, L.P.
  • Mr. Rafi-uddin Shikoh, Founder, Dinar Standard
GoldenNetworking.com's Middle East Leaders Forum 2009, "Challenges and Opportunities", will feature panels covering the most insightful, relevant and timely topics that top executives of financial firms, asset management and hedge funds, private equity and venture capital institutions, real estate investment trusts and any other company with a stake in the Middle East cannot afford to ignore:
  • Evolution of Capital Markets in the Middle East
  • Alternative Approaches for Private Equity Investing in the Gulf
  • Tapping into the World’s Richest Sovereign Wealth Funds
  • Retaining Talent and Focusing Teams in the Middle East

Arab American National Museum seeks artifacts of community and public service in US

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STORIES, ARTIFACTS FROM ARAB AMERICAN PUBLIC SERVANTS SOUGHT FOR UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Dearborn, MI (November 17, 2009) – The Arab American National Museum is issuing a nationwide call for stories and artifacts for potential inclusion in its exhibition Arab Americans in Service to Our Country, set to open in February 2012.

This exhibition will allow the Museum to document and present to audiences the public service-oriented contributions of Arab Americans to our society. This timely exhibition serves the Museum’s mission to “document, preserve and educate the public about the history, life, culture and contributions of Arab Americans.”

Target Communities
This exhibition will reflect the experiences of Arab Americans regardless of time of immigration, religious affiliation, national origin or place of residency. We seek individual and organizational stories, artifacts and historical documents that reflect the Arab American experience through public service in the following areas: Peace Corps; AmeriCorps; City Year; Teach for America; all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces; U.S. diplomatic corps; and municipal police and fire departments. Collected artifacts and historical documents can be donated or loaned to the Museum.

Items Requested
The AANM is seeking items that represent the diversity of the Arab American experience, including representation from all states, all Arab American communities, and all of the aforementioned service areas. Potential items include: oral histories; medals, awards, and other honors; letters and documents; personal objects; uniforms or other clothing worn by servicepersons; or photographs and memorabilia collected during the period of service.

How to Submit Items for Consideration
Those who have artifacts to submit for potential inclusion in the exhibition should provide contact information and a brief description of the items to Suzy Mazloum, Curator of Collections, at 313.624.0229 or smazloum@accesscommunity.org. The Museum will then contact potential lenders directly for more information. Lenders will be credited for items selected for display in the exhibition.


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The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves, celebrates and educates the public on the history, life, culture and contributions of Arab Americans. It serves as a resource to enhance knowledge and understanding about Arab Americans and their presence in this country. The Arab American National Museum is a project of ACCESS, a Dearborn, Michigan-based nonprofit human services and cultural organization. Learn more at www.arabamericanmuseum.org and www.accesscommunity.org.

The Arab American National Museum is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Read about the Affiliations program at http://affiliations.si.edu.

The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48126. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under, free. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.

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Communications
313.624.0206 

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Arab American Veterans Organization condemns killings at Fort Hood military base

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STATEMENT ON FORT HOOD SHOOTINGS FROM ASSOCIATION OF PATRIOTIC ARAB AMERICANS IN THE MILITARY
At a time of deep sorrow in the midst of this horrific tragedy, our thoughts are first and foremost with the Fort Hood shooting victims and their families. One can only imagine the unspeakable pain and loss they are and will be dealing with in the weeks, months and years to come.
It is unfortunate that whatever demons possessed Nidal Hasan, that he chose to deal with his problems in this way.
In the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, it is more important than ever that we not make the same scapegoating and broad stroke mistakes that were evident in the aftermath of previous tragedies. The Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military urges the media, government officials and all of our fellow Americans to recognize that the actions of Hasan are those of a deranged gunman, and are in no way representative of the wider Arab American or American Muslim community.
In fact, thousands of Arab Americans and American Muslims serve honorably everyday in all four branches of the U.S. military and in the National Guard. Additionally, many of us have willingly stepped forward to fulfill our duty with our fellow soldiers in both Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the globe, including most of the member of APAAM. Indeed, many of us are today currently deployed in both countries, honorably serving each and every day.
The Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military (APAAM) was created shortly after September 11th, 2001, in an effort to organize current and former Arab- Americans in the military. There are approximately 3,500 Arab- Americans serving in our Armed Forces.  Based on the fact that there are no other formal organizations representing Arab- Americans in the military, APAAM has the distinction of being the first official organization for Arab- Americans in the Military.
For APAAM
Jamal S. Baadani
President & Founder, 1stSgt US Marine Reserves
Phone: 818-425-7389
Ray Hanania
APAAM Media Coordinator, and Vietnam Era Veteran
rayhanania@comcast.net
cell: 312-933-9855