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Celebrating Benin Democracy

Category: Societe
Date: 5/12/2006
Time: 4:33:43 PM
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Comme j’annonçais á certains d'entre vous au cours de nos conversations privées, je propose ici a tous mes compatriotes Béninois vivants aux USA et surtout dans la région métropolitaine de Washington DC d'organiser ensemble un événement inédit pour célébrer la démocratie Béninoise, notre démocratie ici, a Washington DC. Pour nous Béninois vivants aux USA, c'est le moment de participer et d'accompagner l'effort de nos compatriotes, et surtout d'apporter à notre pays notre contribution à l'enracinement de la démocratie, pour un développement durable. Connaissant assez bien le "fonctionnement", de Washington DC, je propose qu' ensemble nous utilisions l'engouement et la visibilité qu'ont suscitées les élections présidentielles au Benin pour créer ici aux USA, une synergie pouvant d'une part retenir l'attention des institutions étatiques Américaines, des africanistes de Washington, des acteurs du développement international basés a Washington et des investisseurs privés américains et d'autre part, jeter les bases d'un lobby Béninois ici au USA. L'événement: Nous proposons une réception qui pourra se tenir au très prestigieux " NATIONAL PRESS CLUB" de Washington ou a " AFRICARE HOUSE" sous le patronage de plusieurs organisations internationales et locales telles que CONSTITUENCY FOR AFRICA, AFRICARE, THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA, SULLIVAN FOUNDATION, THE CORPORATE COUNCIL ON AFRICA, EMBASSADE DU BENIN AUX USA, LE CORP DIPLOMATIQUE AFRICAIN, LA COMMUNAUTE BENINOISE AUX USA, et agences tel que LE STATE DEPARTEMENT THE MILLENIUM CHALLENGE. Au cours de cette réception qui se fera dans le style particulier á Washington DC, nous inviterons plusieurs personnalités Américaines et Béninoises á venir partager avec l'audience leur vue sur l'expérience démocratique Béninoise. Ce sera occasion pour nous Béninois des USA et nos frères Africains Américains de connecter et nouer des relations qui a coup sur serviront a notre pays... Organisation pratique Pour organiser un événement de cette envergure, il faudra nécessairement un budget pour couvrir les frais de, location du lieu de réception, le rafraichissement et le menu, un planificateur événementiel j'en passe... C'est dans ce sens que je me propose de participer a hauteur de $1,000 dollars au budget éventuel de ce que nous pourrions appeler "CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY IN BENIN" donc j'invite tout un chacun a me faire part via e-mail ou par téléphone d'une part de leur avis, recommandations et propositions mais aussi de leur intention de participer financièrement au budget de cet événement. Si nous arrivons ensemble à bouclé le budget de cet évènement, je propose la du jeudi 1er Juin, 2006 pour organiser la réception. Trouvez ici les détails de la célébration et le budget détaillé de l’événement. Merci de me contacter au 202 607 8499 ou au 202 237 2807 par e-mail arouna@msn.com ou oarouna@globalspecialtyinc.com pour plus de détails par rapport a votre participation a notre chose commune. Sincèrement Omar Arouna Managing Director Global Specialty LLC 4357 Westover Place NW Washington DC 20016 ______________________________________________________________________________ 4357 Westover Place, NW, Washington, DC 20016 Phone 202-607 8499 fax 202 237 2807 oarouna@globalspecialtyinc.com www.globalspecialtyinc.com Meeting Your Business Needs Today for Tomorrow “A CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY IN BENIN” INTRODUCTION: In celebration of the success of the recent presidential elections in Benin, a reception (100 – 200 people) is being organized in Washington, D.C. in June 1st, 2006, to encourage and promote the democratic process throughout Africa. In many respects, Benin has emerged as a model for democracy and stability in West Africa. The reception will bring together multiple stake-holders including the African Diplomatic Corps, the U.S. Government Agencies, non-governmental organizations, Africa think-tanks and the private sector. The reception will be hosted by a number of prominent Washington, D.C. non-governmental organizations, including the Constituency for Africa, Africare, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, Corporate Council on Africa, OIC International, NAACP, National Council of Negro Women and The African World TV. DRAFT PROGRAM Moderator TBD Welcoming Remarks and Greetings Melvin P. Foote Chief Executive Officer Constituency for Africa (CFA) Leonard Robinson President The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa Vivian Lowery Derryck Senior Vice-President Academy for Educational Development Steven Hayes President Corporate Council on Africa Special Remarks Senior Official from Benin Remarks Dr. Jendayi Frazier Assistant Secretary for African Affairs U.S. Department of State Dr. Cyndi Courville Special Assistant to the President Senior Director for Africa National Security Council Ambassador John Danilovich President Millennium Challenge Corporation Rosa Whitaker President The Whitaker Group C. Payne Lucas President Emeritus Africare Closing Remarks H.E. Cyril Oguin Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Benin DATE AND TIME JUNE 1ST, 2006 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM VENUE THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (Holeman Room) 529 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20045 The National Press Club has been a part of Washington life for more than 90 years. Its members have included all of the Presidents of the United States since Theodore Roosevelt. Most have spoken from The Club's podium, some to declare their candidacies for the highest office in the land. On March 12, 1908, 32 newspapermen with $300 met in the Gridiron Room of the Willard Hotel (across 14th street from the current location of the National Press Building) and framed a constitution for the National Press Club. The Club founders laid down a credo which promised "to promote social enjoyment among the members, to cultivate literary taste, to encourage friendly intercourse among newspapermen and those with whom they were thrown in contact in the pursuit of their vocation, to aid members in distress and to foster the ethical standards of the profession." The first quarters of the Club on the second floor of 1205 F Street NW were quickly outgrown and in 1909, only a year after The Club's founding, a move was made to a building at the corner of 15th and F Streets, known as Rhodes Tavern. Then, from 1914 to 1927, The Club was located in the Albee Building at 15th and G Streets. When The Club was asked to move from the Albee Building, they negotiated an option on the old Ebbit Hotel at the corner of 14th and F Streets and constructed the current building on the site. The building and The Club were to struggle financially in the Depression, but the Club was on the way to being recognized as one of the world's premier journalistic organizations. Regular weekly luncheons for speakers began in 1932 with an appearance by President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. An average of 70 luncheons each year provide a national forum for the views of Presidents, Prime Ministers, business and cultural leaders, members of the Cabinet and Congress. Over the years, major news has been made at The Club: Nikita Khrushchev, Winston Churchill, Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Charles deGaulle, Boris Yeltsin, Nelson Mandela, Yasir Arafat and many others have made headlines at the Press Club podium. Even a brief history of The Club would be incomplete if it failed to mention a couple of examples of the stodginess in its internal affairs. The Club did not open its ranks to black reporters until 1955 and women were excluded until 1971. Today, women are welcomed as members and a correspondent for the Daily Oklahoman, Vivian Vahlberg, served as The Club's first woman president in 1982. To many of the men and women who belong to the National Press Club today, it is primarily one of the world's foremost news forums, "the sanctum sanctorum of American journalists," as CBS commentator Eric Sevareid said in a memorable retirement appearance at The Club. "It's the Westminster Hall, it's Delphi, it's Mecca," said Severeid, "the wailing wall (for) everybody in this country having anything to do with the news business; the only hallowed place I know of that's absolutely bursting with irreverence." MENU Steamship Round of Beef Jerk Chicken with Tamarind Ginger Sauce Shrimp Spring Rolls with Sweet and Sour Mustard Sauce Foccacia topped with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Grilled Vegetables Fresh Fruit Display –A Selection of Seasonal Fruit Artfully Arranged Miniature Patries- Mini Eclairs, Fruit Tarts, , Napoleons, Petit Fours, Linzertortes, Sachetortes BEVERAGE SERVICE- HOSTED BAR House Wines, Sodas, Juices, Mineral Water PRLIMINARY BUDGET Venue: Fee waived if food and beverage costs exceed $4,000 Total Cost = $750 Menue: Steamship Round of Beef (Serves 150 Person) $650.00* Jerk Chicken (100 Pieces) $325.00 Shrimp Spring Rolls (100 Pieces) $385.00 Foccacia topped (100 Pieces) $285.00 Fresh Fruit Display $235.00 Brie $140.00 Miniature Patries $500.00 *Carver/Chef (1) $85.00 Total Cost = $2,605.00 Beverage House Wines, Sodas, Juices, Mineral Water (150 People for 2 hrs) $20.25/Person Total Cost = $3,037.50 Materials Development and Preparation of Benin Brochure (200 copies) Total Cost = $750.00 Event Consultant Consulting Fee to Plan, Develop, Organize, and Implement the Reception Total Cost = $4,000.00 EVENT TOTAL COST BEFORE 19% SERVICE CHARGE & 10% D.C TAX $10,392.50 TOTAL COST INCLUDING CHARGE & TAX = $13,026.50 FUNDING LEVEL CORPORATE $500 AND UP Promotion of company or donor in the brochure with logo picture and citation. PATRONS $200-$499 Name in the brochure with citation. FRIENDS $50-$199 Name in Brochure SUPPORTERS $0-$49 Thanks

"Toute opinion exprimee ci-dessus ne reflete pas necessairement celle des membres du Bureau Executif de l'ABUSA ou de l'association des Beninois aux USA"

Last changed: October 11, 2006