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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Al-Awda Convention: May 16-18 Palestine: 60 Years of Forced Exile - Time for Return!

Sixth Al-Awda Convention - 60th Year of Al-Nakba



Sixth Annual International Al-Awda Convention

Palestine: 60 Years of Forced Exile - Time for Return!

Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim South, 11767 Harbor Boulevard
Garden Grove, California, 92840
May 16-18, 2008

JOIN US for the largest annual gathering of Palestinians and their supporters in North America at the most critical time in the history of our struggle to Return.

With three weeks to go, here is a quick update and reminder of a few important deadlines related to the upcoming Sixth International Al-Awda Convention, May 16-18, 2008, marking 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba and Struggle to Return:

Reservations: Reservations have been coming in from across the US, Canada and elsewhere. In addition to California, individuals and groups from 14 states in the US have so far registered for the convention by mail or online at http://al-awda.org/convention6/r... . These include representatives from Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, Washington State, Illinois, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, Washington DC, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Colorado and Oregon. The deadline for receipt of convention reservations by mail is May 1, 2008. Beyond May 1, 2008 reservations may continue to be made online at http://al-awda.org/convention6/r... .

If you reserve in advance, it will help the volunteers to print out your names on the convention badges ahead of time and thus reduce some of their work at the registration table on the day of the convention. Please also keep in mind that we will need to inform the hotel how many people will be having the Saturday (May 17, 2008) lunch and dinner four days before the event.

Lunch and Dinner Choice of Entree: A three-course meal will be provided at the May 17, 2008 lunch and dinner. We are now providing a choice for lunch (Turkey or Vegetarian) and dinner (Chicken or Vegetarian). If you do not tell us which entree you prefer, we will assume your preference is Turkey for lunch and Chicken for dinner. For those interested in making table reservations (for lunch and/or dinner), we encourage you not to delay.

Accommodation: The deadline for securing the discounted rate at the Hilton Garden Inn is tomorrow April 30, 2008. When calling the hotel at +1-714-703-9100, please indicate that you are with Al-Awda / PRRC so you may receive the discounted rate. The Hilton Garden Inn and the Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim South, where sessions of the convention will be held, share a car park and are within a very short (1 min) walking distance from each other. Parking is free of charge.

If you wish to explore staying at hotels other than the Hilton Garden Inn in Garden Grove CA, and want to help Al-Awda in the process, you can do so by going to http://GoodShop.com , entering "Al Awda" in the tab below "who do you goodsshop for?", and hit verify. Then click the hotels.com logo on the same page to start your hotel shopping. If you make your reservation in this manner, Al-Awda will receive a donation from hotels.com regardless of the hotel you select. Thank you for supporting Al-Awda!

Advertising: The deadline for receipt of all advertising to be included in the printed program of the convention is tomorrow April 30, 2008. The printed program, estimated size 28 to 32 pages, will be made available to the attendees at the convention. For instructions on the submission of ads, please go to http://al-awda.org/convention6/a... . The host committee of 27 organizations is most grateful to individuals and organizations who have already submitted their ads. We are also most grateful to those who have sponsored the convention. To sponsor go to http://www.al-awda.org/conventio... and follow the instructions.

Exhibitor Tables: All available Exhibitor Tables at the convention have been spoken for. The deadline for payment is tomorrow April 30, 2008. Please write to convention6@al-awda.org May 1 and after as additional tables may become available.

Other relevant notes:

The outline of the convention program has been updated and posted to http://al-awda.org/convention6/p... . Further updates and details will be posted as soon as they become available. An updated flyer for the mass rally, that will take place on May 18, 2008 has been posted to http://al-awda.org/convention6/a... - All other flyers related to the convention are posted to http://al-awda.org/convention6/i... - Please feel free to print and distribute these. For sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://al-awda.org/convention6/s...

Upcoming Host Committee and Volunteer Meetings:

Volunteer Meeting: This Sunday May 4, 2008 starting at 1 PM at The Arab Community House, 800 S Brookhurst St., Anaheim. The assignments of various responsibilities will be done at this meeting. If you would like to volunteer but can't join us this Sunday at 1 PM, please email convention6@al-awda.org . A Full Host Committee Meeting will follow and start at 2 PM. It is important that everyone on the host committee attend this meeting.

May 10, 2008 Important Counter Demo: A Counter Demo to the Zionist Celebrations at the Kodak Theater in Holywood, CA is being organized. Stay tuned as details and call to action will be announced soon!

Register now to be part of a historic convention.

Go to http://al-awda.org/convention6/r... and follow the instructions.

Don't Miss Out!

Until return,

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org
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"Wherever there are Palestinians, we fight on. Do not allow yourselves to be silenced. Do not allow yourself to just walk off from people who seem indifferent. Make your presence felt. And in the end, we WILL win" - Edward Said at Al-Awda, Palestine Right to Return Coalition National Rally in New York City, April 7, 2001.
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