APRIL 2006

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changes in store for CFA Umbrella organization seeks relevancy While celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) is in the midst of change. Bishop Ibrahim M. Ibrahim appointed West Bloomfield resident and Farmington Hills businessman Michael George as interim chairman in mid-2005, after the CFA’s General Assembly voted last June to ask His Excellency to assist in overhauling the federation. Founded in 1981, the non-profit CFA is a national umbrella organization of Chaldean entities that supports its members in meeting the needs of the Chaldean community. Once considered a dominant force, the CFA has been dormant in recent years. Former CFA Vice Chairwoman Rosemary Antone offered a candid explanation. “I have to be blunt,” said Antone, who is now vice president of the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity and chair of the Chaldean Community Cultural Center. “I think different leadership started turning the [CFA] objectives to BY KEN MARTEN scope of a revamped CFA. “I’ve met with many people in the community, including former [federation] presidents and chairs,” George said. “I don’t want to duplicate the efforts of other organizations. That doesn’t make any sense.” GEORGE’ S VISION George has identified six objectives for the CFA, but acknowledges that they’re his personal interpretations and that they could change once a board of directors is appointed. They are: • Public relations: “We want to make sure people outside of our community understand us in the right light,” George said. “With anything that involves the Chaldean community, we want to be able to communicate.” • Civil rights: Chaldeans are not a minority as recognized by the U.S. government. But George wants the CFA to represent Chaldeans and ensure that they’re afforded equal rights according to the U.S. Constitution. their own needs, and it started going downhill. It was not as effective as it used to be. EXECUTIVE SEARCH The Chaldean Federation of America is seeking to It doesn’t have the full strength and power hire an executive director and a secretary. Both are as it once did.” paid positions with benefits. Those applying for the Jane Shallal, a former CFA president, executive directorship must speak English and said the federation was spread too thin. Chaldean. Those applying for the secretarial position must speak English, Chaldean and Arabic. “In the past, I think it tried to undertake Send resumes to Michael J. George, 30777 too many goals,” said Shallal, now the president of the Associated Food Dealers of Hills, MI 48334. Northwestern Highway, Suite 300, Farmington Michigan. “I think they were trying to do way too much. I don’t think the support was there for such an expansive range of services.” George, 73, owns George Enterprises, primarily a food distribution and meat manufacturing company. He and several family members are the former owners of Melody Farms, a well-known dairy company. Housekeeping chores have included moving the CFA headquarters to the George Enterprises office in Farmington Hills to save funds. George is also seeking to hire a CFA executive director and a secretary, and to appoint a volunteer board of directors. He’s analyzed the objectives of other Chaldean organizations in order to narrow the • Advocacy: George thinks the CFA should promote issues important to the Chaldean community and make sure the general public knows not only that Chaldeans exist, but that it has the correct understanding of Chaldean ethnicity. “This is something I’m continuously doing,” he said. • Government lobbying: “This is important especially in the areas of immigration and human rights,” George said. “We have a lot of people here from Iraq that don’t want to leave.” George also believes the CFA should promote the Chaldean point of view on events in Iraq. • Act as a referral agency: George thinks the CFA should be able to help members of the community by directing their concerns to the proper organization, entity or professional service. Again, he stressed that the CFA shouldn’t duplicate the efforts of other Chaldean organizations. For example, he said, it’s pointless to have two groups that maintain referral lists of Chaldean professionals like doctors, attorneys or accountants. • Continue the scholarship program: The CFA has awarded scholarships to college-bound Chaldeans for the past 20 years. George wants to continue the program under co-sponsorship with the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. Antone said George is on the proper path, but for the CFA to again prosper, those selected for leadership positions will have to share his views. “He’s being very objective, very honest,” Antone said. “He can’t do it all by himself. Unless we get some new people included, we just cannot make it go. He’s searching for the right people to bring it about and I think it can happen. It can’t get worse. Let’s face it.” Shallal is also optimistic about George’s efforts thus far. “I think it’s a good vision,” she said. “The federation will be the voice of the Chaldean community, and the focal point for referrals and services. I think that’s an excellent way to develop it.” 7 Mile and Woodward, known as Chaldean Town, was a CFA project whose future is uncertain PHOTO BY LENA YONO 32 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2006
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