AUB's Worldwide Alumni Association warps up its first international convention

Ut adopted a set of objectives that will help its Board of Directors achieve its mission of "strengthening the ties between the [University] and all its alumni and engaging all alumni in advancing and supporting the goals and the educational, research, and service mission of the University."

The set of eight objectives which the WAAAUB Board of Directors decided to focus on in the coming months included enhancing outreach to alumni worldwide, by identifying new alumni and encouraging old and new ones to join the AUB on-line community in order to remain connected with the university and other alumni. Moreover, the WAAAUB convention pledged to activate WAAAUB chapters, achieve financial self-sufficiency within five years, and develop and submit annual performance report on WAAAUB activities for each year.

The WAAAUB weekend convention offered a first-time opportunity for 25 chapter presidents and representatives as well as alumni from all over the word to meet and exchange their views on issued of interest to them and their alma mater. More than 100 alumni from 17 different countries over three continents participated in the meeting, in which the needs of alumni and WAAAUB chapters were addressed.

Speakers at the opening ceremony on January 12 had urged alumni to commit to, both, AUB and Lebanon, which hosts the university, by offering their talents and moral and financial support. Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati was the keynote speaker at the event, while AUB President John Waterbury, WAAAUB President Khalil Makkawi, WAAAUB council chair Faisal Mutawa, who is also on the Olayan School of Business advisory board, also gave speeches.

"It was a very successful and fruitful meeting," said Makkawi, who is also a former ambassador. "We laid a very strong foundation for this association and we are now on the right track."

The Beirut-based WAAAUB, which was established by AUB's Board of Trustees in 2006, is the only international association acknowledged by AUB, and includes all alumni chapters in Lebanon, North America and the rest of the world. In addition to the fifteen-member Board of Directors, the association also includes an international Alumni Council of more than 130 members who represent the entire AUB alumni network all over the world.