October 06 Issue

October 2006   TUNISIAN COMMUNITY GAZETTE IN THIS ISSUE HAPPY RAMADHAN! ANCESTRY MATTERS TuniClub-USA REGIONAL ORGANIZING MEMBERSHIP SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE OUR SPONSORS       Join our mailing list!  HAPPY RAMADHAN!   Ramadhan is the month that has been specifically designated for renewal of spiritual overhaul for Moslems: greater religious adherence, reflection and greater goodwill towards others. The daylight hours abstinence from all objects of appetite that takes place during Ramadhan is beneficial to the health and teaches self control and sympathy for the less fortunate. The first day of the month following the end of Ramadhan is Eid El Fitr, a celebration that is marked by prayers and by festivities that include feasts and exchange of gifts. In addition to family members, friends and neighbors are traditionally invited to join in the celebration.    ANCESTRY MATTERS   It is believed that the 3.5 million people in America, who have roots in the Arabic speaking world, are undercounted in the U.S. census (which identified fewer than 1.5 million persons of Arab ancestry in the 2000 Census). The Working Group on Ancestry in the US Census (WGA), a national coalition of researchers and ethnic organizations (including the Tunisian Community Center), is recommending that the Bureau of the Census approve a combination of questions that capture data on Ancestry by way of the short form of the 2010 Census. We would like to sensitize Tunisian Americans about the importance of census participation, because showing the growth of the community translates into increased leverage with elected officials, proper budgetary allocation for federal, state and local programs, and fuller recognition from the larger community. For more information, contact Rudy Gharib of the Census Information Center at the Arab American Institute Foundation, or call him at (202) 429-9210 ext. 30.    TuniClub-USA   TuniClub-USA aims to be the virtual venue, where social interaction takes place among Tunisian-Americans..."Join the Club"!    REGIONAL ORGANIZING   Get involved!    MEMBERSHIP   Join Now!    SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE   submit your article or send your feedback   EDITORIAL BOARD: Editor: Ali Khemili. Contributing Writers: Faouzi Bouarrouj, Maya Charrad, Rajaa Gharbi, Hedi Jaouad, Raouf Khelil. Contributing Editors: Imed Abdellaoui, Jihane BenKhedher, Hazem Bennaceur, Meriem Chared, JB Gabsy, Sofian Riabi, Hachemi Saada, Elizabeth Saada.