| Thanksgiving Day 2011 @Seashells |
(Click on any thumbnail picture to enlarge)
1. The
Kuwait Chapter was honored by the presence of US Ambassador Matt Tueller and
his wife at the 24 November Thanksgiving Celebrations held at the Sea Shells
Resort. ASG-K Garrison Sergeant Major Melvin Johnson with Ambassador Tueller.
2. During the
Thanksgiving Celebrations at the Sea Shells Resort, Brigadier General LeDoux, ARCENT G4, presented the
Chapter President with a plaque of appreciation for support to the troops in
Kuwait.
3. The Kuwait Chapter
was proud to be joined by Australian Ambassador Glenn Miles (second from
right), US Marine Colonel Erick Thomas, AUSA VP of Meetings Samar Mansour, and
SGT Erin Carpenter at our Thanksgiving Celebration at the Sea Shells Resort on
24 November 2011.
4. The
Kuwait Chapter was pleased to provide a table for our Canadian partners this
year. Sergeant Major Patricia Gabrielson
(third from right) and four of her troops were excited to dine with Canadian
Ambassador Douglas George during the Thanksgiving Celebrations at the Sea
Shells Resort on 24 November.
5. Ms. Rosanna Croft of
Alshamel Travel is presented with a plaque of appreciation by Chapter President
Dr. Ziyad Selim for sponsoring the AUSA Thanksgiving Events, held at the Kuwait
National Guard Officers Club and the Sea Shells Resort on 24 November 2011.
6. Mr. Ed Al-Khammach, Executive Director of Midas Furniture, is presented with
a plaque of appreciation by Chapter President Dr. Ziyad Selim for sponsoring
the AUSA Thanksgiving Events at the Kuwait National Guard Officers Club and the
Sea Shells Resort on 24 November 20
7. Mr. Al-Khammach congratulates one of the four lucky winners of a recliner
from Midas Furniture.
8. Chapter President Dr. Ziyad Selim
presented a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Simon Khayat of Anham Transportation
on 24 November 2011 for the company’s generous sponsorship of the AUSA
Thanksgiving Celebrations for 2011.
9. The Bar None Band
entertained the troops at the Sea Shells Resort on the morning of 24 November
2011 as part of the AUSA Thanksgiving Celebrations
10. An ATM from the
Commercial Bank of Kuwait at the Sea Shells Resort was provided so the troops
could buy souvenirs and access the great food and beverage stations around the
facility. In support of the troops
during the November AUSA Thanksgiving Celebrations, CBK kindly donated two
mobile ATMs; one was at the Kuwait National Guard Officers Club as well.
11. Mr. Toney Haskett, General
Manager of DynCorp International – Kuwait is presented with a plaque of
appreciation by Chapter President Dr. Ziyad Selim for sponsoring the AUSA
Thanksgiving Events. At the Kuwait National Guard Officers Club and the Sea
Shells Resort on 24 November 2011.
12. Mr. Bill Cooler,
Program Director of ITT – KBOSSS is presented with a plaque of appreciation by
Chapter President Dr. Ziyad Selim for sponsoring the AUSA Thanksgiving Events.
At the Kuwait National Guard Officers Club and the Sea Shells Resort on 24
November 2011.
13. Siann Smith of Middle
East Business Solutions is presented with a plaque of appreciation by Chapter
President Dr. Ziyad Selim for sponsoring the AUSA Thanksgiving Events. At the
Kuwait National Guard Officers Club and the Sea Shells Resort on 24 November
2011.
14. The AUSA Kuwait Chapter provided
a great meal and opportunities for fun and relaxation at the Sea Shells Resort
(400 persons, with over 300 troops) and at the Kuwait National Guard Officers
Club (almost 200 troops, plus over 50 AUSA volunteers and sponsors).
15. Ibrahim Al-Adasani
and Cathy Gottcent manned the AUSA T-shirt distribution table at the Sea Shells
Resort as part of greeting the troops as they go off the buses from their
desert camps.
16. Ms. Hanna Jerczynska of United
Air Lines is presented with a plaque of appreciation by Chapter President Dr.
Ziyad Selim for sponsoring the AUSA Thanksgiving Events. At the Kuwait National
Guard Officers Club and the Sea Shells Resort on 24 November 2011.
17. Mr. Samar Baroudi and Ms. Fawzia Chamandar of Wataniya
Telecom award a blackberry to a lucky winner during a drawing at the AUSA
Thanksgiving Celebrations on 24 November 2011.
Wataniya
generously gave away four such devices – two at the Sea Shells Resort
Celebration (as pictured here) and two at the Kuwait National Guard Officers
Club Celebration.
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| Thanksgiving Day 2011 @National Guard Club |
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| AUSA-Kuwait Chapter President and SGM Melvin Johnson receive the 2011 Overseas Chapter Award |
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| AUSA-Kuwait Chapter President and SGM Melvin Johnson at the President's Breakfast |
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| Charles Pinho from Alshamel-Kuwait at Opening Ceremony |
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Freedom Walk 2011 was led by Marine LtCol Tom Dewyea, Army Band Major Paul
Belamonte, OMCK Chief USAF Brigadier
General Rick Mattson, and AUSA Kuwait Chapter President Dr. Ziyad Selim led and participated in the walk and BBQ for the 500 guests (275 military) that followed the 10th
Anniversary Freedom Walk at the US Embassy on 15 September 2011.
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| July 4th at US Embassy-Kuwait |
Over 200 troops enjoyed the US Embassy’s 4th of
July Celebration. Food was provided by
Anham, Al-Wazzan, Casper & Gambinis, AUSA Kuwait Chapter, Global
International, Baskin Robbins, and Dunkin Donuts. The troops enjoyed waters slides, water soccer, food, and
camel rides at the Embassy. Thanks to US Embassy Charge’ de Affaires Virginia Keener for her enthusiastic participation.
Anham Al Kuwait for Food Products was the major sponsor of
the AUSA-supported 4th of July Celebration at the US Embassy for 450
people. The AUSA Chapter salutes the
great management of Anham for their generosity in supporting the troops and
Embassy community with meats and other foods, outdoor fans, paper products,
sodas, and yet their General Manager asked how else Anham could help the
troops. This was a great event.
On 11 July, Randy
Williams of AUSA-Kuwait presented a certificate of appreciation to Ms. Lamia
Hijazi, General Manager of Anham Al Kuwait for Food Products for their 4th
of July Celebration at the US Embassy for 450 people. Anham was the major sponsor of this
AUSA-supported event. The troops and US
Embassy community had plenty of food and fun as they honored Independence
Day. This was an outstanding event.
Al Wazzan
Foods generously donated various meats, buns, and salads to the AUSA-sponsored
4th of July Celebration at the US Embassy. The troops loved the delicious selection that
was provided.
Mr. Shafi Ramadan provided the AUSA-sponsored 4th
of July Celebration with watermelons for all and the two main attractions of
the evening – Chewie 1 and Chewie 2 – the friendliest camels known to
mankind. The troops and Embassy staff
enjoyed the camel rides. Chewie 1 and Chewie 2 proved that they can be handled by either
Army enlisted or Air Force General Officers day or night!
The AUSA Kuwait
Chapter thanks Mr. Farid Al-Fozan of Gulf Group Holding for providing the 4th
of July cake that US Embassy Charge’ de Affaires Virginia Keener and Brigadier
General Rick Mattson cut at the opening of the Celebration.
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| The Kuwait Chapter provided an Army Birthday Cake to the US
Embassy’s military service men and women in celebration of the 236th
anniversary of the Army’s founding.
Brigadier General Rick Mattson, Chief of the Office of Military
Cooperation cut the cake and s AUSA Board member Samar Mansour distributed
pieces to the military and civilian members of the Embassy community. LTC AJ Johnson, OMCK Liaison to the AUSA
Board organized the event, while Samar arranged for the cake.
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| AUSA-Kuwait Honored by Theater Gateway for Support of Clothing Locker |
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| At the
Kuwait Chapter Board Meeting on 6 June, 2011 at the US Embassy, 1LT Travis
Hawkins presented the Kuwait Chapter with a plaque of appreciation from LTC
Maureen Bessingpas, Theater Gateway Commander for AUSA’s support to the
Emergency Leave Clothing Locker and the Millionth Passenger Celebration. As the Theater Gateway Commander, SGM Fotina
Nixon, and 1LT Hawkins prepare to depart Kuwait, we thank them for the
partnership they provided our Chapter in serving the troops and we wish them
all success in their next assignments.
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| 718th Transportation Battalion Soccer Tournament |
AUSA supported the 718th Transportation Battalion Soccer Tournament
The soccer tournament (3-5 June
2011) was a huge success. A total of six teams competed from the 230th Brigade;
217th Transportation Company (Reserves out of Texas), 377 Transportation
Company (Active Duty out of Ft Bliss), 778 Transportation Company (National
Guard out of Kansas), 718 Transportation Battalion (Reserves out of Ohio), 51st
Transportation Company (Active Duty out of Germany), and 1244th Transportation
Company (National Guard out of Illinois). There were some very competitive
games. Each team played three games, in addition to the championship round on
Sunday. A total of two games went into overtime during the Championships and
the final Championship game between 377 and 51st went into a 'golden goal'
shootout competition with the 51st Transportation Company taking it all. The
third place certificate was awarded to 1244th who competed against the 217th in
a fierce competition. Overall the tournament was a success. Thanks were
rendered for AUSA sponsoring the awards for the tournament. Board Member
Lole Meaole-Morrison represented the Chapter in this effort.
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| 1. At the invitation of Australian Ambassador Glenn Miles, AUSA
Kuwait Chapter President Randy Williams participated in the wreath-laying
ceremony on 25 April 2011 at 4:50 AM honoring the fallen Allied Forces that
fought at Gallipoli in 1915. Samar Mansour, in her capacity
as Political Officer of the Australian Embassy in Kuwait, acted as the
master of ceremonies in her capacity as First Secretary in the Australian
Embassy.
2. In this photo, Ambassador Glenn Miles begins the wreath
laying ceremony. US Ambassador Jones, UK Ambassador Baker, MG Pete Vangjel, BGen
Greg Touhill, and many other dignitaries followed him in honoring the memory of
the brave thousands who fell at ANZAC Bay.
3. Dominic Miles (AUS) and Ryan Buist (NZL) were color bearers
to raise their national colors to full mast near the memorial after all wreaths
were laid.
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AUSA-Kuwait Mascot: Dusty
was given to the Ambassador by a member of the Al-Sabah family. Dusty's
father's name is Conan and comes from a long line of tough Jack Russell
Terriers. Photos courtesy of the US Embassy's Press Attache.
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| Annual Banquet Souk Sponsor |
Meghan McCabe, AUSA-Kuwait VP Marketing, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Rami El-Mokdad of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, thanking them for their sponsorship of the Annual Banquet Souk.
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| Rami El-Mokdad of Commercial Bank of Kuwait accepted a Certificate of Appreciation for Annual Banquet Souk sponsorship from AUSA-Kuwait VP, Meghan McCabe |
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| AUSA-Kuwait Donates Souk Proceeds to K's PATH |
This year the AUSA-Kuwait Annual Banquet included an innovation conceived and led by AUSA-Kuwait VP of Marketing Meghan McCabe. Meghan enlisted professional Event Manager Lorie Beverly who volunteered her expertise to help AUSA-Kuwait deliver a taste of Kuwait culture. The Souk included a local folk band, calligraphy artist, Black tent with local costumes, and the opportunity to purchase local crafts. The black tent was especially popular. Military personnel lined up to put on local costume and have their photograph taken in the black tent with shisha pipe and coffee pots as props. Profits from the event were donated to Ayeshah Al-Humaidhi, Executive Director, The Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K'S PATH) on behalf of AUSA.
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| Clothing Locker Shopping March 2011 |
On 18 March 2011, AUSA Kuwait Chapter Board members Gae Lyn
Anderson and Dr. Rania Azmi accompanied the Gateway Command’s custodians of the
Emergency Leave Clothing Locker on a shopping trip to the Friday Market to
replenish the stocks of pants and shirts. They enjoyed themselves too much for
this to be considered work! (l-r: Gae
Lyn Anderson, TSgt Cris Ingalls, Dr. Rania Amzi, 1LT Travis Hawkins, and SGT
Damon Belanger)
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| Annual Golf Tournament 2011 |
| Donors - Golf Tournament & Annual Banquet 2011 |
The sponsors of the 2011 AUSA-Kuwait Golf Tournament and Annual Banquet listed in the order shown below:
Representative and Company Level of Sponsorship
Meghan
McCabe of Al-Shamel Travel - Sergeant
Major
Mr.
Dale Ryan, Vice President of Chevron Kuwait- Sergeant
Major
Mike
Seals, General Manager of DefCon - Sergeant
First Class
DynCorp
Kuwait General Manager Toney Haskett - Sergeant
First Class
Mr.
Marty Willett of Frost Real Estate - Sergeant
Mr.
Shafi Ramadan, General Manager of Global International- Command
Sergeant Major
Scott
Beverly of KGL- Sergeant
First Class
Mr.
Pierre Banoori of Q8 Realtor - Donor
Mr.
Samer Al Ashkar, Sales Manager of the Safir Hotel - Sergeant
Mr.
Ali Yousef Ali, CEO of Silverchain - Sergeant
Jenny Hewitt, Administrative Manager of TXM Recruit Ltd - Sergeant First Class
Ms.
Fawzia Chamadar of Wataniya Telecom- Sergeant
Ms.
Emily Smith, Key Account Manager of
Al-Waseet Travel & Tourism Services - Sergeant
Mr.
Wael Karim Awad, The CAT Rental Store - Sergeant
Mr.
Stephen D’Costa President & CEO
of American Logistics - Sergeant
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Mr. Cris Maxim of FedEx presented the AUSA Chapter President
with check for sponsorship of AUSA Kuwait Chapter. This generous donation allows AUSA to provide
morale-enhancing events and other services to the troops. FedEx has been a
great partner and honored us with senior corporate officials at the recent
Thanksgiving Event at the Sea Shells Resort. We salute FedEx for their support and
thank Cris Maxim for his partnership.
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| Clothing Locker Salute VFW Ladies, Alton, Mo! |
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