Second Annual Gathering of Iranian Activists
Palm Beach Airport Hilton, West Palm Beach, Florida
September 10-12, 1999
Information about Iranian Activists Gathering:
The annual Gathering is a forum for creative interaction, exchange
of ideas and networking between Iranians who are active in cultural, social,
political and human rights affairs related to Iran. Last year's Gathering
was successfully held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. More than 50 Iranian
activists from the United States, Canada and Europe participated in last
year's Gathering. All participants in the Gathering are provided with
the opportunity and encouraged to actively participate in the workshops
and roundtables. Farsi is the language of the Gathering events unless
stated otherwise. To foster an atmosphere of collegiality and free interaction,
the dress code is casual and informal.
The Gathering includes the following: workshops, panels, keynote speech,
self-organized roundtables/panels/workshops, group activities, receptions
and book exhibit (this year, the main exhibit is displayed Khavarn Publishing,
Paris, France).
Registration Fee: $ 40.00. This fee covers the cost of Gathering, including
two evening receptions. You may register prior to the gathering or on
site. However, for planning purposes, if you intend to register on site,
please inform us by e-mail or telephone.
For hotel reservations, Please Call: 1-800-Hiltons (1-800-445-8667)
and ask for room reservations at Palm Beach Airport Hilton for Iranian
Activist Gathering. A special rate of $95.00 for a double-bed room including
free breakfast for two guests per room is arranged for the event. This
rate is also good for three days before and after the Gathering.
You may be able to obtain bargain on air fares by trying WWW.Priceline.Com.
For your information, many airlines are presently promoting post labor-day
fares.
For More Information, Please e-mail us at IranAction@Aol.Com,
or Call:
Hamid Akbari (847) 729-3211
Nasrin Almasi (416) 439-1086
Mohammad Tajdolati (416) 445-9942
Mahmoud Goudarzi (202) 806-8122
See You in West Palm Beach!
Sschedule
This is the schedule of the Second Annual Gathering of Iranian Activists.
This schedule is subject to minor changes. Information about the Gathering
and registration follows the schedule.
Friday, September 10, 1999:
2:00-5:00 p.m.) Registration
5:00-6:00 p.m.) Reception and Opening Remarks, Members of Coordinating
Committee
6:00-7:00 p.m.) Self-organized Roundtables (topics for these roundtables
are proposed by one or more of the participants and are attended by others
who are interested in them. There are set times allocated for continuing
these roundtables on Saturday and Sunday. Last year, there were sessions
on poetry, literature, film making and political organizing.)
7:00 p.m.) Friday Night Main Panel: Discussing ways to further develop
relations between Iranian activists in the United States, Europe and Canada,
Panel organizer: Amir-Houshang Keshavarz-Sadr, Paris, France. A number
of other panelists from Europe, Canada and the United States will contribute
to this panel.
Saturday, September 11, 1999:
9:00-10:30 a.m.) Simultaneous Workshops 1&2:
Workshop #1: Ending Capital Punishment in Iran, Facilitator: Mohammad
Tajdolati, Toronto, Canada.
Workshop #2: Team Building Exercises (Facilitator: TBA)
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Simultaneous Workshops 3&4:
Workshop # 3: An examination of Iranian women's insufficient presence
and participation in founding and/or organizing mixed-sex political and
human rights organizations/activities outside Iran, Facilitator: Azar Khounani,
Chicago, Illinois.
Workshop #4: Affirmation of identity for Americans with Iranian ancestry,
Facilitator: Amir Noormandi, Chicago, Illinois.
12:30-2:00 p.m.) Lunch Break
2:00-4:00 p.m.) Simultaneous Workshops 5&6:
Workshop #5: A review of the Islamic Republic's Constitution and its
specific violations of rights of, a) all Iranians, b) women, and c) religious
minorities, Facilitator: Parviz Dastmalchi, Berlin, Germany.
Workshop #6: A look at Iranian Writers' Association in exile: Implications
for organizing efforts, Presenter and Facilitator: Dr. Masoud Noghrehkar,
Orlando, Florida.
4:00-5:30 p.m.) Break
5:30-7:00 p.m.) Reception/Self-organized Roundtables and Introduction
of the Paris based Publisher and Activist, Taghi Amini, Founder and Managing
Director of Khavaran Publishing.
7:00 p.m.) Keynote Speech/Presentation by Reza Deghati. Mr. Deghati
is a well-known international photojournalist. His works have been published
by the renowned journals of the world, including: National Geographic,
the Independent, Le Nouvel Observateur, Geo, Time, Life, Stern and Express.
Mr. Deghati's works have been exhibited in the prestigious galleries and
museums of the world, including Louvre Museum in Paris. Throughout the
years, Mr. Deghati has remained dedicated to the social, cultural and human
rights causes of his beloved homeland, Iran. On Saturday night, Mr. Deghati
will present his recent works on the Caspian Sea and his other selected
works on a number of countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan,
Philippines and South Africa.
Sunday, September 12, 1999:
9:00-10:30 a.m.) Simultaneous Workshops 7&8:
Workshop #7: Practical considerations for Iranian activists vis-à-vis
the reality of ongoing violations of human rights in Iran, Facilitator:
Mohammad Parvin, Los Angeles, California.
Workshop #8: Elements of effective organizing and their application
among Iranians outside Iran, Facilitator: Hamid Akbari, Chicago, Illinois.
10:30-11:00 a.m.) Break
11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon) Self-Organized Roundtables/
12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.) Farewell Assembly
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