[ALBSA-Info] NAAC Michigan Chapter is Formed - Levin, Bonior, and Walker to Attend Clark Dinner

[National Albanian American Council]

National Albanian American Council
1700 K Street, N.W., Suite 1201, Washington, DC  20006
Telephone: (202) 466-6900   Fax: (202) 466-5593
Web: www.naac.org   Email: naac at naac.org
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release:  October 4, 2001  Contact:  Sokol Shtylla (202) 466-6900


Press Release
 
NAAC Michigan Chapter is Formed
 
Levin, Bonior, and Walker to Attend Clark Dinner
 
Washington DC, October 4, 2001 - The National Albanian American Council issued the following statement announcing the creation of the Michigan Chapter of the organization and officials attending dinner honoring General Wesley Clark in Michigan.
 
The National Albanian American Council is proud to announce the formation of its Michigan Chapter.  Organized by a group of long-standing supporters of NAAC and activists of the Albanian-American community, the Chapter will play a significant leadership role in Michigan and nationwide.   
 
"The Michigan Chapter will allow more members of our community to work through NAAC to better the lives of people in the Balkans and here in the U.S.," said Richard Lukaj, Chairman of the NAAC Board of Trustees.  "Furthermore, the creation of the Michigan Chapter attests to the fact that NAAC is a growing organization with considerable community support."  
 
The NAAC Michigan Chapter will be led by a group of successful lawyers, businessmen, academics, and professionals who have long played an active role among the Albanian-American community of Michigan.  The Board of Directors will include Paul Lulgjuraj, Chairman, Prenke Ivezaj, Vice-Chairman, Rudy Laze, Treasurer, Luke Palushaj, Secretary, Fatmir Ademi, Ekrem Bardha, Gjevalin Gegaj, Gjergj Gjetaj, Tom Gjokaj, Gjergj Ivezaj, Ndua Ivezaj, Rrok Lulgjuraj, Agron Rumi, Shaban Semsedini, and Safet Stafaj.   
 
Thanking the Board of Directors for selecting him as a Chairman, Palok Lulgjuraj expressed the Chapter's goal of bringing the community together to make a difference for the Albanian people.  "We look forward to working with NAAC and with the other chapters in strengthening the voice of Albanians throughout the U.S.," said Lulgjuraj. 
 
The first event organized by the Michigan Chapter will be a dinner honoring General Wesley Clark, the NATO Commander who led the war for the liberation of Kosova in 1999.  Joining Albanian-Americans in honoring General Clark will also be Senator Carl Levin, Congressman David Bonior, and Ambassador William Walker.  The dinner will take place Friday, October 12, at the Royalty House in Warren, Michigan.

The National Albanian American Council ("NAAC") is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs.
 
The following are short biographies of the Board of Directors of the NAAC Michigan Chapter:
 
Palok Lulgjuraj, Chairman, earned his BA in History and Political Science and Law Degree in from the Univeristy of Detroit.  Mr. Lulgjuraj is an Attorney at Law and is admitted to practice law in the state of Michigan, the U.S. District Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  Mr. Lulgjuraj has been involved with NAAC over the last couple of years. 
 
Dr. Prenke Ivezaj, Vice-Chairman, earned his BA from the University of Prishtina.  After immigrating to the U.S., Dr. Ivezaj attended the Eastern Michigan University, where he received Masters of Arts followed by a secondary teaching certificate in science and social studies. He continued his studies at Wayne State University and received a Bilingual Endorsement and Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction.  He currently administers, teaches, coordinates, and develops new ideas that are suitable and achievable for Farmington Public School.
 
Rudy Laze, Treasurer, is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He has been a successful architect in Albania and in the U.S.  Mr. Laze earned a Masters in Architecture at Lawrence Technical University in Southfield, Michigan in 1999. He currently works for Spucky and Vitale Architects in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Mr. Laze has been a member of NAAC since May 2000. 
 
Luke Palushaj, Secretary, came to the U.S 30 years ago.  Mr. Palushaj is a Senior Art Director at Campbell Eweld Advertising.  He has received several national awards in art and design.  Mr. Palushaj earned Bachelor's degree from the Center for Creative Studies, College of Art and Design in Detroit. He is an active member of the Albanian community in Detroit.  
 
Fatmir Ademi is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where received his BA in Business Management.  He has been a successful businessman and owner of several restaurants and bars in the Detroit area.  Mr. Ademi has been a member of NAAC for over three years now.  He is also on the Board of the Teqe Baktashiane in Detroit and a member of the Albanian American National Organization.
 
Ekrem Bardha is a prominent leader of the Albanian-American community.  He was one of the Co-Founders of NAAC and has served as Vice-President for the organization. Mr. Bardha is a successful entrepreneur.  He is also the owner and publisher of Illyria, a leading newspaper of the Albanian-American community. 
 
Gjevalin Gegaj is one of the first members of the Board of Trustees of NAAC.  He is a successful businessman and long time activist in the Albanian-American community.
 
Gjergj Gjetaj received his Law Degree in Prishtina and worked as a public administration official for 18 years Kosova. In December 1995, Mr. Gjetaj came as a refugee to the U.S. and has recently received political asylum.  He is a restaurant owner in Detroit.
 
Tom Gjokaj was born in Tuz, Podgorica and came to the United States in 1983.  He is the owner of a painting company in Michigan.  Mr. Gjikaj has been a member of NAAC for the past 5 years.  He has been a member of the Democratic League for 10 years and is supportive of the Kosovar independence movement, and a great activist in the Detroit Albanian community.
 
Gjergj Ivezaj is the owner of a painting company and a successful businessman in the community.  He earned his BA in History from the University of Prishtina.  Mr. Ivezaj has been member of LDK (Democratic League of Kosova) since 1990 and President of the LDK Detroit chapter since 1996 till present.  He has been member of NAAC for the past two years.
 
Ndua Ivezaj was born in Malesia, Montenegro and immigrated to the United States at the age of 2.  He graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Computer Engineering in 1986.  Mr. Ivezaj worked as an engineer for General Motors for 10 years and has been a Senior Systems engineer for Daimler Chrysler for the last 4 years.  He has been an active member of the Albanian community since 1984.  
 
Rrok Lulgjuraj is a successful real estate businessman in Michigan. He has been active in the Albanian Community in Detroit for the past ten years.
 
Agron Rumi graduated from the University of Tirana with a BA in Oil and Gas Research.  Mr. Rumi was very active in Albanian politics until he moved to the United States a year ago.  He is now an active member of the Albanian-American community in Michigan.
 
Shaban Semsedini is a professor at Hamtramck High School.  He has been a member of LDK since 1990.  Mr. Semsedini is also the President of the Teqe Bekteshiane in Michigan.  He has been a member of NAAC for the past two years. Mr. Semsedini received his BA in English from the University of Prishtina and his MA in English in Detroit.  He is an active member of the Albanian community in Detroit.
 
Safet Stafaj is a graduate of the Police Academy in Tirana.  Afterwards, he received his Law Degree from the University of Tirana.  Mr. Stafaj was Director of the General Police Department in Tirana from 1992 till 1994.  From 1994 till 1997 he served as the Albanian Ambassador to Turkey.  He came to the United States in 1997. 
 
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