The "Chaldeans for Census 2000 Committee" held a meeting on December 8, 1999 at the Southfield Manor, Detroit area-Michigan. The meeting was convened to discuss developing a promotional strategy for the upcoming US Census 2000 within the Chaldean community as well as the recent letter sent by Mr. Sargon Dadisho to His Grace Mar Ibrahim Ibrahim, the US Chaldean Bishop.

On the letter of Mr. Sargon Dadisho, the Committee discussed at length all the implications that could result from what Mr. Dadisho and his supporters were seeking. The consensus was that all matters related to US Census 2000 should be referred to the Committee to be acted upon and for the Committee to submit appropriate responses. This consensus reaffirms that the �Chaldeans for Census 2000 Committee� is the official representative of the Chaldeans for US Census 2000.

The meeting also showed satisfaction with the Committee�s close relationship with the US Census Bureau, which is using the �Chaldeans for Census 2000 Committee� as a �working model� for its implementation of US Census 2000. So far, three Committee members are being employed by the Census Bureau to help streamline its operations in Greater Detroit area and to work as liaisons between it and the Chaldean community. The Committee was also pleased at the recent grant of $2,500 given to it by the US Census Bureau to cover its expenses in promoting and distributing the Census 2000 materials, which will be published in both English and Arabic and distributed among members of the Chaldean community. This material will cover educational and promotional information geared towards the Chaldean community as well as to encourage its members to register their ethnicity as Chaldeans as part of the implementation of the agreement made with representatives of the Assyrian and Syriac communities on 26 April, 1999 to create a common category of Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac for Census 2000. The Committee also reaffirmed its belief that all those names refer to that of our one indivisible nation.

The meeting closed with the Committee reaffirming its willingness to provide its experience in working with the Census Bureau to members of the other communities of our nation, that of the Assyrian and Syriac, so as to help them achieve a complete count throughout the United States. The Committee is also willing to work with other professionals to achieve all the objectives of US Census 2000.

The �Chaldeans for Census 2000 Committee� was created at the behest of the Chaldean Federation of America and is fully supported by Beth Nahrain National Organization, which is also actively represented in this committee.
 

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