1.  Background.  The Alumni Association of the American Community School at Beirut, Inc. (AA/ACS) was formed in 1978 with about 120 members, when an infrequent four-page newsletter began to be circulated.  AA/ACS now has 2,500 members, about one third of the approximately 7,700 individuals who attended ACS since its founding in 1905.

2.  Purpose and Structure.  Our Bylaws require AA/ACS:  (a) to establish a network among those persons who, since 1905, have been associated with the American Community School at Beirut, Lebanon (hereinafter, “ACS”); (b) to publish and circulate a newsletter; (c) to maintain alumni records and produce an occasional alumni directory; (d) to organize alumni gatherings; and (e) to raise funds for the benefit of ACS.”  Our leadership consists of 15 Governors who are elected at each triennial reunion, and from within that group, a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are appointed.  Individuals who have served as Governors range over many years of graduation, the oldest having been Anne Byerly-Moore ’40, and the youngest (currently serving) being Fadi Kanaan ’98.

3.  Reunions.  The first all-class reunion was held in Alexandria, Virginia in 1982, with attendance by 175 ACSers.   The schedule of subsequent reunions (with attendance up to 525) after that date:

           1985               San Diego, California

           1988               Boston, Massachusetts

           1991               Seattle, Washington

           1994               Denver, Colorado

           1997               Washington, D.C.

           2000               Portland, Oregon

           2003               Las Vegas, Nevada

           2005               Centennial Kick-off week, Beirut, Lebanon 

            2006                 Centennial culmination week, Beirut, Lebanon

            2007                  Washington DC 

4.  Services.  AA/ACS has (a) a “Membership Services” section that sends out welcoming packets to new members, sells souvenirs, and processes dues payments and donations; (b) produces a triennial Alumni Directory listing all members and their contact information; (c) produces a quarterly newsletter (12-16 pages); donates $5,000 to $15,000 annually to the Malcolm Kerr Endowment Fund.

5.  Membership. “Alumni” includes all who attended ACS, including faculty and trustees, whether or not they graduated from ACS.  Annual dues are U.S. $20.00, but are waived during the first five years after graduation. It is very important to advise AA/ACS Membership services of your email and snail mail address, so you can continue to get your newsletter by contacting

Linda Handschin-Sheppard ’68  

6.   AA/ACS Website.    Al Mashreq