1-4:ditor's Letter
iF
Victor's Imprint from page A5
LOOK WHAT THE
NEW NEIGHBOR
HAS TO OFFER.
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13-month CD
3.60
APY"
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3.35
Loyalty
Checking
4,00 0 A
,
t.*
APY'
Without Loyalty Checking Account.
Lobby Hours
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:30 a.m. - noon
Sun. noon - 4 p.m.
Drive-Up Hours
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Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m
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Bank
tAnnual percentage yields (APYs) are accurate as of 5/21/08. These offers and rates are available only at the new Flagstar banking center in
Farmington Hills through 6/20/08, are subject to change without notice and may not be combined with other coupons or offers. To qualify
for Loyalty Checking, customer must maintain an open and active Flagstar checking account and establish a total of $250 in ACH activity
monthly or 15 transactions monthly (excluding interest deposits). Valid only on accounts (CDs and checking accounts) opened with funds
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without a Loyalty Checking account will receive the Valued Customer Grand Opening rate of 3.35% APY on the 13-month CD. Minimum
opening balance is $500 and maximum deposit is $100,000. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. **Receive 4.00% APY when you
open a new interest-bearing checking account and meet Loyalty Checking requirements. Customer must meet Loyalty Program
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meets requirements for Loyalty Program. One 4.00% APY interest-bearing checking account per household. A minimum opening deposit
of $50 is required. Fees could reduce earnings on the account.
1391519
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Middle East. The catch is that Congress
must vote each year whether to approve
necessary funding. So AIPAC must be
prepared for that crucial annual lobby.
Victor summed up the challenge well:
The money could make the difference
between Israel's ability to defend itself
or Hamas and Hezbollah getting their
wish.
Victor proceeded to ask some tough
questions:
• How will a new U.S. president
prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear
power?
•What is the appropriate American
diplomatic role in Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations?
• Can we be sure a new U.S. president
will defend Israel's right to protect its
people from an Iranian nuclear war-
head or Arab-inspired terror?
Will our next president, Victor asked,
have the will to stand strong against the
inevitable crush of U.N. condemnations
and worldwide criticism should Israel
be compelled to secure its borders from
imminent danger? The three leading
presidential candidates — Republican
John McCain and Democrats Barack
Obama and Hilary Clinton — all are
solidly pro-Israel.
At its core, AIPAC is a congressional
lobby. It woos presidents, but Congress
has provided the bedrock of American
support for Israel over the past 60 years.
"And it is we;' Victor declared, "who are
the guardians of that relationship!'
Victor's logic has merit. After this
fall's elections, Jewish influence over
U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East
will be tied directly to our relationships
with members of the 111th Congress.
As the new U.S. president is peppered
by pressures of the world's hardest job,
Congress will be called upon to help
"withstand the inevitable tidal wave
of international demands to blame or
pressure Israel," Victor said.
That's why it's pivotal that Congress
knows about AIPAC and the issues
most significant to the Jewish commu-
nity. "Congress," said Victor, "is where
you and I can — and must — make a
real difference!'
Giving important texture, Victor
added, "We understand that America's
support for Israel serves American
interests at the most fundamental level.
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We understand that our support of a
tiny island of democracy and liberalism
in a sea of autocracy and repression is
an affirmation of who we are, of what
we stand for, of how America defines
itself"
The Challenge
As pro-Israel as Congress is, that sup-
port isn't etched in stone. In November,
voters will fill 35 open House seats and
another five open seats in the Senate,
let alone the contested races. The next
Congress indeed could feature lots of
new faces. Will we know them? Will
they know us? Have they been to Israel?
Do they understand the issues we care
so deeply about?
Victor crystallized the essence of
what's ahead.
"Look, finding pro-Israel activists
to get to know candidates from places
like Bloomfield Hills, Mich., where I am
from, a district with a comparatively
large Jewish population, is one thing,"
he said. "But how about finding the one
right person to reach out to candidates
from communities like Muscle Shoals,
Ala., or Tacoma, Wash., or Council
Bluffs, Iowa?"
Victor is president of Birmingham-
based American Educational Institute,
which provides continuing medical,
dental and legal instruction. So it
was no surprise that he encouraged
delegates to build strong interactive
relationships with their senators and
representatives in Congress. He went so
far as to pin AIPAC's success on such
relationships.
As Victor put it in the glare of the
policy conference spotlight, "To affect
real change, you have to do more than
show up; you have to act. For us, the
core of our activism is about the rela-
tionships we build!'
AIPAC's impact lies in the vigor of
its leadership to wield real influence
on Capitol Hill. And that vigor derives
its energy from a network of activists
around the country— getting involved
politically, winning congressional
support and ultimately making a
difference. ❑
K
<
Local delegate reaction to the
AIPAC policy conference: A21
Do AIPAC priorities match Israel's
most urgent needs?
What can delegates do now to
reinforce policy forum resolutions?
June 5 • 2008
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