About Us

In the spring of 1936 about a dozen young Syrian men and women banded together to raise funds to assist St Savior’s Syrian Melkite Church. The church, like the rest of our nation at that time, was in the midst of severe economic depression. To raise funds, a dance was held at the Elks Club on 18th and Dodge Street. Thanks to the efforts of this group and the cooperation of many of our Syrian people and friends, it was a great success and a generous contribution was given to the pastor of the church. Shortly after that, to celebrate the success of the dance, this group of young men and women gathered together for a victory dinner. It was at the dinner that the group decided to band together for the general good of the Syrian people of Omaha. A meeting was then held at the home of one of the young couples of the group and The Phoenician Club of Omaha was born as a nonpartisan, nonsectarian club!

Membership in the Club was open to young men and women of Syrian birth, extraction or kinship who have reached the age of 18 (or high school graduate) and have not passed the age of 45. Membership dues were 25 cents monthly. Later in the early 1950’s, the maximum age limitation requirement was removed.  In the beginning, the meetings were held in the homes of the members. As the membership grew, it was necessary to meet in larger quarters. The Omaha hotels were very generous in providing a meeting room without any cost to the Club. The first hotel was the Rome Hotel, located at 16th and Howard Streets. From there the Club met at the Castle Hotel, further south on 16th Street, the Paxton Hotel, and the Fontenelle Hotel, all of which have since been torn down except the Paxton Hotel.  

During World War II in the early 1940’s many of our members were called into the service of our country, so all social functions were discontinued except for fundraising events. The efforts of the members who remained at home were directed towards keeping the Club active and encouraging our servicemen and women by sending letters and packages. 

Late in the 1940’s the Club began to think about a club house and ways to raise funds. Numerous fund-raising activities were held such as Syrian dinners, bazaars, Federation Conventions, Midwest Mahrajan, etc.        

In 1953 we moved into our own club house on 39th and Jones Street. For 16 years the club house was used for monthly meetings, various social club functions, and as a venue for rent.  In 1969 the club house was sold.   After Lebanon became an independent state in 1943, the Midwest Federation became the Midwest Federation of American Syrian-Lebanese Clubs. Many Phoenician Club members have been elected as presidents and officers of the Federation or appointed to numerous important committees.   The Club provides many charitable contributions to organizations both locally and nationally. The list has included but is not limited to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the Midwest Federation of American Syrian-Lebanese Clubs Scholarship Fund, Adopt a Child Program, and the Madonna School for Handicapped Children. Many of our local youth benefit from the Scholarship Program.  

President                Donna Lett 

Vice President        Tony Bakhit 

Treasurer                Robert Barrett 

Secretary                Natalie Manley 

 Sgt-AT-Arms           Linda Barrett 

Good and Welfare  Judy Abdouch   

Board:                     

Jerry Abdouch

Barbara Bakhit                                

Marlene Qaqish                                

Shiraz Mazzawi                                

Hannah Serhan