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CHAIRS
DIRECTORS
पवन
€
G
Ronak Shah 918-269-7665 ronak.shah@yja.org Chintan Shah 608-217-4807 chintan.shah@yja.org
Education Shayna Parekh 562-865-1679 shayna.parekh@yja.org Events Shama Khandwala 847-985-6858 shamakhandwala@mail.com Finance/Fundraising
Mintu Shah 708-275-1070
mintushah@mail.com
Information Technology
Beeneet Kothari 631-586-1579 beeneetkothari@mail.com
Fundraising Dhrumil Purohit 302-832-0361 dhrumil.purohit@yja.org
Publications Mansi Shah 858-722-1100 mansi.shah@yja.org Public Relations Kunal Shah 562-417-2700 kunal.shah@yja.org
REGIONAL COORDINATORS Mid Atlantic
Neel Shetti 646-215-8913
neel.shetti@yja.org
Midwest Suchita Shah 734-764-9770 suchita.shah@yja.org
Northeast
Vishal Jhaveri 503-292-1965
vishal.jhaveri@yja.org South Arpan Shah 281-980-6924 arpan.shah@yja.org
Southeast
Priya Palvia 678-525-5716 priya.palvia@yja.org West Karishma Shah 510-664-0383 karishma.shah@vja.org
Jain Education International
YOUNG JAINS OF AMERICA
Federation of Jain Associations in North America
A Non-Profit Tax Exempt Religious Organization. IRS Code Section 501 (c)(3) El #54-1280028 yja-exec@egroups.com http://www.yja.org/
Jai Jinendra!
YJA hopes you will join us in these exciting times and opportunities to spread and promote Jainism through youth.
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One of the most active ways is joining the executive board. We are extremely excited to announce our 2002-2003 elections for the YJA Executive Board. The work is quite challenging, but also very exciting and rewarding (please visit www.yja.org/elections for the application process).
The executive board provides a forum to make wonderful friendships and build networking opportunities. The experience of being a YJA board member prepares you for work you will do in your career, functioning within short deadlines, communicating with others, producing projects with limited resources, and fundraising significant amount of money, and much more.
The YJA board is comprised of fifteen individuals. There are two co-chairs, seven director positions, and six regional coordinators. The board meets twice a year (in August and January). This year's August meeting will be held from August 8th to the 11th. It is imperative for the prospective board member to attend both meetings. The minimum age requirement is sixteen years of age, or 14 years of age if you are currently a recognized Local Representative for your Jain Center.
There are other greats ways to get involved with YJA.
YJA has focused on building a powerful new website-www.yja.org. Our website now hosts a discussion board, where youth from all over America can post their thoughts on religious, social, and work-related subjects. YJA has also created an all-new Jain youth calendar on www.yja.org/calendar. Youth can witness upcoming Jain holidays and learn their respective meanings. Finally, YJA has added "Frequently Asked Questions," so youth can understand frequent misperceptions in Jainism.
Within one month, YJA will host its 5th bennial National Youth Convention in Mahwah, New Jersey from July 4th to July 7th for nearly 1000 youth. This year's theme, "Walking the Path of Jainism," teaches youth how to incorporate Jainism within their daily lives.
During this entire summer, YJA has teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for those less fortunate. For one week, in sites all across America, youth with join together for one weekend and build a house. Please visit www.yja.org/h4h to join in this great cause. Join us and get involved in all of these exciting projects.
Ronak Shah and Chintan Shah
Co-Chairs, 2001-2002
Young Jains of America Co-chairs@yja.org
Young Jains of America (YJA) is the umbrella youth organization of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA). The mission of YJA is to be recognized nationally and internationally as an umbrella youth organization for establishing a network to share Jain heritage and religion through youth.
For Private & Personal Use Only
JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2002/29 www.jainelibrary.org