approval,
The summary findings, Convention idea, Los Angeles venue,
Memorial Day weekendin 1981, someidea ofcost, hosting ofthe delegates
and Convention Committee formation were presented to our Jain Center
General Body meetingfortheir information, input, discussion and approval.
The General Body wholeheartedly and very enthusiastically supported it
along with many suggestions for Executive Committee and Convention
Committeetoconsider.
Wecalled all the spiritual, academic and community leaders and
confirmed the Los Angeles location and dates (May 22-25, 1981) of the
Convention. The umbrella institution will be ofFederationtype whereinall
member organizations would operate autonomously locally andstill be
guidedbythe Federationforlargerand external matters, ¢.g., representation
atnational andinternational levelwith onevoice, uniform studymatterinall
Pathshalas, socio-religious meetings at regional and national level,
guidelinesfor visitors-monks-scholars, future planning fornew generations
to come and the aging seniors, youth development-encouragement-
participation, unified dealing with the governments, possible representation
inUnitedNations etc, Afterthat the Convention Committee drewup adraft
constitutionofJainFederationbasedonJCSCmodelandpreparedatentative
plan and agenda forthe Convention. Wethen talked to Pujya Sushil Muniji
and Pujya Chitrabhanuji for their suggestions & blessings and talked to
Professor Jaini & Professor Sharmafor their feedback and finally sentit to
outside Jain leaders forreview and tentative approval. We wereluckyto get
the TRW (now Northrop Grumman) Company's beautiful large capacity
modern air conditioned hall for 3 days at no cost to us. That eased the
potentialburdenontheyoung JCSC. Further, thelocal familieswere sought
tohostthedelegates.
Communication was difficult during those days : no e-mails, no
laptops, nodesktopsandscarcecellphones. Allcommunicationtookalotof
personaltime, energyandmoney. Afterhundredsofphonecallsandconstant
dialog, a plan and the agenda were streamlined. Once things were settled
withthetentativeapprovalbythespiritual-academic-communityleaders,the
Convention Committee reported back to the Executive Committee and the
ExecutiveCommitteeinturnreportedtotheGeneralBody.
oePheConventionwasheldfromMay22to May25, 1981inLo