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izations and a meeting of delegates was called on May 28, 1983 to finalize and adopt the constitution and elect the Executive committee. At the delegates' meeting on May 28, 1983 the members proposed the name of the organization to be "Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA)", which was unanimously approved. Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu graced this convention.
Dr. Manoj Dharamsi and other Presidents worked hard in laying a good foundation for activities of JAINA as an umbrella organization to help all Jain Centers in North America and foster close relationship with each other. The followings described activities that followed to develop JAINA and bring it to where it is today. After each development, a parenthesis denotes the initials of the Presidents mainly responsible during his tenure.
Establishment and Awareness of JAINA
Received a non-profit status from IRS with ID # 54-1280028
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Applies and received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service under IRS code 501 C(3) (TS).
Started Director-at-large appointment program (TS).
JAINA "Logo" was designed and placed on Jaina stationary in 1987 (TS).
To accommodate individual donations JAINA set up JAINA Charitable Trust (SJ +JJ+MM).
Launched JAINA Patrons program in August 1997 aimed at establishing financial stability of JAINA, raised over $56000 from 200 Patrons and made it an annual program, there by establishing the permanent financial stability of JAINA (DS).
To make JAINA to fulfill its objectives in a very professional manner, a part-time Executive Director was appointed at the JAINA Headquarters and equipped the HQ with all the necessary office equipments (DS).
An attempt to Trademark JAIN by one of the giant software company was disputed with favorable outcome (MP).
JAINA currently operates through 32 Sub-committees, with their respective Chairpersons appointed by the Executive Committee. These chairpersons are very capable and hardworking North American volunteers. This approach allows
Jain Education International 2010_03
having a large group of talented Jain practitioners (BP).
Activities Supporting Jain Centers Nationwide
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Sent to all Jain centers a "How to apply for NonProfit status" kit containing IRS forms and instructions on how to complete them to receive nonprofit status (MD, TS).
Dr. Bharil visited for the first time in 1984 to USA, and visited many Jain Centers. Since then he has been coming to North America every year and preaching Jainism (MD).
Mailed to Jain Centers a sample letter for their members to support members' conscientious objection to killing and participation in war (MD). Promoting and helping formation of new Jain centers (MD).
JAINA sponsored the historical visits of Acharya Chandanaji and in 1988 and Triputi Maharaj in 1989 (TS).
Many Presidents visited many Jain societies during their term as President to create better relationship between JAINA and Jain Centers.
Conventions and Camps Support
Regional Jain summer camps were sponsored in Washington and in California in 1984 (MD).
We started finalizing the sites for two to three conventions, e.g. 2005, 2007 and 2009 (BP). Started forming national level convention operational committees to make future conventions fully portable for any city regardless of the size of the Jain
community (BP).
11th Convention was the first one with complete financial responsibility by JAINA (MP).
In 2003 convention, the expense control was greatly achieved by strict budget control (BP).
Constitution
• The first constitution was established 1983 (MD).
In 1993 the constitution was amended to facilitate increasing scope of JAINA (SJ, JJ).
The differences due to constitutional amendments had caused some ill feelings amongst the members. Many such issues were resolved and there was much harmony among all Jain societies (MM).
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