JAINA Convention 2005 07 JCNC

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 45

House. The purpose of the Act was to guarantee the rights of minorities to build their Temples or other house of prayers. In June 1993, the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago held the Pratistha for their Temple.
Chicago was once again the host of the JAINA convention in 1995. It attracted the highest number of delegates to this date, 9000. Dr. Manibhai Mehta was elected President and Dr. Manoj Dharamsi was presented with the JAINA RATNA award. Pratistha Mahotsav of the Jain Society of Houston was performed in November of 1995. In April of 1996, Jain Society of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, celebrated the Pratistha Mahotsav of their Temple.
The Jain Society of Toronto hosted the 1997 JAINA Convention. Dr. Dhiraj Shah was elected as President and Dr. Tansukh Salgia was presented with the JAINA RATNA award. In September 1997, JAINA was invited to meet Prime Minister Bajpai at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Dr. Dhiraj Shah presented a memorandum on behalf of Jains. Amongst the requests were many requests for a special financial allocation for the upcoming 2600th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir and the issuance of commemorative stamp in honor of Shri Veerchand Raghavchand Gandhi. The government of India subsequently honored many of these requests.
Dr. Mahendra Pandya was elected President at the 1999 JAINA convention, held in Philadelphia. The 1999 JAINA Convention erected a CHOUMUKHI temple designed and built by Nip Shah of San Diego, CA. This began the tradition of creating Temples at each of the following conventions. Dr. Pravin Shah received the JAINA RATNA award that year. In 2001, Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago hosted its third JAINA convention in 2001. Dr. Bipin Parikh became President and the JAINA RATNA award was presented to Dr. Manibhai Mchta.
Cincinnati was the venue for the 2003 JAINA Convention. Anop Vora was elect
ed President and Arvind Vora received the JAINA RATNA award. The Cincinnati convention generated a respectable financial surplus for JAINA. During Anopbhai's Presidency, JAINA revamped the website completely and began publishing the electronic newsletter: "JAINA SPECTRUM." This newsletter propelled JAINA into the electronic age and provided a dynamic tool to bring JAINA closer to its constituents.
The JAINA constitution that was adopted in 1983 was revised with minor changes in 1985, 1988, and in 1992. In 1994 major constitutional changes were made creating 6 regional Vice President Positions in the JAINA Executive Committee and a new system of the election of officers by mail was introduced. The switch to mail ballots enabled a greater amount of participation by JAINA directors in the election
process.
In many ways it can be said that in 1994 JAINA became a mature organization
JAINA
2015
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Chicago was once again the bost of the JAINA
convention in 1995. It attracted the
highest number of delegates to this date, 9000
Extending Jain Heritage in Western Environment
39 www.jainelibrary.org