JAINA Convention 2005 07 JCNC

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

Page 50

3
ᅲ
ᅲ
organizations in India as well as in North America including American Red Cross. WCS is currently raising funds to help build a school in Andaman Island for the victims of the tsunami.
JAINA EDUCATION COMMITTEE: In 1989, JAINA established the JAINA Education Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Prem Gada. To date, it has been a very busy committee and continues to publish or update pathshala material available for anyone to use. Two scholars (Malookchand Shah from Ahmedabad and R. K. Jain from Delhi) from India were sponsored for six months and they prepared the initial research for Pathashala Education material in 1991. The JAINA Education Committee established JAINA library in Lubbock, TX and launched the first JAINA website. In 1995, eight colorful books were published for Level 1 and 2 students. In 1997 level 3 and 4 books were published. In 2000, the Education Committee was split into the following four committees: Jaina Library Committee (Virendra Shah); Technology Website Committee (Girish Shah); Education Committee (Pravin K. Shah); and JAINA Publication Committee (Dr. Prem Gada).
JAINA EDUCATION COMMITTEE: In
1989, JAINA established the
JAINA Education Committee... ... to date, it has
been a very busy committee and continues to publish or
update pathshala
material available for anyone to use
Dr. Gada arranged for a get together of Pathshala teachers in New York in 1991 at the home of Jyotiben Gandhi. About 55 to 60 teachers and youth from 17 centers were represented at that meeting. The first JAINA Pathshala Teachers Convention was held in Boston in 1998. Many centers participated at the convention and a syllabus for each grade level was refined. They decided to meet again every four years and in 2002, Los Angeles held the second Pathshala Convention. Today, JAINA education materials are used not only in North America but in India, Singapore, Africa, and the U.K. Materials produced by the committee are sold on no profit - no loss basis. Some of the notable material produced by this committee:
1) Jainism Religion of Compassion and Ecology (7000 copies, two editions) 2) Essence of World Religions (10,000 copies, two editions) 3) The Book of Compassion (13,000 copies) 4) Jain Education and Literature CD: (5,000 sold)
PUBLICATIONS: In addition to the quarterly JAIN DGEST that is sent free to over 10,000 Jain households, JAINA used to publish "JAINA FOCUS." JAINA FOCUS is a bi-monthly newsletter for JAINA Directors, committee chairs and volunteers. Today, it also publishes "JAINA SPECTRUM," an electronic newsletter. This newsletter is sent out 5 to 6 times a year to approximately 2,500 readers. The most important communication tool for JAINA is its newly redesigned web site: www.jaina.org. This website is constantly being updated. It is the single source for the most current news and reports of JAINA activities. Another beautiful publication is the JAINA calendar designed and distributed by the Calendar Committee. This calendar includes some of the most stunning pictures of our Teerthdhams and it is sent free to all the homes that receive JAIN DIGEST. In return, the calendar com
in Heritage in Weste
Extending Jain
Stern Environnier