Jain Digest 1996 05

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

Page 15

Young Minds
Young Jains of America
Convention planning, fundraising sails at full speed
of America and Canada," comments YJA les), to name a few. The convention will also By Mintu Turakhia, YJA (West)
Co-Chair Amit Shah. “I'm confident that the feature Yoga and Preksha Dhyan workshops,
support is out there. We just need to let ev- as well as organized social and cultural acWith the Young Jains of America (YJA) eryone know what we're doing and why we tivities to give youths a chance to mingle Convention less then two months away, the need their help."
and make new friends. San Francisco Convention Committee The response to the convention has been If you are interested in helping plan ac(SFCC) and YJA have shifted planning into overwhelming, with over 700 applications tivities or anything else, please contact YJA/ overdrive, with most major arrangements to date. With participants from over 30 states, SFCC (names and numbers listed on next complete.
Canada, and the U.K., the convention proves page). Over a dozen Jain youth groups and cen- to be a truly international event. “Our goal ters in North America have been working is to provide youth with a diverse educational with the 60-member San Francisco Conven- forum that will help them better understand Highlights of YJA: tion Committee (SFCC) for the past seven Jainism in the context of their own lives,"
Recent projects, future plans months. "We hope these efforts will commented Site Coordinator Sonali strengthen and expand Jain youth activities Kapadia. "That's why we chose 'Integrat- October 1995 and develop stronger ties among youth ing Philosophy and Practice as this year's
• Host City Selected for 1996 YJA Convention around the country," commented Activities theme."
• San Francisco Convention Committee (SFCC) Coordinator Seema Bhimani. Speakers include spiritual guide Gurudev
formalized Meanwhile, YJA has begun a national ef- Chitrabhanuji and noted Jain teacher January 1996 fort to raise $30,000 for the convention and Praveen Shah, as well as other religious, YJA/SFCC Executive Board meeting in San future YJA activities. In March, the Jain academic, and community leaders. Youths Francisco Center of Northern California held a Sangeet will also attend workshops presented by their
February program benefit and $10,000 in ticket and peers, including Jain Art and History (De- • St. Louis, Atlanta selected as Foster Focus Cities raffle sales alone. "With a total goal of troit), Anektantevada (Texas/Arizona), and
Young Minds published and mailed to 1200 $50,000, we need to rally support from all "Scientific Aspects of Jainism" (Los Ange
YJA members March
• Convention enrollment reaches record numbers
• SFCC Sangeet benefit raises $13,000 Members can now vote to select Executive Board April
• Redesigned YJA internet home page introduced has three general coordinators who are cho- YJA membership reaches 1600 by Anish Makim, YJA (Northeast) sen by the board at the beginning of the term. May
To ease the transition for this first elec- • YJA begins national fundraising campaign to Worried about the future of Jain youth? tion, there will be one position per region reach $30,000 goal Should YJA and other youth groups be do- open for election. This will prevent a poten- • YJA Election candidate nominations begin ing more? Well here's your opportunity to tially high turnover from disrupting board July get directly involved with YJA.
continuity, particularly since we expect the • Second Biennial YJA Convention For the first time in its history YJA will upcoming convention to cause youth inter- • Release of convention issue of Young Minds be opening up its executive board positions est to be greater than ever. The returning July-August to general elections by its members. Cur- board members will also be able to better • YJA Executive Board Elections rently, YJA is divided up into six regions, guide the newly-elected board members. August with two board members each: Northeast, Elections will be conducted by mail fol- • New YJA board term and fiscal year begin Mid-Atlantic, South, Southeast, Midwest, lowing the convention (via ballots in Young • Post-convention issue of Young Minds and West. In addition, the Executive Board
published (continued on p. 15)
YJA overhauls board selection
May 1996 Jain Education International
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