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HEADQUARTERS NEWS
Chitrabhanuji's Anniversary and Birthday Celebrations
Executive Committee Meets in Dallas/Fort Worth
The Executive Committee of JAINA met in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on March 9, 1996. The members who were present were: Manibhai Metha, Dhiraj Shah, Kushal Bhaiji, Hansaben Varia, Jagat Jain, Bipin Parikh, Ramesh Jain, Prem Gada, Dilip Shah, Aravind Vora, S. Khamesra, and YJA representatives: Nikhil Shah, Rakesh Shah and Rish Mehta.
A committee chaired by Arvind Vora is making plans to celebrate, at the national level, the dual events of the 25th anniversary of Gurudev Chitrabhanuji's arrival in North America and his 75th birthday. An itinerary of Chitrabhanuji's visits to various centers around North America is being worked out.
As part of this celebration, the Jain Youth Association of New York, NY in coordination with JAINA is sponsoring an Essay Competition that is open to Jains, of all ages, who reside in North America. The focus of the competition is - Gurudev Chitrabhanuji: Jain Wisdom for the Youth. The age groups are: up to and including 10,11 to 14, 15 to 18, and 19 and above. Anyone entering should review the following books by Chitrabhanuji: The Miracle is You. Realize What You Are, Ten Days Journey into the Self, Philosophy of Soul and Matter, and Twelve Facets of Reality. You may also want to read the two biographies A Man with a Vision by Rosenfield and Wave of Bliss by N. P. Jain. All entries must include your name, address, phone number and age. Send entries to: Panna Shah, 2 Ronald Court, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, post marked no later than August 25, 1996. For more detailed information about this competition write to Panna Shah, address above, or call Chhaya Kapadia at 516/829-3316.
Some centers may have already begun to celebrate these events. Indeed, all centers are invited to join in celebrating with activities that your center feels appropriate. Please plan to keep a visual record of the celebration at your center so that JAINA will be able to compile a souvenir video of these historic events with sights and sounds from every corner of the North American continent.
Any donations collected at these events should be sent to the JAINA/Chitrabhanuji Endowment Fund. The money will be deposited into this special fund that will be used for JAINA Headquarter's scholarships and social projects for the needy. Please send your photographs, video and audio tapes plus all donation checks made payable to: JAINA/Chitrabhanuji Endowment Fund to: Treasurer/JAINA, 11409 Berland Place, Germantown, MD 20876 or phone: 301/353-0481.
Among the items covered in the meeting were: • Guidelines for the "Acharya Suhilkumarji Ahimsa Award," - it will only be presented to an individual not an
institution. - it will be in the form of a plaque. - it will be awarded every two years at the convention, with the
exception of the 1996 presentation, which will take place
on Ahimsa Day, October 1, 1996 at Siddhachalam. - JAINA Executive Committee members are NOT eligible to
receive this award. + nominations will be accepted from persons living in North
America, and only for persons residing in North America. - it will never be given to the same person twice. - the nominee must be a vegetarian, have high moral
character, be well versed in Jain principles and literature, be a strong believer and follower of Jain principles and have spent time and energy in spreading the message of Ahimsa and the other principles of Jainism through
lectures, teaching, articles or books. - For complete details about this award please contact Manoj Dharamsi, 11820 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 22091-3014.
For more information about any of the above mentioned events please call the coordinator in your area: Arvind Vora-National Coordinator at 516/268-6320; Kamlesh Shah - Washington D.C.at 301/353-0481; Dhiraj Shah - Buffalo, NY at 716-773-1314; Bipin Parikh - Chicago, IL at 708/699-1294; Naresh Shah - New York, NY at 5:16-741-9269; Dilip Shah - Philadelphia/New Jersey at 215/ 567-0581; Manibhai Mehta - California at 714/898-3156.
• The Treasurer's Report stated that various subcommittees have funds at their disposal for their individual projects. However, the General Fund needs to be replenished on a continuous basis insuring the publication and free mailing of the Jain Digest.
Therefore, a greater effort must be made at the local level to get more advertisements and encourage all Jains to donate to the General Fund or become Life Members of the Jain Digest. (Please see page 24 for complete information.)
JAINA welcomes the Samarpan Jain Sangh of Philadelphia as a member organization.
Toronto, Ont. has expressed interest in hosting the 1997 JAINA Convention. • The Senior Citizens Committee is developing goals and objectives under the leardership of Dilip Shah. • The next Executive Committee meeting will be held in Toronto, Ont. on June, 21 - 23, 1996.
May 1996 Jain Education International
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