Jain Digest 1997 06 Vol 13 No 02

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

Page 10

REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
Tulsa, OK
The Tulsa Jain Youth group held a Youth convention on July 24-27. It was well planned and well executed by the Youth only. All adults and family members provided food, transportation and hosting. A total of 45 youth took part in the convention. Participants from ages 14 to 24 were from Amarillo, Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, and one from Maryland. We invited some non-Jain youth from our city, Tulsa. They were pleased and
enjoyed Jain tradition and practices. The main topics were the theory of Karma, Jain rituals, History of our Roots, Gheeboli, Pets and the current social issues. RaasGarba was planned for one evening and for the other evening a social was planned for youth only. The events were well attended and well disciplined. The University of Tulsa was very generous to let us use their very fine facilities.
We are looking forward to a visit by Shri Bhattarak Charukirtiji for a day on
August 24, 1997. Samanji Sthitprajna and Samanji Ashwiniprajna will grace the Tulsa Jain Sangh during Paryushan Parva. They will be here from August 27 to September 9, 1997. Tulsa Jain Sangh has been granted a non-profit tax exempt status from the IRS. We are planning to build a new Jain Center including a temple (Derasar). We are reaching out to our community for support and donations and we will mail detailed information shortly. Contact: Kanti J. Shah, Treasurer & Trustee 918/369-3163.
West C. Parek, Regional Editor
uly 20'97
Los Angeles, CA
The 8th anniversary of the inauguration of the Jain Bhavan was celebrated on June 29 with a Dhwaj Rohan ceremony. With significant growth of the Jain community in Southern California, the present Jain Bhavan is proving to be inadequate to accommodate increased attendance in youth and adult classes as well as larger participation in religious gatherings. To offer expanded and additional facilities, the Center has completed the acquisition of two adjacent propertiesa vacant parcel and an office building. The planning and fund raising will begin to achieve the next phase of our goal.
The celebration of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak on April 20 began with a puja by Mahavir Mandal followed by a General Body meeting and a cultural program presented by the youth members of the Jain Center Youth Council (ICYC) and Jain Association of Young Adults (JAYA). The services and dedication of the outgoing directors whose term of office had expired were recognized by presenting them with a plaque.
The annual medical camp, jointly sponsored by the Jain Center of Southern California and the Jain Social Group, was organized on May 11. Over 120 people took advantage of the services offered by a broad
Children performing at the Mahavir Janam program at the LA. Jain Bavan. range of specialists - doctors, surgeons, den- Bharil, Rajendrabhai Kamdar, Acharya tists, pharmacists, optometrists, and others. Chandanaji, and Bhatarak. Mammography and pap smear tests were On Sunday, July 27, 1997, 45 JCYC also made available for eligible participants. youth members and 15 adults coordinated
The Jain Senior Association organized an effort to clean up the Jain Bhavan. The a bus trip for its members to visit Hindu and task began at 10 am in the morning and Buddhist temples in Malibu, Northridge, lasted until 6 pm in the evening. The cleanup and La Habra. At the annual JCYC picnic event was well coordinated and turned out organized on April 12 at the Cerritos Park to be very successful. The children were East, nearly 60 youths participated in a day proud of their efforts and have decided to of fun and games. Over 60 families from hold several such events during the year so California attended the 9th Biennial JAINA that their place of worship can be kept Convention held in Toronto, Canada, dur- clean. ing the weekend of July 4.
Various scholars and dignitaries have San Francisco, CA visited the center this year and include The current year's activity began with Pandit Dhirajlal Mehta, Dr. Hukumchand weekly Navakar Mantra Jap for a period of
Continued on page 13
8/JAIN DIGEST FALL 1997
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