________________
HEADQUARTERS NEWS
Executive Committee Meets in Philadelphia May 8, 1999
sThe meeting started at 10:30 A.M. with Namokar Mantra.
Dilip V. Shah, the Secretary read minutes of the last Executive Committee meeting in Los Angeles. The minutes were approved as written.
Jit Turakhia, the treasurer presented fund balances in various committees and he informed that financial reports and IRS returns for 1998 will be ready by May 15.
Dhiraj Shah reported on various activities since last executive committee meetings:
• Dinesh Dalal of Boston will be representing JAINA at the Harvard University's Project on Multiculturalism.
⚫JAINA will be represented by at least 9 delegates at the World Parliament of Religions in South Africa.
•The world community Services of JAINA has started a special relief fund for refugees from Kosovo. Dhirajbhai urged every one to generously donate to the fund. He meet with the UNCHR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) representative in New York on May 20 to present a check from JAINA.
• Dhirajbhai, Mahendra Pandya and Davendra Peer will meet with the Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, Counsel General of India in New York, and invite her to come to the Convention.
• Dhirajbhai urged everyone to write to the Census commissioner of India to protest their decision to include Jains as Hindus in the next Census of India.
⚫ Dhirajbhai reported that all 56 centers have now paid their dues to JAINA.
Meeta Peer, Convenor of the upcoming JAINA Convention reported on the preparation for the convention. Rajni Shah, Champaben Bid and Vinod Shah asked questions and Dhirajbhai explained various ways JAINA has been helping the convention efforts. Dhirajbhai promised that JAINA will do whatever it can to
6/JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 1999 Jain Education International
The South and Pandya,
help. Many other chairpersons of various convention committees also presented their reports. Davendra Peer thanked all for coming and assured everyone that all the preparations for the convention are on schedule.
JAINA and Pandya
Anop Vora, Chairperson of the Patron Committee reported that 105 Patrons had paid up current year's dues. He showed the badges the JAINA Patrons will get at the convention and encouraged others to become a JAINA Patron.
Manoj Dharamsi spoke about the Mahavir Memorial Committee. He met in India with various Jain leaders to discuss coordination for the 2600th Birth Anniversary events world wide in the year 2001. He also discussed a proposal for Mahavir Peace Prize.
Dhiraj Shah reported on behalf of the World Community Service committee. 1,000 kg of used clothing and a stress test machine have been sent to India. The houses being rebuilt in the two adopted villages will be ready for occupancy before the monsoon season begins. Manibhai Mehta has one container load of medical equipment in Los Angeles ready to be shipped to India.
Kamlesh Shah of the membership committee sent request of the Hudson Valley Jain Sangh to be as associate member of JAINA. They sent the names and addresses of their 22 members and check along with the copy of their constitution. The application package was passed around and their application was approved by a voice vote without dissent.
JAINA Delegation Meets Consul General
Pravin Shah reported on his pathshala teachers' workshop in Houston in February. He offered to do the same for any center that can have 25 to 40 people interested and willing to commit 16 hours of studies and lectures. He and Parimal Pandya briefed on the updating of www.jaina.org website. They expect all the updating will be done in the next 60 days. He also reported of upcoming teachers' workshop at Chicago.
Continued on page 16
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
