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JAIN DIGEST
FALL 1999 VOL. 15, NO. 3 CIRCULATION: 7,500
In this issue
A Message from the Past President.
Meet the past presidents of JAINA.....
Meet your new Executive Committee.
Headquarters News
International News
Regional News
Committee News
Affiliate News
For Your Information Happy Occasions
JAINA Current Financial Statement
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MIS Information..
MIS Registration Form..........
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JAIN DIGEST Circulation
Federation of JAINA
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P.O. Box 700
Getzville, NY 14068-0700
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Jain Education International
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JAINA Appeal
10th Biennial JAINA Convention Highlights
Young Minds..
For Our Health..
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$12,000 in SEED Scholarships Awarded
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Paryushan Celebration.
Liberation through Meditation..
4th Jain Academic Bowl....... 35 Matrimonials.
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Cover captions are on page 23.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Sadharmic Brothers and Sisters:
JAINA Convention '99 in Philadelphia was an enjoyable and a learning experience for all of us. About 8000 Jains from all over North America, India and other parts of the world attended the Convention. The Convention was also graced by the presence of revered Jain Sadhus, Sadhvijis and Scholars, and the honorable American and Indian dignitaries. I am sure that we are all enriched from their learned discourses and enlightening discussions. A replica of a Jain temple and Siddhachakra Poojan were highlights of the religious remembrance of the Convention. The cultural program and performances by the young and adults that were based on Jain tenets were enjoyable as well as educational.
One of the main events of the Convention was JAINA'S traditional Award Ceremony to recognize the outstanding efforts and services rendered to the Jain community by individual Jains. All of us are volunteers doing useful work for the benefit of the Jain community and JAINA's aim is to give tribute and recognition where it is due. We also recognized the Essay Contest Winners and Academic Bowl Winner to encourage more young people to participate in these activities.
JAINA's highest award of Jain Ratna was awarded to Mr. Pravin C. Shah of Cary, North Carolina. Next, the Ahimsa Award was awarded to Dr. Surendra Singhvi of Dayton, Ohio. JAINA Recognition Awards were presented to nine (9) young people and fourteen (14) adults. I congratulate all recipients and express our deep gratitude for their invaluable service to JAINA and the Jain Community of North America. The Presidential Award was given to Mr. C.N. Sanghavi of Bombay, India for his outstanding service to Jain Community atlarge.
Board of Directors of JAINA, at its General Meeting just prior to Convention, elected the new Executive Committee for the years 1999-2001. The new Executive Committee was inducted during the JAINA Award Ceremony and we are ready to serve the North American Jain community to the best of our ability. I am confident that we will have your full support in all of our new endeavors.
A resolution was passed in the Board of Directors' meeting that JAINA would organize and manage its Conventions in the future. Dr. Bipin D. Parikh, First Vice President of JAINA, will chair the first JAINA Convention Board. We believe that JAINA should take leadership in defining the theme and presenting an enjoyable and informative program of activities consistent with our religious beliefs. We are preparing the JAINA Convention Guidelines which will delineate rules and define responsibilities of JAINA and the Host Jain Center for future conventions.
We are also working diligently on developing other goals for years 1999-2001. I strongly urge you to think carefully about the goals listed in the letter sent to you by Mr. Vinay K. Vakani, Secretary of JAINA, and respond with your suggestions promptly. We want to present our plan for next two years to the Board of Directors at the October 2, 1999 meeting, at Siddhachalam.
But at first we need to strengthen JAINA financially to enable us to achieve all other goals. To accomplish this, I invite all Board of Directors to immediately become JAINA Patrons. I also ask for your help to enroll new Patrons from your respective Jain Centers.
Next, we believe that JAINA can become a plentiful and dependable source of books on Jainism in North America. JAINA displayed some books at the convention and has also distributed selected books by mail. JAINA's Regional Vice Presidents will contact Jain Centers about availability of the books.
To increase the awareness about JAINA, we plan to organize a JAINA DAY at every Jain Center. During the Hartford (Connecticut) Pratishtha Mahotsava last month, JAINA booth displayed books and other JAINA literature and talked with visitors about JAINA. I am happy to report that we also enrolled 23 new Patrons including four Grand Patrons. I am thankful to our Northeast Regional Vice President Mr. Jahsraj C. Maru for his tireless efforts in organizing this endeavor successfully.
Also, JAINA is preparing a Jain Calendar for year 2000, and we expect to make it available to all Jain households in North America by upcoming Diwali - Mahavir Nirvan Day.
We have received reports of some undesirable occurrences during the Philadelphia Convention. I want to give you assurance that JAINA will make every effort to eliminate such lapses in judgement and not allow activities inconsistent with cannons of Jainism at future conventions.
In September, we will be observing our (Mahaparva) High Holidays of Paryushana and Dash Laxana. This will be the time for reflection on our self-indulgence and indiscretions during the year, and of spiritual awakening. In the spirit of Kshamapana, I ask for your forgiveness for any transgressions during the year, especially at the Convention, which might have hurt your feelings. Michhami Dukkadam to all!
Colondy
Mahendra K. Pandya President, JAINA
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