________________
HEADQUARTERS NEWS
JAINA Executive Committee Meets Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA-May 8th 1999
The meeting started at 10:30 A.M. with Namokar Mantra.
The Secretary Dilip V. Shah 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.
Dr. 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. 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 will meet with the UNCHR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) representative in New York on May 11 to present a check from JAINA Dhirajbhai, Dr. Mahendra Pandya and Davendra Peer will meet with the Counsul General of India in New York, Ms. Tripathi and invite her to come to the Convention. Dhirajbhai urged every one 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. Dr. Rajni Shah, Dr. Champaben Bid and Dr. 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 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.
After lunch, the meeting began again at 3:00 P.M.
Anop Vora, Chair person 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.
Dr. Manoj Dharamsi spoke about his Mahavir Memorial Committee. He met in India with various Jain leaders to discuss
coordination for the 2600Birth Anniversary events world wide in the year 2001. He also discussed proposal for Mahavir Ahimsa Prize.
Dr. Dhiraj Shah reported on behalf of the World Community service committee. The committee has sent 1,000 kg of used clothing and stress test machine to India. The houses being rebuilt in the two villages adopted by JAINA- Ragha and Shekhadia will be ready for occupancy before the monsoon season begins. Dr. 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.
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.
Pravin Mehta reported on the activities of YJA. Bids are being evaluated from 4 centers for the next YJA convention. He also reported that YJA is actively participating in the JAINA Convention. He stressed need for more regional YJA conferences.
Kirit Daftary of Jirnodhdhar committee reported that Virendra Shah of Los Angeles will be the vice chairman of their committee. He also requested that the name of his committee be changed to Tirthodhdhar Committee. Dilip V. Shah seconded the change of name motion and was approved without dissent.
Prem Jain spoke of the expansion plans of their temple in San Francisco. He offered JAINA to open a regional head quarter in their temple complex. Every one applauded the offer and an ad hoc committee was proposed by Dr Dhiraj Shah and seconded by Mahendra Pandya to examine the feasibility of establishing a permanent JAINA head quarter and also possibly other regional offices. Dilip V. Shah, Jit Turakhia and Jagat Jain were named to this committee
Dilip V. Shah proposed that in view of the fact that Dr. Dhiraj Shah has been handling a lot of work related to filing USAID reports and dealing with other Jain organizations around the world and application as NGO status with the UN, he be named chairperson of a new "Governmental and International Organizations Committee". The motion was seconded by Dr. Manibhai Mehta. Jit Turakhia suggested that in light of our established practice of
Continued on page 6
4/JAIN DIGEST FALL 1999
Jain Education Intemational
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
