Jain Digest 2000 07 Vol 16 No 03

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

Page 32

YOUNG JAINS OF AMERICA
Federation of Jain Associations in North America A Non-Profit Tax Exempt Religious Organization. IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) El #54-1280028
yja-exec@egroups.com http://www.yja.org/
परस्पताणावामान
CHAIRS
Birud Jhaveri
(503) 292-1965 birudjhaveri@mail.com
Nirav Shah
(215) 361-1544 nirav_shah@mail.com
4 DAYS' JOURNEY INTO THE SELF THE 4TH ANNUAL YJA CONVENTION
DIRECTORS
Education Amishi Dedhia
(310) 443-8638 amishidedhia@mail.com
Events Shama Khandwala
(847) 985-6858 shamakhandwala@mail.com Finance/Fundraising
Neil Shah (310) 989-7395 neil_shah@mail.com Membership/Records
Shetal Sutaria
(202) 333-1349 shetal sutaria@mail.com
Publications Rajan Mehta (510)704-5683 rajmehta@mail.com Public Relations
Mansi Shah
(313) 598-6754 mansishah@mail.com Information Technology
Beeneet Kothari
(631) 586-1579 beencetkothari@mail.com
The Young Jains of America Biennial Convention was held in the Westin of Los Angeles over the Independence Day weekend where over 800 young Jains from the ages of 14 - 29 were in attendance.
The first day of the convention was spent settling in the attendees and in group icebreakers. After icebreakers, there was entertainment of a hypnotist enjoyed by each attendee as either a spectator or one of the hypnotized. They were followed by a young Hindi singing group from the East Coast called Dharma. The night came to an end at curfew and the attendants returned to their rooms.
Early Saturday morning, the actual convention began with the opening ceremonies, which were accompanied by breakfast. All were welcomed to the fourth biennial YJA convention. Once the opening ceremonies ended, attendees were on their way to a session/discussion filled day. The seminars were split into three age groups so that they would bring focus to specific topics faced by each. The seminars included speakers such as Ocean Robbins, the founder of the group Youth for Environmental Sanity; Atul Shah, the founder of Jain Spirit; Prem Jain, Vice President of Cisco Systems, and many others. In addition, discussion groups led by youths covered topics such as "The Jain Identity Matrix” and “Bodybuilding, the Jain Way". The keynote speaker on Saturday was Sadhvi Shilapiji who catered to youth of all ages and answered questions in a knowledgeable yet comprehensible manner for those with or without a great background in Jainism. The evening brought time for relaxation and fun, through the dancing of raas-garba. Most were dressed in their traditional Indian outfits to fit the occasion and as they danced in the garba circles, the colors of different dresses spun as attendants enjoyed the night.
On Sunday the convention continued with one seminar before the guest speaker Ingrid Newkirk, director of PETA, bringing awareness to the diets of each attendee. She brought forth ideas and facts that many could not imagine and brought forth compassion from her audience. She also gave importance to the Jain religion, as she mentioned it as what she always wished she could practice. However, Sunday will be remembered best by the three hour "real world" session where groups (broken up by age groups) of about twenty to thirty people are placed in a room with a moderator to discuss topics that members face in the real world. Though they were expected to be long or boring, the session actually played a vital role in the learning of what other Jain people across the country believe. This session was well received since it did not limit what could be discussed, allowing members of to bring up what may be occurring around them or in their life. The formal was held Sunday evening where ladies wore elegant dresses and gentlemen wore suits. The night was banquet style, accompanied by dinner and entertainment with dancing to follow. The entertainment was a band that brought Indian flavor to musical styles of today. The band had the audience on its feet and on the dance floor it cheered them along. The night went on with dancing and lounging in the hotel lobby. The formal dresses and suits were replaced by pajamas and warm-ups for people to casually talk and enjoy themselves. The hotel lobby was filled until closing ceremonies when the YJA convention officially came to end and all that remained was the final checking out. Most were leaving with new friends from different parts of the country with whom technology would allow them to keep in touch!
REGIONAL COORDINATORS
Mid Atlantic Rahul Mepani
(508) 850-8906 rahulmepani@mail.com
Midwest Chintan Shah
(608) 864-4126 chintan shah@mail.com
Northeast Sanjay Raisoni
(248) 651-1299 sanjayraisonia mail.com
South Pavan Zaveri
(713) 797-0217 pavanzaveria mail.com
Southeast
Rina Shah (703) 989-4475 rinashah w mail.com
West Suken Jain (714) 529-5874 sukenjain mail.com
30/JAIN DIGEST. FALL 2000
Jain Education Interational 2010_02