Jain Digest 2002 12 Vol 21 No 4

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

Page 52

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/
TURTHY
Jai Jinendra,
CHAIRS
Ronak Shah 918-269-7665 ronak.shah@yja.org
Suchita Shah
734-764-9666 suchita.shah@yja.org
With YJA Convention 2002 completed and a new board elected, YJA focuses on its goals for the upcoming year. The new board convened this past August in Chicago for four days. There was very little sleep and a lot of chai, but the projects that were drafted plan to be the best ever. Our hope and mission for this year is to play "a much great part in our member's daily lives." To that end, YJA has taken some significant steps...
YJA will host six Regional Conferences during the next six months. "Regional Fest" will kick off Thanksgiving Break in Houston and conclude during Martin Luther King weekend in Atlanta and Chicago. Other destinations include Toronto, Los Angeles, and Easton (PA) during Winter Break. Spots are filling up fast. Register online at www.yja.org or contact karishma.shah@yja.org for more information.
DIRECTORS
Education Ami Shah
323-965-1140 ami.shah@yja.org
Events Karishma Shah
510-486-8148 karishma.shah ayja.org Finance/Fundraising
Arpan Shah
281-804-7964 arpan.shah Wyja.org Information Technology
Paras Dochia
416-271-0800 paras.dodhia@yja.org Project Development
Lopa Vadi 732-522-5832 lopa.vadi@yja.org Public Relations
Chirag Shah
414-339-6023 chirag shah@yja.org
Publications Arpan R. Shah
646-339-7020 arpanr shahayja.org
YJA has taken steps to building an educational, interactive, and open discussion portal for Jain youth and parents with the addition of Paryushana Section on our website. YJA created "Michammi Dukkadum” e-cards for Jains worldwide to show their forgiveness. YJA also added a new segment to the website explaining the meaning and importance of Paryushana. With continuing website projects, we hope to spread Jain ideals to young Jains across North America.
This December and January, YJA will be sending 10 youth to the Veerayatan site in Bhuj (Kutch), India. Veerayatan is an international organization established over 20 years ago by Acharya Shri Chandanaji, the first woman to receive the title of Acharya in the Jain tradition. Veerayatan is committed to extending the concept of spirituality and service to humanity. The youth will be helping the earthquake affected town by teaching, providing health care, and performing administrative tasks. YJA can also use your financial help to subsidize the Jain youth who will be helping those less fortunate. Please contact ami.shah@yja.org for more information and how you can help!
With YJA growing year after year and continually initiating more projects, this year's board has created an ad-hoc committee for YJA Convention 2004. This creation will allow YJA Executive to focus on other national projects while still hosting an unbelievable national convention. The ad hoc committee will supervise the local convention committee in the throwing the best convention yet! If you are interested in joining the select ad-hoc committee, please email chairs@yja.org.
REGIONAL COORDINATORS
Mid Atlantic Dipa Talati
917-371-1476 dipa.talati@yja.org
Midwest Nirali Vora
630-452-2667 nirali.vora@yja.org
Northeast
Lily Jain 416-931-8149 lily.jain@yja.org
South Rishabh Khara 469-438-4331 rishabh.khara dyja.org
Southeast Priya Palvia
678-525-5716 priya.palvia@yja.org
West Pinita Shah
714-310-1034 pinita.shah@yja.org Board of Trustees
Prem Jain
Sachi Jain Naishadh Shah
Nirav Shah
Thank you,
Suchita Shah and Ronak Shah Co-Chairs, 2002-2003 Young Jains of America chairs@yja.org www.yja.org
Young Jains of America (YJA) is the umbrella youth organization of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA). The mission of YJA is to be recognized
nationally and internationally as an umbrella youth organization for establishing a network to share Jain heritage and religion through youth. Jain Education Intemational For Private & Personal Use Only