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JAINA liability/ visa report: Sushilji reported that according to knowledgeable people, JAINA may be liable for all actions by officers in performance/ execution of their duties as well as any mishap that occurs while the officer is executing his/her duties. After a detailed discussion, it was agreed that, Pravin Vakhani, insurance expert, will be requested to look into purchasing a general liability policy. At the same time, it was agreed that there is a great need for pro-bono legal advisory committee to advise JAINA on legal matters. On the visa issue, Sushilji was advised by the authorities that all individuals coming to the U.S. to perform religious duties should apply for visa under R status. It was noted that in the past almost all Sadhu, Sadhviji and scholars come on visitor visa. Due to the confusing nature of this issue, it was agreed that we need formal legal advice before taking any action.
General Topic: Nareshji announced that 4th Parliamentary of World Religion Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain in July 2004. It is requested that JAINA takes active role and send a delegation. If desired Hema Pokharna from Chicago can be of assistance, since she is one of the conference organizers. He will send more details by e-mail. Girishji announced that JAINA should look into sponsoring Ahinsa Chair at one of the California Universities. He will send details by e-mail.
Wheel of Hope: Ramesh Shah forwarded a written report. During this reporting period several containers were shipped to India. Each container contained medical furniture, supplies for medical camp and medical equipment. He requests that JAINA set aside funds for shipping costs, surgical procedures for children and cardiac patients.
COMMITTEE NEWS:
History of Jainism & Jains in North America
JAINA has decided to compile the "History of Jainism & Jains in North America". During the past century, lots of efforts have gone in bringing Jainism in North America but nothing noteworthy has been recorded. There is a rich history of how Jainism is known over fifty states of America and ten provinces of Canada and how Jains throughout NA have established themselves. Each of the more than seventy-five Jain organizations in more than sixty cities have their own stories as part of their contribution in the growth and development of Jainism. Now, it is necessary to put everything into one huge docu-book for the benefit of the future generation. For this great project of importance, call is given for support and cooperation and thus help in writing the true exhaustive history. Anyone having any information like articles & books written by you and/or others, details about Jain artefacts with you and/or at other places, history of local centres, timeline of milestone of events, etc. which can be used in making this publication complete and comprehensive. Please send only copies and do not part with originals now. Any info-material used will be suitably
acknowledged with credit. You are invited to send such info-materials to Mr. Jaswant Mehta at his email address of jvmehta2000@yahoo.com or mail at: Jsawant Mehta, #203, 2910 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6J 7H4."
Jain Education International 2010_03
Prepared by Dr. Sushil Jain, Secretary, JAINA
JAINA/JCSC NATIONAL LIBRARY
The JAINA/JCSC National Library is managed by the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) and is housed in the main hall at the Jain Center in Buena Park near Los Angeles. Thirty custom-designed cabinets have been purchased by JCSC to house a comprehensive library collection of books, audiocassettes, videos, and CDs.
To fulfill the aim of making the library collection available to any interested member in the United States and Canada, an effort is under way to compile a comprehensive list of all the library books and make it available on the Internet. JCSC has purchased
a
printer, a barcode reader, and 'Librarysoftware' to catalog and facilitate the book transactions. Several JCSC volunteers and a part-time paid staff member have already cataloged nearly 90% of the library books and the list will be posted on the Internet shortly. An interested member will be able to search the books by title/ author and send an e-mail request to the librarian to forward the material to him/her. The material will be mailed to the requester within 7 days. The recipient will be responsible for returning the material to the library.
For further information as well as to contribute donations
for this library project, please contact Prakash Gandhi at (562)
926-6798 (pjgandhi4@aol.com) or Ramesh Doshi at (714) 9958914 (rodoshi@yahoo.com).
For Private & Personal Use Only
JAIN DIGEST. Fall 2003/7
www.jainelibrary.org
