Jain Digest 2008 07

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

Page 13

Jain Center and You
Ramesh Doshi
Did I raise your interest? Hope you will slow-walk with me to the end of this page!
We all have an expert opinion about what is wrong with our Jain Center the way it is organized, the way it operates, and more importantly, the way it is managed. Most of us are convinced that we know a better way to organize, operate and manage our center more efficiently and competently. And yet, how many of us have shown the courage and conviction to join the Executive Committee (EC) and/or the Board of Directors (BOD) and lead the center? Unfortunately, not many and the reasons are varied:
Some of us stay away from being a member of EC or BOD even when we know we have the people and manageria! skills Jain Center badly needs in order to excel. Our reasons may be:
•Staying away from politics? Sure, there is politics, but it is not the bad kind! People just have different opinions, and they are passionate about them some more than others!! At the end of the day, there may be Mut-bhed' (difference of opinion) not 'Mun-bhed' (being personally at odds with each other).
Donation alone does not cut it. We may be thinking only money gets the most respect. Maybe true, but perspiration will get us at least some respect with others, and most importantly, it will get us the utmost respect with our inner selves and with the people near and dear to us who know what we have done selflessly. Is that not worth something? Maybe a lot?!
Do not want to fight an election? I cannot blame you. However, with this thinking Jain Center does not get good people who shy away from an election. Do you not think some times we have to take personal risk in order to do the right thing for our Jain Center? Election does not have to be dirty! Just state our skills and willingness, and let people decide. Not elected? So what have we lost? We would have gained self respect if we did it with our principles inline with the Jain Way of Life.
Let's assume we are in the EC or BOD. Now what?
•Full of ideas of corporate efficiency?! The three-hour meeting should have been only two-hour? Agreed, but wake-up! We do not have hiring/firing authority, Jain Center does not pay salary to our fellow committee siblings, and people including you and me have egos! People skills are of the utmost importance here for conducting efficient meetings without upsetting people. It is a fine line it is a compromise a little 'waste of time listening to someone's repeat ideas is much better than the PR nightmare our leaders will have to go through later in order to make sure our Jain Center does not suffer!
•Staying late at the center can be a burden for us and our family, but meetings are usually once a month excepting special events like Pratishtha. Do we not stay up late once in a while to watch a movie or shooting the breeze with our friends?! There are so many issues that need our attention where do we stop?!!
Are we going to get in the habit of coming to the meetings unprepared? Now, that wastes a lot of time in meetings to bring us up to speed; and worse, if we have already staked our position without enough information or due thinking, it takes even more time to reverse our position we all have egos!!
What? We did not get the well deserved recognition for what we did for our Jain Center?! Or worse, someone else got recognized for our hard work?!! Should not happen, but sometimes it does a downer, for sure! Jain Way of Life is our rescue here what seems unfair may really be fair if we knew of our baggage from the past lives! We, Jains, do thoughtful actions, leaving fruits to the Karmic theory! Please come forward; risk it if you have to be proactive, take it to greater heights after all it is OUR organization!
Ramesh Doshi is the President of Anekant Community Center and a past President of the Jain Center of Southern California. He can be contacted at RC Doshi walem .
JAIN DIGEST. Fall 2008/11
Jain Education Intemational