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JAINA MARCHES ON........
Dear JAINA Friend:
Having served one year in my position as President of JAINA, I am writing to apprise you of where JAINA is and where we are heading. Many exciting things have happened since the 2007 JAINA Convention. I have attached a list of various achievements made possible by our volunteers during the past year.
As you read about the different projects JAINA volunteers are working on, consider what the state of Jainism in North America would have been without JAINA. Think of how far we as a community have traveled since the founding of JAINA 27 years ago. We have two vibrant youth organizations, a uniform pathshala curriculum and recognition by various interfaith and humanitarian organizations. Our Conventions have been admired by Jain communities all around the world and more so for our commitment to Jain Unity. Prominent Jain organizations in India consistently seek collaboration with JAINA. Jain youths in UK and India have followed the YJA example and formed their own non sectarian youth movements.
All of our accomplishments are due to hundreds of volunteers who give their time, treasures and talents in the noble cause of preserving our precious Jain heritage. They are assisted by one part time Executive Director who works from his home to manage routine office work. Most JAINA volunteers spend their own funds and never seek reimbursement from JAINA. But the volunteers can only do so much and rest of Jains need to do their part too.
Let me share with you briefly how JAINA funds are collected and spent. Each JAINA committee manages its finances independently. Funds generated by any committee are used only for that specific committee purposes. General operations expenses are provided for by JAINA Gencral Fund. JAINA office expense along with one part time employee, printing and mailing of about 10.000 copies of Jain Digest every three months and all other functions of JAINA are paid from the General Fund.
General Fund of JAINA is generated by donations to general fund, 3% service charges to some of the income of JAINA Committees and surplus from JAINA Conventions. Please note that convention surplus is not a dependable source of revenue as some conventions have produced a surplus, some have broken even and some have lost money. In recent years, this translates into need for $100,000 from JAINA General Fund for the routine JAINA Expenses. This deficit of roughly $100.000 every year puts a constant fund raising pressure on the Executive Committee year after year as it tries to fulfill its role.
JAINA is the one and only organization representing all the Jains of North America irrespective of sect, language or place of origin. It is the largest such organization for Jains in the world. Unfortunately, for an organization of such a fine national and international reputation, JAINA does not have assured sources of funding. This lack of steady and reliable funding makes it difficult to make long term plans or to contemplate new initiatives.
Successful non profit organizations produce a budget and plan their programs based on support funds that they can count upon. As a religious organization, JAINA does have limitations on receiving funds from any traditional charities or foundations. As an Umbrella organization of various Jain centers, JAINA constitution does not permit individual membership even though JAINA is for all the Jains.
Our first generation of Jains, starting from scratch, built upward of 60 Jain Temples by investing almost 100 Million Dollars. For them, building Temples was a first step to establish a sense of belonging. Now the time has come for us to join hands with our second generation and build other institutions that will sustain our heritage. As we all move on with our lives we must decide on the legacy we want to leave behind. We should recognize that the next generation faces new challenges in maintaining our culture in their lives. In order to provide them best possible chance and hand them tools that can support their efforts, we need to give them a JAINA that is self sustaining.
As I try to fulfill my responsibility as President of JAINA and consider new challenges ahead, I need your input. JAINA was created by Jain Centers and it is owned by Jain centers. Together we must find a way to support JAINA. JAINA Executive committee alone can not find resources to run JAINA. Let me know how to strengthen JAINA - I know I can count on you for a better future of JAINA. I strongly urge you to write to me at (Dilipvshah w gmail.com) or call me at (215) 561-0581 with your suggestions.
Sincerely, Dilip V. Shah, President, JAINA
Since 2007 JANA Convention... Jain Education Intemational
4/JAIN DIGEST. Fall 2008
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