JAINA Directors annual meeting took place on Saturday, October 4 at Siddhachalam. Rain didn’t dampen spirits of delegates from as far as San Francisco, Toronto, Houston, New York, Connecticut, Ohio and New Jersey as they met for a whole day to chart future path of JAINA.

The Directors got welcoming message from President Anop Vora and his report – his vision for JAINA. Newly revamped Patron Program under the chairmanship of Udai Jain was unveiled. New Directors at large were approved and Jain Society of Las Vegas was approved as newest member of JAINA. Lataben Champsee was requested to investigate issues related to chartering JAINA in Canada and possibly in other countries. Chair persons of various committees – YJA, Technology Committee, Teerthoddhar Committee, membership Committee, Education committee, JAINA Public Affairs Council, Scholar Visitation Committee, Jain Digest Committee, V. R. Gandhi scholarship fund and the Pilgrimage Committee reported on their current and future activities and answered questions from the floor.

JAINA functions mainly through various committees and the guidance of the Executive committee. Keeping in mind changing needs of the community, a redesigning of committee structure was approved. Five committees were discontinued, five new ones were proposed and roles of some older committees were assigned to other committees for greater efficiency. Senior Housing committee ( Bipin Parikh), Wheels of Hope (Ramesh Shah), Constitution Review Committee (Manibhai Mehta) N. A. Jain History Committee (Jaswant Mehta) and Patron Program Committee (Udai Jain) were the new committees under named chairpersons.

A monthly electronic newsletter _ JAINA SPECTRUM was proposed as a means to keep the North American Jain community abreast of JAINA activities. JAINA Secretary reported on Visa problems for visiting Jain Scholars and on issues concerning their health insurance/liability for JAINA. Ideas were invited from everyone for the year 2006 – 25th Anniversary celebration of JAINA.

The evening before on Friday, October 3, the Executive Committee of JAINA had their meeting as they prepared for Director’s meeting next day. They also had an opportunity to meet formally with the members of the Executive Committee and Trustees of Siddhachalam as they were having their own meeting. This annual meeting of officers of two JAIN institutions in North America in the first weekend every October is homage to Acharya Shri Sushil Muni who inspired creation of both JAINA and Siddhachalam.

Jai Jinendra.

I would like to thank you for electing me your President for the next two years. Please rest assured I will do my very best to fulfill your expectations.

We intend to take many initiatives to make JAINA more relevant to your needs. JAINA SPECTRUM is the first such initiative. Through this medium, we intend to communicate with you faster and stay closer to the pulse of the community.

Many of your were complaining about the stale news in Jain Digest. This will no longer be true since from now on, JAINA Spectrum will inform you of the latest news every month electronically. With this change, we aim to devote more space in Jain Digest to interesting articles that are of utmost value to you. You will also find Jain Digest more attractive and appealing to your eyes.

Our goal is to take JAINA to a higher peak over the next 2 years. Please join us in this mission by getting actively involved. If we work together, we can accomplish a lot. Only sky is the limit!

With Warmest Personal Regards,

JAINA is very happy to announce once again a pilgrimage to Jaisalmer and other Tirths of Rajasthan and Gujarat. This 17 day Yatra will take us to Temples of Ranakpur, Osiaji, Falodi, Jaisalmer, Nakodaji, Jalore, Bramanwadaji, Mt. Abu, Pawapuri(Rajasthan), Tarangaji, Sankheshwer, Girnar and Palitana. For those of us living in North America, this is a rare opportunity to join a Sangh Yatra organized from this land. Our Yatra will begin in Bombay on January 18. Most of the traveling will be by air conditioned luxury Buses. Last leg of our Yatra from Ahemdabad to Bombay will be by train on Feb 3 or 4. Cost of the ground package including all traveling, meals, hotel (Double occupancy) or Dharamsala stay etc including the registration fee and Yatra fund is only $875.00. If you need more information, please send email to dilipvshah@aol.com. Our planned capacity is for 100 Yatris and first come will be first served. So act as soon as you can decide. You need to make your own travel arrangements to and from India Please consider purchasing additional travel insurance as JAINA can not be responsible for unforeseen events or illness or injuries suffered during Yatra. If you would like to join the Yatra, lease complete the form bellow along with $875 check per yatri made out to JAINA Pilgrimage Committee and mail to: Anil Shah, 18 Stout Ct, East Brunswick, NJ 08816

YATRI NAME Age Passport Number Citizen of

[1] ___________________ ___ ______________ _________

[2] ___________________ ___ ______________ _________

[3] __________________ ___ ______________ __________

Address: _________________________________________
(City State Zip)
Phone: Resi_____________________ Work ________________

Email: _______________________

Ck Number _____ Amount _______

Please list any special health or Diet restrictions

………………………………………………………………..........................………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Contacts in India:
Name Address City Phone

1 ………………………… ………………… …….. ……………….

2 ………………………… ………………… …….. ……………….

Have a happy Diwali and best New Year celebration

Jains from Southern California put up a Jain booth in WorldFest 2003 on September 28 in Los Angeles. The volunteers served as Ambassadors of Jainism explaining its philosophy and message to hundreds of visitors from numerous backgrounds and walks of life. Free copies of Amar Salgia’s booklet- Pure Freedom: - The Jain Way of Self Reliance was also made available to visitors. The annual WorldFest event is a public celebration of vegetarianism and environmentalism.

An Open House for Jainism to the Public was hosted by the Jain Center of Southern California in its Buena Park Temple on Sunday October 5, 2003. The afternoon Welcome Program to share Jain experience with non-Jains included vegetarian snacks, panel discussion on Philosophy and Practices of Jainism and What It Means to Follow Jainism. Similar programs are encouraged at other Jain Centers to increase public awareness. Contact Amar Salgia asalgia@yahoo.com

A family style Diwali celebration of International Jain Sangh of NJ will be held on Nov. 8, 2003 at Knights of Columbus Hall in South River NJ. The program includes lighting of lamps by children to signify the Nirvana of Lord Mahavir, cultural program and live singer Ghanshyam Joshi. The celebration is dedicated to help the needy children in poor school districts to bring them cheer in the coming holiday season. Contact Neelam Jain at (732) 493-0093 or jainneelam@hotmail.com

PARVEEN JAIN NAMED PRESIDENT OF MCAFEE NETWORK SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES BUSINESS UNIT

Patron Program was inaugurated in 1997 and was the first program that raised funds for day to day functioning of JAINA. It offered two types of membership, Annual ($250) and Life membership ($5,000). The revised program will create two new categories of membership namely 5 year ($1,100 donation) and 10 year membership ($2,000 donation). It is hoped that this expanded program will attract more membership.