Dear FEZANA friends:
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of FEZANA. Today, we are estimating a Zarathushti population of over 15,000 in the USA and another 7,500 in Canada. We have a large proportion of younger Zarathushtis who grew up in this part of the world. We are busy, thriving and growing. We have good disposable incomes that we are willing to use for good causes. Its time now to look beyond our present total dependance on volunteers to perform all the services that we need from their homes during their spare time; and evaluate how best we can continue to increase and solidify our footprints on North American soil.
The time is therefore ripe to start building the necessary infrastructure (office space, clerical and administrative support) that will ensure that all the Member associations as well as the North American Zarathushti community can avail of FEZANA’s benefits to the fullest extent. A professional staff and a central office space for conducting the adminstrative tasks of communication, correspondence, recordkeeping, publishing, archiving, etc., will greatly assist the current and future elected officers of FEZANA in performing their tasks diligently and efficiently.
Accordingly, an Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) was formed in November 2006. The IWG has now submitted its findings and recommendations in a report (attached), which will be the centerpiece of our discussions at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in Dallas on April 6,7,8, 2007.
Please review the Infrastructure Working Group Report carefully and if you have any questions, bring them up now, before the AGM, so we can discuss them and find solutions. Distribute the report to your Association members and come prepared to discuss and vote on how FEZANA can raise the funds to do what the report recommends.
I am personally committed to see that FEZANA begins to set up the office and adminstrative structure this year, during its 20th Annivesary year. I need your support.
Rustom Kevala
FEZANA President
