• Sun. May 18                          WZCC                                        12:00 PM
• Fri.   May 30 - Sun. Jun 1       ZAGNY Camp
• Sun. Jun.1                             Board Meeting                           11:00 AM
•                                              Ghambar                                   12:00 PM
•                                              Religious Class                            1:00 PM

• Sat.  Jul 12                            ZAGNY Picnic                              10:00 AM
• Sun. Aug 17                          Muktad Prayers                          11:00 AM
• Sat. Aug 23                           Papetti Function                           6:00 PM

• Sun. Sept 7                           Board meeting                           12:00 PM
•                                              Religious Class                             1:00 PM
•                                              Barbeque                                     3:00 PM

For Information only:

• Thur.  Aug 14                         First Gatha
• Mon.  Aug. 18                         Last Gatha                               Papetti Mubarak
• Tues. Aug 19                          Hormuzd Roj                            Sal Mubarak
•                                              (Parsi New Year)
• Sun. Aug 24                           Khordad Roj                              Khordad Sal Mubarak
•                                              (Zarthushtra’s Birth)

As originally posted on http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/NEWS03/803250370

(Accompanying video can be seen here)

POMONA - When Farzeen Patel’s mother was alive, she celebrated NauRooz by cooking a special meal and blessing family members by circling a silver tray laden with rice, coconut, chilies and incense, seven times over their heads.

But since her mother’s death, and since Patel’s busy life as a therapist doesn’t allow for elaborate meals and rituals, she and her family go to the Arbab Rustam Guiv Darbe Mehr on Pomona Road to celebrate NauRooz, the Zoroastrian New Year.On NauRooz, Zoroastrians around the world welcome the spring with special prayers, food and the Haftasheen table, which bears fruits, flowers, grains, wine and sweets, among other symbols of the changing season.

Zoroastrianism is one of the smallest and one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. Its central message - think good thoughts; speak good words; and do good deeds - was preached by the prophet Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, as the Greeks called him, at least 2,600 years ago. …Read the rest of this entry »»»

Homi Gandhi and Jamshed Ghadiali

What is the “Youth Leadership Enhancement Program”?
The “Youth Leadership Enhancement Program” is a new initiative which aims at encouraging community leadership among 23 to 35 years old. The program is being launched to gear up for presentation at the 9th World Zoroastrian Congress to be held in Dubai in 2009.

The objective of launching this program is to build a network of enthusiastic young individuals and create a sustainable pool of next generation leaders that will benefit the community in the long run.

The youth will be mentored by eminent industrialists/entrepreneurs and receive valuable inputs/advice from them. They will be encouraged to support several community causes. What’s important is that the youth will have an opportunity to explore and experience the qualities of leadership, collaboration, entrepreneurship, creativity and community rooted ness.

The application process:

• Youth with commitment to Zoroastrian ideals and ethics, good communication, leadership & team building skills and proven excellence in his/her field of activity will be eligible to apply.
• Acceptable age group is 23 to 35 years.
• Applications will be accompanied by an essay, not exceeding 600 words, on the following topic:
• “A Worldwide Youth Leadership Enhancement Program”

Deadline
Entries must be submitted electronically to WZCYLEP@gmail.com, by 31.3.08 (date extended).

Please see the Program guidelines and Application Form for additional information.

Technology and private sector bringing solutions in financing to impoverished communities

NEW YORK, Feb 15, 2008 – In 2001, the World Bank reported more than 2 billion people lived on less than $2 per day. Why does extreme poverty of this nature still exist given over decades of immense international charitable work? The Zoroastrian delegation intends to address the crux of this question at this year’s CSW on Friday, Feb. 29, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. They will show that the key to this answer is the manner in which development work in impoverished communities has been taking place. The prevalent top-down approach of charity usually empowers the “givers,” in most cases government bodies, as opposed to the individuals in need. The panel will present an example for an alternative approach, namely micro-financing, where the power imbalance is corrected and the true work of development, that is empowering individuals to re-build their own lives and communities, can begin.

…Read the rest of this entry »»»

As posted on www.iranian.ws here: http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_23152.shtml

Nov 9, 2007
CAIS 

Iran’s Archeology Research Center and a team from Warsaw University are studying the fire temple of Azar Borzin Mehr, a quadric-arch.

Archeologists will work to figure out the plan and elevations of the building as well as the cultural elements of the area. Early studies led to the discovery of a dual-purpose space built in the heights near the temple and used as an ablution room.

The group is also studying the firebox and the main hall, in which worshippers circumambulated the sacred fire.

Azar-Borzin Mehr is one of the three major Zoroastrian fire temples belonging to the Sassanian dynasty (224-651 CE) and was used by farmers and villagers.