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We are not building mere bricks and mortar structures, but we are creating a community with its own identity,” stated Homi Gandhi, president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), at the body’s 32nd annual general meeting (AGM) in Orlando, Florida on May 3 and 4, 2019. Dutifully attending the proceedings were 20 representatives of the 26 member associations and 13 corresponding members and small groups, most of whom had assembled five minutes before the scheduled start at 9 a.m.
Instead of the customary invocation prayer, Ervad Soli Dastur of Tampa Bay sang Aa Airyemaa Ishyo (Yasna 54.1) known as the Brotherhood of Mankind prayer to the familiar tune of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with music accompaniment by concert clarinetist Daryush Mehta. Flashed on the screen were the wordings of the prayer and the accompanying translation, making the exercise even more meaningful. A video of this initiative was soon shared on YouTube.
"The state of your Federation is in a great shape. There has never been a more exciting time, exciting challenges… All the standing and ad hoc committees and member associations have been performing well,” stated Gandhi, although the Census and Survey committee and the Zoroastrian Symphony Orchestra committee are yet awaiting the appointment of a chair. Hoping to see more corresponding members become full-fledged members before the 2020 AGM he commended the efforts of the optimistic chair of the Small Groups Committee, Saghar Javanshir. 
"Let the message go out to our Zoroastrian community in the world and also to our friends in the outside world that the North American Zoroastrian diaspora is there to continue fostering hamazori (harmony) by building strong relationships between various Zarathushti entities/groups… Let us celebrate this new found unity with everyone,” declared Gandhi, happy that their AGM in Florida, coincided for the first time with the AGM of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) and a meeting of the Global Working Group (GWG).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Central Florida Zoroastrian Community is "remarkable,” observed FEZANA vice president Arzan Wadia commending them for hosting the second AGM of FEZANA in the last 10 years, as also the WZCC and GWG events. He hoped Florida would become the 27th  member association of FEZANA by the time the next AGM is held in Sacramento, California. Planning a "beehive of activities for the AGM brings the local community together” and simultaneously "fosters hamazori in the North  American Zoroastrian diaspora,” added Gandhi.
"This is a Congress phase for  FEZANA — hosting the Seventh World ZoroastrianYouth Congress (WZYC) in Los Angeles in July 2019, followed by the 18th North American Zoroastrian Congress (NAZC) in Houston in 2020 and the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in New York in 2022,” noted Wadia. He saw this as an opportunity "to reinforce ourselves… to showcase the North American diaspora,” and reiterated the need for "support, in terms of time, money, volunteerism and participation.” He urged the member associations to keep their goal as "35-35-35 so that 35% of your boards are under the age of 35 years by the 35th FEZANA AGM in 2022… For the youth to learn the ropes, takes time. We don’t want to provide things to the youth on a platter… Some will survive and some will drown… as they experience the joys and pitfalls of community service.”
Whilst this is the second term for office bearers Gandhi, Wadia and Percy Master as secretary, joining them are Rooky Fitter as treasurer and Xerxes Commissariat as the new assistant secretary. Zenobia Damania assists as administrator at the FEZANA office at Chicago. Master recommended that there should be "two-way interaction” when members sign up for the quarterly video calls when committee and association heads periodically interact with the FEZANA executive. If associations maintain their membership record on an Excel sheet, the calculation of dues would be simpler, he felt. Treasurer Fitter referred to the total assets standing at USD 1,872,124 (Rs 13,01,70,654) at the end of 2018 as compared to USD 1,725,182 (Rs 11,99,53,625) in the preceding year. Serving as Parliamentarian (to resolve technical glitches, if any) for the AGM was former FEZANA president Bomi Patel while Homi Italia of Vancouver was designated as time keeper.
FEZANA assets rose substantially this year thanks to a munificent donation of USD 260,000 (Rs 1,80,68,076) from the estate of Piroja and Kaikhosrov Irani of New York. Whilst hoping to receive more such legacy donations, Gandhi regretted that donations from member associations was only USD 520 (Rs 36,136). He appealed to those present to send donations along with their membership dues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buoyed with recent bequests for FEZANA, Gandhi was keen that the latter half of 2019 be spent on "educating the community on legacy and bequests.” In addition to the bequest from the Iranis, they are expecting another munificent bequest of USD 500,000 (Rs 3,47,87,750) where the donor wants 50% of the donation to be used for scholarship and 50% for welfare projects. They have received yet another promise of $ 12,000 (Rs 8,34,906) a year, initially for three years with a proviso to review it every three years towards the Bapsy Irani Scholarship for culinary and fine arts instituted by Dariush Irani and his children.
An expert on fund-raising, Behram Irani of Dallas stressed that funds collected reflect "credibility and confidence in the organization and faith that the funds will be used for the purpose for which they are given.” Choosing to leverage Zoroastrian philanthropy more effectively, he noted that there are 8,500 Zoroastrian households in North America 67% of whom donate to nonprofit organizations in the field of religion/education/welfare yet only three percent donate to FEZANA. "Our challenge is to raise awareness of what FEZANA does.” Mahrukh Motafram, chair of Strategic Planning committee suggested that instead of being "internally focused,” FEZANA should try for a star status as a credible nonprofit on a website like charitynavigator.org, to draw more donors.
As a beacon in North America, it was realized that FEZANA should lead and promote entrepreneurship within the community but its current rules do not permit that. It was agreed to form a separate entity called the FEZANA-WZCC Entrepreneurship Foundation to grant business and entrepreneurship loans to Zarathushtis in North America.
Efforts initiated by Ervad (Dr) Jehan Bagli are being sustained for the creation of an Institute of Zoroastrian Studies (IZS) at the Toronto University. FEZANA is hoping a philanthropist will come forward to fund this project similar to the Shapoorji Pallonji IZS at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
Attending a FEZANA AGM for the first time, Parsiana soon learnt that the circular convening the meeting, the minutes of the last meeting, the reports by the FEZANA office bearers, 23 committee chairs and member associations could be accessed from the FEZANA website, www.fezana.org. As detailed on the website, the       FEZANA administrative office spends 40% of its time on administration, 20% on special projects, another 20% on the FEZANA Bulletin that has become exclusively online since March 2019, 15% on the Zoroastrian Shop and five percent on other matters. In accordance with the Zarathushti tenet to conserve the environment, the name tags readied for those attending the AGM had to be returned to a box after the meet as the administration believes in reuse and recycle, it was explained.  

Congresses are a challenge
"To showcase FEZANA globally and increase awareness of FEZANA domestically” is the aim of the Zoroastrian congresses as spelt out by chair of the Congress committee Katayun Kapadia. In the first week of May registrations for 7WZYC were a little over 300, but youths from Iran being denied visas was disappointing, noted Kapadia. "The US numbers are appalling. We expect a lot more… My main concern is volunteers… This is a wake-up call for everybody. Where are the boots on the ground? Arzan (Wadia) is doing everything — from putting up posts, getting speakers… From the host association [California Zoroastrian Center (CZC)] we need someone to supervise/guide/coach. We hope every association will donate $ 1,000 for an advertisement in the Congress brochure.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Katayun and I would have pulled out the plug last September,” confessed Motafram, Congress committee co-chair adding, "member associations need to take responsibility, need to help the young adults.” Wadia confirmed that even when subsidies were announced, only the Zoroastrian Association of Chicago and CZC filled the quota before the deadline.
Philanthropist and real estate developer Dariush Irani of California who was seated at the AGM was thanked for his largesse. The Congress "wouldn’t be here without you,” acknowledged Kapadia. "Dariush is our number one benefactor,” confirmed Arman Ariane of CZC before adding, "We are trying different ways to attract the youth. Millennials are most difficult to attract… Our camps are always sold out with people on the waiting list…I think it will be a great Congress... We need everyone’s help.”
"Arzan has been the mover and shaker” for the Congress, acknowledged Congress chair Parshan Khosravi who also gave credit to Kapadia and Motafram for "what they’ve done for us.”
Alayar Dabestani as the Iranian representative specified that visas were denied to over 50 youth although they had paid up their registration fees: "This is a great loss to Iranians and can impact future congresses.” He further conveyed the sentiments of Dr Esfandiar Ekhtiyari, the Zoroastrian representative on the Iranian Majlis, who had enquired, "Why have a WZC in the US when it is not giving visas?” He felt the UN or other agencies should be approached for help. Apparently Baha’is from Iran are able to procure visas. Gandhi mentioned, "We have started this process. I met officials from the Department of State in Washington and Toronto.” Added Lovji Cama of New York, "This is an old problem since 2012 when not one of the 60 registrants managed to come (for the 16th NAZC). The problem is worse with the present (US) administration.”
Whilst assuring that she "will be there personally,” Houtoxi Contractor, president of the Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC), one of the six community organizations in California, said that associations need sanction from their executive before confirming release of an advertisement. Regarding volunteers, she mentioned that no information was communicated to ZAC.
For the 18th NAZC to be held from December 29 to 31, 2020 in Houston, they have already constituted 15 committees and over 75 volunteers have been roped in, stated Congress chair Aderbad Tamboli. The theme for the Congress is "Generation Z: Propelling Zarathushti Resurgence.” The venue is Royal Sonesta Hotel which is offering rooms for $ 99 with exclusive use of meeting spaces in the Galleria area. While "budgeting is in progress” they are trying to raise funds, seek sponsors, finalize registration fees. Hoping to draw nearly 600 delegates to the Congress, Tamboli assured, "The level of service and food will be what you are used to.” The website for the Congress nazc2020houston.com has been started by Wadia and will hereafter be managed by the Houston team. A video was shown to attract delegates to the NAZC and later in the evening the NAZC torch was officially passed on to Tamboli and the Houston organizing team by FEZANA.
The 12th WZC in New York will most likely be held over the July 4 weekend in 2022. Whilst they are zeroing in on the hotel location they were asked whether they would consider hosting the Zarathushti Games ahead of the WZC to draw the youth. Congress chair Astad Clubwala and Wadia from the host city felt it would not be feasible "to run two massive programs as we won’t have so many volunteers. Hats off to Houston” that already has 75 volunteers who have signed up ahead of the NAZC. When Dr Behram Pastakia of Washington beseeched the 12WZC organizers to include the World Zoroastrian Symphony Orchestra in the program for the WZC, Clubwala assured him that Cyrus Mehta and Piroozi Cooper-Wittlin are already working on this and they are "scouting for talent through a fund-raising event.”
The 11th  Zoroastrian Unity Cup Soccer Tournament that is held every four years will be held over the Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles, August 31 and September 1, 2019. The activities committee has planned a gala and cruise too. When Contractor specified that seniors too were invited to this meet, Wadia commented, "Fees should be commensurate with age.” The 2020 Zoroastrian Games will be hosted by the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington.