Homi Gandhi was reelected president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) for his second two-year term at the umbrella body’s 31st annual general meeting (AGM) hosted by the California Zoroastrian Center (CZC) at their Dar-e-Mehr in Westminster California on April 27, 2018. He will be assisted by vice president Arzan Wadia, secretary Percy Master and administrator Zenobia Damania. Joining them on the board as treasurer will be Rooky Fitter of the Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC), Los Angeles (LA) since erstwhile treasurer Shirin Jahanian’s term had come to an end as had assistant secretary Afreed Mistry’s.
"Over 70 official participants formed part of a larger group of friends who attended the annual four-day event beginning April 26,” according to a report of the proceedings posted on the FEZANA website. The first day was earmarked for a jashan organized by the North American Mobeds Council (NAMC) and led by Ervad Zarrir Bhandara. This was followed by a detailed presentation on the functioning, challenges and future NAMC initiatives by its president Ardaviraf Minocherhomjee. The next three mornings started with a benediction too.
From l: at the FEZANA AGM; Rostam and Behnam Abadian Zoroastrian Cultural Center in California
At the WZCC session: Homi Gandhi, Faredun and Kavasji Dadachanji, Arman Ariane and Edul Daver
Members attending meet in California Photo: Ardeshir Baghkhanian
Presentation on 2019 Seventh World Zoroastrian Youth Congress with Percy Master,
Afreed Mistry and Gandhi seated in the forefront All photos: fezana.org
The afternoon session on the first day included a discussion by FEZANA past president Dr Dolly Dastoor and president of the Zoroastrian Association of Michigan Dr Ardeshir Irani on FEZANA’s participation in the upcoming Parliament of World Religions in Toronto in November 2018. Another session led by FEZANA past president Rohinton Rivetna enumerated on infrastructure needs in North America and the recommended plan of action. The day planned by Cyrus Irani and his team from the CZC ended with a visit to Huntington Beach to view the sunset and enjoy the bonfire.
The official AGM deliberations were held on the second day when Gandhi, member associations, office bearers and committee chairs gave an overview of their activities and proposed initiatives. The evening celebrations saw children from ZAC put up an entertainment program at their new center in Orange, California. ZAC members Shazneen Gandhi and Gulshan Pagdiwala spoke briefly on their upcoming children’s book, Hello World.
On the third day members were shown the video presentation "Zarathushtis in North America: A FEZANA Perspective” created by FEZANA for the last Iranshah Udvada Utsav in December 2017. Since FEZANA and CZC will be the hosts of the Seventh World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in July 2019, the details were announced. The afternoon session saw a presentation by the Zoroastrian Return to Roots program that encourages youth from the diaspora to make a trip to India to understand how the religion is practiced there. The other speakers were Edul Davar, global president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) who outlined the organiztion’s new initiatives; Minocherhomjee who outlined the role and future of mobeds in North America; Wadia who reported on the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum he had attended in the UK (see "Forming youthful bonds,” pg 26).
The Central Florida Zoroastrian Community’s bid to host the next FEZANA AGM was accepted. It will be scheduled from May 3 to 5, 2019. They will also host the global AGM of the WZCC on the preceding two days, May 1 and 2.
At the final gala hosted by CZC at the Westminster Dar-e-Mehr, Mehraban Mehin played the piano, Danesh Bhandara danced to Bollywood music, Bestoon sang Persian and English songs and the show stopper was the stunts performed by Bhandara who holds a 5th degree black belt in karate. He lay on his back with a plank balanced on his abdomen over which a motorcyclist rode. CZC president Arman Ariane felicitated Daryoush Irani and Behnam Abadian for their contributions to CZC over the decades. The evening ended with Persian food and dancing.
At the FEZANA open forum on the final day, members got an opportunity to express their thoughts on a variety of topics in a free-for-all discussion. The post AGM session saw participants drive to CZC’s LA Valley Dar-e-Mehr in Canoga Park to see the recently renovated exteriors and to attend the WZCC meeting of the Southern California Chapter.