The thrills and travails of Information Technology (IT) are impacting the workings of different community organizations. The Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation (OZCF) has introduced a special OZCF WhatsApp Channel whereby those interested can stay
connected and informed of the latest updates and community events while continuing with their online weekly newsletter Pulse and email blasts. Anyone can join and follow the channel on the link provided https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaoxjdk7dmeiROPNBX0n. They have ensured that Channel followers cannot see who else is following the Channel and even the Admins cannot see the phone number unless the number is saved in their contacts.
In the meanwhile, the Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal (KZBM) closed down its website launched by then president Toxy Cowasjee 25 years ago, as reported in the October issue of their monthly What’s On newsletter. "Due to the declining value of our currency, Yahoo’s annual charge is in five digits. It was also felt that undesirable emails were being received from the general public wanting information on our community.”
On the recommendation of their IT guide Zain Sethna, it was decided to download all data from the website before its annual payment was due, convert the files in a pdf format and place them on KZBM’s Google drive. This onerous responsibility was handled by Natasha Karanjia, chairperson of KZBM’s Child Committee. Any community member who needs to refer to any data on the Mandal’s history, memorabilia, publications, managing committee and activities, and past issues of What’s On may send a request to kzbm1912@gmail.com and an appropriate link will be shared.