The Executive Committee is seeking nominations from interested community members for the following committees:

Audio Visual

• Goal: To ensure that MCA has the best and the most cost effective solution for its audiovisual needs in the prayer halls and in the community center.
• Objectives:
  • Review the audio visual equipment on a continuing basis and make recommendations to improve them
  • Review the requirements for Ramadan and make recommendations that are a balance between the requirements and the cost required to implement short-term changes
  • Review the audio visual requirements for the community hall and propose a cost effective solution
• Reports To: Vice President of the MCA
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Expertise in audio visual equipment - especially in large auditorium settings
• Time Commitment: 10 hours per month

Audit & Finance

• Goal: To ensure that the MCA follows all Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in its finances, has the proper controls and manages to budget.
• Objectives:
  • Help the Treasurer manage the financial affairs of the community
  • Help the Treasurer in controlling the costs
  • Help in fundraising for the activities of the MCA
• Reports To: Treasurer
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with accounting principles. Ability to read a balance sheet, income statement and budget. Ability to create appropriate procedures for the finance group.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Bookstore

• Goal: To work with the Bookstore manager to ensure that the Bookstore serves the needs of the community as well as ensuring that it contributes monetarily to the MCA.
• Objectives:
  • Review the bookstore plan on an ongoing basis to stock the best sellers
  • Publicize the bookstore on an ongoing basis
• Reports To: Treasurer
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with the operations of a bookstore. Familiar with the needs of the community in terms of the books, tapes and other items.
• Time Commitment: 3 to 5 hours a month

Community Services

• Goal: Create and offer a set of services for the Muslim and Non-Muslim community around us (e.g., Medical Services) with the goal of giving back to the community.
• Objectives:
  • Determine the various services we can offer to the community at large
  • Determine the resources from within the community that can offer these services
  • Schedule events and ongoing activities to offer the services
  • Publicize the events and activities
  • Conduct and manage the events and activities
  • Report back to the community and the EC
• Reports To: Social Secretary
• Ideal Size: 5 to 7 members; 50 to 100 volunteers
• Qualifications: Interest in setting up useful services like medical exams, soup kitchens, etc. Ability to organize individuals and organizations to offer services. Ability to publicize the event to the community ´µ both Muslim and Non-Muslim.
• Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours a month

Dawah

• Goal: To offer Dawah to Muslims and Non-Muslims
• Objectives:
  • Conduct the various Dawah programs such as Dawah for Muslims, Dawah for Non-Muslims, Dawah in Prisons, Dawah in Hospitals, Outreach, etc.
• Reports To: Dawah Secretary
• Ideal Size: 7 to 10 members; 100 to 200 volunteers
• Qualifications: Interest in offering Dawah.
• Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours a month

Election Procedures

• Goal: To revamp the current election procedures to make them mechanical.
• Objectives:
  • Determine the shortcomings of the last few elections
  • Discuss options with the Election Commission and other members of the community
  • Propose a set of procedures that make the election procedures more mechanical
• Reports To: General Secretary
• Ideal Size: 3 to 7 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with the MCA constitution and election procedures of the MCA. Interest in streamlining the procedures and make a mechanical process. Ability to document and publicize the procedures
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Emergency Planning

• Goal: To prepare an emergency plan that protects the members and the property assets of the community in the event of emergencies
• Objectives:
  • Determine the types of emergencies - including acts of God
  • Define the levels of severity of each emergency
  • Create a detailed procedure and plan of action to handle the emergency including the tasks to accomplish within the first hour, first 4 hours, first 8 hours, first day, second day, etc.
  • Create a mechanism to communicate with the community including a phone tree
  • Create a list of responsible personnel and their action items
  • Create a methodology to resolve issues
  • Run ongoing drills to prepare the community leadership in handling the emergency events
• Reports To: President of the MCA
• Ideal Size: 10 to 15 members
• Qualifications: Expertise in protecting members and property assets. Ability to work under tremendous pressure. Ability to define a detailed action plan that can be carried out under duress. Expertise in public relations, security, building management, communication, etc. highly desirable.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Family Counseling

• Goal: Help families deal with conflict and the pressures of society
• Objectives:
  • Determine the various types of counseling being offered
  • Team families with experts in each area
  • Determine education opportunities to be offered through other committees to the community
  • Advise the Khutbah committee about areas that need additional focus
  • Train additional volunteers to offer counseling
• Reports To: Dawah Secretary
• Ideal Size: 10 to 15 members initially; increase as necessary
• Qualifications: Excellent conflict resolution ability. In depth knowledge of dealing with family issues from an Islamic perspective
• Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours a month

Funeral

• Goal: To determine and manage the funeral services offered by the MCA
• Objectives:
  • Determine and manage the funeral service
  • Determine whether the interests of MCA are served by hiring or by sub-contracting out the services
  • Determine the performance criteria for the services
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Familiarity with the laws of the city, county and state in dealing with funerals. Ability to define performance criteria for the Funeral Director or sub-contractor.
• Time Commitment: 5 hours a month

Interfaith Alliances

• Goal: To work with members of other faiths to build alliances on issues of common interest without compromising the basic tenets of our faith
• Objectives:
  • Develop a plan to conduct on-going interfaith activities with people of other faiths as well as ethnic and other organizations.
  • Work with other organizations such as CAIR as well as other Masajids to develop interfaith relationships.
  • Conduct joint events with interfaith organizations to promote a better understanding of Islam.
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 5 to 7 members; any number of volunteers to help coordinate the activities and events
• Qualifications: Genuine interest in building long term alliances with members of other faiths. Ability to communicate effectively with all members of the society.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Iqama

• Goal: To set the prayer times for the five daily prayers at the Islamic Center and Masjid An-noor based on the needs of the members and taking into account the concerns of the neighbors of the MCA and Masjid An-noor.
• Objectives:
  • Set the prayer times for the five daily prayers
  • Communicate effectively to the members through announcements, newsletter and website
• Reports To: Dawah
• Ideal Size: 3 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with the prayer timing issues of the community and the needs and concerns of our neighbors.
• Time Commitment: 3 to 5 hours a month

Khutbah

• Goal: To select Khateebs for the Jummah prayers at all MCA locations to provide a balanced sermon to the members of the community within the guidelines of the charter of the organization.
• Objectives:
  • Create guidelines for Khateebs that reflect the MCA charter
  • Define topical and important themes that MCA should focus on and select speakers based on these areas of focus.
  • Select Khateebs based on their balanced portrayal of Islam
  • Handle last-minute changes and communicate effectively with EC, Publications, and other committees to let them know if there are changes
• Reports To: President of the MCA
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Community members known for their balanced views and their ability to use their nationwide network of relationships to bring balanced speakers. Representation from younger members is important.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Library

• Goal: To provide a useful library with Islamic books for the community. To work with members to acquire books and manage the smooth operation of the library and library facilities.
• Objectives:
  • To manage the library effectively to ensure that members needs are met, a wide variety of books available for reading and loss is prevented.
• Reports To: Dawah Secretary
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Community members known for their knowledge about Islam. Members are well read in Islamic knowledge and address the needs of the community members. Members who can manage the library and ensure that it operates smoothly without loss.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Masjid An-noor

• Goal: To ensure that Masjid An-noor is operated efficiently and without any undue hardship to neighbors
• Objectives:
  • Work with Masjid An-noor attendees to ensure that the Masjid is operated efficiently
  • Ensure that MCA policies of the use of facilities are followed
  • Ensure that neighbors of Masjid An-noor are not unduly affected by the use of the facility
  • Maintain excellent relations with neighbors by being accessible to them when necessary
  • Maintain relations with the city staff so that problems are identified and addressed
  • Conduct gatherings like picnics, etc. to ensure good relations with neighbors
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Regular attendee of the Masjid An-noor and someone who lives close by. Ability to deal with neighbors and city with patience. Ability to communicate with attendees of the Masjid An-noor to remind them constantly about the rights of the neighbors.
• Time Commitment: 5 to 10 hours a month

Operations

• Goal: To help the Vice President in the operational aspects of the MCA.
• Objectives:
  • Set guidelines and process for the use of the MCA facility
  • Work with the Building Manager to ensure the facility is maintained in excellent condition
  • Work with other committees to ensure that their use of the facility is within the guidelines of the MCA
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with the MCA facility and the operation and events conducted at the MCA. Ability to work with other committees to ensure the smooth operation of MCA.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Public Relations

• Goal: Advise the MCA Executive Committee on Public affairs to protect the interest of the Community.
• Objectives:
  • Analyze specific external political situations and make recommendations to EC
  • Support the EC on dealing with the media
  • Develop guidelines on how to deal with individual crisis
  • Work with the Emergency Planning Committee to come up with an emergency plan for the community.
• Reports To: President of the MCA
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Community members known for their expertise and wisdom regarding the Public Affairs.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Publications

• Goal: To foster efficient communication between the leadership of MCA and its members as well as between members
• Objectives:
  • Edit and publish the MCA newsletter
  • Maintain the MCA website
  • Ensure that the communication is within the guidelines of MCA
  • Reports To: Publications Secretary
• Ideal Size: 3 to 7 members
• Qualifications: Familiar with editing and publishing news and content. Take advantage of technology like web and email to communicate.
• Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours a month

Ramadan Committee

• Goal: To ensure the smooth operation of the MCA activities in Ramadan
• Objectives:
  • Work with EC and other committees to conduct educational and inspirational events in Ramadan
  • Coordinate with visiting Sheiks to provide prayers and other events to the community
  • Work with Social Committee to hold Ramadan iftars
  • Ensure that the Itikaaf is managed smoothly
  • Work with the Security Committee to ensure the facility is protected during this period of heightened use
• Reports To: Social Secretary
• Ideal Size: 5 to 7 members
• Qualifications: Ability to work with other Sheiks, EC, other committees to coordinate this important time period
• Time Commitment: 10 to 15 hours during Rajab and Sha'ban; 50 to 100 hours during Ramadan

Security

• Goal: To ensure that MCA's assets are protected from hate crimes, vandalism, theft, etc. To ensure that MCA's members are protected while they use the facility. To work with Emergency Planning for crisis preparation.
• Objectives:
  • Determine security policies for protecting the building and assets
  • Determine the individuals who have access to various assets of the organization
  • Implement security to protect MCA assets and members
  • Educate the community about security policies of the MCA
  • Educate the youth on the issues related to protecting MCA assets.
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members; 10 to 20 volunteers during MCA events including Ramadan
• Qualifications: Familiar with the security needs of the community and ability to use good judgment in dealing with the community.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Social

• Goal: To conduct social events and gatherings to foster the unity among community members. To conduct educational programs to help us become better Muslims.
• Objectives:
  • Determine events and activities that help the community truly become one community
  • Determine plan for the following year and implement this plan
  • Work with other committees including the Dawah committee to hold educational events for the community
• Reports To: Social Secretary
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members; 20 to 50 volunteers as needed including Ramadan
• Qualifications: Ability to come up with interesting and exciting events to help foster unity among the community members. Ability to work with individuals and groups to organize these events. Ability to work within set budgets.
• Time Commitment: 10 to 20 hours a month

Unity and Brotherhood Committee

• Goal: Keep the Community integrated and united as one family
• Objectives:
  • Bring together all the Community groups
  • Heel wounds and resolve conflicts among Community groups
  • Promote join activities among Community groups
  • Discourage division among Community groups
  • Encourage Community participation to groups' activities
• Reports To: President of MCA
• Ideal Size: 5-7 members
• Qualifications: Senior Community members known for their good character: tolerant, forgiving, merciful, open minded and sincere.
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Women's

• Goal: To help address needs of the female members of the community and provide a female perspective to the activities of the MCA.
• Objectives:
  • Determine the special needs of the women members of the community and build a plan to provide the services
  • Help the women's secretary work with the female members of the community
• Reports To: Women's Secretary
• Ideal Size: 5 to 9 members
• Qualifications: An active woman member of the community interested in helping addressing the special needs of the female members of the community
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Youth

• Goal: To help the youth of the community grow up to become good Muslims and contributing members of the society at large
• Objectives:
  • Determine the special needs of the youth and help address them through programs and activities geared towards the youth
  • Determine the issues and the pressures of the society on the youth and determine methods and mechanisms to guide them towards Islamic morals and values
• Reports To: Vice President
• Ideal Size: 3 to 7 members; 20+ volunteers
• Qualifications: Commitment to work with youth of the community to impart Islamic values and morals
• Time Commitment: 10 hours a month

Zakat & Relief

• Goal: To help the community meets its obligation of helping support the needy. To identify, help and manage the relationship with relief organizations so funds collected will be used in a legal and efficient manner.
• Objectives:
  • Determine the criteria and guidelines to determine which organizations are eligible to receive Zakat funding from MCA's Zakat and Relief funds.
  • Identify and continually monitor the list of approved relief organizations that MCA works with.
  • Create process and procedures to help the needy of this community
  • Determine how we interact and help the needy in the community at large by working with the Dawah Committee.
  • Ensure no co-mingling of funds kept for this purpose.
• Reports To: Treasurer
• Ideal Size: 3 to 5 members
• Qualifications: Clear understanding of the Zakat and Relief guidelines of MCA. Ability to work with organizations and ethnic groups to determine their needs and come up with policies to help the needy. Ability to work and follow all laws to ensure that MCA does not violate any law whatsoever.
• Time Commitment: 5 to 10 hours a month. Additional time required in Ramadan.

Razi Mohiuddin
MCA President