DHTML Menu / JavaScript Menu Powered by Milonic
Already a member? Sign In

Start communicating

AMILA_ 

Place for current and former AMILA members
Category: Cultures & CommunityType: Anyone can join
Recent Village Updates

Login to find out

has added a new journal

AMILA Gathering:
Global Warming and the Environment: Our Responsibility, Our Response by Sr. Ameena Jandali, ING
Saturday, March 10, 2007, 5:00 PM (time may change +/- 1 hour)
Berkeley, CA
RSVP Via the Evite: tinyurl.com

Dinner: Our meetings are traditionally potluck. Please bring either:
$7/person to contribute to pizza money

OR PREFERABLY

Last names beginning with:
A-G, R-Z: Please bring a main dish to share,
H-Q: a dessert.

Brief Outline for Evening:
1. Attendees bring dish or pizza money.
2. Sign-In at Door
3. AMILA Dua ~3 min.
4. AMILA Announcements: Elections, Garage Sale Fundraiser, Ramadan Retreat, Membership, AMILAnet ~5 min.
4. Go around the room and introduce each other ~5 min.
5. Speaker Introduction
6. Speaker Presentation
7. Dinner/Maghrib
8. Social/Group Interaction/Discussion
9. Gathering Conclusion

Enter your name and e-mail to RSVP to the Evite. Address will be sent to those that RSVP.

About AMILA - Founded in 1992, American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (AMILA) is committed to spiritual enrichment, intellectual freedom, and community service. www.amila.org .

February 28, 2007 at 7:49pm

Login to find out

has added a new journal

American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (AMILA)
November 2006 Newsletter www.amila.org
[email protected]

-------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------

- AMILA Gatherings Move to a Quarterly Schedule
- September 16, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage SaleS - RECAP
- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat - RECAP
- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series - RECAP
- October 27, 2006 - AMILA Eid Party - RECAP
- November 11, 2006 - AMILA Gathering - Postponed
- November 12, 2006 - AMILA Mt. Diablo Hike - Tentative
- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule
- 2007 AMILA Membership Renewal
- Please get involved with AMILA

--------------------------------------

- AMILA Gatherings Move to a Quarterly Schedule

With the hopes of moving back to monthly gatherings and the call for new volunteers, AMILA will be doing quarterly gatherings until further notice. The next one will be AMILA's 14th Anniversary Gathering in November.

--------------------------------------

- September 16, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage SaleS - RECAP
Sunnyvale (or Union City) & San Jose, CA | 7:00 AM - 2 PM www.amila.org/projects/garagesale.php | [email protected]

AMILA will be conducting two simultaneous Garage sales to help raise funds for the proposed AMILA Eid Gift Drive. One will occur in San Jose and the other in Sunnyvale (or Union City). Donations of usable, sellable goods are being solicited both in advance and especially on the day of. Garage Sales attract an interesting lot of people. It's a fun day to help get rid of unwanted goods to help support a good cause with other Muslims that want to help support the community-at-large.

Event Summary: Congratulations to Naheed & Shehnaz for hosting and for all volunteers that supported the sale! Sounds like the AMILA Garage SaleS went well. We were able to raise a few hundred dollars on the day of and potentially will be able to raise a few hundred more selling some of the higher dollar value donations online via Ebay. That ought to put AMILA in the $1,000 neighborhood for this year which is on par with the 2nd Garage Sale that AMILA held a few years back. The second phase of this project would be to find a group, find and coordinate the gift sales, wrapping and distribution which others would be better situated to discuss current status.

--------------------------------------


- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series - RECAP
September 24, NOT October 1 (Same Day as Ramadan Retreat), October 8, October 15 and possibly October 22, 2006
Uzma Siddiqui - [email protected]

AMILA is looking for hosts for the Sunday Iftar series. This is a great opportunity to share the blessing of Ramadan with your AMILA community. It is a fun experience as previous hosts can tell you. The Iftars are a great way for AMILA members with smaller homes to participate. Iftar attendance is normally about 10-25, include both iftar and dinner, of which the dinner part is entirely potluck. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

If you would like to be a host for a Sunday Iftar, please email us at your earliest convenience with the following information:

- Date(s) you are available to host.
- your address, including city
- directions to your home from a couple of different directions
- phone number

We request hosts to provide minimally for the iftar itself. Start time is 30 minutes before maghrib, and we try to finish in time for people to go to tarawih nearby.

The iftars are also where we wrap presents we have purchased for distribution to poor Bay Area Muslim children as part of the AMILA Gift Drive. So there's a hands-on aspect, too.

We look forward to hearing from you if you would like to host.

Event Summary: Thank you to our hosts this year: Saira Nazir - San Ramon; Sylvia Chan-Malik - Hercules, Sohela Shah - San Francisco for hosting the AMILA Iftar series. Folks from all over the Bay Area came out to sample exotic dishes at the homes of our hosts.

--------------------------------------

- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat - RECAP www.amila.org/education/retreat.php | [email protected]

Location: Pigeon Point Lighthouse

By a matter of hours, AMILA was able to secure the beautiful and scenic Pigeon Point Lighthouse located ~20 miles south of Half Moon Bay on the California coast. This is at the same location of the AMILA Retreat two years ago. The last AMILA retreat in the Marin Headlands Hostel had various logistical issues that we do not anticipate having at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location. We received mostly positive feedback on the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location in the past and do hope you will mark your calendars now for the AMILA Ramadan Retreat.
www.norcalhostels.org

Attended by: ~35 People.
Event Summary: Many new faces joined long time AMILA Retreat attendees at the ocean view Pigeon Point Lighthouse to learn about the Life of the Prophet (PBUH). Dr. Shabana Mir & Sheikh Alauddin AlBakri gave both spiritual lessons and stories about the life, family, upbringing, moral character, thoughtfullness, kindness, generosity and courtesy of the Prophet (PBUH). The challenges that Muslims face in getting closer to Allah and becoming more like the Prophet (PBUH) were discussed. Steps and solutions on how to achieve both were offered. Homemade meals were prepared and provided for all retreat attendees with some food being prepared & donated by some very dedicated volunteers and delivered from as far away as Walnut Creek, CA. The food made a further trek than some retreat attendees! The AMILA retreat is not only a time of learning and introspection but also a time for feeling like a part of the AMILA family. Please help preserve the beauty of Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station by registering and voting once a day at: www.partnersinpreservation.com
--------------------------------------

- October 27, 2006 - AMILA Eid Party - RECAP


AMILA Eid Get-together!
Friday, October 27, 2006 at 7:30 pm
NY Wings, 663 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 863-7755 | www.nywings.com www.amila.org | Please RSVP to [email protected]

Come out for an AMILA dinner at an all American, halal restaurant, NY Wings in SF. All are welcome to attend.

Event Summary: Approximately twenty members of the AMILA community came out to celebrate in an Eid Get-Together at NY Wings. Halal wings, cheeseburgers and philly cheesesteak sandwiches were enjoyed by all.

--------------------------------------

- November 11, 2006 - AMILA Gathering - Postponed.

Two speakers from overseas were to come to speak in the Bay Area and to AMILA. Due to speaker scheduling conflicts/delays, AMILA will not be having a formal November Gathering.

--------------------------------------

- November 12, 2006 - AMILA Mt. Diablo Hike - Tentative

Time & Meeting Location: TBD.
RSVP Requested: Jessica Livingston, [email protected] www.amila.org

Rain or shine. Well maybe just shine, but if it rains, we will figure out alternative plans depending on attendees. Come join AMILA for a hike to Mt. Diablo in the East Bay. Tentative plans are to meetup at a central location, carpool up to Mt. Diablo and then hit up either Tandoor Cafe (zabihah) or Zachary's Pizza in San Ramon. If you know of some easy to moderate hikes around Mt. Diablo, contact us. About AMILA - Founded in 1992, American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (AMILA) is committed to spiritual enrichment, intellectual freedom, and community service.

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule

AMILA Gatherings take place the 2nd Saturday of each Month (95% of the time) which in 2006 will fall on: February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11 and December 9, 2006. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

AMILA needs HOSTS/VENUES for our upcoming monthly gatherings. AMILA is in the process of requesting and lining up more interesting and through provoking speakers to continue our monthly gatherings. We are in need of hosts to continue this AMILA tradition.

Do you have an apartment/home/condo/townhouse/mansion/villa/estate/chalet that you would like to open up for an AMILA Gathering? The AMILA Monthly Gatherings are typically potluck events and we request the host to provide the basics including items such as paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins and refreshments (drinks and tea). If you would like to host this month or have the ability to host future AMILA gatherings, please contact Uzma Siddiqui - [email protected] . Thank you.

We'd like to schedule venues for the rest of the year (typically the 2nd Saturday of the month from 6-9pm). Please let us know if you can host a gathering at your home or if your complex has a clubhouse we can use. Also, please let us know of any affordable public venues around the Bay Area for our larger gatherings.

Information Requested (Send to - [email protected] ):

1. Please provide us with multiple available Saturday date(s) that you are available to host. If you are not available to host on a Saturday evening, then please provide other day(s) times that you might be able to host in the future as we have offered additional speakers/gatherings/meetings at other times as the opportunity permits.

2. Name, Address & Directions from 2-3 different directions.

3. Parking guidelines.

4. Approximate number of people that you may be able to accommodate. Previous AMILA gatherings take place in the living/dining areas of the residence with most members sitting on the floor to accommodate the space.


--------------------------------------


- 2007 AMILA Membership Renewal

As you know, AMILA receives no outside funding and relies on membership dues to cover the costs on almost everything we do, including hosting our monthly meetings, website maintenance, activist projects, and sending out our bimonthly newsletter. You may submit your membership & dues through our website at amila.org. Thank you for your continuing support!

AMILA is a completely volunteer-run organization that needs your support! Your annual membership of $45 per person, $75 per couple pays for a bimonthly newsletter, bringing in renowned speakers for our signature AMILA Monthly Gatherings, meeting locations, maintenance of our website and listserv, and sponsoring the advanced expenses for our yearly Spiritual Retreat. You many renew your membership by visiting:
www.amila.org/about/donate.php

--------------------------------------

- Please get involved with AMILA

Why Get Involved?

AMILA is a member driven organization. This is a great opportunity for YOU to get involved with a group of diverse and caring Muslim individuals as well as have fun, and make new friends. AMILA has been around for almost 15 years. That is a very long time in the age of Muslim organizations. AMILA provides a great basis for grass roots efforts. Please do consider getting involved with any of the activities that AMILA supports. This will ensure that AMILA can be still be present for more years to come.

What is your main interest?

AMILA through the efforts of the Steering Committee (SC) and dedicated volunteers has organized academic, professional, community service, and social networking events, built networking with other organizations and gives support and has been supported by other organizations serving a similar cause.

You can help AMILA continue its unique programs by getting involved any of the following areas:

- Securing Monthly Speakers (Thought provoking speakers that can provide are comfortable sharing unique ideas and views on topics of relevance to Muslims in America)
- Securing locations throughout the Bay Area where AMILA Gatherings can take place (Homes, Community Centers, Libraries, etc.)
- Social Events (Annual AMILA Picnic, Dinners, Movies, Events, etc.)
- Religious Events (AMILA Ramadan Spiritual Retreat)
- Educational Events (AMILA/ZIA Book Club)
- Community Services Events (AMILA Eid Gift Drive, Food Sort, Soup Kitchen)
- PR/Outreach (Share AMILA with others in the Bay Area that would benefit from AMILA programs)
- Local/National/International Issues (AMILA Sponsorship of Events that fall in line with AMILA's Goals)
- Networking/Communicating with other organizations (Maintaining Communication/Networking with other Organizations for joint projects/events).

Volunteers:

- Do not need to be elected
- Work co-operatively with the appropriate SC Member(s)/Project(s)
- Are not required to attend SC Meetings

Volunteering requires less time commitment than an AMILA Steering Committee Position. Do consider lending a helping hand to AMILA. Please e-mail [email protected] with some details on how you feel you can help AMILA.

Thank you,
AMILA
[email protected] www.amila.org

November 9, 2006 at 8:50pm

Login to find out

has added a new journal

American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (AMILA)
September 2006 Newsletter www.amila.org

-------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------

- AMILA Gatherings Move to a Quarterly Schedule
- August 6, 2006: AMILA Letter Writing Campaign @ MCA Picnic - RECAP
- August 12, 2006: AMILA Monthly Gathering - ?Making Sense of the Lebanon Debacle? - RECAP
- September 1, 2006 - Eid: AMILA Eid Gift Drive
- September 16, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage SaleS
- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat
- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series
- October 28, 2006 - AMILA Eid Party?
- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule
- 2006 AMILA Membership Renewal
- Please get involved with AMILA

--------------------------------------

- AMILA Gatherings Move to a Quarterly Schedule

With the dueling AMILA Garage Sales, Eid Gift Drive, Sunday Iftar Series, Ramadan Spiritual Retreat and AMILA Eid Party comprising ~8-9 events in the next two months, AMILA will be doing quarterly gatherings until further notice. The next one will be AMILA's 14th Anniversary Gathering in November.

--------------------------------------

- August 6, 2006: AMILA Letter Writing Campaign @ MCA Picnic - RECAP
(Not Formally affiliated with MCA)
Contact: Amjad Obeidat [email protected]

Amjad Obeidat was able to confirm that CAIR was coordinating a petition at the picnic.

--------------------------------------

- August 12, 2006: AMILA Monthly Gathering - ?Making Sense of the Lebanon Debacle? - RECAP
Dr. George Bisharat
Saturday, August 12, 2006 6 p.m.

Close to 40 people attended the AMILA Gathering to hear Dr. George Bisharat, a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, discuss the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. Thank you to Dr. George Bisharat for speaking and to Ruxana Meer for hosting the gathering at her Oakland home.

--------------------------------------

- September 1, 2006 - Eid: AMILA Eid Gift Drive www.amila.org/projects/giftdrive.php | [email protected]

It's that time of year again and we need volunteers to help organize and coordinate the efforts of the annual Eid gift drive. Hundreds of children have benefited from our previous efforts and this year we hope to continue that success with another community-wide garage sale. Please e-mail: [email protected] if you wish to help continue this AMILA Activity. Whether you'd like to help through the entire process or just purchase some toys for tots, we can use all the help we can get! We are accepting monetary donations for the toy drive online via PAYPAL at www.amila.org .

--------------------------------------

- September 16, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage SaleS
Sunnyvale (or Union City) & San Jose, CA | 7:00 AM - 2 PM www.amila.org/projects/garagesale.php | [email protected]

AMILA will be conducting two simultaneous Garage sales to help raise funds for the proposed AMILA Eid Gift Drive. One will occur in San Jose and the other in Sunnyvale (or Union City). Donations of usable, sellable goods are being solicited both in advance and especially on the day of. AMILA needs your help on the day of to assist in categorizing & selling goods. We are looking for two shifts of volunteers at both locations (you pick which location/time is most convenient for you): 7 AM-11 AM & 10 AM-2 PM. If you would like to help take this project off of the ground, please e-mail: [email protected] .

Garage Sales attract an interesting lot of people. It's a fun day to help get rid of unwanted goods to help support a good cause with other Muslims that want to help support the community-at-large.

Now is the time to clean out your closets and recycle your sellable items into a tax-deductible donation. All proceeds from this garage sale will benefit the Eid Gift Drive. We will also be accepting donations at the September AMILA meeting or you can drop off items in Berkeley. Email us at [email protected] to make arrangements.

Suggested donations: CLEAN kitchen and household goods, rugs, jewelry, small appliances & furnishings, dishes, tools, toys, kids stuff, CDs, computers, sports equipment, TVs, radios, bikes and books. Please, NO large furniture such as sofas or beds. Please do consider that we are a volunteer effort and do not have many resources to handle donations that are not in good selling condition (meaning, no junk please).

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series
September 24, NOT October 1 (Same Day as Ramadan Retreat), October 8, October 15 and possibly October 22, 2006
Uzma Siddiqui - [email protected]

AMILA is looking for hosts for the Sunday Iftar series. This is a great opportunity to share the blessing of Ramadan with your AMILA community. It is a fun experience as previous hosts can tell you. The Iftars are a great way for AMILA members with smaller homes to participate. Iftar attendance is normally about 10-25, include both iftar and dinner, of which the dinner part is entirely potluck. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

If you would like to be a host for a Sunday Iftar, please email us at your earliest convenience with the following information:

- Date(s) you are available to host.
- your address, including city
- directions to your home from a couple of different directions
- phone number

We request hosts to provide minimally for the iftar itself. Start time is 30 minutes before maghrib, and we try to finish in time for people to go to tarawih nearby.

The iftars are also where we wrap presents we have purchased for distribution to poor Bay Area Muslim children as part of the AMILA Gift Drive. So there's a hands-on aspect, too.

We look forward to hearing from you if you would like to host.

--------------------------------------

- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat www.amila.org/education/retreat.php | [email protected]

Location: Pigeon Point Lighthouse

By a matter of hours, AMILA was able to secure the beautiful and scenic Pigeon Point Lighthouse located ~20 miles south of Half Moon Bay on the California coast. This is at the same location of the AMILA Retreat two years ago. The last AMILA retreat in the Marin Headlands Hostel had various logistical issues that we do not anticipate having at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location. We received mostly positive feedback on the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location in the past and do hope you will mark your calendars now for the AMILA Ramadan Retreat.
www.norcalhostels.org

--------------------------------------

- October 28, 2006 - AMILA Eid Party?


Traditionally, AMILA has been fortunate to have a member to graciously host that AMILA Eid Party. Would you like to host it this year? Please contact [email protected] if you are interested.

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule

AMILA Gatherings take place the 2nd Saturday of each Month (95% of the time) which in 2006 will fall on: February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11 and December 9, 2006. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

AMILA needs HOSTS/VENUES for our upcoming monthly gatherings. AMILA is in the process of requesting and lining up more interesting and through provoking speakers to continue our monthly gatherings. We are in need of hosts to continue this AMILA tradition.

Do you have an apartment/home/condo/townhouse/mansion/villa/estate/chalet that you would like to open up for an AMILA Gathering? The AMILA Monthly Gatherings are typically potluck events and we request the host to provide the basics including items such as paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins and refreshments (drinks and tea). If you would like to host this month or have the ability to host future AMILA gatherings, please contact Uzma Siddiqui - [email protected] . Thank you.

We'd like to schedule venues for the rest of the year (typically the 2nd Saturday of the month from 6-9pm). Please let us know if you can host a gathering at your home or if your complex has a clubhouse we can use. Also, please let us know of any affordable public venues around the Bay Area for our larger gatherings.

Information Requested (Send to - [email protected] ):

1. Please provide us with multiple available Saturday date(s) that you are available to host. If you are not available to host on a Saturday evening, then please provide other day(s) times that you might be able to host in the future as we have offered additional speakers/gatherings/meetings at other times as the opportunity permits.

2. Name, Address & Directions from 2-3 different directions.

3. Parking guidelines.

4. Approximate number of people that you may be able to accommodate. Previous AMILA gatherings take place in the living/dining areas of the residence with most members sitting on the floor to accommodate the space.


--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Membership Renewal

As you know, AMILA receives no outside funding and relies on membership dues to cover the costs on almost everything we do, including hosting our monthly meetings, website maintenance, activist projects, and sending out our bimonthly newsletter. You may submit your membership form both through the mail to: PO Box 2216, Los Gatos, CA 95031 or through our website at amila.org. (Please make checks payable to AMILA.) Thank you for your continuing support!

AMILA is a completely volunteer-run organization that needs your support! Your annual membership of $45 per person, $75 per couple pays for a bimonthly newsletter, bringing in renowned speakers for our signature AMILA Monthly Gatherings, meeting locations, maintenance of our website and listserv, and sponsoring the advanced expenses for our yearly Spiritual Retreat. You many renew your membership by visiting:
www.amila.org/about/donate.php

--------------------------------------

- Please get involved with AMILA

Why Get Involved?

AMILA is a member driven organization. This is a great opportunity for YOU to get involved with a group of diverse and caring Muslim individuals as well as have fun, and make new friends. AMILA has been around for almost 15 years. That is a very long time in the age of Muslim organizations. AMILA provides a great basis for grass roots efforts. Please do consider getting involved with any of the activities that AMILA supports. This will ensure that AMILA can be still be present for more years to come.

What is your main interest?

AMILA through the efforts of the Steering Committee (SC) and dedicated volunteers has organized academic, professional, community service, and social networking events, built networking with other organizations and gives support and has been supported by other organizations serving a similar cause.

You can help AMILA continue its unique programs by getting involved any of the following areas:

- Securing Monthly Speakers (Thought provoking speakers that can provide are comfortable sharing unique ideas and views on topics of relevance to Muslims in America)
- Securing locations throughout the Bay Area where AMILA Gatherings can take place (Homes, Community Centers, Libraries, etc.)
- Social Events (Annual AMILA Picnic, Dinners, Movies, Events, etc.)
- Religious Events (AMILA Ramadan Spiritual Retreat)
- Educational Events (AMILA/ZIA Book Club)
- Community Services Events (AMILA Eid Gift Drive, Food Sort, Soup Kitchen)
- PR/Outreach (Share AMILA with others in the Bay Area that would benefit from AMILA programs)
- Local/National/International Issues (AMILA Sponsorship of Events that fall in line with AMILA's Goals)
- Networking/Communicating with other organizations (Maintaining Communication/Networking with other Organizations for joint projects/events).

Volunteers:

- Do not need to be elected
- Work co-operatively with the appropriate SC Member(s)/Project(s)
- Are not required to attend SC Meetings

Volunteering requires less time commitment than an AMILA Steering Committee Position. Do consider lending a helping hand to AMILA. Please e-mail [email protected] with some details on how you feel you can help AMILA.

Thank you,
AMILA
[email protected] www.amila.org

September 5, 2006 at 9:52am

Login to find out

has added a new journal

American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (AMILA)
August 2006 Newsletter www.amila.org

-------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------

- August 6, 2006: AMILA Letter Writing Campaign @ MCA Picnic (Tentative)
- August 12, 2006: AMILA Monthly Gathering - ?Making Sense of the Lebanon Debacle?
- Present to September 9, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage Sale
- September 1, 2006 - Eid: AMILA Eid Gift Drive?
- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat
- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series
- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule
- 2006 AMILA Membership Renewal
- Please get involved with AMILA

--------------------------------------


- August 6, 2006: AMILA Letter Writing Campaign @ MCA Picnic (Tentative)
(Not Formally affiliated with MCA)
Contact: Amjad Obeidat [email protected]

AMILA is trying to coordinate a letter writing campaign to our local & national representatives in regards to the humanitarian crisis occurring in the Middle East. AMILA is in need of 5-6 volunteers to: help staff the AMILA table at the MCA picnic, coordinate the letter writing campaign, find the best way(s) to determine who each individual's elected representative is and also to see if additional organizations Bay Area or National wish to be signatories onto the letter. If you are willing to spare thirty minutes to an hour for this cause, please contact AMILA Steering Committee Member Amjad Obeidat [email protected] .


MCA Annual Family Picnic 2006
Sunday, August 6, 2006 | 12:00pm-6:00pm
Baylands Park, 999 E Caribbean Dr, Sunnyvale
[email protected] | mcabayarea.org

Join the fun in the sun with tons of activities for all ages! BBQ, Cool Drinks, Games for kids, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Volleyball for Sisters & Brothers, Soccer, Football, Cricket and moooooore...

Tickets sold at MCA Bookstore: Tickets Bought July 7-30: $5/person | Tickets bought afterwards/at gate: $9/person | Notes: Park charges $5/car for Parking.
MCA Bookstore opens Wed-Sun 5pm-9pm, extra hours Fri-Sun 11am-3pm. For info or to reserve a non-profit booth (no selling allowed at park) contact [email protected] | Organized by MCA Women, Social and Daawah committees.

--------------------------------------

- August 12, 2006: AMILA Monthly Gathering - ?Making Sense of the Lebanon Debacle?
Dr. George Bisharat
Saturday, August 12, 2006 6 p.m.

Dr. George Bisharat, a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law with wide experience in legal anthropology and the Middle East, will discuss the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. His most recent commentary on the issue was published in today?s USA Today: ?Did Israel really need to savage the beauty of Beirut??
www.usatoday.com.)

George Bisharat joined the Hastings faculty in 1991, after serving four years as a Deputy Public Defender for the City and County of San Francisco. He conducts the Criminal Practice Clinic and teaches Criminal Procedure, Law and Social Anthropology, and Law in Middle East Societies.

Professor Bisharat graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1983 and holds a B.A. in anthropology (UC Berkeley, 1975), an M.A. in history (Georgetown University, 1979), and a Ph.D. in anthropology and Middle East studies (Harvard University, 1987).

He has lived, studied, and traveled throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with extended sojourns in Beirut, Tunis, Cairo, and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. His field of specialization is legal anthropology, the cross-cultural study of law, legal institutions, and modes of dispute processing. His study of the impact of Israeli occupation on the Palestinian legal profession of the West Bank, Palestinian Lawyers and Israeli Rule: Law and Disorder in the West Bank, was published in 1989. In recent years, Professor Bisharat has consulted with the Palestinian Legislative Council over the structure of the Palestinian judiciary, reforms in criminal procedure, and other aspects of legal development. He also is concerned with problems of social identity, ethnicity, race, and racism, and their interrelations with law and the legal system in the United States and abroad.

Location: Home of Ruxana Meer, Oakland, CA. (510) 710-8998

RSVP Requested: tinyurl.com

Dinner: Our meetings are traditionally potluck. Please bring either:
$7 to contribute to pizza money
OR PREFERABLY
Last names beginning with A-G: a dessert, H-Z: Please bring a main dish to share.

--------------------------------------

- Present to September 9, 2006: AMILA Bay Area Eid Gift Drive Garage Sale

We are considering putting together 1-2 AMILA Garage sales to help raise funds for the proposed AMILA Eid Gift Drive. One may occur in San Jose and the other in Union City. Donations of usable, sellable goods are being solicited both in advance and especially on the day of. Please do consider that we are a volunteer effort and do not have many resources to handle donations that are not in good selling condition (meaning, no junk please). If you would like to help take this project off of the ground, please e-mail: [email protected]
www.amila.org/projects/garagesale.php

--------------------------------------

- September 1, 2006 - Eid: AMILA Eid Gift Drive?

Possibly, depending on volunteers that come forward please e-mail: [email protected] if you wish to help continue this AMILA Activity.
www.amila.org/projects/giftdrive.php

--------------------------------------

- September 30, 2006 - October 1, 2006: 15th Annual AMILA Ramadan Retreat

Location: Pigeon Point Lighthouse

By a matter of hours, AMILA was able to secure the beautiful and scenic Pigeon Point Lighthouse located ~20 miles south of Half Moon Bay on the California coast. This is at the same location of the AMILA Retreat two years ago. The last AMILA retreat in the Marin Headlands Hostel had various logistical issues that we do not anticipate having at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location. We received mostly positive feedback on the Pigeon Point Lighthouse location in the past and do hope you will mark your calendars now for the AMILA Ramadan Retreat.
www.amila.org/education/retreat.php www.norcalhostels.org

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Gatherings Schedule

AMILA Gatherings take place the 2nd Saturday of each Month (95% of the time) which in 2006 will fall on: February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11 and December 9, 2006. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

AMILA needs HOSTS/VENUES for our upcoming monthly gatherings. AMILA is in the process of requesting and lining up more interesting and through provoking speakers to continue our monthly gatherings. We are in need of hosts to continue this AMILA tradition.

Do you have an apartment/home/condo/townhouse/mansion/villa/estate/chalet that you would like to open up for an AMILA Gathering? The AMILA Monthly Gatherings are typically potluck events and we request the host to provide the basics including items such as paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins and refreshments (drinks and tea). If you would like to host this month or have the ability to host future AMILA gatherings, please contact Uzma Siddiqui - [email protected] . Thank you.

We'd like to schedule venues for the rest of the year (typically the 2nd Saturday of the month from 6-9pm). Please let us know if you can host a gathering at your home or if your complex has a clubhouse we can use. Also, please let us know of any affordable public venues around the Bay Area for our larger gatherings.

Information Requested (Send to - [email protected] ):

1. Please provide us with multiple available Saturday date(s) that you are available to host. If you are not available to host on a Saturday evening, then please provide other day(s) times that you might be able to host in the future as we have offered additional speakers/gatherings/meetings at other times as the opportunity permits.

2. Name, Address & Directions from 2-3 different directions.

3. Parking guidelines.

4. Approximate number of people that you may be able to accommodate. Previous AMILA gatherings take place in the living/dining areas of the residence with most members sitting on the floor to accommodate the space.

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Ramadan Sunday Iftar Series

AMILA coordinates Iftars on Sundays during Ramadan at host homes. If you are interested in hosting an iftar, please e-mail: [email protected] . The Sunday Iftars in Ramadan 2006 will fall on: September 24, October 1, October 8, October 15 and possibly October 22, 2006. So please mark your calendars now for these dates and stay tuned for updates.

--------------------------------------

- 2006 AMILA Membership Renewal

As you know, AMILA receives no outside funding and relies on membership dues to cover the costs on almost everything we do, including hosting our monthly meetings, website maintenance, activist projects, and sending out our bimonthly newsletter. You may submit your membership form both through the mail to: PO Box 2216, Los Gatos, CA 95031 or through our website at amila.org. (Please make checks payable to AMILA.) Thank you for your continuing support!

AMILA is a completely volunteer-run organization that needs your support! Your annual membership of $45 per person, $75 per couple pays for a bimonthly newsletter, bringing in renowned speakers for our signature AMILA Monthly Gatherings, meeting locations, maintenance of our website and listserv, and sponsoring the advanced expenses for our yearly Spiritual Retreat. You many renew your membership by visiting:
www.amila.org/about/donate.php

--------------------------------------

- Please get involved with AMILA

Why Get Involved?

AMILA is a member driven organization. This is a great opportunity for YOU to get involved with a group of diverse and caring Muslim individuals as well as have fun, and make new friends. AMILA has been around for almost 15 years. That is a very long time in the age of Muslim organizations. AMILA provides a great basis for grass roots efforts. Please do consider getting involved with any of the activities that AMILA supports. This will ensure that AMILA can be still be present for more years to come.

Thank you.

What is your main interest?

AMILA through the efforts of the Steering Committee (SC) and dedicated volunteers has organized academic, professional, community service, and social networking events, built networking with other organizations and gives support and has been supported by other organizations serving a similar cause.

You can help AMILA continue its unique programs by getting involved any of the following areas:

- Securing Monthly Speakers (Thought provoking speakers that can provide are comfortable sharing unique ideas and views on topics of relevance to Muslims in America)
- Securing locations throughout the Bay Area where AMILA Gatherings can take place (Homes, Community Centers, Libraries, etc.)
- Social Events (Annual AMILA Picnic, Dinners, Movies, Events, etc.)
- Religious Events (AMILA Ramadan Spiritual Retreat)
- Educational Events (AMILA/ZIA Book Club)
- Community Services Events (AMILA Eid Gift Drive, Food Sort, Soup Kitchen)
- PR/Outreach (Share AMILA with others in the Bay Area that would benefit from AMILA programs)
- Local/National/International Issues (AMILA Sponsorship of Events that fall in line with AMILA's Goals)
- Networking/Communicating with other organizations (Maintaining Communication/Networking with other Organizations for joint projects/events).

Volunteers:

- Do not need to be elected
- Work co-operatively with the appropriate SC Member(s)/Project(s)
- Are not required to attend SC Meetings

Volunteering requires less time commitment than an AMILA Steering Committee Position. Do consider lending a helping hand to AMILA. Please e-mail [email protected] with some details on how you feel you can help AMILA.

Thank you,
AMILA
[email protected] www.amila.org

August 3, 2006 at 5:59pm

Login to find out

has added a new journal

Salams everyone --

AMILA is looking for hosts for the Sunday Iftar series. This is a great opportunity to share the blessing of Ramadan with your AMILA community. It is a fun experience as previous hosts can tell you. The Iftars are a great way for AMILA members with smaller homes to participate. Iftar attendance is normally about 5-25, include both iftar and dinner, of which the dinner part is entirely potluck.

If you would like to be a host for a Sunday Iftar, please email me at your earliest convenience with
the following information:

- Date you would like to host. Available dates are: 10/16/05, 10/30/05.
- your address, including city
- directions to your home from a couple of different directions
- phone number

We request hosts to provide minimally for the iftar itself. Start time is 30 minutes before maghrib, and we try to finish in time for people to go to tarawih nearby.

The iftars are also where we wrap presents we have purchased for distribution to poor Bay Area Muslim children as part of the AMILA Gift Drive. So there's a hands-on aspect, too.

I look forward to hearing from you if you would like to host.

-- Omar Ahmad
Director, AMILA
[email protected]

Note: Anyone who is interested in hosting an AMILA Iftar may do so. You don't have to be a paid member of AMILA.

September 24, 2005 at 7:13am

Gender:
Age Range:
Country:
Marital Status: