ISM Shura
Summary of Shura Discussions May 2007-April 2008 [ Preview ]
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Summary of Shura Discussions May 2007-April 2008
Summary of Shura Discussions May 2007-April 2008
The Shura has been meeting monthly to discuss issues of importance to our community and the ISM. Below is an executive summary of these discussions highlighting the major issues that have been reviewed.
ISM West
Discussions occurred monthly regarding a satellite musallah in the western suburbs of Milwaukee. The Calhoun Road property was sold and other sites have been investigated. Some sites were eliminated secondary to cost, location, and/or lot size. The minimum needed lot size is 2 acres to cover 70 parking spaces and a 3000 square foot minimum facility. There will be a need to work out the logistics of local governance of satellite facilities. Positive articles in the Journal Sentinel have generated interest from real estate developers. Currently, a property in Pewaukee on Duplainville Road is being pursued as a potential satellite musallah given the positive feedback from the Pewaukee City Council and the neighboring Muslim community. Financing of this project on a community wide level is also being encouraged.
25th Anniversary
The ISM 25th Anniversary went well in early September. A detailed history was compiled by Br. Othman and included in the anniversary booklet. Also, as part of the event, the ISM grounds were professionally landscaped and an ISM logo was adopted for branding and use on ISM communications. We have also ordered a new sign for the ISM (it will have an electronic message board on it) which will be installed in early May 2008. We added flagpoles. A dinner was held at the Italian Community Center during which we recognized the early leaders and workers in our Milwaukee Muslim community. We also had an open house and a community picnic as part of the celebration.
ISM Educational Council
The council has been active in helping to integrate and evaluate educational activities at ISM. Sr. Zehra and Dr. Sayeed have been instrumental in helping to move the process along of evaluating and improving our curricula. In addition, based on Shura discussion, any speakers coming to ISM must first be approved by the education council so that our leadership is well aware of who is coming and speaking in our building.
Salam School/High School
Salam School principal, Br. Wanis Shalaby, was welcomed to our community. His first year is going smoothly with many compliments to his hard work and professionalism. In addition to our new principal, the number of students expanded to 425 for this academic year. An advanced computer program was purchased and installed which allows internet access to grades, homework, lesson plans, etc. by administration, students and parents. Br. Wanis has instituted many new policies and has assumed control over expenditures. Br. Wanis and nine teachers have worked diligently to develop a high school curriculum. A meeting is scheduled with prospective high school students and their parents on May 2, 2008.
8th and Layton Property
Expansion and space limitation at ISM (13th and Layton) has been a concern for many years. The need for a high school was also expressed as a concern at the Shura retreat in July 2007. With this in mind, the Shura made an offer on the 8th and Layton property, a 120,000 square foot building with 2 commercial tenants generating regular rental income. Financing this property is a daunting task given the $4.7 million price. Multiple options for Islamic financing were investigated and discussed including Guidance, La Riba, Devon Bank and others, all of whom said no to financing either due to size of loan, not doing business in Wisconsin, not working with non-profits, or requiring individual guarantors. The price and return of investment on behalf of our community were central points raised about the new building. The price was felt to be high but the needs for expansion, the revenue generation, and the proximity to our current 13th and Layton facility were all felt to be attractive issues for this property.
Financing
As stated above, numerous Islamic options were investigated. These were not able to work out. The possibility of lease to own arrangement was discussed which would avoid interest in name, as we would pay rent, but at the end of the fixed term, our costs would end up being higher than with conventional loans. The issue of a loan was discussed and debated intensely by the Shura as a very serious issue. Ultimately, with the advice of our religious scholar, Dr. Shah, we elected to go ahead with a conventional loan after much discussion. A community based investment option can be pursued, but only if a sizable number of $10,000 investors are willing to show interest. Otherwise, setting up such an LLC will not be worth the accounting and legal fees without a sizable number of investors.
ISM Center Issues
Cooling can be a concern, especially in
summer months in the ladies balcony. We will be studying options to help
address these concerns. In addition, this issue brought up the need of a
facilities manager to help maintain and run the properties that ISM owns. A
facilities manager has already been hired with costs to be shared by ISM and
Salam School. In addition, the ISM has ordered a new minaret from Indonesia
which could not have been accomplished without the help of Sameer Ewis (Abu
Tariq). Insha'Allah it
will be installed this summer.
Fundraising by outside organizations
This issue frequently comes up for discussion as many organizations helping needy people around the world wish to fundraise at ISM, in particular, after Juma. Ramadan tends to be a particularly popular time. Shura policy is that each and every charity that wants to fundraise, needs to disclose their finances/US Treasury statements. They need to inform us of their request well in advance so that the proper vetting procedures can be followed. Preference is given to ISM and local groups before outside groups to make sure that our community needs are met first and foremost. In addition, it is the policy of ISM to not allow other masjids to fundraise at our center while we have ongoing needs. It should be noted that ISM has not gone to other centers for fundraising.
Funeral Policy
There have been a few instances where families have had deaths that ISM has assisted in the burial and then had to shoulder the cost of the burial. Discussion was centered around helping needy families financially as well as with connecting them with community assistance resources. In addition, it is important to make sure that families that can afford a burial are not imposing this burden on the community. Burials can cost at least $5000 and it is important for all community members to understand the need to set this aside for their own burials as part of personal savings and budgeting.
Executive Director Suggestions
We are blessed with having an educated and energetic community that we should focus on being more engaged with ISM. People can occasionally be quite rude with ISM Staff and others at the masjid and this is an area for improvement for us all. As an organization, we need to be transparent to showcase our open and effective management of community affairs and reduce any conspiracy theories. Our leaders should lead by example and remember to look past style to the substance of what people say and are concerned about. The Seminar on New Muslims in November was felt to be very successful with many new ideas on how to best assist our fellow new Muslims and make them feel more welcome.
Community Help Program
Members of our community who are looking to help those in need met with the Shura to discuss utilizing the new building to help with a free clinic to help those who are medically underserved. In addition, the CHP program plans to help women at risk as a resource in directing them to community based facilities. Shura members also shared concerns about pitfalls and hazards with free clinics as well as potential for benefit as a dawa tool.
Youth Programming
The ISM has hired two new youth directors, Br. Rami Bleibel and Sr. Tasnim Hamdan to assist in planning, developing, and directing youth activity. They will be working closely with our religious director, Dr. Shah, and Br. Ziad Hamdan, and Br. Isa Sadlon, our executive director for guidance, direction, and ideas to best engage the youth of our community.
Dawah/Outreach
Many of our community members are actively engaged in the Milwaukee community attending regular interfaith meetings, hosting many students and church groups at ISM for tours and information. In addition, many are out in the community talking about Islam at schools, churches, Kiwanis/Rotary Clubs, college classes, and at the medical school to better educate our neighbors about Muslims and Islam. We are also working at the free clinic to help those without insurance and looking to start our own free clinic with CHP.
Eid Salaat
Given the size of our community at Eid, it is likely that we will continue to use State Fair Park as it has 70,000 square feet of prayer space available for us to use. The new building at 8th and Layton will not be able to accommodate such a big group as the current plans do not have any rooms that big. In addition, some Shura members felt that it is not prudent to build a 70000 square foot room that is used twice a year, as opposed to renting space as it as needed.
Constitution
As our community has grown, we have added fulltime staff to administer to the needs of our community. With the addition of an executive director/CEO, some responsibilities have shifted and the need to address these changing roles needs to be addressed in our constitution. This has been discussed in detail by the Shura. Changing the constitution based on these discussions is reflected in the proposed amendments.
Ongoing Programming
The ISM continues to hold regular events, classes, halaqas, and community gatherings to keep our community engaged. Active weekend Islamic Schools on both Saturdays and Sundays reach over 400 students. Monthly potlucks allow for community gathering and discussion via our monthly issues forum. Quranic classes have grown in interest as have our jalsas for both brothers and sisters. In addition, there has been a positive response to Tae Kwon Do classes and the men’s basketball league at the ISM gym. The Shura extends its gratitude to the numerous community volunteers who help keep our center vibrant and bustling with activity.
The above represents a brief summary of the discussions had by the Shura this past year as reflected in the minutes. More detailed descriptions are included in the official minutes of the organization.
Respectfully submitted,
Mushir Hassan, MD
ISM Secretary
April 27, 2008