THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY CENTER 48 Annual Report
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THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY CENTER 4380 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641 Phone: 773 725 9047; Fax: 773 725 1616 8601 N Menard St, Morton Grove, IL 60053 Phone: 847 470 8801; Fax: 847 470 8873 9301 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076 Phone: 224 534 7638 MCC Elston Ave MEC Morton Grove Sharp Corner School, Skokie 48th Annual Report Annual General Body Meeting January 15 2017 www.mccchicago.org 1 Table of Contents Description Page President’s Address, 2017 3 Executive Council 4 Board of Directors 4 Bylaws Committee 5 Nomination Committee 5 Election Committee 5 IT/Website Committee 5 Membership Committee 5 Outreach and Interfaith Committee 6 Publication Committee 7 Education Committee 7 Counseling Committee 7 Health Awareness Committee 7 Seniors Activities Committee 8 Women Activities Committee, MCC & MEC 8 Youth Camp 8 MCC Multipurpose Room Committee 8 MCC Representatives to CIOGC 8 Religious Affairs Committee 9 Cemetery Committee 9 Dawa Committee 10 Rehab and Welfare Committee 10 Friday Prayer Committee at MCC 10 Friday Prayer at O’Hare 10 Friday Prayer Committee at MEC 11 Special Events Committee at MEC & at MCC 11 Part Time School Councils (Academic & Administrative) 12 MCC and MEC Sunday Schools 12 MCC Saturday School 12 Evening Schools 12 MCC Academy & Council 13 Committee of Directors of Education 13 Education Development Council 13 Youth Council 13 Building Committee, MEC 14 Building Committee, MCC 14 Annual Dinner Committee 15 Budget Committee 15 Food & Fun Fair Committee 15 Investment Committee 15 2 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful MCC 2017 - President’s Address Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu Alaikum: Welcome to the 48th Annual General Body Meeting. We begin with the name of Allah (SWT), we thank Him to offer us the right path to success through His beloved messenger, Mohammad (SAW) and made him a blessing for the entire universe. MCC remains one of the premier centers of excellence in community service, outreach and education for Muslims in the greater Chicago area. MCC is also proud of its diverse community where Muslims from all walks of life, origin and gender attend its services. This diversity brings some challenges along its way, but Alhamdolillah MCC is always successful to face and resolve those challenges. And for that we all should be thankful to Allah (SWT). After a lot of struggle and meetings with Alderman and city people, we were able to get the safety crossing outside MCC in the shape of an Island. This has increased the safety of our children and pedestrians. Inauguration was done in the month of September. I am also happy to announce that City of Chicago has issued us the permit to build the mezzanine at MCC. We are now looking for bids to choose the best bidder. The goal is to Inshaallah build the mezzanine before the month of Ramadan. Then again we will start having one Juma prayer at MCC. Just like any other modern Masjid, MCC will also have the mezzanine. This will alleviate the congestion for sisters space and will provide them more space and privacy. Once again, Alderman had endorsed the construction of mezzanine. To meet the demands of our youth, we have hired a Youth and seniors coordinator (Mohsin Ishaq) who joined towards the end of 2016. Inshaallah he will be helping coordinate the youth and seniors programs in collaboration with MCC Academy. The following pages summarize the activities at MCC during the year 2016 and list the names of Department Heads, committee chairs, co-chairs, Board members, Schools, Councils, and Executive Council. Volunteer work is best implemented when supplemented with a paid office staff, such as cleaning staff, office associates, accountants and Imams. This allows us to strengthen and improve the services to the community. I need your help in many areas including membership committee. Please volunteer in any of the committees you feel like. MCC has its full time Imam for more than a year now and is making an impact in not only MCC but to outreach communities also. Together, our three Imams are responsible for most of the tasks of Religious Affairs. Our Office Associate Saif Mazhar got another job and therefore he has left us for his new position. We are again lucky to have Yusuf Umar as our Office/Building coordinator. He is very dedicated, and hard working. Having his background in finances, he will also be helping improve our Treasurer department. MCC finances are audited every year. For the last two years, a different independent company is auditing MCC finances. Report will be presented by the Treasurer. I thank Allah (SWT) and you all for the trust you have placed in me and providing me the opportunity to serve you. Allah’s will and your support has helped and inspired us to do all we have been able to do. I extend my sincere gratitude to all the community members, Board members, Committee chairpersons and all of its members. I further request your support, encouragement and cooperation. May Allah (SWT) continue to purify our intentions and hearts, forgive our sins and shortcomings, grant us strength in our faith and allow us to flourish as a humble community. Mohammad Sarwar Nasir President 3 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: Mohammad Sarwar Nasir, President Vice-President The Executive Council per MCC Bylaws is the shoora council (consultative Ateeq Ansari body) of president and includes Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary immediate past president and department heads. Executive Council meets Ali Quadri almost every weekend and more if needed for urgent matters. With the help of Treasurer Mohammad different committees and Councils, President as Chief Executive of the Basheeruddin organization, runs day to day business of MCC in consultation with Executive Ex-Officio Council. Council also discusses and overseas the progress of different Mohammad committees under the departments. In addition, separate meetings were also Aleemuddin held with various councils and committees for better coordination and Dept. of assistance. Executive Council keeps abreast of different day to day activities, Administration MCC/MEC office, Treasurer’s office and tries to solve any day to day issues Masood Bijapuri with mutual consultation. Dept. of Community Services Dept. of Operations Mazhar Khan Dept. of Finance Tariq Malhance Dept. of Religious Affairs Nazim Mangera Assistant Secretary Khadija Ahmed Assistant Treasurer Kashif Puthawala BOARD OF DIRECTORS M. Sarwar Nasir Mohammad Aleemuddin The Board of Directors meet normally on second Sunday of every month to Ateeq Ansari deliberate and vote on various policy matters. Occasionally meetings change to 3rd Mohammad Sundays because of conflict of schedules. The meetings always start with recitation Basheeruddin of Quran and a brief explanation. Board members take turns in hosting lunch before Masood Bijapuri the meeting. Most of the meetings start on time, and finish within 2 to 2 ½ hours. Tariq Malhance Every board meeting has 10 minutes specified for public comments in the beginning. Ayesha Sultana Board meetings are open to the members as observers. Atiya Usman Yusuf Mirza Several joint sessions of the Board and Committee chairs were also held to Ali Quadri Musarrat Khan deliberate on matters to be presented to the General Body, like the approval of yearly Tahera Ahmed budget. The Board started the year with the election of Directors-at-Large and Ayesha Ali appointments of some of the executives and the standing committees for Bylaws, Saba Khan Nominations, and Directors for Education. All Board meetings include a report by the Asrar Ahmed President covering day-to-day activities, and a report by the Treasurer covering key Mazhar Khan financial transactions and overall financial health of the organization. Various Anas Gandhi committee and council chairs are invited from time to time to keep the Board Hashim Weiso informed on the progress of the respective committees’ work. In the special May Aalia Ammar meeting, the board deliberated on and approved MCC budget for the whole fiscal Shaizan Malik year. Khadija Ahmed Shahjehan Honorary member Imam Nazim Mangera 4 ADMINISTRATION: Masood Bijapuri Department Head The Bylaws Committee provided guidance with interpretation of the Bylaws Bylaws Committee and implementation of the new amendments. The Committee established and proposed Saba Khan policy and procedure for lending to other Not for Profit organizations. The Board voted Asrar Ahmed and adopted the policy on October 9, 2016. The Bylaws Committee also assisted the Habib Abbasi MCC election committee in decision making for the 2016 election schedule. Usman Baki Carol Rahim Year 2016 nomination required the filling of one woman director, one young Muslim and Nomination five general directors positions. Nomination process started early July. After getting Committee nomination from general membership, NOMINATORS were requested to give their Khalid Mujtaba preference. After this step, nomination by petition was invited. In November, Nomination Rasheed Khan Committee provided the final list of the candidates to Election Committee to conduct the Masood Sharief elections. Election Committee conducts elections every year according to the approved election Election Committee procedure. In year 2016, the election was conducted on December 25, 2016 due to the Samina Hussain postponement of elections from the original date of December 11, 2016 because of Irtafa Usman severe weather conditions on December 11th. The elections were conducted at MCC and Usman Baki MEC from 10 am to 3 PM. The elections were held for five General Directors, one Masood Bijapuri Woman Director and one Young Muslim Director. After getting the final list from Rasheed Khan Nomination Committee, Election Committee started the process of absentee ballots. The Masood Sharief Committee completed the absentee ballot requests. There were total of 27 absentee ballot requests. Election committee then arranged a Candidates’ Forum on December 4th. The members had the opportunity to hear the views of the candidates and ask questions.