Br Hasnain Karim addressed the conference and began with a brief update about the eLearning project so far. To date, the eLEARN team has come together to create the project charter, has completed the project plan document and published the Request for Proposals. Looking forward to the next stage, Br Hasnain Karim took the conference through sample elearning sites, webinars and actual multimedia content to replicate the way in which the eLEARN portal would operate. And finally, he addressed the question of where the material for the portal would come from. Available text material will be used, a team of scholars will be engaged, new material will be developed and there will be collaboration with existing weekend Islamic schools.

Workshops

After the keynote addresses, the Conference attendees were split into two groups for the workshops. The objective of the first workshop was to identify how Islamic schools can be given higher priority within the community and what resources are needed to achieve this. Among the factors identified here were: greater parental involvement, involving of learned scholars, relevant curriculum, additional learning time and upgraded facilities.

The objective of the second workshop was to identify what lessons can be learned from the experiences in Islamic Education thus far and how our learning practices can be moved to the next level. Among the factors identified here were: a unified curriculum, a full review of delivery methods to student-lead learning, discipline, scouts programs and a structured framework to get parents' 'buy-in'.

Each member Jamaat in attendance at the conference had a chance to share a best practice or put forward a recommendation or appeal to NASIMCO and its general membership. The following is a brief summary of presentations made:

-          Allentown Jamaat (Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat of Pennsylvania)

The Allentown Jamaat presented their proposal for a Burial Assistance Plan. They are looking to create their own plan, starting with money from lenders and donors for a reserve fund with benefits payable on a 5-year vesting schedule. They also have plans to begin an initiative for burial with the Life Insurance Policy where NASIMCO or the local Jamaat can be the beneficiary

-          Buffalo Jamaat (Jaffarya Islamic Center of Niagara Frontier, Inc.)

The Buffalo Jamaat gave a presentation about their newly built center and the various activities that they are organizing. Examples are camps, azadari, Sunday school, picnic, interfaith events, iftaars and sports. They expressed their needs with relation to a cemetery

-          Kitchener Jamaat (Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Kitchener-Waterloo)

The Kitchener Jamaat presented a report on their proposed center for religious and social activities. She gave a brief overview of the center's history, which is a growing one due in part to the location of large companies in the Kitchener area. A site plan was shown to the conference along with various details about the center  

-          London Jamaat (Al Mahdi Al Muntadhar Union)

The London Jamaat presented a report of their various activities and the multi cultural membership they serve.

-          Maryland Jamaat (Imam Mehdi Education Center)

The Maryland Jamaat gave an overview of their center and the various facilities incorporated therein such as a swimming pool, tennis courts and segregated halls. Photos of the center were shown to the conference

-          Miami Jamaat (Islamic Jaffaria Association Inc.)

The Miami Jamaat firstly expressed their pleasure at being able to host the 2012 NASIMCO Conference and welcomed the guests to their city and center. They went on to talk about their various activities and Madrasah

-          New Jersey Jamaat (Muslim Foundation Inc.)

The New Jersey Jamaat hosted the NASIMCO Annual Conference 2011 and since that time, their center has been completed with a ghusl room and they have taken on the services of a resident alim. The center has hosted interfaith meetings, organized blood drives and taken part in 'Muslims Against Hunger' campaigns. They have also launched a solar power initiative, the benefits, challenges and investment opportunities of which were presented to the conference

-          Orlando Jamaat (Husseini Islamic Center)

The Orlando Jamaat informed the conference about the various properties they have purchased and their future plans for them. Two of the properties have already been leased on a long-term basis. The purchase of a fourth property is being finalised

-          Ottawa Jamaat (Islamic Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat of Ottawa)

The Ottawa Jamaat gave some background about their center and then presented some ways in which NASIMCO could help them. Among these were continuing the Resident Alim grant, assisting the center with the specific needs of their youth, sharing success stories and best practices and synchronizing the madrasah system with others across North America

-          Toronto Jamaat (Islamic Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat of Toronto)

Programs and Reports

The reports session consisted of the Secretariat Report, the Capacity Building Report, the NASIMCO Census and Skills Database Report and the Women's Needs Assessment Report under WF. Sr. Saajida Rhemtulla briefly reported on the various initiatives undertaken by the NASIMCO Secretariat over the past year. This year had seen a rise in fundraising and relief efforts and the respective responses to NASIMCO appeals from over North America. In particular, emphasis had been placed on the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme in Haiti which provides education, room and board to children affected by the earthquake. Sr Saajida also spoke about the financial assistance being provided by NASIMCO for education scholarships, Resident Alim grants, camp assistance and economic hardship. And finally, she elaborated on the improved communication and transparency between NASIMCO and member Jamaats and NASIMCO and the wider community.

Councilor Siddika Jessa began her report with the hadith of Imam Ali (AS) "You humans think you are insignificant when there is a whole universe contained within you". She spoke about how the Capacity Building programs bring out the potential of each participant and called upon two participants of the Minnesota Leadership Development Program to share their experiences and testimonials. The two participants, namely Br Aliredha Walji and Sr Fatema Walji gave their perspectives on the various parts of the programs that had impacted them and how they had used the experience in their everyday lives. Sr Siddika encouraged Jamaats to get in touch with NASIMCO to give their members the chance to benefit from these programs.

Councilor Raza Dhanji delivered a report about the progress of the Census and Skills Database form over the past year. He began by launching the published directory that each participant of the conference had received. The directory was put together from the forms submitted and included data from 438 families in total. He spoke about the challenges that had been encountered along the way, such as poor collection despite continuous reminders, the importance of the forms not being conveyed to the Jamaats and missing information on many forms. Br Raza Dhanji pointed out that while the current directory was a huge achievement, there was a lot that could be done to improve it. He made recommendations for a second phase of the project.

Councilor Shyrose Jaffer Dhalla spoke about the Women's Needs Assessment under WF. She reported on the action plans in place for key areas, which included marriage, divorce, widows, education, health, social and jamaat issues and focussed particularly on the latter. Sr Shyrose made the case that women should enjoy voting rights in the Jamaat, participation, representation and leadership within our communities. She elaborated on some of the strategies that the team is putting in place to achieve their goals and an action plan for the entire community, which included an outreach program, meaningful opportunities being created and the ensuring of multiple avenues of participation.

Elections   

The Election Chairperson elected at the conference was Dr. Hasnain Walji of Los Angeles and assistant was Br Sabi Ahsan of Toronto. The Election results are as follows:

President - Br Gulamabbas Najafi (Toronto)

Vice President - Br Shabir Karim (Minnesota)

Treasurer - Br Syed Imtiaz Naqvi (Toronto)

Councilor from Tier 5 - Sr Shyrose Jaffer Dhalla (Toronto)

Councilor from Tier 3 - Sr Siddika Jessa (Vancouver)

Councilor from Tier 2 - Br Sadique Jaffer (New York)

At-Large Councilors:

-          Br Hussein Ismail (New York)

-          Dr. Mohsin Jaffer (Miami)

-          Br Mustafa Karim (New Jersey)

-          Br Mazahir Ali (Miami)

Note: The President elect, Br Gulamabbas Najafi later nominated Habib M Habib of Seattle to the position of Secretary General who was confirmed at the 1st Executive Council meeting..