FEZANA was registered under the General Not for Profit Corporation Act of Illinois on June 2, 1987. Today marks the 20th anniversary of that important date in our history.
FEZANA is celebrating the 20th Anniversary through an number of events this year. We coordinated several public celebrations of NauRooz in major cities, with formal press releases to increase public awareness of Zarathushti celebrations. A special birthday cake was presented to FEZANA at the 2oth Annual General Meeting in Dallas, Texas, on April 7.
At the AGM, the delegates resolved to establish a permanent office for FEZANA during the anniversary year. A 20th Anniversary Fund has been set up to support the office. The XIV North American Zoroastrian Congress in Toronto will also include special 2oth birthday celebrations.
Today, FEZANA has grown to include 25 member Associations and 14 small groups, serving over 7,500 voting members. Member Associations are thriving and Zarathushtis are receiving increasing recognition and respect throughout North America. FEZANA’s assets are approaching $900,000 and its annual budget is over $120,000
This is an awesome achievement, in light of the fact that most of elected officers and trustees of the Member Associations and FEZANA, as well as the countless dedicated volunteers serving various committees, have responsible daytime jobs and businesses, and growing families that also require their constant attention. We should continue this growth and try to bring all Zarathushtis in North America to join our Associations and become a part of our active community.
I sincerely thank all the volunteers, donors, and individuals who have helped to make FEZANA what it is today.
Twenty years ago, a few Zarathushtis sat down together in Chicago and drafted the FEZANA constitution. But let us be clear: it is not the document or the words that really matter in the long run; but rather the process of developing it that was so powerful, motivating, and affirming, that we have been moving forward through these 20 years.
FEZANA’s constitution assures autonomy to each Association. But we know instinctively that all Associations are heavily interdependent in developing our collective vision and carving out our just position in the world around us. I believe that FEZANA has a key role to play in this: to help to harness and coordinate our collective energies towards defining our position in this world.
Please forward this message to all your constituents and friends who care about the future of the Zarathushti faith.
Ushta,
Rustom Kevala
FEZANA President