month: tir (s), year: yz 1380zafonline.org/uploads/zor___more_201004.pdf · 1. highlights from your...

Zor & More Issue # 4, 2010 1of 12

Month: Tir (S), Year: YZ 1380 Zor & More Issue # 4, November-2010 0BA PUBLICATION OF THE ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA

2BWe really do believe that, if we work together as one, following the simple yet priceless tenets of our faith- Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta, we can move mountains.

UPg U. UIn this issue 1. Highlights from your Board 2. Message from the Tamboli Family 3. In Loving Memory of Farida Major’s dear Mother 4. Message from Bharucha and Daruwala 5. ZAF Ghambaar 5. ZAF – Annual General Meeting (AGM) 7. Youth Corner 8. Z-Club Children’s Corner 9. ZAF Directory 9. ZAF Community News

10. Nomination of Ervad Dr. Soli Dastur 10. ZATAMBAY & Orlando Community News 12. Calendar of Events

Season’s Greetings!

Special Notes

ZAF is an exempt non-

profit organization

under the IRS code 501(c) (3)

Our tax ID number is

UEIN 65-0786849

Donations areTax-

deductible

-ZAF- A member of

FEZANA (Federation of the

Zoroastrian Associations in North America)

Highlights from your Board

Ghambaar Our sincere thanks to Khushnam & Furrokh Irani for their sponsorship of the Community Ghambaar on Raam Roj, Khordad Month, (Sunday November 7 P

thP).

ZAF Elects new Board for 2011-2012

President: Jahanbux Daruwala Members-at-Large: Soli Dastur V. P. Burjis Shroff Behli Hansotia Secretary: Kersi Munshi Katya Hansotia Treasurer: Mina Dubash Khushnam Irani

Jimmy Major


WITH OUR BEST WISHES

LET US ALWAYS BE PROUD

TO BE

ZARATHUSHTIS

CYRUS, SAROSH, SANAYA ANAHITA & HOSHEDAR TAMBOLI


In loving memory of Mrs. Arnavaz Firoz Dubash,

Beloved mother of our dear member Farida Major, who passed away on March 28, 2010. May her soul rest in eternal peace!


BHARUCHA & ASSOCIATES Serving clients for over 30 years

We are a full service insurance agency licensed to represent over 25 A+ rated

Insurance companies.

UWe specialize in U:

- Life Insurance - Retirement & Estate Planning - Disability Insurance - Impaired Risk Management - Annuities - Visitor’s Medical Insurance - Long Term Care - Group life/Health Insurance

UContact us U:

UPhiladelphia Office U UFlorida Office

33 W. Lancaster Ave – Suite 102 15301 Pembridge Ave – Suite 59 Ardmore, PA 19003 Delray Beach, FL 33484 Tel : 610-649-4552 Tel: 610-613-9601 Fax : 610-649-1399 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

UP L E A S E H E L P

ZAF is soliciting your “ads” or personal messages in the newsletter for a small fee, to supplement the cost of printing and postage. It can be for:

Your business Professional practice A message, for example, if you wish to

publish a small note of congratulations or best wishes (birthday, wedding, graduation, etc.) to another member in the community.

Please send your “ad” to Jahanbux Daruwala ([email protected]) in Word format such that it can be cut and pasted in to the newsletter. The rates are:

Full page: $75 (members), $80 (for all others)

Half page: $40 (members), $50 (for all others)

Quarter page or business card: $20 (members), $25 (for all others)

Note: If necessary, we may edit for content,

“fit”, format, and space.

With Best Wishes

to the

ZAF Community

from

Jahanbux & Nancy Daruwala


ZAF Ghambaar On Sunday November 7 P

thP, thanks to the gracious hospitality and generosity of Furrokh and Khushnam Irani, ZAF

celebrated the annual Ghambaar attended by 85 adults and children. The event started with a note of welcome and thanks to the Sponsors by President, Jahanbux Daruwala. A Deevo lighting was performed by Natasha and Farah, the lovely daughters of Khushnam & Furrokh, followed by a Humbandagee, led by the Z Club. Ervad Soli Dastur then gave a slide presentation of the significance of Ghambaar and how it is/was celebrated in our mother country, India in early 1900s!.

Natash and Farah with Ervad Soli lighting Deevo. Z-Club doing Humbandagee! Z-Club with their brand new member Simone! Thanks to the hard work and attention of our dear member, Casey Raja, and the management of Palace Restaurant, the Parsee style food was superb. A special touch of authenticity and tradition was added by the sheer hard work and dedication of Gustadji Irani and Jimmy Major who provided the clean and fresh Kera-na-paatra (banana leaves) as the traditional serving “plates”. Our ever-present friend and Board member Arnavaz Irani also contributed a delicious chicken-papeto dish enjoyed by all. ZAF volunteers Casey Raja, Nash Patel, Burjis, Dustyn and Kevyn Shroff, Danny Mobed, Gustadji Irani, Furrokh Irani and Navroj Irani helped to serve the meal to the attendees to augment the atmosphere of fellowship; the very essence of Ghambaars.

Khushnam being served by Furrokh and Dustyn Darabsha served bhona on banana leaf. Big Chiefs, Indian missing!

Patrawala Gustad, chicken-patetawali Arnavaz Casey behind; Burjis and Danny serving Newly Elected ZAF Exec Board

Annual General Meeting (AGM) & Election

Immediately following the Ghambaar, the AGM started with Dustyn Shroff and Nina Deboo, who said good bye on behalf of themselves and Arnavaz Irani, as the three outgoing Board members and wished the ZAF Board all the best in


the future. The Board and community wishes them all the best in their pursuits and we take this opportunity to express our thanks for their dedication and service to the Board for the term of 2090-2010.

UTreasurer’s Report U: Mina Dubash gave the following financial highlights:

3BUBank Balance as of October 31, 2010 Checking - Congregation & Operation, Fund #1 $6,237 Checking – Cultural & Education, Fund # 2 749 Checking – Critical Assistance, Fund # 3 1,700 Certificates of Deposit (Matures Dec-2011) U20,089

TOTAL $U28,775 7BUOperations, January to October, 2010 (10 months Total) Revenue

o From the Congregation Operations, Fund #1 $18,594 o Cultural & Education Fund # 2 1,153 o Critical Assistance Fund # 3 1,700 o Good Citizens Fund #4 U251

TOTAL U21,698 Expenses U14,897 Excess Revenue Over Expenses $ U6,801

UPresident’s Report U: Following are the highlights of Jahan Daruwala’s report:

UGovernance (How the Board has conducted itself in 2010)

o We are bound by Our Duty to Serve the Community and remind ourselves of that in each meeting o Strong emphasis on Communication; after Board meetings & otherwise o We are in full Compliance with the Florida State & IRS requirements o We have instilled proper accounting practice & reporting to the Community o Specific Targeted Funds have been set up to comply with the donors’ specific wishes:

General Operating Fund (#1) Educational/Cultural Fund (#2) Critical Assistance Fund (#3) Good Citizens Fund (#4) Bldg./Land Fund (#5)

o Newsletters are published quarterly with sponsorships ads & donations that support the publication cost. o Published 2010 Directory, with sponsorships & Ads; generated ~$1,000 in net revenue. o Active Member of FEZANA (We are one of 26 Associations)

UWhat Are The Results (2010)

Membership Growth: 60 of 80 Households (75%) are members; highest in the last 16 years. Participation: Excellent attendance in all functions Donations: We are grateful for the support and generosity of the community; highest in the last 16 years. Congregation & Cultural Affairs:

o Nominated Ervad Soli Dastur for the FEZANA’s annual Outstanding Zarathushti Award. o USuccessful FunctionsU: Picnic, Navroze, Pateti o Cookbook project with sponsorship & sales revenue; net fund raising of ~$900+

Maintained and enhanced religious traditions (Thanks to our sponsors and the Dasturs) o Muktaad & Ghambaar

Educational Support o Recognition of Four Graduates at Pateti o We remain supportive of the Z Club o Authorized sponsorship of a deserving young boy for becoming Navar in India

Philanthropy o Contributed to FEZANA’s Pakistan Relief efforts from ZAF Good Citizens Fund o Contributed to “Feed The Hungry” program at Miami Rescue Mission from ZAF Good Citizens Fund


o Message of Goodwill from ZAF to support the NA Zoroastrian Congress –Houston (December) o Contributed to support the FEZANA Journal – Special Mobeds’ Issue

UElectionU: Jahan conducted the process. Our member, Gerry Marino, was introduced as an independent observer. We

thank Gerry for his time and guidance.

E-mail nominations were invited several weeks in advance of the AGM. Nine persons were nominated and seconded by e-mail. They all accepted the nominations and are listed below. In addition, an opportunity was provided to the General Body at the AGM for floor nominations. No nominations were received from the floor. Therefore, the nine nominees were considered “elected” unanimously to the Board of Directors for the term 2011-2012. The Board then briefly met and, by mutual consent, appointed the Officers of the Board as follows:

President: Jahanbux Daruwala Members-at-Large: Soli Dastur V .P. Burjis Shroff Behli Hansotia Secretary: Kersi Munshi Katya Hansotia Treasurer: Mina Dubash Khushnam Irani Jimmy Major

The AGM adjourned with a vote of thanks to the board members and the community for their continuing support and best wishes to the three outgoing board members: Nina, Dustyn & Arnavaz.

Youth Corner North American Zoroastrian Congress- Houston

December- 2010 Pre-Congress Social

UAges (18 40), State IDs will be required to enter, NO College or School ID�’s Accepted U

8:30pm Boarding Transportation to go to the Lounge9:00 pm Leaving the Hotel Lobby1:00am Arriving at the Hotel Lobby

UReservations/ RSVP: UALL Reservations MUST be made by December 15 P

thP, 2010, Zeeba Kayani

[email protected] UTH or 281 610 6593U

Payment by Cash or Checks only.U U(For RSVP individuals only)

Cash Payments 28P

thP (10:00am to 6:00pm) Intercontinental Lobby at the NAZC 2010 Registration Desk.

Checks to be made to �“Aaresh Jamshedji�” and Mailed to: Zeeba Kayani, 2710 Grants Lake Blvd, K4, Sugarland, TX,77479. ** Checks MUST be received by December 20 P

thP, 2010**


4BZ-Club Children’s Corner 5B(By Aban Kavasmaneck)

On behalf of the Z-Club children, the parents and grandparents, we would like to wish all our fabulous and most supportive ZAF community a very Happy Holiday Season! As always, the Z-Club has been enthusiastically involved in a variety of worthwhile activities and programs. In September, the Z-Club had our monthly meeting at Sam and Lyla Todywala’s home, where we celebrated the “Besna” ceremony for little Simone. It was wonderful to see our children participate wholeheartedly in our Parsi ceremonies and rituals. Little Simone was unbelievably cute and good-natured through the entire affair, and we have pictures to prove it!

Simone at her “Besna” ceremony Z-Club at Simone’s Besna ceremony. Z-Club at Grand Rapids Water Park. In October, the Z-Club kids chose the Grand Rapids Water Park, in West Palm Beach, as the venue for our annual outing. Eighteen children and ten parents attended, and we all had a marvelous time frolicking in the water and enjoying the exhilarating rides.

Z-Club having a picnic lunch. Z-Club at the Water Park. Continuing the Z-Club tradition of serving the community and helping the needy, the Z-Club children are once again conducting the Holiday Toy Drive. For this worthy endeavor, the Z-Club children’s committee comprises of Zane Todywala, Project and Fundraising Director as Chair, and Persis Bhadha, Sara Marino and Jessica Patel as Co-Chairs. This year, Zane and his committee have picked His House Children’s Home, an organization which is dedicated to restoring joy in the lives of abused, neglected and drug-exposed children by nurturing them in a home-like setting. Members of this committee will be contacting you for donations, so please support our Z-Club children to make a difference in a less-fortunate child’s life. Jasmin and Rustom Deboo hosted our November Z-Club meeting at their home. It was a well attended and productive meeting replete with great food, energy, and a task well done. The Z-Club children were enthusiastic and earnest in planning the annual Z-Club Navroze Play performance. It was such a joy to see the older children supervise and coach the younger ones. The Z-Club instruction and activities have truly empowered our children to mature and thrive in our Zoroastrian values, faith, and duties. A huge THANK YOU, once again, to our entire ZAF community for supporting and encouraging our Z-Club kids in all their endeavors. Our next Z-Club meeting will be on Sunday January 9, 2011 at the home of Daisy and Peter Patel, proud grandparents of two year old Cyra, one of our newest and youngest, active Z-Club members.


6BZAF Directory We are happy to announce the publication of the 2010 edition of the ZAF directory with the following Contents:

UPg. # ZAF Composition & Board of Directors, 2009-2010. 1 Prior ZAF Boards, 1994-2008 1 Practicing Mobeds in the Area 1 Useful Web Sites 2-3 ZAF Listing 4-13 ZATAMBAY Listing 14-15 Central Florida /Orlando Listing 16-18 Our Sponsors & Advertisers (Yellow Pages) 1-19

A copy was given to each ZAF member household and the advertisers at no charge. Copies are available to non-members at a cost of $5.00 plus postage. Please contact Mrs. Gulshan Dubash (954-864-5488or [email protected]) for a copy. A Vote of Thanks: At this juncture, we wish to express our sincere thanks to Gulshan Dubash for the careful and detailed hard work in compiling and distributing the directories. We wish to express special thanks and gratitude for the kindness and generosity of our Sponsors and Advertisers in the Yellow Pages. This has been a worthwhile project that has raised net revenue of approximately $1,000 for ZAF. We also thank and appreciate the help of ZATAMBAY and Orlando Organizations for permission to include their listings.

8BZAF Community News UMrs. Perin Rustomji Dubash U, beloved mother of our dear ZAF Board Member Mina Dubash, passed away in

Karachi at the age of 92. May Ahura Mazda grant her eternal peace in Garo Demana (House of Songs). Our deepest condolences to Mina, his dear wife Gulshan and the Dubash family.

TUDr. Meher HansotiaU, 61, beloved younger brother of Zenobia Hansotia, newly-arrived South Floridian and a ZAF

member, passed away on November 8 P

thP in Karachi. He is survived by his two sons, Jamshed and Jehangir. T T Our

sincere condolences to Zenobia, her husband Behli, and the Hansotia family. May his soul rest in Garo Demana in eternal peace. For your information, Behli is one of our newly-elected ZAF Board members.

TCongratulations to Zersis and Jennifer Mehta for the birth of their son, Mason, October 20, 2010. Enclosed are some

photos of baby Mason and pappy Zersis. Isn't he just so cute? Mason was born this morning at 8:46 am, weighing in at 7 lb. 4 oz. and 20" long. Mother and baby are both doing well.

T Mason Zesis Mehta Mason with pappy Zersis. A handsome boy Mason. TUJashan At the Bhadhas: UTErvads Darabsha Unwalla and Khushroo Daruwalla performed a wonderful Jashan ceremony

that was deeply appreciated by the attendees. Toward the end, Darabsha translated the famous Chithrem Buyaat TPazandT prayer asking for the blessings that the Bhadha household be a place of happiness and goodwill; and always be full of plenty. Some paras of this prayer is in the Hamaa Anjuman Prayers for Navroze published by FEZANA with meaning. Afterward, everyone had a great time, enjoying delicacies from Palace Restaurant, hand-delivered by the owner, Mr. Avtar Seini, himself. As a special treat, Pauli offered glasses of fresh sugarcane juice from the sugarcanes growing on his property. Unfortunately, Poor Casey Raja who provided the phenomenal sugar-cane juicer couldn't attend, being laid low with a bad cold.


Jashan at Bhadha family home Sherdiwala Pauli Bhadha Bhadha family ladies.

Nomination of Ervad Dr. Soli P. Dastur We are pleased to announce that, by a unanimous vote, the ZAF Board has nominated our dear Board and Community member Ervad Dr. Soli P. Dastur for the annual “Rohinton Rivetna Outstanding Zarathushti of the Year” award, sponsored by the FEZANA. The award is presented to a person for his/her services to the community in the areas of education, religious guidance, literature/publications and philanthropy. A six-page submission, with endorsements from 13 persons in various leadership positions in the ZAF, ZATAMBAY, Orlando, NAMC and FEZANA, was sent to the Evaluation Committee in September. The award will be announced at the upcoming North American Zoroastrian Congress in Houston, in December. We wish Solibhai all the success in this well deserved award.

9BZATAMBAY & Orlando Community News

TDr. Hoshedar Tamboli and son Sarosh will be embarking on a journey to Haiti. Sarosh is traveling to Haiti with Hoshi for his community service project over thanksgiving. He is collecting gently used shoes, clothes and also school supplies like pencils, pens etc.. They are traveling to Haiti with a Haitian nurse. From the last report from the busy mother, Anahita, they have collected 2 containers of the donations from a number of people! They will have their full report with photos in our next newsletter. We wish them success and a safe return.

TAmbassador Jamsheed Marker and Arnaz leaves for Karachi: Ambassador Jamsheed Marker and Arnaz, St. Petersburg, FL, left on November 13 P

thP for good to their home town Karachi. Jamsheed has been a distinguished Diplomat

from Pakistan and had been appointed Ambassador to many major countries including USA, USSR and also UN. He was sent to Timor to finalize its Independence by UN General Secretary and has written a book about his experiences there. His recent book Quiet Diplomacy has been acclaimed well among diplomatic and literary circles. We wish Jamsheed and Arnaz best of luck and good health in all their future endeavors. A farewell dinner in their honor was given by Anahita and Hoshedar Tamboli at their home and a crystal bowl was presented to them for all his good work for ZATAMBAY!

T Jamsheed and Arnaz with their photo collage ZATAMBAY with Markers Hoshedar reading inscription on the gift bowl. TAn accomplished writer, Sohrab Fracis, in our midst! HisT artist's residency at Yaddo.

Yaddo is a legendary art colony (HTUwww.yaddo.orgUTH) in Saratoga Springs, New York, that has hosted accomplished creative artists of all disciplines (writing, music, painting, sculpture, choreography, photography, film, etc.) since the early 20th Century. Just the writers, between them, have won over a hundred Pulitzer Prizes and National Book Awards combined. When he was selected in 2007 by Yaddo's committee to work on his novel-in-progress, TNo Simple World T, as an artist in residence, he saw from the long record of previous artists in residence that he was the first Parsi to have ever been invited there. His photograph in front of the 19th Century Yaddo mansion follows:


This summer of 2010 he was selected again by Yaddo, to start work on his next novel project, the working title of which is TLiving with Persia T. He felt very honored and fortunate, of course. For more information on Sohrab and his works, please browse his web site, HTUwww.fracis.comUTH, about his achievements, including that of his book TTicket to Minto: Stories of India and America T being the first ever by an Asian to win the Iowa Short Fiction Award, described by the New York Times Book Review as "among the most prestigious literary prizes America offers."

TSohrab also read from his book at our WZCC Meeting following 2009 FEZANA AGM in Orlando. We wish Sohrab well in his all future endeavors.

T Sohrab Fracis in front of Yaddo Mansion.

TChildren Religious Class in ZATAMBAY: ZATAMBAY held its Treligious class for children and adults at Jennifer and Rustam's Irani home in Tampa on October 10, 2010 at 11 AM conducted by Soli P. Dastur. Topics covered were: some pages from the new book: My God Ahura Mazda by Ervad Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia, Shehenshahi calendar with the names of 12 months and 30 days from the children’s book: Creations of Ahura Mazda by Children of Zoroastrian Association of North Texas. The class lasted for one hour followed by refreshments. We want to thank Jennifer and Rustam, little Meher and Hvovi for hosting all of us and all the mothers and fathers and children participating in it.

Humbandagee at ZATAMBAY Religious Class. ZATAMBAY families at the Religious Class.

Congratulations to Patricia and Ashtad Kotwal of Orlando who had their first child, Darius, born on August 24P

thP.in

Orlando. Ashtad says: “Its been a crazy few months, but things are slowly starting to settle down. Babies are extremely demanding, as we're quickly learning.” Welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood. We wish Darius and you all a very happy life!

TAshtad, Darius and Patricia Kotwal. Ashtad performing loban with Darius and his parents. Ervad Soli performing loban in the new home of Kotwal after Jashan


Month: Tir (S), Year: YZ 1380 Zor & More Issue # 4, November-2010

1BA PUBLICATION OF THE ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA

10BBoard of Directors

President Jahanbux Daruwala V.P.

Burjis Shroff Secretary

Kersi Munshi Treasurer

Mina Dubash Members-at-Large

Soli Dastur Katya Hansotia Behli Hansotia Khushnam Irani Jimmy Major

Calendar of Events UZ-Club U (Children’s program) – Sunday January 2011 at Daisy and Peter Patel’s

home.

UPre-Congress Social for Youth U (Ages 18-40) at the 15P

thP North American

Zoroastrian Congress (Houston): December 28, 2010. (See pg #7 in this issue)

U15UPU

thUPU North American Zoroastrian Congress (Houston U): December 29, 2010 to

January 1, 2011. Please see HTUwww.FEZANA.org UTH for details.

UZAF- Jamshedi Navroze Celebration U– Saturday, March 19, 2011, Miramar Hall. Please mark your calendar.

U5 UPU

thUPU World Zoroastrian- Youth Congress U: Vancouver, Canada, July 1 to July 4, 2011. Registration details at HTUwww.fezana.orgUTH. (also more details at HTUhttp://www.zsbc.org/congress2011/ UTH). Theme: United We Stand Building Bridges Across Oceans

The Z.A.F. c/o Kersi Munshi, Secretary 9830 Bay Leaf Ct Parkland, FL 33076-4445

Address

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