percieved conflict of interest

To whom it may concern,
Assalamu Alaikum.

This letter is written to clarify what may be perceived as a conflict of interest within the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA).

Some people outside of the organization may feel that since the office of Public Relations is a paid position that Br. Monem Salam, acting as the chair of the Board of Directors of MYNA has authoritatively and un-democratically ruled that his wife be put into this position, thus taking advantage of his position. This is completely untrue. The MYNA Board of Directors has taken measures to democratically offer various alternatives for this position. We have scoured the United States and Canada for resumes and due to out strict timelines we were unable to solicit but a few resumes. Of these resumes, Sr. Iman Ibrahim’s was the most qualified.
The members of the Board of Directors of MYNA unanimously support choosing Sr. Iman Ibrahim for this position. We believe she is a great asset to the organization. In addition, we believe that although this may course of action may raise questions in the future, action is better than in-action, albeit time sensitive in-action. Br. Monem Salam was not an influence in this matter. In addition, Br. Monem encouraged the Board to make a decision in light of the potential questions that may be raised by putting Sr. Iman in a paid position of an organization that he is head. In light of this, the members of the Board of Directors support this decision and pray that Allah (swt) make successful MYNA and the future generations of Muslims in North America.

Wasalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
Hassan Siddiqui
Assim Mohammad
Asad Siddiqui
Riyad Shamma

Positioning Document (vision/mission)

MYNA Positioning Document

1. Vision:
Exemplary Youth

Committed to developing their relationship with Allah (the Divine Beloved); and consciousness of the Divine Beloved’s love;

Committed to a life-long process of gaining knowledge, beginning with knowledge of basic beliefs, knowledge of ritual worship, and understanding of the Qur’an;

Committed to serving humanity;

Committed to their responsibilities as citizens of the United States and Canada and as positive, productive members of the society in which they live.

Mission Statement:
To inspire and facilitate an environment that cultivates youth with knowledge of self.

…youth with knowledge of self.
Although it is the objective of our work, knowledge of self is not given to youth by us. They must work to achieve that state. They must resolve issues of identity, and awareness of duties and responsibilities, we can assist. This can happen in

…an environment that cultivates.
We do not create the type of youth mentioned above. All we will do is help to create an environment in which they can grow to their full potential. With the resources available to us we can work

…to inspire and facilitate.
That environment includes the families and communities in which the youth live. We inspire with our example and the opportunities we can give the youth to excel, and we facilitate with the assistance that we can provide to the families and communities.

Goal:
Establish a viable and sustainable institution that assists families and communities to play a leading role in the development of exemplary youth; provide youth, families, and communities with products and services that solidify a Muslim identity.

prepared by asad siddiqui

ISNA-MYNA relationship analysis

ISNA/MYNA Relationship – 4 Options for the futureCurrently, the ISNA/MYNA relationship is unclear. The ISNA Majlis ash-Shura has authority over MYNA, which would make it seem that MYNA is a department within ISNA. But the tools necessary for functioning as a department do not exist; also, it is referred to as an affiliate and operates as an affiliate with special privileges that other affiliates do not have.


1-Department within ISNA

A purely ISNA youth program, operated like ISNA Development Foundation, from the headquarters by a director.
Benefits:

financial support-
all activities are fully funded by ISNA

office space-
MYNA operates out of the headquarters, storage of equipment and data.

Costs:

no seat on the Majlis-
a department within does not play a controlling role

no control over funds-
earmarked funds may be diverted to satisfy other ISNA needs if funds are not available.

no control over leadership-
MYNA leadership may be replaced if and when ISNA leadership desires

2-tier politics-
any organization may have politics, MYNA will have to deal with its own politics, while also being directly affected or involved in potential politics within ISNA.

bound by ISNA priorities-
a change in priorities of the ISNA leadership may mean a loss of resources or a change in the nature of MYNA regardless of the desires of MYNA leadership;
pressure to do work that ISNA desires regardless of MYNA needs

legal issues-
MYNA will be directly affected by any legal problems that ISNA falls into and vice/versa

2-Organization Affiliated with ISNA
A-with Special Status
An affiliated organization that has privileges due to the priority nature of youth activities.
Benefits:

seat on the ISNA Majlis-
gives MYNA an equal say in the ISNA decision making processes

special privileges:
office space-
at ISNA headquarters

convention space-
at ISNA convention
Costs:

legal issues-
any thing that happens to ISNA will directly effect MYNA

control-
ISNA leadership may feel that because they give special privileges, they also get privileges:

to affect MYNA priorities and leadership

to affect MYNA activities:
speakers and format at convention and other activities

funds-
funds to sustain the organization must be raised to pay for operation costs as well as activity costs

2-Organization Affiliated with ISNA
B-like other affiliates
An affiliate organization that operates independently from ISNA, like IMA, AMSS, AMSE, etc.
Benefits:

seat on the ISNA Majlis-

separate organization-
with its own non-profit status, so, in current political climate, if anything happens to ISNA, MYNA will survive; also
ISNA is protected from anything MYNA may do.

accountability-
we will be accountable for our own actions, so there will be better organizational and financial practices

no more control issues-
ISNA cannot meddle

permanence of the organization
Costs:

convention space-
possible loss of logistical and financial assistance at ISNA convention

funds-
funds to sustain the organization must be raised to pay for operation costs as well as activity costs


3-Independent Organization

A separate organization independent of ISNA or any Islamic Movement
Benefits:

grassroots-
we can develop a grassroots body that can feed other organizations regardless of their relationship with ISNA

accountability-
we will be accountable for our own actions, so there will be better organizational and financial practices

no more control issues-
not at all related to ISNA
independent to create an organization that can take youth work in directions that other Muslim organizations cannot

permanence of the organization-
a board of directors that are not at the mercy of ISNA’s Majlis or potential legal problems at ISNA
Costs:

will hurt ISNA-
loss of people capable of doing youth work; people may feel that ISNA has troubles because it was not capable of keeping an affiliate organization within its umbrella

brand name-
ISNA may own the MYNA name:
a group independent of ISNA cannot be called MYNA;

people recognize MYNA, and a new organization will have to work hard to establish itself in the hearts and minds of many Muslim communities

competition-
ISNA will feel inclined to do youth activities in the name of MYNA, which will create competing activities possibly in the same communities

prepared by asad siddiqui