MYNA’s relationship to ISNA

We, the Board of Advisors for the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) believe that the following should be the official relationship between ISNA and MYNA:

MYNA should be an affiliate organization that works with ISNA very closely on various projects concerning youth. It should have its separate tax id # and should maintain its own bank accounts, headquarters, and any other thing that is associated with it.

In having a lengthy discussion about the relationship, three options were identified. The notes of this meeting are attached to this document. Suffice it to say that there are very glaring reason why the Board of Advisors has chosen this route which include but are not limited to the following:

1) In the ISNA constitution, MYNA is already referred to (by implication) as an affiliate organization. This is done in that it is mentioned alongside other organizations that are affiliates, i.e. IMANA, AMSS, MSA. Furthermore, similar to the status of affiliates, MYNA holds a Majlis Ash-Shura seat on ISNA.
2) It is in the best interests of ISNA to allow MYNA to be an affiliate organization. The primary reason for this is because of the recent scrutiny on all finances related to charitable organizations. In the past few months, the Board of Advisors have identified several MYNA accounts located across the country that prior to our investigation were unknown. These were not official MYNA sanctioned accounts and thus there is no accounting of them. When money left, in large amounts or small, no one but the owner was aware of it.
3) The MYNA Board of Advisors realizes the strong history between ISNA and MYNA and in no way wants to jeopardize this relationship. In fact, we acknowledge the benefits both organizations gain by working very closely together. As an affiliate, we will be able to have the best of both worlds: a close working relationship as well as separation on legal issues.

The Board of Advisors strongly urges the ISNA Majlis ash-Shura to accept our position in the relationship between ISNA and MYNA.