History of MYNA - Part 4 Birth of MYNA

The First Annual Muslim Youth Conference of North America and the birth of MYNA

Dec. 26-31, 1985 - The First Annual Muslim Youth Winter Conference takes place at ISNA Headquarters in Plainfield, IN, conducted by the ISNA Youth Planning Committee. Umar Hasan is the Chairman of both the committee and the conference. Fatima Abugideiri is the conference [program?] chairperson. Dawood Zwink is a speaker [and probably an advisor]. Fifty young Muslims from all parts of North America come together for the conference. "Youth" is defined for the conference as those between the ages of 12-18 and still attending junior high and high school. Youth representatives from the five ISNA zones and several Islamic Centers and Societies attend, many of them the children of ISNA leaders, activists, and workers, or those generally involved with ISNA activities throughout the continent. The conference program is a combination of educational lectures and panel discussions, and organizational meetings to discuss the structure of “a proposed organization that may one day take its rightful place within the framework of ISNA alongside MSA and MCA”-as the Jan.-Feb. 1986 Islamic Horizons article on the conference describes it. Speakers at the event include Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah [current ISNA 2003 President], Karima Omar [one of the more dynamic and colorful Islamic Horizons writers of the time, still active as a Muslim writer], Dawood Zwink and others.

-The first two days are spent in lectures. The last three days are reserved for workshops, zonal, and national meetings to come up with the structure for/nature of the new group. Members of every zone are divided into five workshops: structure and goals, membership, communication, camps and conferences, and fundraising. After every workshop and every zonal meeting there is a national meeting where the ideas of the day are structured as resolutions in order to be voted on. If a workshop doesn’t come up with feasible plans, the national meeting is to send it back to the workshop. The Horizons report says that at first participants don’t really know what the workshops entail/how they'll go, and subsequently, the first national meeting sends back all the workshop resolutions for the membership workshop. But then the attendees get the hang of it and things progress quickly.

-The youth eventually also choose the leaders they feel are best qualified among themselves. Members of every zone are eligible for the national committee, because a representative is needed from each zone. Nominations are made first for the national committee, 18 in all, and each is given a chance to address the participants at the national meeting. Five members are elected from the four zones (with the East Zone split into two because of its large population) [The first indication of an East Zone dominance that will keep it functioning much more fully for years longer than other MYNA zones that will have died out come the decline period 15 years later]. Following the national election, each region elects a brother and a sister. In some cases regions do not have representation, and voting is postponed until qualified individuals are found [another indicator of future problems, as the "voting at conferences" situation will stay an Achilles heel of the organization which will serve to wipe out the East Zone administration in 2001, when there is no East Zone Conference]. Generally, participants are pleased with the results, says Horizons.

-The Conference also features and entertainment session, including rap. As Horizons describes: "After such intense work they feel it is time to wind down with entertainment. Following the advice of the Prophet (SAW) that we should give our hearts a break every now and then, the youth (properly separated for maximum fun) did skits and situation comedy as well as rejuvenating songs that were popular in their areas.” “One excellent and thoroughly enjoyable performance was the rap song done by some brothers from New York. The song was written by Sr. Johara Sullivan and promoted Islamic ideas and spirit in an appealing way. With this the conference ended.”

MYNA is founded, introduced, discussed, formatted and approved at the conference. There is an election and five representatives on a national committee and two regional reps from every zone formed the center of the functional youth activities. The original structure had a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and zonal representatives, all youth. The committee members are to not only act as zonal reps, but will also go on to head sections such as fundraising camps, and conferences, communication and a chairperson to head meetings. On the regional level, the two youth from each zone are charged with forming new youth groups, organizing camps and conferences and doing fundraising projects in their areas.

The elected officers were Central US Zone: Sameer Bade, Western US Zone: Cameron Kergaye, Eastern US Zone: Furqan Ismail and Hayat Alvi, Canadian Zone: Hoda Fahmy.

[Later on, (not known when, but pre-1993, perhaps 1987) with the expansion of zonal obligations, the format was changed to include an executive body which was composed of a continental chairperson, a sector, and representatives from each of the five MYNA zones. Youth officials were to be elected yearly at the Continental Leadership Training Program. To oversee the entire youth operation, ISNA, in its supporting role, appointed a board of advisors, which included an advisory director and zonal advisors.]

Umar Hasan paid for the food and was later reimbursed, as were other people for things. MYNA paid off the expenses for that first conference, Sameer Bade’s 1987 budget shows.

Pre-Dawn Conference Coverage/Attendee Reaction

There are also three issues of a single-page conference newsletters printed at the conference, entitled “The New Dawn” [a precursor to the MYNA magazine of the same name. The issue of Islamic Horizons covering the conference also has the same title for the story about the conference]. Contents:

Sat., Dec. 28, 1985 - The New Dawn issue number 1 (a two sided 8 by 17 paper) is published announcing the youth conference. Contributors, all members of the founding group of MYNA, include Ambara Abdi, Afeefa Syeed, Cameron Kergaye, Sameer Bade, Nikhat Zafaruddin, Rahat Kurd, 15, is quoted. Editorial board is Suhail A. Khan, Sameer A. Bade and Zeynab O. Ahmed. It covers the conference, touts it, and outlines the goals for “Islamic Youth Movement in North America.”

Sun., Dec. 29, 1985 - The New Dawn, issue number 2. Elections, workshops. In elections, quote from Umar Hassan explaining the elections make it the will of the youth being expressed. Positive outlook expressed about continuing youth work in regions and it’s called/touted as a “new dawn for Muslim youth in north America.” It lists the election winners.

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1985 - The New Dawn, number 3. The end of the conference report. Wrap-up. Mentions Dawood Zwink citing three main goals as the immediate responsibilities of all regional representatives: 1) Gather at least 35 members within a month. 2) organize a youth group. 3) Have a local youth activity. It’s called a “youth movement.” Zwink gave a speech regarding continued youth work. Tee-shirts were given to cooks coordinator sand other s who donated their time and experience for the success of the conference. Umar Hasan gave his farewell address. Sr. Fatima Abugideiri was the program chairperson. Br. Hamid [Mohammed?] Abugideiri used his talents in air-brushing the tee-shirts for anyone wanting one. Because of his efforts the tee-shirts raised approximately $350.00. “All past committee members, coordinators and directors” are thanked. “Because of you dedicated young Muslims all this was possible. Pat yourselves on the back. You deserve it!” “ISNA provided free facilities for this conference and made the burden lighter to carry. A pillar of support.” From the start ISNA is referred to as an outside supporting body.

People to talk to (organizers/adults): Iqbal Unus, Umar Hasan, Dawood Zwink, Fatima Abugidieri, Hamid Abugidieri.

People to talk to (participants/youth): Sameer Bade, Zeynab Ahmed, Ambara Abdi, Cameron Kergaye, Afeefa Syeed, Rahat Kurd, Nikhat Zafaruddin.

Art: pictures of the conference and the early New Dawns.