Attendance

The meeting commenced at 10:24 with the recitation of the verses from Holy Quran by Syed Mohammed Naqvi.

President thanked all for attending and Milton Keynes for their hospitality.

Br. Mahmood Al - Najar welcomed everyone and explained the housekeeping rules.

Hilal Advisory Team Reformation

President gave a brief on what happened at the last Hilal Advisory Team Meeting, where it was discussed that the Hilal Advisory Team had to be reformed. For the process of reformation CoEJ would advertise to all Jamaats for the names of experts and CV’s. As we had not received any CV’s till the last meeting, Syed Mohamed Naqvi was then appointed as the EC Link and to come back and brief at this Executive Council Meeting.

After due deliberation and explanation from Syed Mohamed Naqvi that he had only received one full CV out of the 7 experts’ names provided, it was then agreed taking in mind the current moon sighting issue that the current Hilal Advisory team will:

A:  Meet up with all the Jamaats Presidents

B:  Consider taking the delegation to Najaf and meet up with the Agha’s office and discuss the current    moon sighting issue. It was suggested that the delegation should include President of CoEJ, representatives from current HAT and Presidents of Member Jamaats who express an interest to attend at their own expense.

C: The Hilal Advisory Team along with the Presidents will present the terms of reference and the structure of process at the next Executive Council Meeting.

For the time being the Current Hilal Advisory Team will work with the TAIA link Br. Makbul Jaffer on taking out a unified statement of every month utill the Hilal Advisory Team reformation has taken place.



WF Exco Meeting 27 February 2010


Secretary General gave an overview of what took place at the Conference in regards to the forth coming WF Exco and the current WF crisis. He also informed the meeting about all the correspondence that had taken place with WF with regards to the CoEJ Resolution and he had also communicated to WF that they had left CoEJ no choice but to except the 27 February meeting date.  Secretary General presented the meeting with two questions and asked them to deliberate on these and then proceed further with the discussion.

After a break for namaaz and lunch at 12:00 the meeting reconvened at 13:19.

The two questions presented were:
1. What would enhance our argument at the ExCo on 27 February 2010 and help the CoEJ WF Councillors to convince the other Regions?

2. If an Extraordinary Conference is called, is there any flexibility with the time frame? If yes, please suggest.

1. After much deliberation it was agreed that we act on the resolution and stand united, listen to the views of our grass root members and take forward (COHESION) and clarify the position of the leadership. We should lobby and sell our resolution to the WF and our federation members.

2. WF should call an extraordinary conference as soon as constitutionally and practically possible, keeping in mind the current WF crisis and to have a meeting where all federation members can attend i.e. no visa problems such as Africa.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

Proposed by: Br. Mahmood Al- Najar
Seconded by: Br. Masoom Ali Ramji

Minutes were duly adopted.

Secretary General confirmed that no one wanted anything redacted from the minutes therefore the minutes will be published on the CoEJ Website as they stand.

Matters Arising there from

a.    Br. Masoom Ali Ramji – enquired about the outcome with AFED. Secretary General then confirmed that as agreed at the last meeting, it was agreed to work closely with AFED, but it was too early to meet with them until we hear from WF.

b.    Br. Murtaza Bharwani – asked if Secretary General disallowed observers at the meeting. Secretary General then confirmed that he had seen the precedent had usually been not to allow observers and he had therefore brought it to the EC for the EC to make a decision.

c.    Br. Gulamhusein Sumar pointed out that Br. Mohamed Kazim Bhaloo was missed out as an EC Link.

ACTION POINT 1: Secretariat to add Br. Mohamed Kazim Bhaloo as EC Link for EHM

Presidents Report by Dr Husein Jiwa

As per Secretary General’s brief on the WF issue, we had a meeting with Dr. Asghar Moledina with his team and our Councillors in January 2010. The whole purpose of the meeting was the timing of the resolution, from where a joint communiqué was released.

We also expressed our concerns on the Pakistan bombing and protested to MCB for not taking any action. Another letter of protest was also sent to the Saudi Embassy for the comments made to Ayatullah Seestani.

Secretary General’s Report by Br Mohamed Dawood

Secretary General had attended the Eid – Ul – Adha event organised by MCB at the House of Commons.  He then presented the internal policies for discussion and adoption as follows:

a.    Observers at Executive Council Meeting:

After due deliberation, it was agreed that the Secretary General will take on board the feedback generated and would present the policy for further discussion at the next Executive Council Meeting incorporating the suggested amendments, for adoption.

b.    Electronic Media Recording of CoEJ Meetings

Secretary General presented this policy which was based on the discussion of this issue at the last CoEJ Executive Council meeting.

The Electronic Media Recording of CoEJ Meetings was adopted.

c.    Travel and Lodging Expenses Reimbursement for Executive Councillors

After a long debate it was agreed that all bookings would usually be through the Secretariat who would seek the lowest fare appropriate. The Secretariat would also as a matter of routine write to the councillors who’s booking arrangements they make asking if they would be willing to contribute.

It was agreed that the policy would be adopted for the time being until it was presented at the next Executive Council Meeting with the suggested revisions.

d.    Expenses Reimbursement for Board Heads and their Committee Members

After due deliberation it was agreed that this policy would be adopted with the suggested minor amendments. It would be presented to the board heads for their views and presented for consideration at the next Executive Council meeting if it required any changes as result.

e.    Terms of Reference for Committee Chairperson

This policy was duly adopted as the changes were minor and included that the chair person would now hold the position for 3 years and the Vice Chair now plays the supervisory role under whose remit the Boards fall.

Honorary Treasurer’s Report by Br MohamedKazim Bhaloo

A brief overview of the draft accounts from the auditors was given. Informed that EHM is now a limited company and not under CoEJ.  He then presented the balance sheets and explained the transactions received till year ending December 2009. Also confirmed that the EHM accounts will be provided at the next meeting once the EHM directors have met.

Minab CoEJ Position

President informed that CoEJ was involved in the initial shaping of the MINAB, once it was formed it did not have a seat as it did not have a centre. Therefore the role of CoEJ had now come to an end. Special thanks were expressed for Br. Munawer Rattansey who had worked hard to promote MINAB and the role Shia’s could play within it.

Confirmation of the Budget

This item was discussed after the Honorary Treasurers report.

After due deliberation it was agreed that due to time constraints and the Honorary Treasurer not being present at the meeting this item would be revisited at the next Executive Council Meeting, where the EC would review the projects accordingly.

It was also agreed that ongoing and important project should not be delayed by this decision and would go ahead as planned.

Any Other Business

a.    Secretary General pointed out that under clause 6.1 of the new constitution the Executive Council are now the trustees of The Council of European Jamaats as a result of this it is highly likely that the insurance cost would increase substantially as our turnover has also increased. It was agreed that if the actual quote is much higher, than this should be considered at the next Executive Council Meeting.

b.    Secretary General informed that The World Federation is looking for NGO Co-ordinators to work closely with The World Federation NGO Manager to provide regional support. It was agreed that these positions would be promoted appropriately through our member Jamaats. The president was given the mandate to appoint 3 councillors to assist with the appointments if necessary.

c.    Br. Mahmood Al- Najar gave a short presentation on the advancement of Milton Keynes and how it is advancing day by day. He also informed that Milton Keynes are offering help to anyone who is looking for a job or are looking to move to Milton Keynes. Also informed that they have acquired the land next door and are planning to expand their Jamaat.

d.    Br. Mohamed Rafiq Bhojani suggested if an amendment to the CoEJ Constitution would be considered to allow the president of a member Jamaat to attend the Executive Council Meeting on behalf of his Councillor if he/she was unable to attend. Presidents requested Br. Mohamed Rafiq Bhojani to word accordingly and email the amendment to Br. Murtaza Bharwani- Member of the CRT and he can then put it forward at the next CRT Meeting for review.

e.    Br. Sajjad Hassam thanked everyone for the duas and immense support from CoEJ and the community when his grandmother passed away. President requested for Sura – Fateha for all Marhumeens.

f.    Br. Bashir Rattansey an observer suggested that since CoEJ was a member of IATA it should consider using its membership to its full capacity for making travel bookings to generate profits for CoEJ and use this towards funding streams. President thanked Br. Bashir Rattansey for his views.

g.    Br. Mahmood Rehemtulla asked if the appointment of a new EHM director has taken place. President informed him that EHM update will be at the Board Heads Meeting and the directorship will be informed at the next EC.

h.    President informed that as per the last EC Meeting CoEJ will separate Madressa from the Education board and it will run separately. He announced that the new chair of Madressa is Mulla Mohamed Kassamali.

Date of the next Meeting

Notice was provisionally given that the next meeting would be held on Saturday 15 May 2010 subject to the outcome of The World Federation ExCo on 27 February 2010, after which the date may be brought forward if an Extraordinary Conference is called by The World Federation.

The venue confirmed for this meeting will be Insha’Allah The Wessex SI Jamaat, Al Mahdi Centre.

President thanked Zainabiya Islamic Centre, KSIMC of Milton Keynes for their kind hospitality.

Meeting was brought to a close with a Dua recitation by Br. Mahmood Rehemtulla at 17:33

Secretariat - Minutes