May 1994 MSA Restructuring

staff report

Usually when an organization sees itself getting too big it breaks itself into smaller pieces, controlled at the top by the same executives, who become the parent organization. The MSA of Columbus [Muslim Student Association] is doing something else. It is creating a parent organization for itself to become a subsidiary.

The Islamic Society of Greater Columbus, ISGC, has been proposed by members of the MSA, including the newly elected executive council, to the general membership of the MSA and the general public at a series of workshop discussions held during the mid April. The ISGC would be a nonprofit Islamic organization which would initially take over responsibility for the Omar Ibn El Khattab Mosque, the Saturday school, the summer school, and the proposed school project, plus all of the community responsibilities that stem out of these responsibilities.

The ISGC would have a board of trustees of long-term members, and an executive committee of elected officers for everyday affairs. It would be overseen by a board of fiqh.
The current MSA would become a small part of this organization, and envisions breaking up still smaller into separate MSA organizations for each of the different universities here in Columbus area to better meet the students' needs, increase student participation at different institutions, and to improve dawah efforts.

General Assembly Meeting
May 6 will be a very important date for the MSA. At a mass MSA meeting between Magrib and Isha, a vote will be held whether or not to approve the creation of the ISGC. If it is approved, MSA members will proceed to vote on a list of proposed Board of Trustees members for the ISGC, trustees who will be charged with creating a proposed constitution for the organization.
All MSA members and all members of the community, men and women, are highly encouraged to attend this meeting. Anyone who would like to participate in voting is urged to join the MSA as soon as possible. All members of the new ISGC automatically. MSA membership is required for voting. Membership forms can be obtained at the mosque, and the fee is only $5 for the year.
There is a proposal to make the initial board of trustees permanent. An alternate proposal would make trustees subject to impeachment (removable) if impeachment is voted by 90% majority of a quorum of 90% of the ISGC membership at a General Assembly Meeting. Voting on these proposals will take place at this meeting if the ISGC creation is approved.

The MSA has received many names of nominees for Board of Trustee positions. These names are being screened based on these criteria:
1. A good Muslim of about 30 years old at least.
2. Read/write ability in English
3. Has been in the U.S. for the past 3 years and will be in Columbus for the next 3 years.
4. Leadership ability and behavior.
5. Active member of any Islamic organization and a team worker.
6. Clear vision on the expansion of the community. For example, building a larger mosque, a school, ... etc.
7. General common interest of the community.
Other MSA business at the May 6th meeting will include the introduction of its newly elected executive committee. They will present their plans and projects for the current year, along with a review of the MSA budget.