INTRODUCTION

Pursuent to Article VI, Section 25, the President shall submit an Annual Plan and Budget to the Shura Council.

STATE OF THE ISLAMIC CENTER

The Islamic Center is currently in a period of relative demoralization and inactivity. Its Bylaws have not been implemented. Indeed, it is doubtful if even the elected members of the Center know the Bylaws. The General Body is inactive and has dropped from a high of hundreds of members to tens of members. The Islamic Center has no clear goals, and no clear plan. In addition, it would seem that the Islamic Center does not enjoy a positive image in the eyes of many Pittsburgh Muslims. Many let their membership lapse and leave with strongly negative feelings towards the Center.

GENERAL GOALS: A YEAR OF REVITALIZATION

The goals of this year, listed in order, are to:

1) learn and implement the Bylaws

2) increase communication and accountability between the administration and the General Body

3) increase membership by 200 by the end of Ramadhan

4) increase active participation by having at least 5 functioning Ad Hoc Committees by the end of September '96

5) review and revise (if necessary) the Bylaws

The 1995-96 year is roughly divided into two parts: regaining the trust of the community, and then getting them involved in projects and activities.

METHOD OF EXECUTION AND TARGET DATES

1. Learn and implement the Bylaws.

a) Each voting member of the Board of Trustees, Shura Council and Executive Committee shall together attend a two hour workshop on the organizational structure of the Islamic Center, the areas of responsiblity of each of these administrative bodies, and the responsibilities of ad hoc committees. The General Body will be encouraged to attend this workshop. b) Each voting member of the adminstrative bodies will recieve a copy of the "Training Guide for Islamic Workers".

To be completed by: October 31, 1995.

The workshop will be offered again during Ramadhan for interested members and non-members.

COST: Training Guides, handouts for workshop, copies of Bylaws.

2. Increase communication and accountability between the administration and the General Body.

a)The Executive Committee shall publish a report of activities, decisions, and issues each month in The Pittsburgh Muslim. b) Minutes of Shura Council and Executive Committee meetings shall be kept on file in the Islamic Center. These shall be available to any member of the Islamic Center. c) The days and times of the regular meetings of all three bodies shall be made known to the General Body by December 1, 1995. c) Informal General Body meetings will be held each month for the purpose of discussion, group-bonding exercises, and general interaction among the members. Refreshments will be served and all members holding elected positions will attend. The schedule of these meetings will be decided and communicated to the General Body by November 1, 1995. d) Voting members of the Executive Committee shall maintain posted office hours.

COST: None.

3. Increase Membership

GOAL: Two hundred new members by the end of Ramadhan.

a) Marketing! Make a product they want, advertise it and they will come! b) Membership cards, shopping discounts. c) input into decision making by means of Annual Goal #2 and opportunity to do things, and be responsible for them, as a member of an Ad Hoc Committee. d) Leaders who are honest, forthright, responsible and accountable by means of Annual Goal #1. e) Perhaps a theme and logo for the whole year: "Islam: Its Not What You Think" "1996: The Year We Awake" "Muslim Revitalization '96" "Pittsburgh Muslim" t-shirts. Laser beams and smoke bombs, secret decoder rings and fashion berets.blah, blah...

Fridays in September: membership sign-up drive for arriving students, set up manned table. Include Membership Application in October Newsletter and in Ramadhan Newsletter.

Within two weeks of receipt of the application a letter of acceptance and membership card will be sent. Within a week after that a follow-up call will be made welcoming the person and encouraging them towards active involvement in an Ad Hoc Committee. Another follow-up call will be made two months later. A Priority Ad Hoc Committee (see below) will be formed for this purpose.

4. Increase active participation by means of specific Ad Hoc Committees.

Volunteer fair with displays for each possible or active Ad Hoc Committee will be held in December, Ramadhan and June.

Active sign up drives and phone call solicitation.

5. Review and revise (if necessary) the Bylaws.

Cross-referencing, election and campaign rules, six month rule

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMITTEES:

Unless specific activities are assigned each Committee's first assignment is to either research the issue and report on more than one possible action plan, or show evidence (such as resume) of an individual member of the committee with some expertise in the area. Once an action plan has been decided upon the Committee members shall also be responsible for offering, twice a year, "how to" workshops to the General Body.

Priority Ad Hoc Committees will be formed by September 1st, 1995 and will have posted their meeting schedule and commenced regular activities by the beginning of the Fiscal Year. They may need to be filled by members of the three administrative bodies.

Priority AH Committee: Marketing and Community Revival Research

PURPOSE: to learn the patterns by which communities are revitalized and people are engaged and active.

Basic marketing and public relations.

Literature searches.

Protestant effectiveness.

Priority AH Committee: New & Old Member Follow-Up

PURPOSE: to display concerned, warm communication with members, to encourage active and sustained involvement in Center activities and projects by the members.

Within two weeks of reciept of a new member application a letter of acceptance, membership card, and secret decoder ring will be sent. Within a week after that a follow-up call will be made welcoming the person and encouraging them towards active involvement in an Ad Hoc Committee. Follow-up calls will be made one month after the first phone call.

Contact all members by December 10, 1995. Members shall be informed of the "Year of Revitalization" and shall be asked on what types of Ad Hoc Committees they would like to serve. Their complaints, comments and suggestions shall be listened to and noted. A report on this will be given to the EC and SC by December 20, 1995, and will report again by May 20, 1995. Members shall be contacted at least every two months.

COST:

Priority AH Committee: Eids 'n Picnics

PURPOSE: to plan and maintain routine activities during the Year of Revitalization.

Eid and Ramadhan planning

Picnics

Dinners

Summer Camp

Special guest speakers

Newsletter Committee

Responsible for the publication of the newsletter....

Current Memo of Assignment valid until August '96.

Hospitality Committee

Responsible for visitors to the masjid...

invite interested groups

develop a set program: speakers, video, question & answer, etc.

provide refreshments and take-home materials

New Muslim Committee

Responsible for taking new Muslims "under their wing"

teach basics, answer questions, form relationship

get them involved in activities

Community Development Committee

Responsible for getting people involved in the projects of all the other committees.

target talented individuals and encourage participation

advertise activities and needs of other committees

provide "open house" nights where all other committees can present their activities

Media Response Committee

Responsible for relations with the press and press releases

watch and listen to local press and identify issues of concern to Muslims

respond with press releases, letters to the editor, interviews etc.

notify media of events within Muslim community

Muslim Education Committee

Responsible for Arabic and theological education to Muslims

Outreach Committee

Responsible for outside speaking engagements to schools and ecumenical groups

work with Hospitality Committee

contact churches, schools, synagogues and social groups

elicit interest with brochure

maintain speakers' list

train speakers

Maintenance Committee

Responsible for the physical upkeep and landscaping of the masjid

Sadaqa Committee

Responsible for sensitively identifying and providing for needy Muslims

TIMELINE

September

Fridays: Membership sign-up table.

Sept. 1: Priority AHCs formed.

October

Application forms in Newsletter

Oct. 3: Fiscal Year begins.

November

Nov. 1: Schedule of informal General Body meeting set and posted.

December

Dec. 1: Meeting schedule of BT, SC and EC set and posted.

Dec. 20: PAHC "Member Follow Up" report due to SC and EC.

January

Jan. 15: Auditor's 1st quarter report to Shura Council.

Ramadhan

Application forms in Newsletter.

Organizational Structure Workshop.

Volunteer Fair.

Evaluation: Annual Goal # 3.

March

April

April 15: Taxes and auditor's 2nd quarter report to Shura Council.

May

May 20: PAHC "Member Follow Up" report due to SC and EC.

June

Application forms in Newsletter.

July

July 15: Auditor's 3rd quarter report to Shura Council.

September

Sept 30: Auditor's 4th quarter report to Shura Council.