May
2007
First Annual Conference - Agenda Announced
The agenda for our first annual conference has been announced. This year’s theme is “Finding our Voice” and the conference will be held from June 15th through June 17th at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.
Friday June 15th, 2007
3pm Friday Congregational Prayer
Khatib and prayer leader TBA, preferably a female Imam.
4:00-6:00pm Conference Registration and Informal Activities
A hike around the SL campus, display of best khutbahs (sermons) from the first khutbah competition. Asr is at 5 pm
6:00-7:00pm Dinner (included in registration)
7:00-7:30pm Conference Opening
Pamela Taylor, co-founder of MPV: Introduction on how we came about, philosophy, vision and the principles. Introduction of organizers and some of the accomplishments to date.
Ani Zonneveld, fellow co-founder of MPV: Goals to accomplish for the conference; musical performance of “My Favorite Passages.”
7:30–9:00pm White Board Session
Conversation on what people hope to see from a Progressive Muslim organization – what issues are important to them, what activities, etc. Floor is open to each participant to introduce themselves and to express their hopes for the weekend. Maghrib begins at 8:30.
9:00pm-?? Informal socializing
Ani sings “Ummah Wake Up,” followed by open mic music/poetry. Dhikr session lead by Sheikha Fariha for those interested.
8:00am Registration opens, breakfast (included with registration)
8:30 -9:45 am. MPV Nuts and Bolts:
Welcome to the Conference. Brief invocation. Presentation of the organizational structure, mission/vision, bylaws. Introduction of candidates, job descriptions by Pamela. Short, inspirational talk about what MPV hopes to do by Ani. Distribution of ballots, and voting. Results will be announced in the evening.
10:00 -11:00am First Dialogue Session: Human rights
Includes women’s rights, gay rights, worker rights, artists rights, problems in Muslim countries, etc. Brainstorming on issues, concepts, ideas, and ultimately plan of action. Group will designate a moderator and a note-taker. Notes will be delivered to board for consideration/action.
11:00 -12:00pm Second Dialogue Session: The Environment
Global warming, resource management, environmental exploitation. Brainstorming on issues, concepts, ideas, and ultimately plan of action. Group will designate a moderator and a note-taker. Notes will be delivered to board for consideration/action.
12:00-1:30pm Lunch (included with registration), zuhr prayer
1:30-2:30pm Third Dialogue Session: Spirituality
How do we promote humane and inclusive interpretations of the Qur’an? How do we arrive at those interpretations? How do we cultivate communities that are tolerant of many understandings of Islam? Brainstorming on issues, concepts, ideas, and ultimately plan of action. Group will designate a moderator and a note-taker. Notes will be delivered to board for consideration/action.
2:30-3:30pm Fourth Dialogue Session: Education and Outreach
In terms of educating the greater Muslim world about progressive understandings of Qur’an and hadith, education of our youth; outreach to interfaith organizations focused on better understanding between faith groups. Brainstorming on issues, concepts, ideas, and ultimately plan of action. Group will designate a moderator and a note-taker. Notes will be delivered to board for consideration/action.
3:30-4:30pm Fifth Dialogue Session: Open Topic
This is a time to address issues that may have been missed or shortchanged in the earlier dialogue sessions. Brainstorming on issues, concepts, ideas, and ultimately plan of action. Group will designate a moderator and a note-taker. Notes will be delivered to board for consideration/action.
4:30-5:15pm Tea break
With special presentation by Vanessa Karam, interfaith coordinator and Rebecca Jupiter, Asr prayer (conference workers tally votes)
5:15:-6:15pm Regional Groups: East Coast, Middle America and West Coast
The purpose of this session is to allow people to network with others from their area and to formulate agenda items that are important to that particular group/region, identifying key people in different cities that may not be represented at the conference. Also these groups should address how the national organization can assist local/regional groups, and how regional/local groups should to relate to the national board (autonomous, guided but compliance with national programs not mandated, answers directly to national board?) Each region will designate a spokesperson and a note-taker and information will be delivered to the board.
6:15-6:30pm Announcement of vote results. Swearing in of officers.
6:30 -11:00pm Dinner, social event, and informal networking
Details to be announced. (again, Maghrib begins at 8:30)
Sunday, June 17th, 2007
8:00-9:30am Breakfast (included with registration)
9:30-11:00am Formulating a concrete plan of action
Notes from the dialogue sessions and the regional discussion will be reviewed, and agenda items for the national organization to address over the next 1 to 2 years will be identified. Individuals committed to working on each agenda item with the board will be identified. The goal is to distill the mass of issues we have identified into a concrete set of action items with realistic timelines.
11:00-11:15am Final words by newly elected Executive Director and other officers.
11:15–11:30am Farewells
11:30–1:30pm Lunch and Meeting (for board members only)
Note: Throughout the program time will be made for prayers and we would like to mix it up with men and women leading prayers. We want to formally have space for men on one side, women on the other, with a space in the middle where no segregation would be practiced for families and for those who feel more comfortable in a non-segregated space.