MSA National - East Zone USA

Assalamu alaikum!

I'm having a webcast for active MSAers in the East Zone to discuss MSA National and the East Zone. We'll have a live chat for ideas, suggestions, questions and discussion.

• What MSA National is doing now
• What we should be doing
• How to make MSA National more relevant
• How can we better serve the MSAs
• How to better work together (ideas? Project Downtown, Battle of the MSAs, Sports)
• MSA Leaders Summit in January
• The East Zone Conference in Atlanta

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=227333555568

Direct Link to the webcast (12/3@9:30pm): http://www.ustream.tv/channel/east-zone-webcast

You may have to sign up for an account at ustream to chat, but its free, so inshallah it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't mind if ten people come, or a thousand, so inshallah feel free to invite others to come. And if you have advice, or want me to bring anything up, definitely shoot me an email or give me a call, otherwise, I'll see you all there.

Also, if you have younger siblings, there is a MYNA leadership retreat for ages 14-18, in Florida, applications are due 12/5: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163103134833

JazakumAllahu khairan, Assalamu alaikum

--
Ubaid U. Bandukra
East Zone Rep
MSA National

Assalamu alaikum!

So here are somethings that the East Zone Committee is working on:

Assalamu alaikum,

Eid Mubarak!

I'm pleased to announce that the MSA National East Zone Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia! Details on the venue and date are still being finalized, but alhamdulilah, we have an amazing brother, Br. Burhan Mirza chairing the conference, and we ask that Allah gives him patience, strength and clarity in planning and organizing the conference.

Sometimes people on their campuses can't find their MSAs, and they ask me where the MSA is. Usually, I have to do some research, make some calls, and find out who they should contact. Other times, I have no idea, because I'm not from there, and don't know people there. I'm creating a database of MSA contact information. I'll also distribute, for example, the contact information for New Jersey's MSAs, to all the MSA Presidents in the area, so that regional MSAs can contact each other, or maybe even form a council and do events with each other like we do in DC. At the very least, the contact information would enable the MSA Presidents work together to arrange a bus from your area to East Zone, if that's something that they want to do.

The form is available here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/msanational.org/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEpweGthQU9VR0RRQXVlQk9YeEt5Z2c6MA..

Communication is at the basis of any relationship and we need to foster this communication in order to grow. There are a lot of questions people have about MSA National, and a lot of myths and stereotypes have perhaps contributed to the lack of activism or enthusiasm for MSA National on the local level. I'm thinking about addressing these concerns by a webcast inshaAllah. The number one question is: What does MSA National do? I also want to get some ideas for future projects, and there will be a discussion on the webcast for questions/suggestions. This webcast would be geared towards current and future MSA Leaders, but it would be open inshaAllah for everyone. If you like/dislike the idea of a webcast or have questions I should address, please email me.

JazakumAllahu khairan, Allahu ma'kum,
and remember: Smile, It's Sadaqa!
Assalamu alaikum

--
Ubaid U. Bandukra
East Zone Rep USA
ezrepusa@msanational.org

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Ramadan Mubarak! I pray everyone is seizing the numerous opportunities for reward in this blessed month.

I haven't had a chance to introduce myself, my name is Ubaid Bandukra, and I'm the newly (well, not that new) elected MSA East Zone Representative. As EZ Rep, I act as the liason between chapter MSAs and MSA National. This year, we need to strengthen the communication between individual chapters and MSA National, so MSA National can better serve the needs of individual organizations. Even if MSAs are strong on their own, there is potential for so much more when we work together. The question becomes: how do we communicate?

One thing we can do is establish regional councils, but this is a long term goal for various regions. What we can do right now is set up state/regional representatives for the East Zone Committee.If you know someone that would be good to represent your region, someone that knows the MSAs in your region, please let me know.

On the road to strengthening communication, please invite others to join the MSA East Zone Facebook group. I promise, I won't send a lot of messages, less than a message every month.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2210093503

I look forward to seeing you all at the East Zone Conference this spring. If you have any questions, suggestions or ideas for the East Zone, definitely let me know. Anyone, but especially MSA leaders, send me an email if you'd like to set up a call or meeting, regarding your own MSA, or MSA National. I'll be at the Malaria Event this Saturday and at the upcoming IlmFest in Baltimore, but most likely there won't be time to talk.

JazakumAllahu khairan, take care all, and Assalamu Alaikum,

Your East Zone Rep,
Ubaid U. Bandukra

As-salam `alaykum East Zone USA,

I wanted to thank all of the organizers and attendees for making the 2009 MSA National East Zone Conference a huge success!

We had over 700 students representing nearly all 22 states across the East Zone. The east zone attendees participated in inspiring lectures delivered by some of our greatest scholars and speaker throughout North America. They also contributed to great parallel sessions, which consisted of Islamic finance workshops, COMPASS training workshops, an amazing executive round table, a brothers' basketball tournament and a sisters' fashion show along with several others.

I just want to remind you all to get out and vote in the MSA National upcoming elections! Keep your eyes and ears open for the nominees for next years board.

Finally I look forward to seeing you all at the next conference, the YM-MSA National conference, in Hartford, CT May 23rd- 25th!

Barak'Allahu feekum and May Allah (swt) grant us all success on our finals!

Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative - USA
MSA National
email:
website: http://ezusa.msanational.org/

As-salam `alaykum East Zone USA,

We are less than two weeks and counting until MSA National's annual East Zone conference in Philadelphia, PA on April 10-12th. Insha'Allah we are expecting approximately 700 plus attendees this year from all across the east zone. For any of you who haven't registered, we are keeping conference-only registration open until a few days before the event.

This year's east zone program is very unique from previous years. On Friday night, a fashion show will be held exclusively for the sisters and on Saturday night, there will be a brothers' basketball tournament.

• Sisters, if you are interested in volunteering for the fashion show, please contact Sr. Rubbab at .
• Brothers, if you would like to register a team for basketball, please contact Br. Qasim at .

Along with these two programs we will have some of North America's greatest scholars and speakers come out for east zone. This dynamic and versatile program has been carefully fashioned over several weeks by the local volunteers and MSA National's PTF.

Please do help spread the word for this year's east zone. Insha'Allah I am looking forward to seeing you all in the city of brotherly love in less then two weeks! If you have any questions about the conference please email .

Barak'Allahu feekum,

Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative - USA
MSA National
email:
website: http://ezusa.msanational.org/

As-salam `alaykum East Zone USA,

As most of you may have heard East Zone USA's conference is just a few months away. In preparation for this year's conference Sr. Asma Mirza and I visited Philadelphia and met with the local committee of this year's conference. I can say with confidence, masha'Allah, that we are working with a very dedicated group of individuals who are trying their hardest to make this one of the best conferences in East Zone history. This year's venue is like none before. University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology will be the site of our conference and is located in the heart of Philadelphia. Not only will this be a totally unique and enriching experience, it will also have a metropolitan vibe. As we our finalizing our main speakers and scholars who will be attending this year's conference and setting up the registration, I ask you all to help get the word out for the conference this year and to invite all your friends and local MSA's to attend. The dates again will be April 10-12th so book your travel arrangements now! If you have any questions please do feel free to email me at and keep an eye out for the Face Book event entitled 2009 MSA National East Zone USA Conference (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46114772085). Please do keep your eyes and ears open for updates, as they will be coming soon! I assure you this year's conference will not be one you will want to miss!

Barak'Allahu feekum,

Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative - USA
MSA National
email:
website: http://ezusa.msanational.org/

As-salam `alaykum East Zone USA,

It is with great honor and pleasure that I announce to you all the long awaited location for MSA-National's east zone conference 2009. This year's east zone will be held in (drum rolls) Philadelphia, PA at the University of Pennsylvania on April 10th-12th. I would like to cordially invite you all along with your MSAs to attend this conference. We will soon be announcing the list of speakers and scholars that will insha'Allah be speaking at ezone. Here is the initial website for the conference http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0812153047&key=5C715 and more to come soon! Keep your eyes and ears open for updates such as registration information from your local state reps along with emails from MSA-National. Barak'Allahu feekum and looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Don't forget, MSA National exists to assist and serve dedicated members like yourself to develop the potential within your community and to enhance communication between MSA National and your local MSA. Feel free to contact me or any of the other zonal reps, committee members or exective board members if you or your MSA need anything! We have been having our annual Scholar Calls as well so check out http://www.msanational.org/events/conferencecalls/ for our next call inshAllah! Also dont forget to utilize the East Zone webpage to help advertise about any events your MSA might be doing to get the word out!

Jazakum'Allahu Khayrn,

Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative - USA
MSA National
email:
website: http://ezusa.msanational.org/

Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim

As-salam `alaykum East Zone USA,

My name is Tauqeer Zaidi and it is with great honor and pleasure that I introduce myself as your MSA National East Zone Representative USA for 2008-2009. This past year in the history of the East Zone has been an amazing and productive time, and insha'Allah I hope to carry on this reputation. With various upcoming programs like the COMPASS Training Programs, amazing projects such as the fast-a-thon, project downtown, the peace not prejudice campaign, and the annual East Zonal conference, I am very excited for all that lies ahead.

MSA National exists to assist and serve dedicated members like yourself to develop the potential within your community and to enhance communication between MSA National and your local MSA. I am proud to introduce to you, your East Zonal Committee, which is comprised of members from diverse geographic regions in the zone and who masha'Allah are all hardworking dedicated individuals that have helped benefit MSAs they have worked with in the past and plan to bring this vigor to the national level. For anyone who is interested the position of secretary is still open for the east zonal committee. I am looking for someone who has prior experience with this position and who is very organized. If you have any questions or would like to apply please email me at .

I hope that we all have a beneficial year and enriched MSA experience. Please contact me at any time in the year to come, as I hope to be of benefit to you while learning and gaining from you in turn.

I look forward to working with and meeting many of you at this year's Continental Conference held in Columbus, Ohio and in the year to come!

Jazakum'Allahu Khayrn,

Tauqeer Zaidi
East Zone Representative - USA
MSA National
email:
website: ezusa.msanational.org

Thank you to all the organizers and attendees for making the 2008 MSA National East Zone Conference a success!

With over 700 students representing nearly all 22 states across the East Zone, students participated in inspiring lectures, practical workshops, and networking events.  Students also visited a shelter to donate food as part of Action Hour, attended COMPASS workshops about Gender Relations, and learned about the MSA National Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign, presented by a Super delegate. 

We look forward to seeing you at next conference, the YM-MSA National conference in Hartford, CT July 4th-6th!

Pre-Registration for the MSA National East Zone USA Conference has been extended to March 7th!! Register today!

 To secure your registration at pre-registration prices, you must pay by March 7th.

Are you trying to start an MSA chapter? Do you want to take your MSA to the next level?

Download a copy of the updated MSA Starter Guide for free at http://www.msanational.org/zones/

Have an MSA question? E-mail your Zonal Rep today at ezrepusa@msanational.org

Want to learn more about the East Zone? Check out our updates under Committee, In the Zone and events! 

Welcome to the new MSA National East Zone USA website!

It's a great way for your local MSA or Council to get their name and events on the MSA National webpage and advertise!
Email me @ ezrepusa@msanational.org if you would like to contribute anything to any of the pages!