Frequently Asked Question

There are organization that provide most of the services that council plans to offer. Why then we need a council?

Council is NOT going to offer parallel programs or duplicate services. Instead, mosques and organizations can leverage council to promote and extend reach of their own products and services. Council provides a unifying platform for peer-to-peer networking among its members that does not exist in Northern California. A coordinated and united front will save valuable community resources and carries much more weight than a divided and scattered front.

How the council will support itself financially?

Currently, individuals and organizations have made modest time and material commitment to help establish the council. In order to provide meaningful services to its members, the council needs to hire a part-time and later a full-time administrator or executive paid through membership fees and donations. We believe the benefits to member organizations will be far greater than their financial contribution to the council

Is any national organization behind this council?

Both council and its voting members are California registered tax-exempt non-profits.  While individual members or organizers may have affiliation with national or local organizations, council directors and members are free to make their own decisions without outside influence

I am afraid that the council will interfere in internal affairs of my organization

Council's main objective is to promote cooperation and coordination through non-binding consultation within and outside its membership without interfering in any organizations internal matters. However, it can help mediate disputes among non-profits or groups through an Arbitration Council.

Will the council decide moon-sighting?

Council’s priority is to engage members in issues of common interest and concerns that unites the community, not divides it. However, council can help build consensus among non-profits on as need basis.

Why the previous efforts to establish such council failed?

We don’t know all the reasons for past failures. However, most common reasons were:

1. Non-profits not been able to contribute enough resources to the council
2. Stake holders not feeling need for such council
3. Organizations reluctance agree to the council bylaws
4. Disagreements over which organizations should lead the council
5. Ad hoc committee or organizers losing interest after few meetings
   

The steering committee is not asking organizations to commit to any bylaws at this stage but to endorse councils main mission and goals, and services until a general body meeting is called in 2008. Once there are enough endorsements, bylaws can be adopted through a majority vote.

Why some of the large organizations have not become founding members?

Council has both small and large mosques and organizations as its founding members. We had several meetings with some of the large organizations and invited them to become founding member. In principle, they all supported the council but requested more time to make their decision.  We are looking forward to their joining the council in near future.