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Chapter meeting 2004

November 28th, 2004
Meeting at Farhat’s House
Noon-2:30 pm

**Present: Chelby, Amena, Rohma, Afshan, Khaddouj, Nezha, Manal, Zohra, Fauzya and Farhat. Regrets: Aziza, Humera and Guljoya.

As the Chapter last met on October 13th, a number of issues were mentioned as an update for the Group, as outlined below. The Group also discussed issues to further the Chapter’s work plan.

Update on past events and follow-up issues from the last meeting (held on October 13th): 

• Members were asked to visit www.ccmw.com for further documentation related to the Canadian implementation of Sharia. The Marion Boyd report is not been made public yet. However, there are other reports available on the website (e.g. Terms of Reference for the Marion Boyd report and NAWL report).

• There was no update to the recommendations sent by the Chapter to the National Board for comment (please see Oct. 13th Minutes for background info.).

Media training workshop:

• The CCMW Newsletter indicates that the Media Handbook is currently being updated.

• Farhat will send a reminder to the National Board about training for the Ottawa and Montreal chapters (please see Oct. 13th Minutes for further details).    

• The Chapter may find own resources in Ottawa for media workshop, then follow up with the Board. Anu Bose has offered to train. We will contact her and get her availability for training Chapter members.

• The media training should be held on a weekend, possibly  from 10 am to 1 pm.

• Training video and manual: “In My Own Skin”—Iman Zebian will be asked if she can train Afshan and Chelby to present these videos at workshops connected to their work. (settlement, anti-racism). Date and time  to be determined.

Post-Meeting Action Items:

• Farhat will send information received from CCMW Board to the Chapter members regarding the recently released CCMW report entitled: “Muslim Women in Canada: Overeducated and Underemployed”.

• The Progressive Muslim meet-up is tentatively scheduled for December 18th at 2 pm at the Bridgehead café in Nepean. Amena will send a follow-up e-mail to the Group for additional details once the arrangements are finalized.

Closer link with National Board:

• Concern was voiced that there be more communication between the National Board and Chapters in order for the Board to be aware of developments and issues at the Chapter level. Therefore, the need for greater contact and liaising with the National Board was seen as imperative for effective representation. The participation of the two local Board members to be clarified. Iman and Humera  participate at meetings and give feed back to and from National Board. Information about Nat. Brd. Meetings could be shared

• Suggestion to be made to encourage regional representation on the Board

• A question was asked how  CCMW can better communicate, and keep abreast of, developments with other Muslim groups and filter down information about the organization to the broader Muslim community.

• A question was asked about CCMW’s relationship with CAIR_CAN and the Winnipeg based Social Service Org. (Shahina Siddiqui’s group. As our work is touching their work, so we should define ours.)

• Khaddouj has done her research paper on the effect of 9/11 on Muslims- men and women. She asked if CCMW would find a slot in the symposium, or some future venue that touches on this theme.

Upcoming events:

• January 23rd, 2005: 2nd “Books and Biryani” event—Discussions/reviews of 2 books to be selected. Fauzya will circulate an updated list of books for interested members. (Some members provided names of books that were added to the original CCMW reading list)

• January 26th, 2005: The ZONTA group will be holding an event where Alia Hogben will be speaking on Muslim women and “Sharia” law. Farhat and Fauzya will be meeting with Kathy Bose on December 3.

• March 2005: Symposium on “Role of the Religion in the State” (topic     concerns the bounds of secularism and democratic rights). Ask if this is the same event originally planned for Dec.3/04.

The meeting adjourned at around 2:45 pm.

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Annual Report 2003

On behalf of the Ottawa Chapter of CCMW, called the local morning radio show to declare admiration for Dr. Monia Mazigh who displayed extraordinary courage and strength in the face extreme hardships of her husband’s imprisonment and torture. By her struggle for justice she was able to bring about change and helped to shatter the stereotype of Muslim Women.

Fauzya Talib works at Health Canada. She got a group of colleagues together and organized a Fast and Feast event at her work.

Co-workers we invited to fast and then attend the evening program of Information session with presentations by invited guests. Lyne Naguib spoke on “The Growth of the Ottawa Muslim Community”, and Abu Nazir spoke on “Ramadan- The way to Self-improvement”. There was a panel discussion and a question and answer session. At Iftar time the breaking of fast was followed by call to prayer, and Maghrib prayers. The evening ended with a feast of dinner and delicacies. People mingled at the dinner table and expressed interest and asked questions. Handouts were distributed containing the description of the content of the Call to prayer and other pertinent information. The guests appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Muslims.

Farhat represented NOIVMWC and CCMW at the National Women’s Reference Group on Labour Market Issues (NWRG/GRNF) Forum in Winnipeg. This is a not-for-profit voluntary organization, established in 1991 to advance women’s labour market status in Canada. They represent the diversity of women in Canada. Their website is (www.nwrg-grnf.ca). CCMW’s name was put forward for them to contact and invite membership.

The Ottawa Chapter is meeting on December 13 to meet and go over the CCMW work plan for 2003-2004 activities and formulate a Chapter plan, Insha’Allah.

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Annual Report 2003

Archived Ottawa chapter material