ISCSC’s Strategy Retreat with Local Leadership.
By Shakeel Syed

A view of the meeting

Los Angeles: The Shura Council organized a one-day “strategy retreat” for community leadership on Saturday, March 12. Dr. Iqbal Unus, Director of IIIT, Virginia, led the retreat and facilitated a vibrant dialog among more than twenty participating member organizations.
More than forty retreat participants from various Islamic centers and organizations collectively analyzed SWOT (Strength; Weakness; Opportunities & Threat); explored the efficacy of decade old vision and mission statements; and established strategic priorities and SMART (Specific; Measurable; Action Oriented; Realistic & Time bound) objectives.
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman, Shura Council, expressed his satisfaction with the Mission and Vision statements crafted by the participants after due deliberations.
The Vision Statement reads as: “To Be The Leading Organization For Unity And Excellence.”
The Mission Statement reads as: “In accordance with the Qur’anic commandments for unity and excellence, our mission is to serve member organizations by: (a) coordinating their community services; (b) enabling them to communicate effectively among themselves and with the external environments; (c) facilitating their continuous learning; and (d) helping to build future leadership.”
Dr. Siddiqi urged all the participants to exert their very best in realizing the mutually agreed strategic priorities as follows:
1. Leadership training and development of Imam, youth, women and board of directors
2. Secure adequate funding for operation and development
3. Develop relationships with the larger community to promote coordination and understanding
4. Establish a legal body of mediation and arbitration
5. Involve and cooperate more with current political awareness/education organizations (civic, social and advocacy groups)
The Shura Council membership and leadership committed itself to pursue its Mission, Vision, Prioritized Goal and Objectives in a diligent manner and also asked the community at large to extend its support for its full realization.
Dr. Iqbal Unus advised the Shura Council to follow up the retreat deliberations with a fully developed operational plan as soon as possible.
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman, Shura Council thanked Dr. Unus, participants and concluded the daylong retreat with Dua.
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California is an independent organization serving the Muslims of Southern California since 1995. In accordance with the Qur’anic commandments for unity and excellence, its mission is to serve member organizations by: coordinating their community services; enabling them to communicate effectively among themselves and with the external environments; facilitating their continuous learning; and helping to build future leadership. There are over 60 Islamic centers, Masajids and Muslim organizations in Southern California to serve thousands of Muslim communities. It draws its spirit from the Divine injunctions of “working together and conducting all matters with mutual consultation” (Qur’an 3:103 & 42:39).

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