CCMO Elects First Female Chair

Community News - Community News

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 29 September 2005 12:05

By Muslim Link Staff

Members of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations of the Washington DC metropolitan area (CCMO) elected their first female chairperson on September 18, but they didn't choose her because she is a woman.

At the CCMO general assembly meeting and election held at the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, MD, Sister Asma Hanif told members “please don’t vote for me because [of the fact that] I’m a woman," but rather they should choose her if they feel she is capable of carrying out the responsibility of leading the organization. The 18-year CCMO links together most of the masajid and Islamic organizations in the metropolitan area, and has become rejuvenated in the last 3 years.

Sister Asma Hanif, active in community work through the Muslim Intercommunity Network – a social services organization in Maryland – and the manager of a wholistic health center, received 16 votes from CCMO member organizations, more than any of the other five candidates.

This year four positions were up for election, each with 2-year terms: chairperson, at-large member #1, at-large member #2, and treasurer. Member organizations nominated 19 people, most of who declined their nomination. Persons who accepted their nomination included outgoing CCMO chairperson Brother Johari Abdul-Malik of Dar Al-Hijrah, elected at-large member #1 with 15 votes; Dr. Iqbal Unus from the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, elected at-large member #2 with 15 votes; Br Syed Rizwan Mowlana from the MD & VA chapter of CAIR; Dr. Anwar Haddam from Education for Life, elected at-large member #3 with 14 votes; and Brother Hodari Abdul Ali of the Imam Jamil Action Network (IJAN). The three at-large members will appoint a new Treasurer from among themselves.

Outgoing executive committee members were Br. Mahdi Bray of the MAS Freedom Foundation who was the at-large member #1, and Sr. Maryam Funches from the Muslim Inter-Community Network who was the Treasurer.

Before the actual voting, executive committee members gave updates on the affairs of the CCMO and acknowledged the efforts of those working on CCMO initiatives. Johari Abdul-Malik recognized Rizwan Jaka for serving as the "secret secretary" of the CCMO by sending email updates, managing the CCMO email groups, and helping the executive committee to tackle issues as efficiently as possible. Daoud Nassimi said Jaka represents the "type of volunteers [CCMO] needs" because he "worked so hard … with no position." Abdul-Malik also recognized Sr. Maryam Funches, the industrious outgoing treasurer. "If you don't know her you might have to check your aqeedah," he joked to the laughter of the gathering.

While Abdul-Malik lauded the efforts of the past year, especially the commitment displayed by executive committee members -- all who are active with their home organizations -- Daoud Nassimi focused on the need to do more. "I can talk for 2 or 3 hours about the great things we've done, but I can also talk for 2 or 3 hours about the things that [we need to work on]," he said. There are over 150 organizations in the area, but only [about] 40 of them are CCMO members, said Nassimi. He also said that the executive committee was supposed to have 48 meetings last year, but skipped 15 -- most of them with no notification. "There is a lot more to be done," he said.

Imam Faizul Khan gave the General Secretary's report. He listed some CCMO accomplishments over the past year including near completion of the non-profit status application process, greater coordination among members' zakat committees, the publication of a 9/11 commission report, and generally more efficient operation of the CCMO and its committees. A strategic planning process which will isha'Allah help specify the mission, vision, and objectives of the CCMO was also highlighted out of a list of about 20 achievements.

Sister Maryam Funches gave a brief treasurer's report; the bank balance was $7,094.74 at the end of August. Member organizations are required to pay $100 per year to the CCMO.

This year, 20 of the 39 member organizations sent representatives to vote. Voting by proxy was not allowed. All Dulles Area Muslim Society’s (ADAMS) President Rizwan Jaka chaired the election committee; Brothers Amir Muhammad of Masjid Muhammad in DC and Umar Badeges of the Rockville, MD based Indonesia Muslim Association of America (IMAAM) assisted in collecting and counting the ballots.