New article about SVIC in SJ Mercury News June 14, 2007
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Herhold: Bin Laden has no place in mosque debate
Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/scottherhold/ci_6137329
Article Launched: 06/14/2007 01:33:17 AM PDT
Dr. M. Bakri Musa is a trim, smiling man of 63 who works as a surgeon in Gilroy and lives on a ranch in Morgan Hill with his wife, Karen. He has his own blog (http://bakrimusa.com) in which he writes thoughtfully about politics and economics in the developing world. Like the majority of Malaysians, he’s a Muslim. He’s also an American who treasures the freedom of the USA. He’s about as far from being a terrorist as I am.
Nonetheless, because of Osama bin Laden, Musa has to answer the stupid question about whether Muslims are prone to violence. As a leader in the South Valley Islamic Community, he’s part of an effort to build the “Cordoba Center,” a mosque and community center in San Martin.
Though it should never come to it – not in the USA, not in San Martin – the South County has just enough flag-waving yahoos to make the proposal controversial on its face. The Gilroy Dispatch ran an online poll that showed that 30percent of respondents believed the mosque should be denied because it’s Muslim.
If you believe some of the letter writers and correspondents, people like Musa (the Muslim version of “Moses”) are about to forcibly convert them or slay them. In this view, a mosque will unleash jihad.
So as Musa and I stood with the president of the Islamic community, Sal Akhter, at the site of their planned mosque – a 16-acre plot bordering Monterey Road just north of California Avenue – I had to ask him my own version of the stupid question. How did he react when he heard these predictions of violence?
Special Bonus: Free Copies of Illume Magazine May 16, 2007
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Illume Magazine has generously donated free copies of their latest issue to our community! The May issue includes an article by an SVIC community member! The free copies will be available at the SVIC center after Friday prayers, insha’Allah. Please support them and subscribe today so you will never miss a copy! Subscribe before May 31, 2007 and receive all back issues FREE! The April issue, focusing on women’s issues, featured a book review by our own Dr. Bakri Musa.
SVIC’s resident author releases new title January 3, 2007
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SVIC’s resident author, Dr. Bakri Musa, has released a new book titled ‘Towards A Competitive Malaysia: Challenges in the Twenty-First Century’. This title marks a special collaboration with a fellow SVIC member, Susanah Ishak. Dr. Musa developed his vision for the front cover and asked Susanah, an up and coming graphic designer, to embellish the idea. To view a larger image of the cover, please click here.
To read more about the book, please visit Dr. Bakri Musa’s website, by clicking here. To purchase his books, please view the sidebar on his website to links to Amazon.com.
If you have any accomplishments, news, announcements or any contributions, please contact us at outreach at svic.org
Election Nominations Deadline November 27, 2006
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Election nominations deadline is Saturday, January 6, 2007. This will be 2 weeks before for the actual election date of January 20, 2007.
We request the entire SVIC membership to please do their civic duty and actively participate in nominating either yourself or fellow members you consider capable.
Please email the nominations to 
SVIC Elections 2007 November 22, 2006
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Election of Board Members: We will be having our annual elections to the Board of Directors of SVIC to be held on Saturday, January 20, together with Awal Muharram. The Board is the governing body of the organization. We anticipate (subject to members’ approval) to increase the number of board members from the present seven to nine.
We have plans to have specific portfolios or areas of responsibilities for each board member in such areas as membership development, community relations, youth affairs, school, masjid affairs, among others. From experience, the time commitment is about a few hours a month in addition to the regular monthly board meeting.
We encourage you to consider offering yourself to a position on the board. If you think someone could be a useful addition to the board, please encourage and nominate him or her. Nomination forms are available at the masjid or from any board member.
