Diversity in Dallas

The newly elected board of the Zoroastrian Association of North Texas (ZANT) comprises president Jamshed Rivetna, treasurer Neenaaz DiLucci, secretary Ardeshir Mistry, and directors Naazneen Johnson and Dilnawaz Rustomji. Formed in 1989, ZANT has 75 members on its rolls, including 42 Life Members, 26 Annual Members and seven Honorary Members residing in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in the northeastern part of Texas and some surrounding areas.
"We are maturing as a community, developing deeper roots, and building stronger ties with fellow Zoroastrians in North America. We have new Zoroastrian families moving into our area on a regular basis and we also have families that have lived here for over three decades. This provides the richness of diversity with a good balance of stability and strength,” mentions their website ZANT.org Their regular activities include jashans, muktad, hambandagi and gahanbar prayers with support for volunteer priests who serve with devotion and reverence, celebration of Navroz, Shahenshahi New Year, Mehergan, Tirgan, Jashan-e-Sadeh, Shab-e-Yalda, etc, monthly religious classes for children and youth, as well as adult discussion groups, lectures and presentations on Zoroastrian topics. A monthly newsletter called ZANT News keeps the community connected, as do annual sports events and camping trips, maintaining a directory of Zoroastrian families in the area, participation in multi-faith activities and fund-raising at various multi-cultural events for the maintenance of their Darb-e-Meher that was inaugurated in April 2011 (see "New Center in North Texas,” Parsiana, September 7, 2011).
The Darb-e-Meher premises can be rented by members for a minimum six hours (including set-up and clean up time) on payment of $ 300 (Rs 16,500) with $ 50 (Rs 2,750) for each additional hour. Non-members can rent the premises for $ 600 (Rs 33,000) for the same duration with $ 75 (Rs 4,125) for each additional hour.
In response to Parsiana’s request the president sent a brief introduction to the five-member board:
An active member of the ZANT community Rivetna had served the two previous ZANT boards in different positions. He was chairperson of the ZANT building committee which oversaw the construction of the Dallas Darb-e-Meher. Professionally he manages a small software consulting firm specializing in maintenance management. He and his wife Tamara enjoy time with their three daughters Olivia, Natasha and Alea.
A certified public accountant for over two decades Neenaaz and her husband John DiLucci own and operate a firm that specializes in all aspects of US tax compliance and IRS (Internal Revenue Service) representation. Their only child Jasmine is a junior at Claremont McKenna College in California.
Mistry was on the ZANT building committee several years ago. He is a food scientist who works as director of research for a manufacturer of sauces, salad dressings, sauces, jams and pie fillings. He likes to travel and enjoys reading about different people, countries, cultures and religions.
Working in the Food and Nutrition department of the Irving Independent School District, Johnson oversees 11 schools. Her work takes her to different countries thus enabling her to fulfill her travel aspirations.
Rustomji works at the Lewisville High School cafeteria and additionally accepts catering orders and undertakes stitching of sudrehs. She and her husband Kaizad have two children, Cyrus who is a sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, and Manijeh who is a sophomore at Lewisville High School.