The Administration of the Society is conducted by an elected body, the board members, called the Shura comprising of nine members, three of which are elected each year for a term of three years. The Amir or president, a vice-president, treasurer, and a secretary are elected by the Shura members annually for a term of one year. The first record of Muslims in Western Massachusetts is from 1895 - 1900 as Lebanese immigrants moved into the area. The next major influx was in the 1970s, of professionals ( mainly doctors ) from the Indian subcontinent. Like Muslims around the globe, the Muslim community in western Massachusetts is richly diverse in terms of ethnicity and cultural expression. Our members come from several countries worldwide including many in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas. We have different languages, different colors, different ethnic origins, different nationalities, different professions, different cultures, but we are united as one faith, Islam ; one heart, one brotherhood serving one Almighty God, Allah ( Subhanahu-wa-taala ). We regularly share and enjoy a vast variety of international foods, dress and language all of which fit comfortably within the pale of Islam.