Minutes of the Euro GBC Meeting
Mayapur, India
24 February 2009
Present:
- Bir Krishna das Goswami (GBC for Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Slovenia)
- Dina Sharana dasi (co-GBC France: Dole, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Euro GBC Germany – Austria)
- Hrdaya Caitanya dasa (GBC France: New Mayapur, Belgium, France, except New Mayapur and Dole, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, co-GBC Benelux, France: Dole, Euro GBC Benelux, TP Radhadesh - BE)
- Kavicandra Swami (GBC Cyprus, Greece)
- Madhu Sevita (das) (GBC Italy: Villaggio Hare Krishna, Milano Area, Rome Area, Catania Area, and Terni Area, Malta, San Marino, Co-GBC Belgium, France, except New Mayapur and Dole, Luxembourg, The Netherlands)
- Praghosa dasa (GBC Channel Islands, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
- Prahladananda Swami (GBC Health and sannyasa minister, Euro GBC)
- Ravindra Svarupa dasa (Co-GBC Austria, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland)
- Sivarama Swami (GBC Hungary, Turkey, co-GBC Romania)
- Syamasundara dasa (Euro Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture - UK)
- Tattvavada dasa (TP Helsinki, Finland Regional Secretary)
- Vedavyasa dasa (Euro GBC for Spain without New Vraja Mandala farm, provisional Euro GBC for Portugal)
Chandrasekhara dasa (as Secretary for this meeting)
Absent:
- A.C. Bhaktivaibhava Swami (GBC Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, co-GBC Romania)
- Dadhibhaksa dasa (Director of ISKCON Croatia)
- Janesvara dasa (representative of the Scandinavian Regional Council - Sweden, Denmark and Norway)
- Mahaprabhu dasa (coordinator of ISKCON Communications Europe)
- Narakriti dasa (Euro GBC Chairman, TP Prague - CZ)
- Param Gati Swami (GBC France, Spain - New Vrajamandala, Portugal, Switzerland)
- Radhanath Swami (GBC Villa Vrindavana, Firenze Area, Centro Studio Bhaktivedanta, Bologna Area, and Venice Area - Italy)
- Tapasa dasa (TP Stockholm, Chairman National Council - S)
Guest:
Smita Krsna Swami
Quorum (12/20)
2009/I-101 NEW VRAJA MANDALA FARM
Next May Shyamasundara dasa will present his report regarding developments at the NVM farm. When that report is available the Euro GBC EC will consider all options available to them.
2009/I-102 LOAN TO ISKCON GERMANY- PLEDGES STILL OUTSTANDING
Mahaprabhu dasa - 500 Euro received
Titiksu dasa - 100 DVD donation received
Vedavyasa dasa - 500 Euro received
Scotland (Prabhupada Prana dasa) - 500 Euro
Tarakanatha dasa - 1000 Euro
Tapas dasa - 500 Euros
Praghosa dasa - 1312,50 Euro received
Param Gati Swami - 300 Euro
Hungary yatra - 1.000 Euro received
Swiss yatra - 500 Euros
Villa Vrindavana (Parabhakti dasa) - 500 Euro received
Gaura Hari dasa - 200 Euro received
Rotterdam - 250 Euros (200 Euro received)
Caitanya Candra dasa - 300 Euro received
Tattvavada dasa - 200 Euro
Doyal Gauranga dasa - 300 Euro received
Citrarupini dasa - 250 Euro
Bhaktivaibhava Swami - 2000 Euro received
Sum: 10.100 Euros / Sum received: 6.812,50 Euros
2009/I-103 DOCTRINAL PARAMETERS FOR SERVING IN EUROPE
A meeting will be convened by Prahladananda Swami, the chair of the committee working on this subject. This committee will explore both where to set the doctrinal boundaries as well as the practical implementation of such boundaries once adopted.
2009/I-104 A FULL COMPILATION OF ALL EURO GBC RESOLUTIONS
It was agreed that a full set of all Euro GBC resolutions since 1997 should be compiled both in hard-copy as well as electronically. The body requests Dina Dayal dasa to work on this.
2009/I-105 VEDAVYASA DASA: AS THE EURO GBC FOR SPAIN WITHOUT NEW VRAJA MANDALA
Resolved: Vedavyasa dasa will serve as the Euro GBC for Spain, minus New Vraja Mandala, as well as provisional Euro GBC for Portugal, pending discussion with the Portugal devotees.
Regarding visits to Portugal, the Euro GBC body requests the sannyasa minister to identify devotees (like Yadunandana prabhu) who can visit Portugal regularly during the next 12 months.
2009/I-106 JAYAPATAKA SWAMI
The Euro GBC body wishes Jayapataka Swami well in his recovery from serious illness. The body notes the remarkable progress Maharaja has made to date and desires that this progress continues apace.
The Euro GBC body will in future work closely with the GBC Executive Committee if there is ever a need to do so in relation to Maharaja’s travel plans.
2009/I-107 REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVELING AND LOCAL PREACHERS IN EUROPE
Prahladananda Swami is requested to write a list of requirements in relation to the above and present them to the Euro GBC Body in due course
2009/I-108 ISKCON-UK AND PRAGHOSA DASA
The Euro GBC Body expresses its concern with the proposed development of Praghosa dasa taking up the service of Mayapur co-director. If this is to come to pass, the Euro GBC Body requests that it is done both with their blessings and the blessings of the UK and Irish yatras.
2009/I-109 A REVIEW OF WHERE WE STAND WITH BOTH EURO AND GLOBAL GBC'S SERVING IN EUROPE.
The body agreed to the suggestion that this resolution be reviewed on an ongoing basis, according to the changing times and circumstances in Europe. Members are requested to send in their proposed amendments to the Euro GBC EC by the end of April 2009. On the basis of those amendments the Euro GBC EC will present a revised version to the Euro GBC Body at their annual meeting in October.
2009/I-110 PARAM GATI SWAMI
Prahladananda Swami is requested to send to the Euro GBC body the exact details and facts about the case at hand.
The body voted in favor of the statement written by Ravindra Svarupa das, which is to be forwarded to the Executive committee, at which time the executive committee will send it out to all concerned parties.
2009/I-111 ISKCON’S REACTION TO THE WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS
Sivarama Swami brought up the issue of being pro-active in relation to the financial crisis. In particular it was noted that we should think deeply about finding alternatives if donations to our projects significantly decrease. Evidence to date suggests that such a trend has begun. As per other resolutions passed at our previous meeting, more and more focus should be put on our farms becoming more and more self sufficient.
2009/I-112 BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN EUROPE
Overall book distribution is down in Europe over the last few years.
2 yatras with significant debts to the BBT are Poland and Germany.
It was agreed that a devotee from the Polish yatra should be identified to represent Poland on the Euro GBC Body. This way the Euro GBC Body can know more about the status of book distribution in Poland as well as other details of the Polish yatra. Poland is a very important country within Europe hence it is crucial that Poland is represented on the Euro GBC Body.
Prahladananda Swami will write to Trivikrama Swami requesting him to help the Euro GBC Body find a Euro GBC representative for Poland.
2009/I-113 ISKCON GURUS TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
Praghosa dasa will send the ISKCON oath of allegiance to Prahladananda Swami.
It was unanimously agreed that the oath of allegiance should be taken by all ISKCON gurus who visit and serve within Europe. On the first occasion of this oath being taken it should be notarized and then on an annual basis it should be recited in front of Srila Prabhupada. A copy of the notarized version will be kept by the Euro GBC secretary.
It was agreed that Prahladananda Swami will write to all gurus who visit and serve within Europe, informing them of this resolution.
The Euro GBC members will assist Prahladananda Swami as best they can to ensure full compliance of this resolution.
2009/I-114 DOLE
Due to legal complications the situation is currently at somewhat of a standstill. According to our lawyer, Guru Sakti dasa will have no choice but to vacate the Dole property by June 2009.
Mahadhira mataji should be contacted (information to be provided by Madhusevita dasa) regarding the money she gave to ISKCON-Dole.
When the property is 100% ours, with full access and keys, then the Euro GBC will be informed so that they can consider sale options and division of assets etc.
2009/I-115 COMMITTEE TO REVIEW EURO AND INTERNATIONAL GBC CANDIDATES
The Euro GBC body decided against the need for a committee. However Prahladananda Swami will formulate a list of specific requirements which will be used as a guide for appointing new members to both the Euro GBC Body and ultimately the International GBC Body.
2009/I-116 ‘BUILD AS RENT’
A proposed rewording will be made by Vedavyasa dasa, ensuring that there is a better balance between the rights of the devotee and the rights of the management in so far as the build as rent scheme is concerned.
2009/I-117 REPORTING BY EURO GBC MEMBERS
This proposal by Prahladananda Swami was unanimously accepted by the body and Prahladananda Swami will present to the body in October a standard form which all Euro GBC members will use to submit their annual report.
TO BE DISCUSSED AT NEXT MEETING
* 104- Training European leaders.
* 105- Standards for leaders.
* 106- Lawsuit against ISKCON at the European court of human rights.