Guest guest Posted July 27, 2000 Report Share Posted July 27, 2000 bhakti-list , Mani Varadarajan <mani@a...> wrote: > > Though your ideas are well-intentioned, we should try at all costs > to avoid trading in leather and other products which come at the cost > of the merciless slaughter of cows and other animals. As we are all > aware, the end does not justify the means. > > "gO-brAhmaNEbhyaH Subham astu nityam" Well, I can't comment on the leather part but I think providing an environment-friendly something of practical utility to the donor as a way of attracting donations is quite acceptable to me. It makes the job easier for the fund raiser, especially when he approaches a potential donor who does not have sect/caste/religious affiliations with the cause. I don't think there is any loss of spirituality by this. (I had a bad experience (and am continuing to have them) with fund collectors in this list. I would like to share that with the list members. This of course does not have any pointed reference to any current fund raising drive since I write this more in anguish than anger). More than anything else, Srivaishnava fund collectors need to be above reproach in the matter of collecting funds. I refer to the good practice of providing prompt receipts as soon as funds are realized. Right now they will tell you they send receipts only in January like good nationalised bank employees in India. The trouble with this is that most of us do not know the fund raisers personally but being away from India we do have a shared sentimentality for the cause in question. It will be fair to say that this feeling does work in their favor. Also, the fund raisers get authenticated by the list. Prompt receipts would serve two purposes: 1. It would reassure the donor that the monies are indeed being put to the use it was requested for in the first place 2. It would help the donor when he files his IRS returns. A lesser cause but one that is part of the process of donation. I write this because I had a bad experience in this list from a fund collector couple years ago. Not only I contributed but I collected from some friends who were 'lurkers' in the SV universe. Much to my disappointment, I was not given any receipts nor was I given the promised videotape of the temple function in question. I do not doubt the honesty of the persons concerned (nor did I doubt it then) but then their apathy gave the SV cause a bad name among SV people. I did not get any apology from the concerned persons but just that they were busy writing for this thread in this list, that thread in the other list, preparing for this utsavam in the Pittsburgh temple or that utsavam in the Aurora temple, blah blah. Their utter irresponsibility in the matter of collecting funds but not issuing prompt receipts is, needless to say, quite contemptible. While the list itself may not hold any brief for the potential fund collectors, it is quite clear that many people use the list for fund raising purposes. While I see nothing wrong with that, it may be relevant to point out that the credibility that the list brings is the primary reason why strangers donate. I write this so newcomers are spared the embarrassment of having to chase up some of the fund collectors. I hope those people who owe receipts to their donors will wake up and issue them promptly and not wait for the end of January. I also hope the List Manager will issue a reminder to current and potential fund collectors to issue receipts promptly else the list will look at their fund collection drives on the list with disapproval. Last but not the least, being an Iyengar or Srivaishnava does not confer an automatic badge of honesty on anybody. Thanks and Warm Regards, LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2000 Report Share Posted July 28, 2000 Dear Sri Lakshmi Srinivas: Sarcasm , polemics , managerial metrics aside, Your note touches on the important issues of ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE FUND RAISERS . This deserves top priority attention .Here is my response. It is my practise to send immediate acknowlegements to contibutors by e-mail. Organizations like Ahobila Mutt, SVSS with a formal need to have an audit trail for maintaining their Tax Exempt status do send receipts sooner or later on their letter heads. Some times , it takes weeks.I am not bothered by it. I guess that I basically trust people and am not too much worried about the delay .I do not care too much about it or brood over it. Although KulasEkara AzhwAr put his hand in a pot full of hungry cobras to testify that Sri Vaishnavas would not steal , we are not at his level. This much I can ascertain. I do not think any fund raiser in our list steals as per inuendo .Even to question their integrity is offensive to me.These are truly volunteers , who struggle against many demands on their times and do not have the full panoply of staff to take care of things in a faultless manner, however much they wish to have management efficiency . The BhakthAs of this list , who have responded to calls for the support of different kaimkaryams are true BhagavathAs , who do not care about their return on investments or Quality of Service issues . These are dedicated human beings , who have been blessed here with wealth and good life and they wish to reciprocate in a generous spirit . They are true BhagavathAs, whom I cherish . The good practise of sending receipts is not the end all to fund raising . Execution of the tasks is equally important .There is no money equivalent to supervision on ground that the sent money does not get diverted by greedy ones. I agree with you that any thing promised has to be delivered .I take this very seriously .If there are real problems in realizing the promised items , that can be settled in a friendly , comradely fashion without too much hazzle ,acrimony and resentment. We are all human beings , who can slip some times. I have contributed time and money in these endeavours since I have to make up the difference between the need and unrealized pledges.In the current situation of the ThiruppAvai Manuscript printing , I will be matching the funds contributed by the BhakthAs of ANDAL who want to support this project and the needs . I am delighted to spend $1,500 out of my own pocket to bridge the gap.I do not mind it . It is a good cause and if bhakthAs benefit from the message of ANDAL as summarized by a great Scholar , that will be my sole satisfaction. Sri Mani Varadarajan commented that Fidays are days to approve fund raising initatives. On this Friday before AadippUram , Your note helped me to make a resolution : I do not want to raise any funds again in the Bhakthi List . I will continue to contribute to good Sri VaishNavite causes with or without receipts. I will not cast aspersions against the noble souls who have contributed to realize very significant Kaimkaryams in the past in support of our SampradhAyam. I will limit my particpation in the list to write about our Kula Dhanams . Since the time I had the good fortune to join this Sathsangham in June 95 at the suggestion of Sri Krishna Kalale , I have witnessed the growth of this respected list .My prayers to Sri Bhumi Devi Sametha Sri Oppiliappan for further growth and nithya Sri to serve our community . Thnaks for helping me to arrive at this decision, V.Sadagopan > >(I had a bad experience (and am continuing to have them) with fund >collectors in this list. I would like to share that with the list >members. This of course does not have any pointed reference to any >current fund raising drive since I write this more in anguish than >anger). > >More than anything else, Srivaishnava fund collectors need to be >above reproach in the matter of collecting funds. I refer to the good >practice of providing prompt receipts as soon as funds are realized. >Right now they will tell you they send receipts only in January like >good nationalised bank employees in India. The trouble with this is >that most of us do not know the fund raisers personally but being >away from India we do have a shared sentimentality for the cause in >question. It will be fair to say that this feeling does work in their >favor. Also, the fund raisers get authenticated by the list. > >Prompt receipts would serve two purposes: >1. It would reassure the donor that the monies are indeed being put >to the use it was requested for in the first place >2. It would help the donor when he files his IRS returns. A lesser >cause but one that is part of the process of donation. > >I write this because I had a bad experience in this list from a fund >collector couple years ago. Not only I contributed but I collected >from some friends who were 'lurkers' in the SV universe. Much to my >disappointment, I was not given any receipts nor was I given the >promised videotape of the temple function in question. I do not doubt >the honesty of the persons concerned (nor did I doubt it then) but >then their apathy gave the SV cause a bad name among SV people. I did >not get any apology from the concerned persons but just that they >were busy writing for this thread in this list, that thread in the >other list, preparing for this utsavam in the Pittsburgh temple or >that utsavam in the Aurora temple, blah blah. Their utter >irresponsibility in the matter of collecting funds but not issuing >prompt receipts is, needless to say, quite contemptible. > >While the list itself may not hold any brief for the potential fund >collectors, it is quite clear that many people use the list for fund >raising purposes. While I see nothing wrong with that, it may be >relevant to point out that the credibility that the list brings is >the primary reason why strangers donate. > >I write this so newcomers are spared the embarrassment of having to >chase up some of the fund collectors. I hope those people who owe >receipts to their donors will wake up and issue them promptly and >not wait for the end of January. I also hope the List Manager will >issue a reminder to current and potential fund collectors to issue >receipts promptly else the list will look at their fund collection >drives on the list with disapproval. > >Last but not the least, being an Iyengar or Srivaishnava does not >confer an automatic badge of honesty on anybody. > >Thanks and Warm Regards, > >LS > > > > > > >----------------------------- > - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - >To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list (AT) eGroups (DOT) com >Visit http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/ for more information > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2000 Report Share Posted July 28, 2000 Dear Members: Since the issue of funding and (funds) management is being re-visited, I would like to attach a note I wrote to Sri.SatakOpan sometime back, with regards to many initiatives. Back then I was reluctant to post it on the list for the fear of stirring a hornet's nest, but now I would like to utilize an 'opportunity' to re-present my opinions. Sri.SatakOpan and many others in the list continue to work tirelessly on various significant projects that require phenomenal investments, in time and money. In all the cases, they do an excellent job in handling the process, especially considering the various constraints. Agreed, there may be instances where things may not have proceeded per books, but overall I am sure there is no question about the integrity. I am definitely not contesting Sri.Lakshmi Srinivas' experience here nor do I wish to comment on it specifically. This note is on an entirely different issue - related to ideas on managing the scarce funds to achieve the best possible results. I have taken the liberty to attach this personal correspondence between myself, and Sri.SatakOpan, without his approval (pardon me, Sri.V.S.). I am sure he would have initiated some of my suggestions, as appropriate. The real reason for posting the same to the list at this time is to know the opinions of fellow members on the subject, and hopefully help many groups to implement the system at their local levels, upon correction, if any. Thanks, Sriram Ranganathan ---------- Sriram Ranganathan [srirangan] Friday, February 25, 2000 9:35 PM 'Sadagopan' Fund raising initiatives - An humble suggestion Importance: High Sensitivity: Personal Dear Sri. Sadagopan, Recently I read the fund raising posts on Pandyan Kondai kaimkaryam for Thiruvellur Sri. Veeraraghava Perumal. Immediately, the following thoughts crossed my mind. I decided to put it down and bring it to your attention, hoping that this will ultimately reach all concerned, if found to be meaningful and sensible. I appreciate your perusal. >From time to time, individuals and organizations working on various projects get in touch with our Matams & Ashramams and other Sri Vaishnava associations like NAMA, SVSS, Nrishma Priya etc. and request for funds. In many instances the group manages to raise some decent capital and contribute to the project one way or the other and the projects go forward. Some of the kaimkaryams are completed successfully whereas others proceed a little before halting again for want of more funds. Many others do not even get to start. In most situations, it takes months and years with phenomenal cost over-runs than originally budgeted for, before coming to fruition. In recent years, Sri.Villiputtur renovation stands as a fine example. Large projects like the structural renovations at SriVilliputtur and SriRangam need government intervention and help in some form or the other for successful completion, in addition to the efforts from individuals, corporate bodies, and religious associations. In almost all the instances, mismanagement or lack of professional management is often the cause for failures and delays apart from the actual financial crunch. Needless to say, our political bureaucrats in various government agencies contribute a fair share to the problems. In fact truth be told, the government is actually part of the problem rather than the solution. Though we cannot do much about these mega projects, the smaller and more localized efforts, like Pandyan Kondai for instance, can be definitely managed more efficiently and successfully. The key to that lies in encouraging and forcing the temples, organizations and individuals who request the funds (i.e. beneficiaries) to adopt better management and accounting standards, than current practices. It is here donor agencies spearheaded by devote individuals like yourself, can and should follow some ingenious methods for achieving the desired result. In order to ensure the beneficiaries are following some standards, the donors themselves must have to. Strictly speaking it should start at the donor level, or more precisely at the grass-roots level. Instead of handling the funding issue on an ad-hoc, case-by-case basis, and losing the hold on the beneficiary, the donor agencies should follow a much more streamlined methodology. One approach is to request the beneficiaries to submit a project summary along with the funds requirement including specific numbers and schedule, to be taken up for evaluation by the donor committee members. In other words, this is nothing but a corporate or business approach, if you will. The document requested from the beneficiary is just a Request For Funds or RFFs, on the lines of RFCs in technology world, but with a religio-business twist. On receiving the RFFs from various beneficiaries for a given period, the donor agency should compile a list and publish a statement on a monthly/quarterly basis to raise funds. This will also help to get the beneficiaries to do some homework and provide specific information about the project on a timely basis, as opposed to simple appeals for donations. Further, upon actual funds mobilization, the donor treasury can and should attempt to wisely allocate funds to the most important kaimkaryams based on some yardstick like their status, need, past performance etc. This is one simple way to enforce the standards ultimately leading to better management at the beneficiary end, thereby contributing to the success of the project. Further this helps to utilize the scarce funds judiciously on specific projects. In short, a simple carrot and stick policy universally followed by all the lending institutions. Whether this is an ethically correct approach in the case of religious contributions is definitely a topic for debate. Many believe that one should not apply yardsticks for donations in general and contributions to temple kaimkaryams in particular. Well, times have changed. People and governments are no longer what they used to be. Philanthropy is not part of ordinary people's life anymore, due to various compulsions of modern life. And in my personal view, if it helps in strengthening the overall system why not follow some standards? In administrative terms, obviously this does require a very disciplined and methodical approach and lots of effort on the part of the donor, along with additional responsibility of fund management and associated issues, but then without a little hard work we cannot achieve anything. In reality, many of the donor agencies do have a treasury for managing and accounting the funds, but they rarely perform "real management". From what I understand these groups simply collect and route the funds and never hear about it later, except for the occasional ones. The system of RFFs and allocation should definitely bring some level of discipline to the whole effort and a sense of comfort for the individual contributors that their contribution, however meager, is utilized properly. More importantly this increase in comfort level will enhance the trust leading to better response. Please note that I am not questioning the sincere efforts of various groups involved in the excellent kaimkaryams. This note is written from the angle of better management and not misappropriation. I am also aware of the fact that, though you are actively involved in many fund raising efforts by way of contributing and requesting the participation of other Bhagavatas, you are not actually responsible for managing them. However, I notice that your efforts does generate a good response and involvement from other peers, and I believe you might be able to convince the sister associations like NAMA, SVSS and their management with whom you might have a good rapport, to adopt appropriate strategies similar to the one I mentioned, if they are not already doing so. As always, I appreciate your feedback. Please feel free to correct me and share your own opinions and concerns regarding my suggestion. By the way, I will be mailing a check for $51 toward the Pandyan Kondai Kaimkaryam, shortly. Regards and Best Wishes Sriram Ranganathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2000 Report Share Posted July 29, 2000 Dear friends, My original post was merely a caution to Srivaishnavas not to take other Srivaishnavas, especially donors, for granted. It was intended in the spirit of "connAl virOtamitu Akilum colluvan kENminO". No one in particular was sought to be singled out, as the appended correspondence indicates. Never mind about sarcasm, polemic, managerial metric etc especially where none was intended. Any reference to quality of service or return on investment is at best, confusing the issue and at worst pious cant. The point continues to be, as it was originally, that if one collects money, one *must* issue receipts promptly. Further correspondence on this thread is something I consider neither necessary for me nor appropriate to my dignity. Needless to say, I continue to hold Sri Sadagopan in the highest regard, both for his age as well as his spirit of service. Thanks and Warm Regards, LS --- Sadagopan <sgopan wrote: > Fri, 28 Jul 2000 09:59:28 -0400 (EDT) > Lakshmi Srinivas <lsrinivas > Sadagopan <sgopan > Re: Reg. funding Srivaishnava causes > > Dear Sri Lakshmi Srinivas: > Thanks for your fast response. > Although I can not vouch for all fund raisers , > I had to ask to make sure that I was > not contributing to the problems. > > I vaguely recall your concerns few years ago. > I hope I had taken care of it then . > In some kaimkaryams , you are locked up with > others inview of the larger size of > Kaimkaryam . One suffers together . > > I had to write what I had to write > to express my views . > > You are most welcome to post > your private response . > > Best Regards, > V.Sadagopan > > > At 06:37 AM 7/28/00 -0700, you wrote: > >Dear Sriman Sadagopan, > > > >I am sorry I couldn't reply promptly as I am on the > >road and therefore with reduced access to email. > Also > >I read Bhakti posts at the site, not by way > of > >digest or individual emails. > > > >It was not anger but like I said anguish that > prompted > >me to write. I was asked in several private mails > by > >various people incl Mani to identify the good > >Srivaishnavas concerned but I did not do so. The > >reason is to highlight a drawback in a process > which > >engenders mutual trust based on a 'shared > >sentimentality'. > > > >I have the highest regard for the kainkaryams > >performed by most of the fund collectors but the > fact > >remains that some of them have to get their act > >together. > > > >I do hope this puts my original post in > perspective. > >If you permit me, I'd like to post this mail on the > >list. > > > >Thanks and Warm Regards, > > > >LS > > > > > >--- Sadagopan <sgopan wrote: > >> Dear Sri Lakshmi Srinivas: > >> > >> Hope I did not contribute anything > >> to the cause of your well directed anger . > >> If so , please tell me so that I can > >> make amends. > >> Best Regards, > >> V.Sadagopan > Kick off your party with Invites. http://invites./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.