Minutes of BBTI directors meeting held in Vrindavan - Nov '99

[Guest guest]

Dear maharajas/prabhus

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

There was a meeting of the BBT directors at Vrindaban in November of 1999.

This meeting was an extra meeting that we decided to have at which we wanted

to concentrate exclusively on our publishing and marketing strategies. Below

you will find the minutes of said meeting which was a joy to attend.

 

Please excuse me for the delay in sending our these minutes.

 

Your servant,

 

Naresvara dasa

 

 

Minutes of the meeting of the BBTI at Vrindavan 6-8 November 1999

 

BBTI Directors present: Jayadvaita Swami, Gopal Krishna Goswami,

Svavasa Dasa, Brahma Muhurta Dasa, Naresvara Dasa (Chairman).

 

Others present:

 

Nimai Pandit Dasa (Mediterranean BBT)

Dravida Dasa (BBT English Editor) (for parts of the meeting)

Gopiparanadhana Dasa (BBT Translator, present for the first two days)

Navina Nirada Dasa (ISKCON Minister of Book Distribution]

Mangalamaya Dasa (NE BBT book distribution ambassador)

Ekanatha Dasa (BBT Sanskrit Editor)

Nayana-ranjana Dasa (BBT Mumbai Production Manager)

 

 

(1) Unified BBT Web Site

 

We wish to have a unified BBT website, with all divisions contributing

resources. Svavasa Prabhu will discuss with Jagadisa Dasa the

possibility of converting the LA BBT site <Harekrishna.com> into an

International BBT site with Jagadisa Prabhu as the webmaster.

 

(2) Printing of the "Philosophers Book"

 

The NA BBT will publish Srila Prabhupada's "Philosophers Book."

Dravida Prabhu will edit the book to make it stand on its own,

regardless of how much the presentation matches or doesn't match the

ideas of the philosophers. Svavasa Prabhu will request Ravindra

Svarupa Prabhu to write an introduction to the book accordingly.

 

(3) [uNPUBLISHED]

 

(4) "TKG's Diary"

 

We heartily approve the proposal to publish the book "TKG's Diary."

The Australasian BBT will take up this project.

 

(5) The BBT logo for new books

 

When publishing a new title, the board of directors will decide, case

by case, whether to publish it under the BBT logo.

 

(6) Srimad-Bhagavatam in 3 volumes

 

The NE BBT will publish Srimad-Bhagavatam in a 3-volume edition.

Dravida Prabhu will see to routine corrections, which Jayadvaita Swami

will review.

 

(7) Editorial quality for Srila Prabhupada's books

 

The BBT will continue to correct genuine publishing errors found in

BBT books, as described in the booklet "Responsible Publishing."

 

(8) New books from the NE BBT

 

We approve the following projects proposed by the NE BBT:

 

(a) The Millennium edition of the Krsna Book, with CD-Rom and

90 new paintings

 

(b) Illustrated Guide to Bhagavad-gita

 

© The Krsna gift box

 

(d) Illustrated Guide to Srimad-Bhagavatam

 

(9) The North American BBT will consult their Legal Office and Madhava

Puri Prabhu about the latest copyright infringement by Krishna

Software Inc. and take whatever course seems best.

 

(10) Categories for the "Books by" list

 

Henceforth the "Books by" page printed in the front of BBT

publications will be changed and books will be listed as follows:

 

(a) Books by His Divine Grace...

(b) Books by His Divine Grace published posthumously

© Books based on the teachings of by His Divine Grace...

 

(11) Editorial Development Boards

 

We shall form three Editorial Development Boards to work on new

publications in the following categories:

 

Mass distribution (convenor: Navina-nirada Dasa)

Commercial market (convenor: Brahma Muhurta Dasa)

Translations/Study guides/Academic (convenor: Jayadvaita Swami)

 

The convenors will regularly report to the directors.

 

(12) The Art Review Board

 

BBT managers should see to it that their new art is sent to the Art Review

Board while still at sketch stage.

 

(13) Report from the Editorial Review Board

 

The report from Arcita Dasa was reviewed and the following changes to

procedure for review should be adopted:

 

(a) There will 3 reviewers per book.

 

(b) The kind of book to be reviewed should be considered when setting

review criteria as all criteria listed may not apply to all books.

 

© More devotees should be invited to be on the board if required.

Prospects who are not on the original list from the last BBT meeting

should be confirmed by the directors.

 

 

(14) Sanskrit Dictionary on CD-ROM

 

The NE BBT will make the Monier Williams Sanskrit dictionary available

on CD. Ekanatha Prabhu will check copyright issues for the work, the

fonts, and the viewing shareware. He will work with Madhava Puri and

Gopiparanadhana Prabhu to obtain the copyright to the search software.

He will bring together the needed software components and suitable

text files, like those included with VCAL. He will ask Ramakanta

Prabhu to write software for smooth installation. Jayadvaita Swami

will be available to assist.

 

(15) BBT Corporate Identity

 

Brahma Muhurta Prabhu will prepare 20 different graphic treatments for

the BBT name (and the text that usually goes with it) and bring these

to the meeting of the BBT directors in June 2000.

 

(16)The BBT Handbook

 

Brahma Muhurta Prabhu will publish a new edition of the BBT Handbook,

in consultation with Jayadvaita Swami.

 

(17) Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja Book

 

Orders for Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja book appear to be dwindling.

And even ISKCON centers that order the book are slow to pay for it.

What should we do?

 

Gopal Krishna Maharaja will propose to the GBC his own ideas in this

regard.

 

Other ideas need further discussion among the BBT directors (and could

eventually be proposed to the GBC). These include:

 

(a) Publishing the Vyasa-puja offerings on the Net, on a CD, or

both.

 

(b) Allowing the global Vyasa-puja book to be replaced by

Vyasa-puja books generated by local temples and zones.

 

© Publishing an annual book glorifying Srila Prabhupada--a book

meant for distribution--with a different theme every year.

 

 

(18) Navina-nirada Prabhu

 

Nivina-nirada Prabhu will act as a consultant to the BBT. Local BBT

units may approach him for help in increasing book distribution and

will pay him costs upon which he and they agree.

 

We request him to attend our annual meeting. The BBT unit that hosts

the meeting will pay for his ticket.

 

He has agreed to continue his service and assistance with the

worldwide community of book distributors via e-mail.

 

(19) Supplementary materials in scriptural books

 

In editions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri

Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanishad, and other such scriptural

literature, we will not include propaganda or guides like "Krsna

Consciousness at Home." Such material, we believe, is better suited to

other sorts of publications.

 

(20) [uNPUBLISHED]

 

(22) BBT imprint for "Hidden Glory"

 

"The Hidden Glory of India" will be published under the BBT imprint.