Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 >The reality is that >most GBC will not encourage their farms projects to complete >these forms. One idea could be to bypass the gbc's and get the information straight from the horse's mouth; they are probably much too busy anyhow and it is not even their ministry (I actually have no idea what is going on in congregational preaching, but I am sure that Jayapataka Maharaja and Kaunteya Prahbu of Congregational Preaching Ministry do). So this is more our responsibility than theirs; we are the ones taking on this service (I mean we as in me too - I will help). >So >then there's the political reality of the embarrassment when >farms don't bother to complete the forms. It sounds silly and expensive, but, by networking with devotees around the movement, we could have representatives visit and review each farm. By contacting devotees who are interested (if not the local cowherd themselves) we could encourage them to fill out the forms or provide the needed information. >On one hand, it should be good because it will pressure >people involved to get more serious. I think encouragement is better than pressure. If the temple and zonal managers see that this mission is going on and progressing under their noses, perhaps they will be surprised and want to get more involved (hopefully in a positive way). >On the other hand, it is Chaya and Balabhadra who have to >deal with anyone who decides they aren't happy. If they aren't happy, send them to me -- I pacify irate customers for a living (anyone who has had MCI service probably knows what I mean). Just because one person is the Minister, doesn't mean that they have to do all of the work personally. Kalavati and I are happy to assist. Ministers can have secretaries and staff also -- this will make for an active ministry (just what this movement needs). Consider us volunteers. >Also, there is the reality that we may start this project -- but how >long is >there a commitment to maintain it? As long as there is a ministry of Cp&Ag I am willing to help however I can. Trust me, I have tried to forget about cows and just preach, but it always comes back to cow protection: Prabhupada: ....So in this movement, our one program is to respect the cows. "This is our mission. So there is no question of profit, but if easily there are surplus products, then we can think of trading. Otherwise we have no such intention. We want a temple, a goshalla and agriculture. .... There is no question of ceiling." So it's Srila Prabhupada's will. I think that if we organize and unify, we can get things going more and more, gradually. We simply need to be positive and determined. >So, Chaya and Balabhadra, what are your thoughts on this? > >your servant, > >Hare Krsna dasi I sort of compliled some questions I'd like to know regarding the state of things at peresent. Not really related to the standards, but just sort of assessing the situation on a personal level. It would be nice to know how many cows are in ISKCON and who is taking care of them -- even a history of each center's prgram. But first we need to know how to contact the people directly invloved (again, bypassing gbc's and tp's who may be too busy with other things). Its in a word doc so it wont make it through the conferece. I'll paste it below (formating may get sloppy): ------------- Dear Devotees, For the betterment of cow protection and agriculture within ISKCON, the ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection & Agriculture is humbly requesting that the following information be provided to the Ministry so that we can compile, review & organize this information, in an effort to move forward in the direction of fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desired potential for this valuable and untapped aspect of His preaching mission. Please allow us a moment of your time. The following information is being sought: 1. If not you, then who in your yatra is responsible for the maintenance of the cows and bulls? Who is the head cowherd, herdsperson, or goshalla manager? 2. How may we contact that person (or people)? Please provide an e-mail address (if not available, a reliable postal address will do). 3. How many people are involved with cow protection in your yatra? Full/part time? 4. Do you or they feel that this is sufficient for the goals of your program? 5. How many cows are there? How many calves? 6. How many bulls/Oxen? How many bull calves? 7. What approximately are the average ages of each group (cows, bulls calves)? 8. Are you currently working bulls/oxen? If so, what percent of the work is done with Bull/Ox power? If not, has your yatra ever engaged the bull/oxen? When? Are there plans to eventually work the bulls/oxen again? 9. Does your program provide the feed/fodder for your animals? Do you rely on outside sources for fodder (i.e., donations for purchased fodder)? 10. Is the cow protection program there growing or dwindling? Why? 11. What are the current and future plans for your program? 12. What are the three things most lacking in your project (rank in order from most lacking to least)? 13. What three things do you feel are most successful about your project (rank as above)? 14. Were you already aware that ISKCON had a Ministry of Cow Protection & Agriculture? 15. Prior to receiving this questionnaire, did you know how to contact this Ministry? We sincerely thank you for answering the above questions to the best of your ability. Please e-mail to dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com or mail to the address below; other inquiries or suggestions are welcome. Thank you for your time. Your servant, Gopal dasa, ISKCON of Iowa City PO Box 486 Iowa City, IA, 52244 U.S.A. ------- Please keep in mind that this is only a draft posted for your evaluation (please do not actually respond or pass this on), Thanks. YS Gopal dasa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Dasgopal wrote: > I sort of compliled some questions I'd like to know regarding the state of > things at peresent. Not really related to the standards, but just sort of > assessing the situation on a personal level. It would be nice to know how many > cows > are in ISKCON and who is taking care of them -- even a history of each > center's prgram. But first we need to know how to contact the people directly > invloved (again, bypassing gbc's and tp's who may be too busy with other > things). > > Its in a word doc so it wont make it through the conferece. I'll paste it > below (formating may get sloppy): There is already a cow report form on the www.iscowp.org web site written by a cooperative effort of the members of this conference. Just click the button Cow Standards and the form is beneath it. Now that I know how to do pages I was going to make it seperate page with the translations that are available. I think the part about waht is your bank account number should be taken out. That was later put there because of some known cheating by some centers but is not apprpriate for all cneters. Please look at it. It has been in existence since 2000. > We sincerely thank you for answering the above questions to the best of your > ability. Please e-mail to dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com or mail to the address below; other > inquiries or suggestions are welcome. Thank you for your time. > > Your servant, > Gopal dasa, > > ISKCON of Iowa City > PO Box 486 > Iowa City, IA, 52244 > U.S.A. Also we noticed that you signed your letter ISKCON of Iowa. Can you send a copy of your approval certificate from the state of Iowa showing that you are a recognised organization by the state of Iowa. Also if you could send your ISKCON authorization stating that ISKCON of Iowa is a bonified ISKCON center meeting ISKCON requirements for an ISKCON center. We do not see it listed in the BTG. We don't mean to" rain upon your parade" but we do everything legally and to be using ISKCON's name without authorization and approval of local authorities is not legal. Your servant, Chayadevi Visit us at: www.iscowp.org > [Original Message] > <Dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com> > Cow (Protection and related issues) <Cow (AT) pamho (DOT) net> > 2/16/2004 4:50:05 AM > idea > > > >The reality is that > >most GBC will not encourage their farms projects to complete >these forms. > > One idea could be to bypass the gbc's and get the information straight from > the horse's mouth; they are probably much too busy anyhow and it is not even > their ministry (I actually have no idea what is going on in congregational > preaching, but I am sure that Jayapataka Maharaja and Kaunteya Prahbu of > Congregational Preaching Ministry do). > > So this is more our responsibility than theirs; we are the ones taking on > this service (I mean we as in me too - I will help). > > >So > >then there's the political reality of the embarrassment when >farms don't > bother to complete the forms. > > It sounds silly and expensive, but, by networking with devotees around the > movement, we could have representatives visit and review each farm. By > contacting devotees who are interested (if not the local cowherd themselves) we > could > encourage them to fill out the forms or provide the needed information. > > >On one hand, it should be good because it will pressure > >people involved to get more serious. > > I think encouragement is better than pressure. If the temple and zonal > managers see that this mission is going on and progressing under their noses, > perhaps they will be surprised and want to get more involved (hopefully in a > positive way). > > >On the other hand, it is Chaya and Balabhadra who have to >deal with anyone > who decides they aren't happy. > > If they aren't happy, send them to me -- I pacify irate customers for a > living (anyone who has had MCI service probably knows what I mean). > > Just because one person is the Minister, doesn't mean that they have to do > all of the work personally. Kalavati and I are happy to assist. Ministers can > have secretaries and staff also -- this will make for an active ministry (just > what this movement needs). Consider us volunteers. > > >Also, there is the reality that we may start this project -- but how >long is > >there a commitment to maintain it? > > As long as there is a ministry of Cp&Ag I am willing to help however I can. > Trust me, I have tried to forget about cows and just preach, but it always > comes back to cow protection: > > Prabhupada: ....So in this movement, our one program is to respect the cows. > > "This is our mission. So there is no question of profit, but if easily there > are surplus products, then we can think of trading. Otherwise we have no such > intention. We want a temple, a goshalla and agriculture. > ... There is no question of ceiling." > > So it's Srila Prabhupada's will. I think that if we organize and unify, we > can get things going more and more, gradually. We simply need to be positive > and > determined. > > >So, Chaya and Balabhadra, what are your thoughts on this? > > > >your servant, > > > >Hare Krsna dasi > > > I sort of compliled some questions I'd like to know regarding the state of > things at peresent. Not really related to the standards, but just sort of > assessing the situation on a personal level. It would be nice to know how many > cows > are in ISKCON and who is taking care of them -- even a history of each > center's prgram. But first we need to know how to contact the people directly > invloved (again, bypassing gbc's and tp's who may be too busy with other > things). > > Its in a word doc so it wont make it through the conferece. I'll paste it > below (formating may get sloppy): > ------------- > > Dear Devotees, > > For the betterment of cow protection and agriculture within ISKCON, the > ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection & Agriculture is humbly requesting that the > following information be provided to the Ministry so that we can compile, > review & > organize this information, in an effort to move forward in the direction of > fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's desired potential for this valuable and untapped > aspect of His preaching mission. Please allow us a moment of your time. > > The following information is being sought: > 1. If not you, then who in your yatra is responsible for the maintenance > of the cows and bulls? Who is the head cowherd, herdsperson, or goshalla > manager? > 2. How may we contact that person (or people)? Please provide an e-mail > address (if not available, a reliable postal address will do). > 3. How many people are involved with cow protection in your yatra? > Full/part time? > 4. Do you or they feel that this is sufficient for the goals of your > program? > 5. How many cows are there? How many calves? > 6. How many bulls/Oxen? How many bull calves? > 7. What approximately are the average ages of each group (cows, bulls > calves)? > 8. Are you currently working bulls/oxen? If so, what percent of the work > is done with Bull/Ox power? If not, has your yatra ever engaged the > bull/oxen? When? Are there plans to eventually work the bulls/oxen again? > 9. Does your program provide the feed/fodder for your animals? Do you > rely on outside sources for fodder (i.e., donations for purchased fodder)? > 10. Is the cow protection program there growing or dwindling? Why? > 11. What are the current and future plans for your program? > 12. What are the three things most lacking in your project (rank in order > from most lacking to least)? > 13. What three things do you feel are most successful about your project > (rank as above)? > 14. Were you already aware that ISKCON had a Ministry of Cow Protection & > Agriculture? > 15. Prior to receiving this questionnaire, did you know how to contact this > Ministry? > > We sincerely thank you for answering the above questions to the best of your > ability. Please e-mail to dasgopal (AT) aol (DOT) com or mail to the address below; other > inquiries or suggestions are welcome. Thank you for your time. > > Your servant, > Gopal dasa, > > ISKCON of Iowa City > PO Box 486 > Iowa City, IA, 52244 > U.S.A. > ------- > Please keep in mind that this is only a draft posted for your evaluation > (please do not actually respond or pass this on), Thanks. > > YS Gopal dasa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Wow, that's great. I didn't realize that the form was there and already available. Please don't take my trying to be helpful as an attempt to hijack anything or use the ministry name for anything other than your (the ministry's) purpose. Again the notice I put in the previous message was simply an example of what could be done (not knowing that you had already done it). So how many separate goshallas are there? I had know Idea where things were at with the Ministry to date,(another reason it would be nice to have the non-confidential information available on a separate Ministry website). Although I knew that Balabhadra Prabhu was the minister and that the standards were available on the ISCOWP site, I didn't think to look for further information from the Ministry there. I also did not consider that the reason for having management fill out the forms (which I do think is good, if they'll do it) as opposed to dealing with the cowherds, was to keep the cowherds honest. I guess I just can't relate to someone getting involved with cows for any reason other than pleasing Guru and Krishna, or someone not wanting to make it as nice and successful as it can be. As far as using "ISKCON of IA," we actually do have permission from our GBC (HH Romapada Maharaja) to incorporate in Iowa City. However, we're returning to a community soon for association's sake, so once the PO Box is returned, there won't be an ISKCON of IA (not for now at least). Anyway, like I said, I am very impressed with what you have mentioned so far about the ministry and what you have accomplished with the GBC. I do understand your hesitancy to letting other people get involved. Still, let me know if we can be of any service. Ys-Gopal dasa Kalavati devi dasi In a message dated 2/16/2004 12:05:14 PM Central Standard Time, iscowp (AT) earthlink (DOT) net writes: There is already a cow report form on the www.iscowp.org web site written by a cooperative effort of the members of this conference. Just click the button Cow Standards and the form is beneath it. Now that I know how to do pages I was going to make it seperate page with the translations that are available. I think the part about waht is your bank account number should be taken out. That was later put there because of some known cheating by some centers but is not apprpriate for all cneters. Please look at it. It has been in existence since 2000. 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.