VMS Annual Retreat, Mettilotsava - Update

[Guest guest]

Dear VMS members,

 

Here is the MettilOtsava update from Dr.Nagaraj Kotekal;

 

-Srinivas.

 

--------------------------

 

Dear vaishNavabandhu,

 

As per the direction of shri Bindumadhavan,

 

I went with my family to evaluate the facility at State parks

(Racooncreek park) about two days back.

 

Following are my observations.

 

The ranger of the park took us round the park to different units of

the Camp # 2, which we are occupying during our function.

 

Camp # 2 is a big camping area among all camping areas in Racooncreek.

 

It has four units. Each unit has cabinets scattered around center

building having common bath rooms and rest rooms.

 

A typical cabinet in a particular unit has either two or three or

four or some times eight mattress frames(of course without beds)

loaded with springs. At this juncture I would suggest the

participants to bring extra beds or sleeping beds or some other

arrangements to accomadate their family members and kids. I would

also suggest to bring heaters and small fans in case the environment

gets either cold or hot. There are small fire places in each cabinet

and we need fire wood to use them and I do not know how safe they are

at night time.

 

The bath rooms have both hot water and cold water supply. The problem

is we need to bring shower curtains approximately total ten in

numbers as there are no doors for the bath tubs. As I have already

mentioned we will be staying in camp #2, which has four units and

each unit has central one building having one bath room and several

rest rooms.

 

The second concerning fact is the rest rooms and bath rooms occupy

the center building which is a short walkable distance from each

cabinet. Would not this pose problem in night time that to in jungle

like park atmosphere for eldely and kids at night time if they want

to use rest rooms?Any suggestions?

 

The cabinet #4 has no such problem. It has one big sleeping cabinet

with sleeping acccodation for 12 people and attached bath rooms and

rest rooms. My suggestion is to keep it aside specially for elderly

people.

 

The kitchen and dining hall is so big that it can accomadate all our

members at one time and has all facilities like big tables and chairs

cooking facilities like hot plates and electric ovens and microovens

and one refregitors and four defreezers. We can convert the big

dining hall into concert hall and hall for various cultural

activities even moving some of the small dinging tables and

converting a nice state at the end of the hall.

 

 

 

The nearest convienence stories approximately 6 miles from our camp.

It is doubtful whether it is open on long weekend. Other wise we need

to go to nearest grocery store

 

" Shop N Save " which is 14miles from the camp area. Also it has a

close by gas station in case we need propane tanks for cooking

purpose.

 

 

 

The nearest hotels and motels are about 20 miles from the camping area

( Holiday inn at Weirton W. V.).

 

 

 

At this juncture I would suggest the participant to bring mosquito

curtains and insect repellent skin lotions., as I have observed lot

of mosquitoes and bees in camping area.

 

I am bringing some emergency kit with some emergency medications in

case we need.

 

At this time let us remember shiri " Vijayarayara Kavacha " Ondu Kaiyali

Khadga, Ondu Kaili halage---------------hinde mundeyali

kapadaduttiralu Shri Vijayavittalreya yenagava upadravavu illa.

 

 

 

We need at least four or five coordinators for effective

accomadations in capmp areas and for effective communicationsbetween

two cabinet units(as there isome distance between two cabinet units).

 

 

 

By God grace let us make this function a great success and a

memorable one.

 

 

 

JAY MANGALAM NITYA SHUBHA MANGALAM

 

Nagaraj Kotekal

 

 

 

, " Madhavan,G V. Bindu "

<madhavgv@a...> wrote:

> Dear All,

>

> The Annual Vishwa Madhva Sangha Retreat will be held in Racoon Creek

> State Park near Pittsburgh during Sep 2-5 (Labor Day Weekend).

> Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshvara Temple in Pittsburgh will be in

the

> morning of 4 Sep (Sunday). This is the 4th year VMS is organizing

the

> annual Retreat and participating in Mettilotsava.

>

> Sri Madhav Gudi, the chief deciple of Sri Bhimsen Joshi, will

provide

> the devaranaama concert in the evening of Sep 4 in the VMS Retreat.

> Other programs in the Retreat are evolving and will be announced

> periodically.

>

> This is the major annual event in the VMS and we are seeking

> enthusiastic support and participation in this whole-some family

> oriented spiritual and social gathering. Accommodation will be in

the

> cabins in natural settings in Organized Group Cabins Camp Site 2 in

> Racoon Creek State Park near Pittsburgh. This Site comes with large

> kitchen, dining and meeting halls, play areas with base-ball,

> basket-ball courts, rest rooms with hot water facilities for bathing

> etc. More information s available in the web-site

> http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/raccooncreek.aspx

>

> There is no set fee but usually $100 per family (2 adults, 2

children)

> covers all the accommodation, food, concerts expenses for the entire

> weekend (Sep 2-5). This is just to give you an idea that this is

very

> affordasble and inexpensive. Any excess money left over is usually

> donated to a worth-while Madhva cause in India.

>

> We are seeking cooperation from all participants to commit these 3-4

> days fully in each year for this VMS annual gathering and arrive at

the

> start of the gathering and remain with the group till the end so

that

> the entire group can enjoy the group activities in a whole-some way

all

> thru the gathering. This is very critical for planning the

activities

> and sharing all the work-load. We would like to discourage

participants

> arriving Saturday afternoon and departing Sunday morning right after

> Mettilotsava. This defeats the very purpose of the gathering and is

> abusive to the enormous efforts put in by volunteers to make this

> gathering happen. We would like all participants to arrive by 12

noon on

> Sep 3 (Sat) at the latest and remain with the group at least till 8

or 9

> am on Sep 5 (Monday).

>

> We would like participants to start making commitments openly

starting

> today. For the start, me and my family are committed. We are 4

adults

> and 2 children, we will arrive by 6 pm on Sep 2 (Friday) and stay

till

> 10 or 11 am on Sep 5 (Monday). Please build momentum by announcing

your

> commitment publicly. This way we will also know head-count.

>

> Hare Srinivasa

>

> Namaskaragalu

>

> Bindu

> Tel 610-966-9299