Mettilotsava & Annual VMS Retreat-Memorial Day Weekend-Update

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Hari Bhaktas,

 

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu, gurugalu, we are making progress and all preparations are in full swing for Mettilotsava and Vishwa Madhva Sangha (VMS) Annual Retreat during Memorial day weekend (May 25-28). All are welcome. We anticipate quite a good gathering from India, Singapore, California, State of Washington (Seattle), Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina etc.

Sri Janardhan Rao has updated the web-site http://jitamitra.org/mett2007/ with information on hotels in the town of Somerset (for those who need to stay in hotels), map for arriving in Organized Group Cabins site 5 in Laurel Hill State Park and the devaranaama songs usually sung in Mettilotsava. Sri Hunsur Sriprasad will be providing a concluding song from Sri Venkatesha Paarijaata in this web-site.

We held our first teleconference yesterday as part of the planning process and quite a few of our " regulars " participated. There will be another teleconference on 8 May at 9 pm (eastern time in the US), call in number 218-339-7800, participant code 052507. We welcome your participation and suggestions.

Please note that a few families are arriving in the afternoon of Friday, May 25 and taking charge of our Organized Group Cabins site 5. The next day, Saturday, will be a Family Fun Day with activities such as hiking, playing and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of this State Park during the day light hours. Srimathi Veena Raghav (e-mail v_raghav) is organizing a lot of fun activities for adults and children. Please get in touch with Srimathi Veena if you plan to arrive on May 25 or in the morning of May 26. She is coordinating for dinner on May 25 and breakfast and lunch on May 26 for those already present. Those arriving after 10 am on May 26 are requested to make their own arrangements for lunch for May 26.

Srimathi Ramaa Srinivasarao (e-mail seema.Rao) and her children are organizing youth and children activities for both May 26 and May 27 and these activities will commence at about 1 pm on May 26. Please get in touch with Srimathi Ramaa Srinivasarao for youth and children activities. All families are requested to arrive by 1 pm on May 26 so that all youth, children and adults will have meaningful " quality fun time " . Arriving late in the day takes away the charm and fun for the children and for all others who are putting a lot of efforts to make these gatherings satisfying to all participants. In the same spirit, all are also requested to stay till the very end of our program, including the cleaning and handing over the camp site back to the State Park authorities at around noon on May 28. Leaving right after Mettilotsava on May 27 defeats the purpose of all of us coming together.

Please note that the time for Srinivasa Kalyana is revised to start at 5 pm on May 26. This requires a lot of preparation in the hall and hence all of us are positively required to arrive latest by 1 pm on May 26.

We recognize that this is the 10th year anniversary for our VMS. We are planning for a session in the afternoon of May 27 for reflections on our journey in the last 10 years and what we foresee in our future. We will share these with all in our VMS List, recognizing that our members are spread all over the world.

Srimathi Veena Raghav (e-mail v_raghav) is also coordinating for snacks and sweets and please get in touch with her if you are volunteering for bringing snacks and/or sweets.

Sri Sridhar Padaki (e-mail padaki_s) is coordinating groceries and cleaning supplies and please get in touch with him if you wish to volunteer for this activity.

Sri Srinivasan (e-mail srinivasans) is coordinating for songs for Srinivasa Kalyana and please get in touch with him if you wish to lead singing some songs in the list.

As in the last year, participants are encouraged to bring vara pooja items, new cloths, ornaments, fruites, flowers, mangala sutra (thaali bottu), any other wedding items to offer to our Lord Sri Srinivasa and Padhmavathi for Srinivasa Kalyana and these items will be returned to the donors as the blessings of Sri Srinivasa and Padhmavathi.

Those folks staying in the cabins are reminded that the cots require cardboard sheets to cover the spring and the sleeping bags/comfortors can be spread on top of the cardboard sheets. Cardboard boxes are disposed regularly by the grocery stores in your areas. Please remember to pick up sufficient cardboard boxes, flatten them and bring to the cabins.

We will announce the final program after our teleconference on May 8. Please contact me or any one mentioned above for offering your suggestions and help.

Hare Srinivasa

Namaskaragalu

Bindu

Tel 610-966-9299 (Allentown, Pennsylvania)