ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01/29/2017
ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 01/29/2017
Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.
Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari (Chair) and Vraja.
Participating Advisors: Bhima, Devala and Jaya Krsna
Participating Managers: Nitaicandra
Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani
1. Bahulaban Barn Community Center Proposal Update
Based on conversations with the health department, concerns over fire code, & considering the main use of the building is to serve cows, etc., the ECO-V Board decided the second floor of the Bahulaban Barn is not an appropriate space for a proposed community center.
2. Finalized 2016 Operating Budget
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to review ECO-V’s income and expenses for the previous year.
RESOLVED: The Board approves a finalized operating budget of $323K for 2016.
3. 2017 Operating Budget Approval
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to set projections of ECO-V’s income and expenses for the upcoming year.
RESOLVED: The Board approves an operating budget of $350K for 2017.
4. Ranaka’s Monthly Report
- A new calf was born at the Temple Barn
- The cows are producing 20 gallons per day, which is being used as milk, ghee and butter
- Three cows are expecting this year
- Ray finished what he can do on the electrical work at the Temple Barn. Now Bhagavan will finish the job.
- Ranaka completed the end-of-the-year payroll and the auditor came to review
- He spent time researching a new tractor
- The new ECO-V address will be finalized soon
- He has been advertising hay for sale
- To stay out of the cold weather, Ray has been working on the school and at the ghee plant
5. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report
- At Nandagram, Caitanya Bhagavat has been regularly working with the oxen and he is training and caring for young Madhu.
6. 2017 Farm Conference Update
Sri Tulasi participated in a meeting where the event organizers discussed the topics for presentation, made a list of farms (both ISKCON and otherwise), and decided the theme to be “Back to the Basics.” Madhava Smullen wrote an article about the conference that will be posted on ISKCON News and other sites on the internet.
7. New Tractor Funding Request
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to invest in equipment to support its ongoing farming-related projects.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board approves up to $55K for the purchase of a new tractor for use at the Nandagram Farm.
8. Gopal’s Garden School Funding Request
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support the educational needs of the youth in New Vrindaban.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board approves up to $10K for building renovations to the school building.
9. Joint Board Meeting Review
The ECO-V Board recapped the new tri-group meeting. The Directors who participated agreed the first meeting was overall positive and also allowed room for improvement as the month’s progress.
10. ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture Funding Request
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support cow protection and local agriculture efforts throughout ISKCON.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board approves up to $5K towards the expenses of the ISKCON Minister of Cow Protection and Agriculture with the following stipulations:
- When appropriate, it should be made known that ECO-V is a sponsor
- The Minister should ask the locations he is visiting to help with travel expenses
- The Minister should provide ECO-V with an end-of-year report on how the grant was used.
11. New Vrindaban Folklorist Funding Request: $17.5K
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to support the documentation of New Vrindaban’s history.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board allocates up to $17.5K for the New Vrindaban Oral History and Folklorist Project with the following stipulations:
- The interview questions be reviewed by an expert
- A professional archivist be consulted
- A professional videographer be consulted
