ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/26/2017
ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 02/26/2017
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: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari (Chair) & Vraja.
Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna
Participating Managers: Ranaka & Nitaicandra
Recording Secretary: Kripamaya
1. 2017 Farm Conference
The ISKCON North American Farm Conference will take place in New Vrindaban Oct. 13-15, 2017. Sri Tulasi Manjari has been meeting with the Farm Conference Planning Committee on an ongoing basis.
2. Ranaka’s Monthly Report
- Bhagavan, Gintaras and Jai Nitai completed most of the electrical upgrade project at the Temple Barn. This project included putting L.E.D. floodlights in front of the barn.
- Six cows are currently being milked at the Temple Barn. The cows are delivering approx. twenty gallons of milk a day. Three heifers also reside at the Temple Barn.
- Ray has been working at Gopal’s Garden school to expand the classroom facilities.
- Ray also repaired the GMC truck at the Temple Barn and with Ranaka’s help repaired one of the old tractors.
- The new tractor for the Nandagram farm arrived. This tractor is more environmentally friendly than many of the older models.
- Ray moved manure from the Temple Barn to the Community Garden area.
- One of our cows, Dantari, was transported to the O.S.U. veterinarian hospital and had a cancerous tumor removed from her brain. She can now see more clearly.
- ECO-V’s new mailing address is 164 Surabhi Lane, Wheeling WV 26003.
3. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report
- Chaitanya Bhagavat repaired posts for the new ox paddock and bull pen that will be constructed soon at Nandagram. As weather permits Chaitanya Bhagavat has also been training the oxen.
- Suchandra has been working in the flower gardens. She has been mostly focusing on putting up fencing for pest control.
- Nitaicandra has been working with Anuradha to put together hands-on work stations and presentations for the Festival of Inspiration. Such presentations will include compost & soil building, planting, preserving and identifying wild herbs.
- Nitaicandra is helping to develop a gardening outreach program with local schools in collaboration with Lalita Gopi.
4. Reallocation of Village Association Funding
WHEREAS: The Village Association reports it no longer needs funding for a liaison part time salary, previously approved by ECO-V in June 2016, because Lakshmi Honest agreed to serve as the Village Association liaison on a volunteer basis.
RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board authorizes broadening the use of these funds for additional purposes, including paying legal the costs required to start a new non-profit association and covering costs of monthly gatherings.
5. Monthly Joint Board Meetings
The Joint Board meetings now include the Village Council. So far there have been two meetings, which have primarily focused on sorting out ways in which the Village Council and the Board members will interact in an ongoing basis.
6. Herd Share Program Update
The West Virginia Alliance for Raw Milk met with West Virginia State legislators and found out that Herd Share programs can now legally operate in West Virginia. The next step is for ECO-V’s management team and INV to put together a Herd Share agreement (with the help of a lawyer) and file that agreement with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
7. Internal Funding Request: Additional $500 for Spring 2017 Shirts
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to acknowledge the dedication of long time community members, as well as offer a token of appreciation to the INV and ECO-V staff and volunteers.
RESOLVED: The Board approves up to an additional $500 as a budget for plaques and t-shirts to distribute during the March 2017 meeting weekend.
