New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Participating Members of the Board of Directors (constituting a quorum for said meeting to be held): Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam

Advisors present: Jaya Krsna

1. Approve agenda

Approved

2. Review and approve previous meeting minutes – Completed over e-mail

3. E-mail approvals completed

Bulldozer purchase

WHEREAS: Both ECOV and INV have plans for various land development projects and agree that renting a bulldozer from third parties to work on these projects will be unduly expensive.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $53K for purchasing and transporting a bulldozer, that ECOV will own, maintain, and rent to others on an hourly usage basis.

Ranaka proposed. Chaits seconded. Chaits, Gosh, Krpamaya, and Ranaka voted in favor. Anuttama and Navin Shyam did not participate in the decision.

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Temple and lodge foundation plantings

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to improve the energy efficiency of the INV Temple and Lodge buildings, as well as to increase the agricultural production and natural attractiveness of the land immediately surrounding these buildings.

RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $5K for insulating the exposed concrete slabs of the INV Temple building and Guest Lodge, as well as establishing garden beds, on the parking lot side of both buildings.

Gosh proposed. Chaits seconded. Chaits, Gosh, Krpamaya, and Ranaka voted in favor. Anuttama and Navin Shyam did not participate in the decision.

Project Manager Reports

4. Madhuban project (Gosh)

Gosh sent a diagram of the ox barn via e-mail.

The Vastu consultant made several recommendations (e.g. doors to the structures facing S) which will be incorporated into the design.

The WVU landscape architect consultants have not responded to e-mails, and are preumed to be out of the picture.

Gosh asked for and will recieve topographical maps from Jaya Krsna, which he will use to create a site plan. He also wants to put a sign on site to display this plan.

Gosh has chosen not to use wood from the deteriorating Bahulaban barn, as he feels that demolition of that structure without some sort of formal closure will likely have a negative impact on community morale.

5. ECOV loans to IMNV for power generator (Jaya Krsna)

The generators will be delivered in 8 weeks.

6. ECOV loans to IMNV for new water well (Jaya Krsna)

The connections have all been made, and the holding tank has been propely lined. The old well collapsed, and so the last step will be to dig a new well in the spring.

Old business

7. Grant funding procedures (Navin Shyam)

Regarding our general procedure, Navin Shyam will be making edits to the grant application requiring applicants to submit written reports and financial audits.

In addition, Ranaka will ensure that receipts are obtained within a reasonable time after issuing any grant money.

Regarding specific grants given to Tapahpunja, Gosh will be asking for a status report on the irrigation project, and informing Tapa that the bread oven grant will expire on August 1st.

New business

8. Grant request: Wood gasifier (Gaura Sakti via Gosh)

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes the Madhuban housing project to feature sustainable energy.

RESOLVED: The Board approves $3K for purchasing/constructing a wood gasifier that will convert local scrap wood into gas fuel.

Gosh proposed. Krpamaya seconded. Anuttama, Chaits, Gosh, Krpamaya, and Navin Shyam voted in favor.

9. Pipeline project: Preservation of last remaining Prabhupada house (Gosh)

The Board granted Pipeline status to a proposal to spend up to $5K to preserve the last remaining rammed-earth house built following Srila Prabhupada’s plan.

10. Grant request: $5000 for high-tunnel greenhouses (Tapapunjah via Gosh)

WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to augment the agricultural production of New Vrindaban by extending the effective growing season.

RESOLVED: The Board grants up to $5K to INV and The Small Farm Training Center for repairing/constructing 3 high-tunnel greenhouses.

Gosh proposed. Chaits seconded. Anuttama, Chaits, Gosh, Krpamaya, and Navin Shyam voted in favor.

11. Management software

In order to facilitate efficient and accurate record-keeping and communication, the Board agreed to:

(1) Utilize Google Drive to maintain official copies of Board meeting minutes, forms and other documents.

(2) Keep e-mail threads confined to a single topic (i.e. neither splicing in unrelated topics within an existing thread nor creating duplicate threads on the same topic).