Hindu Mandir’s Trustees Town Hall Meeting – Miniscule Takeaways
For the first time since the Mandir’s grand opening celebrations in April 2001, a few Mandir Board of Trustees members invited the community members to hear their ongoing concerns about running the Mandir. The management called the meeting due to an open letter and a couple of subsequent articles published in this publication concerning the operational activities at the Mandir. Some of the old timers who were there at the grand opening of the Mandir in 2001 have vociferously disagreed with the management decisions on multiple issues in administering the Mandir.
For the past two years, the management has been mired in perpetual disagreement with the attendees of the Hindu Mandir. Although the local Hindu community population is in an upward spiral, the Mandir has experienced a continuous decline in attendance during regular and special events.
Board of Trustees members Gopi Latpate, Jaldeep Daulat, and Ranjit Jain moderated the meeting with specific ground rules to continue the session. Latpate provided an update on the current state of affairs of the Mandir, from technology updates, filing of tax returns, capital investment, new Trustees, and newly adopted bylaws to presence on social media. It was made clear that no Trustee, Executive Committee member, priest, or anyone else in the audience would answer or cross talk for any questions or comments made by the devotees. Attendees were given 2 minutes to speak, and the meeting was videotaped for future reference.
After 23 years of operations of the Hindu Mandir, the town hall meeting was a mature step moving forward. Over 75 concerned community members, a few old-timers, primarily newcomers, and a couple of active Trustees attended the meeting. The meeting format was one-way communication, a listening exercise by the management rather than reviewing the critical issues, answering, or coming up with immediate solutions to the ongoing issues raised in the letter or by the attendees.
“Instead of this diversionary meeting, the management should have answered the concerns raised by the community members. The Trustees did not answer any concerns and kicked the can down the road”, said one attendee.
At the meeting, Trustees announced an election for the new Executive Committee beginning January 2024. Trustees are seeking nominations for the new Executive Committee. If interested, please submit your credentials to contactus@hindutemplelv.org by November 15, 2023.
The meeting ended with a PowerPoint note that the Board will review the feedback, take necessary actions, and publish it on the temple’s website, newsletter, and social media after their Board meeting on October 15, 2023.
Previous articles…
OPEN LETTER TO HINDU MANDIR TRUSTEES BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
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Unfortunately Temple board could not come to an agreement – why the people are NOT interested in visiting temple. They visit temple because “ they have to” is the general feeling. Post CoVID – there could be an incentive for people to visit the temple and let them know the change of timing etc only by creating public participation esp Sunday free prasad sponsored by devotees and prepared by devotees a s “ part of Bhakti seva” .
Unfortunate part of this executive committee was . Once the meeting was over then it is over . But they went after who ever raised issues like “ mafia of Shivsena”. Even for the meeting perticular section. Called each other to show the strength as if the temple is a political plateform and not spiritual one. They donot want to appreciate any complaint or input or suggestion.
It is better temple start with the things what worked before and then improved upon .
Since the Board of Trustees at the Town Hall Meeting has announced an election for the new Executive Committee beginning January 2024, I think it’s time those who were critical of the current Executive Committee should come forward and lead the temple with their ideas going forward.
Sir, Thanks for your comment. However, the community has lost faith in the leadership and going by the past RIGGED ELECTIONS, I doubt if there will be any interest from anyone to run for an upcoming elections. Please checkout this article on last rigged election…
https://www.vegasdesi.com/illegal-hindu-mandir-board-trustees-continue-with-their-contemptible-deliberations/
The two-hour meeting had one hour for lunch and another half an hour for Laptpate and Jain’s speeches. During thirty minutes of public comments, the “chamachas” of the executive committee took fifteen minutes. Then Ranjit announced only one minute per person at the end.
The financial statements of the temple show it had over a million dollars in liquid assets at the end of 2022. Why nickel and dime pujaris and devotees? You can be greedy and miser in your personal life, but the temple should be run as an honest and pious public institution.
Management doesn’t realize that Google’s rating has no meaning to the community. Out-of-town visitors don’t know how messed up the temple is.
THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF TEMPLE – IS BOOSTING EGO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED. INDIRECTLY BUYING THE POSITION OF BOARD MEMBER AND MESS UP THE TEMPLE. I AM NOT HESITATING TO NAME TWO AS TROUBLE MAKERS, POLITICAL MINDSET,USING TEMPLE FOR THEIR OWN AGENDA. Q: HOW CAN YOU DEPRIVE PRIEST WITHOUT SALARY FOR THREE MONTHS?? IT IS ILLEGAL, INHUMAN AND VIOLATE LABOR LAW. FIRST LEARN TO RESPECT THE PRIESTS INSTEAD OF TREATING HIM LIKE ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE. SUGGESTION: 1. WOULD REQUEST DEVOTEES ATTENDING TEMPLE SHOULD GET BLESSING MARKING ON FOREHEAD AND RED THREAD ON RIGHT WRIST. THIS WOULD BE GOOD INITIATIVE 2. THERE ARE PEOPLE WANT TO SPONSOR EVERY SUNDAY LUNCH. 3. SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE PROMOTED AND BE FREE TO USE. 4. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP $ 100 PER FAMILY – WITH THREE HAVANS OR NAV GRAH POOJA FREE TO MEMBERS DURING THE YEAR. 5. MORE PEOPLE VISIT AND INVITED TO MAKE THEM FEEL PART OF COMMUNITY WILL BRING MORE REVENUE. 6. HANUMAN TEMPLE IS LONG OVERDUE AND CAN BRING MORE REVENUE. 7. TEMPLE RUNNING MUST BE DONE WITH THE INPUT OF PRIEST TO KEEP SANATAN SPIRITUAL ETHOS INTACT.
I look at these differences as a learning experience for the Hindus to work collectively. This Temple is the first of its kind outside India that was not built by a Birla, Modi or an Ambani. It took six years and a dozen dedicated professionals who built one of the most beautiful temple in America at that time. It is included in a coffee book.
The Temple pioneers did not have any experience in temple nor their ancestors. They took a LOT OF TIME from their professions. Generally, Hindus, for centuries, were satisfied with their closet temple-tts and zero collective identity.
I applaud the organizers for holding an open meeting. It should become an annual feature. Executive Committee should also have time for Public Comments in their agenda.
However, I urge everyone to not spell differences in the open. I am confident with sagacious minds, temple management will come out stronger. I like the idea of $100 annual membership.
Also, Hindu temple is a place for all issues that affect Hindu community with Hindu spiritual resolution. Hindu unity remains paramount.
PS
When we came to Las Vegas, there was not a single Hindu temple in the western United States. We have come a long way.