In light of the upcoming election for the Executive Committee of the Hindu Mandir, a concerned member of the community offers this unedited advice to the Board: select passionate and hardworking individuals who can guide the Mandir into 2026 with renewed energy, expanding its religious, spiritual, and social programs for the benefit of all devotees.

Suggested Approach for Temple Trustees Selecting the Best Executive Committee Members
To rebuild unity and strengthen the Hindu and Jain community across Southern Nevada, the selection of the next Executive Committee should be thoughtful, transparent, and focused on long-term harmony. Here are key criteria and processes that can help ensure the right leaders are chosen:

1. Prioritize Unity-Builders, Not Region-Builders
Select individuals who have a demonstrated history of working across:
• Different Regional groups (Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, North Indian/South Indian, Nepali, etc.)
• Age groups (youth, seniors, families)
Avoid candidates who have been involved in past factional or regional conflicts.
Look for people who naturally connect communities and not divide them.

2. Evaluate Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Over Titles
Given the past “board room war” and friction, the next leaders must excel in:
• Conflict resolution
• Calm, respectful communication
• Listening skills
• Ability to de-escalate tension
• Diplomacy
Professional success alone is not enough; the Mandir needs emotionally mature leaders who can rebuild trust.

3. Require a Track Record of Volunteerism and Seva
Priority should be given to candidates who:
• Have participated in temple activities over multiple years
• Have volunteered consistently (events, food, festivals, cleaning, outreach)
• Have donated time and/or resources
• Are present and visible in the community
Leaders must already be connected to the Mandir—spiritually and socially.

4. Emphasize Transparency and Ethical Behavior
Given concerns about wasted donor funds, candidates must show:
• Clean financial integrity
• No history of misusing community resources
• Willingness to introduce transparent financial practices
• Commitment to public reporting of temple finances and operations

5. Ensure Diversity in Representation
A strong committee should intentionally include:
• Men and women
• Youth/young professionals (30s–40s)
• Seniors with experience
• Representation from diverse regional and linguistic backgrounds
This prevents any one group from dominating and promotes fairness.

6. Conduct Short Interviews for Finalists
A brief interview by the Board can help assess:
• Leadership philosophy
• Vision for unifying the community
• Ability to prevent/reduce political or regional divisions
• Plans to improve attendance and engagement
• How they would handle disagreements or conflicts

7. Ask for a Unity Commitment Statement
Every candidate should provide a short-written statement describing in their own language just before the interview in a closed room and not using AI:
• How they will bring all Hindu/Jain communities together
• How they will rebuild trust
• How they will avoid favoritism toward any region/group
• Their plan for expanding festival participation and youth involvement
This ensures their priorities align with the Mandir’s needs.

8. Avoid Extremes: No One Should Have Too Much Power
To prevent future conflicts:
• Responsibilities should be clearly defined
• Decisions should require committee consensus
• Major financial decisions must go through transparent review
This encourages collaboration instead of control.

9. Ask for minimum three References (One from their supervisor and one from their subordinate/co-worker)
A quick reference check can give insight into:
• The candidate’s reputation
• Their interpersonal style
• Their past community involvement
• Any concerns about divisiveness
This helps avoid repeating past mistakes.

10. Select Leaders Who Can Establish Clear, Non-Political Conduct Standards for Priests
The next Executive Committee must be composed of individuals who are willing and able to:
• Maintain a strict expectation of neutrality for all priests
• Ensure no priest promotes or favors any regional/language group (Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Jain, North/South Indian, etc.)
• Prohibit political conversations or influence within temple premises
• Set respectful professional guidelines for how priests interact with devotees
This is essential to restoring fairness and trust.

11. Introduce a Written Code of Conduct for Temple Priests
The new EC should draft and adopt a policy outlining that priests must:
• Treat all devotees equally
• Provide rituals and services without bias
• Avoid taking sides in community disagreements
• Stay away from internal politics or group-based favoritism
• Maintain a spiritually focused role rather than a political one
A written policy helps avoid misunderstandings and provides clarity for everyone.

12. Implement an Anonymous Feedback System for Devotees
To ensure issues are addressed early:
• Create a confidential feedback channel (QR code, email, box at temple)
• Allow devotees to report concerns about bias or favoritism
• Require the EC to review and address concerns monthly
• Provide corrective coaching to priests when needed
This builds accountability and transparency.

13. Ensure the New EC Has Leaders Who Are Strong Enough to Manage Priests Professionally
The next EC should include individuals who:
• Can enforce rules diplomatically but firmly
• Are not intimidated by internal politics
• Can mentor the priest(s) toward more inclusive behavior
• Will hold clergy accountable when bias is reported
This requires leaders with maturity, calmness, and strong communication skills.

14. Separate Ritual Duties from Administrative Authority
To reduce political influence:
• Keep priests fully focused on spiritual responsibilities
• Do not involve priests in committee decisions, elections, or governance
• Avoid allowing them to advocate for specific candidates or regional groups
This ensures the Mandir remains spiritually focused and free from politics.

Summary
The best Executive Committee for 2026–2027 will be made up of people who are:
• Neutral and respected
• Collaborative and calm
• Unifying across regions and traditions
• Transparent and ethical
• Experienced in seva
• Focused on community, not politics

If the selection follows these principles, the Mandir will see:
• Higher attendance
• Better volunteer engagement
• Fewer conflicts
• Stronger youth involvement
• A more joyful celebration of festivals
• Renewed trust from the entire Southern Nevada Hindu community

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