Giriraja.org.au ~ Bringing you the 2005 AGM Minutes!!

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GIRIRAJA GOVARDHANA GAUDIYA MATH
HELD AT 4 GREVILLE STREET, MURWILLUMBAH
ON SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2005 AT 2PM

PRESENT: (a-z)

Braja Devi Dasi, Braja Kisori Devi Dasi, Caitanya Candra Dasa, Candrakala Devi Dasi, Dina Bandhu Dasa, Jagantha Suta Dasa, Jayanta Dasa, Kesava Dasa, Lila Suka Prabhu, Lilavati Devi Dasi, Mathuranatha Dasa, Murali mohan Dasa, Paramananda Puri Dasa, Premananda Dasa, Sahadeva Prabhu, Subal Krsna Dasa, Tarun Krsna Dasa

APOLOGIES:
Ragunatha Dasa

QUORUM:
The Chairperson (Caitanya Candra Dasa) noted that a quorum was present and declared the meeting open at 2.30pm.

MINUTES:

Bhajana/kirtana and prayer for Srila Gurudeva’s blessing to conduct a successful meeting in line with Vaisnava etiquette.
The Secretary read the main points of the last annual meeting. These were confirmed as a true and accurate record of the meeting and were duly signed by the Vice Chairperson Premananda Puri Dasa.
The Secretary read a brief report outlining the achievements of the past year. (see attached)
The Treasurer read the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet for the year ended June 30, 2005 (see attached)(HERE SOON:)
Election of new committee – before this could take place, the Motions as put forward by Dina Bandhu Das along with his revised draft of the new constitution were read out by the Chairperson (see attached)(HERE SOON:)

The motions, revised constitution and implications were discussed at length with the following conclusions:

It was voted unanimously that the Constitution be refined using the motions and draft constitution as a basis for the changes.

It was therefore decided that a “Constitution Committee” consisting of Subal Krsna Dasa, Mathurinatha Dasa, Dina Bandhu Dasa, Lila Suka Dasa, Jayanta Dasa and Caitanya Candra work on refining the draft constitution and a special resolution meeting will be called giving 21 days notice to members. This meeting will be held in approximately one month from today’s date. Members voted unanimously for this to happen. However Sahadeva wanted it mentioned that he wanted the changes now so the Committee members can’t make decisions without Srila Gurudeva’s instructions.

It was agreed that the new Committee Members would be bound by this proviso.

Nominations were then called from the floor: -

Chairperson:
Jaganatha Suta Dasa 6
Mathurinatha Dasa 11

Vice Chairperson:
Paramananda Puri 10
Jaganatha Suta Dasa 5
Premananda Dasa 0

Treasurer:
Caitanya Candra 0
Tarunkrsna Dasa Unanimous

Secretary:
Caitanya Candra No other nominations

Lilavati Devi Dasi agreed to stay on as Public Officer

Ordinary Members – Volunteered in person or nominated (no voting took place as it was discussed that everyone who attends a meeting would be a committee member) Specifically these devotees were mentioned:
Dina Bandhu Dasa, Sahadeva Dasa, Premananda Dasa, Jaganatha Suta Dasa, Candrakala Devi Dasi, CandraMukhi Devi Dasi, Braja Kisori Devi Dasi, Paramananda Puri Dasa, Baladeva Dasa

Voting on attached remaining motions.

Motions as put forward by Tarunkrsna Dasa.
It was unanimously agreed that the private information collected from devotees would not be made available to “just anyone” It was suggested that the new committee look into the Privacy Act and
advise.

Dina Bandhu advised that he had already was maintaining a database of Devotees' contact details. (no further action required)

GENERAL MOTIONS:
A vote was then taken by a show of hands and the counting of proxy votes with the result as follows:

Motion 1: That the land at 17 Prince Street (Cnr Nullum Street) Murwillumbah be sold:
VOTES FROM THE FLOOR, VOTES BY PROXY
Yes 16, Yes 42
No 0, No 2
Abstain 1

Motion 2: That the Hatton’s Bluff property be purchased through a company set up to be collectively owned by devotees and Giriraja govardhana Gaudiya Math.
VOTES FROM THE FLOOR, VOTES BY PROXY
Yes 13, Yes 41
No 0, No 3
Abstain 4

Motion 3: That the income from the sale of Prince Street (if sold) be used to purchase unit shares in the Hatton’s Bluff property in the name of Giriraja Govardhana Gaudiya Math.
VOTES FROM THE FLOOR, VOTES BY PROXY
Yes 13, Yes 41
No 1, No 3
Abstain 5

Motion 4: That the minimum mortgage repayments for 17 Prince Street (Nullum Street) $650.00 per month be increased or a lump sum paid off immediately to reduce interest.

Discussion followed regarding re-draw facility and payment of council rates. It was decided that the balance of the building account (approx. $11,000) be paid off the mortgage by the first due date of August 19, 2005. Either devotees would be asked to donate any money due for bills or money could be re-drawn from the loan.

General Business:

The following points were discussed:

Dina Bandhu proposed that a Temple Finance Committee be formed so that hundi donations could be banked and cheques drawn for temple expenses. Subal Krsna dasa also recommended upgrading the accounting system and implementing “Public Accounting” where no one counts cash alone. The financial reports should be read to the Dieties.

There was a unanimous vote to accept a temple finance committee and the public accounting system.

The Temple Finance Committee will consist of: Subal Krsna Dasa, Tarunkrsna Dasa, Caitanya Candra Dasa and Premandanda Dasa.

Lila Suka Dasa recommended that a lease be drawn up between Giriraja Govardhana Gaudiya Math and the Greville Street property with nominal rent – the public liability insurance would then cover the activities at the temple.

Caitanya Candra Dasa mentioned that if the Greville Street property is not sold the women devotees may like to rent it as women’s ashram.

Dina Bandhu Dasa mentioned the setting up of a Temple Management Committee for the day to day running of the temple. The current devotees living in the Temple should make up this committee. A Policy for Temple Management (based on Brahminical Council) should be drawn up for final acceptance at the meeting to be held in one month’s time.

A meeting to sort out Temple issues was set for Sunday August 14 at 10.30am.

Sahadeva Dasa recommended that rules for living in the Ashram should be implemented. This could be achieved by formulating policies and asking devotees to read them before they move into the temple (as suggested by Lilavati)

Keseva Dasa led a discussion on inviting everyone to come to the Temple to chant together with love and affection.

A Committee for the selling of Nullum Street and the Purchasing of the Hatton’s Bluff Land was set up consisting of the following devotees: Lila Suka Dasa, Caitanya Candra Dasa, Paramananda Puri Dasa, Mathurinatha Dasa, Premandanda Dasa. Subal Krsna Dasa, Braja Kisori Dasa, Jaganatha Suta Dasa, Tarunkrsna Dasa and Mahaprabhu Dasa.

Subal Krsna then began an explanation of “Seva Teams” Motions. It was suggested that this be integrated into the discussions of the Constitution Committee.

The Meeting closed at 5.50pm