being pro-active. annual income exceeding $1 mil devotee email broadcasts exceeds 4,000 devotee...

BEING PRO-ACTIVE

Annual income exceeding $1 MilDevotee email broadcasts exceeds 4,000 Devotee attendance exceeds 1,200 for major festivals (Ramanavami, Ganesh chaturdhi, Diwali,etc); New year > $3,500Major Festivals performed = 10Active in Community activities – Health Fair, Blood donation, Kids summit

At a Glance

Strategic Initiatives

Parking

Cafeteria & Library

Kalyana Mandapam

Gurukulam Campus

Rajagopuram

Siva Parivar

Priest Quarters

SVT Foundation

Management’s Responsibility

Sustain the Faith & Reason that connected every devotee to our temple

Being accountable to every Penny contributed by devotees

Some FactsBoard Members:Board member resignations or Inactivity – atleast 30% – 50% Board Meetings Attendance ~ 60% (gets worse in second half)# of board members returning to serve again – very minimalCommunity Participation:AGM attendance: < 5% ( Roughly 30 to 40 out of ~ 800 patrons)Election Voting Record: Just 40% – 50%Contestants in election process: Hardly filling upNO Voting process held for elections: Trustees in: 2011,2010, etcDirectors in: 2010, etc _____________

Points to Ponder

Responsibility & Decision making – by very few board membersUnlimited power – given to very few board members

Complete financial control - given to 3 year elected membersLong term investment & planning – given to a 3 year elected

members

Points to Ponder

Will these 3 year elected members take responsibility when there’s a Legal Law suit against our temple ORthe Net Income goes negative ORthere’s Operational non-compliance with OSHA ORnatural disasters occur or any kind of assaults happen OR local County or Lending Bank tries to take over

?

Our Goals (Current & Future)

1. To Establish Long Term Security & Responsibility2. To raise Funds & improve financial stability3. Operational Sustainability

Individuals who can provide leadership with outstanding character, ability and vision for the future of our institution

and our faith.

Board of Governors

Manage OperationsElected representatives

Term: 2 Yrs

Policy MakersApprovals - Unlimited Elected representatives

Term: 3 Yrs

TRUSTEES

DIRECTORS

Current Structure

GOVERNORS

Manage OperationsElected representatives

Term: 2 Yrs

Policy MakersApprovals < 500K or $1 Mil

Elected representativesTerm: 3 Yrs

Visionaries & ProtectorsApprovals ≥ 500K or $1 Mil

Appointed PatronsTerm: Lifetime

TRUSTEES

DIRECTORS

Board of Governors

Functions: Ultimate authority for the financial, administrative,

legal, religious and security aspects of the institution

• Define the vision, manage the assets and protect the institution and our values

• Exercises jurisdiction in all matters EXCEPT those that are delegated to the Board of Trustees & Directors

Board of GovernorsFunctions (Cont’d):• Powers to supersede the decisions made by the Board of

Trustees and Board of Directors, in case a situation arises which could be detrimental to the Institution or to the vision of the Institution

• Detrimental cases - for ex:Legal Law suits Financial burdens Operational non-complianceTerrorist activities or assaults or natural calamitiesLocal government interference

Board of GovernorsFunctions (Cont’d):

• Cannot involve in the day-to-day activities or routine operations

• Any project that exceeds 500K budget should be approved by the Board of governors

• Board of Governors meet at least twice a year or as required

Board of Governors

Term of OfficeWhen APPOINTED, will be a Board member until

15 years OR Life term - his or her death or until resignation or

retirement or his/her removal by the fellow Board of Governors or disqualification based on non-compliance with the eligibility criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• By appointment only• Person who can provide leadership with outstanding

character, ability and vision for the future of our institution and our faith

• Should have contributed at least $100K during his tenure

Eligibility Criteria Others• The appointment to the board of governor position cannot

automatically be given to the immediate heirs in the family• Upon a members decease, resignation, retirement, removal or

disqualification, then that position will be available for appointment and will go thru the eligibility criteria & BOT & BOD Approval process

Options

Current Structure (BOT + BOD)

Works well (except fixing some loopholes)

Focus is on Long-Term (BOG)

Improve long term infrastructure that can sustain:•Growth of ‘diversified’ devotee base

•Any kind of unforeseen eventualities (Financial/Legal/Religious/etc)

•Unbridled / Unrestricted investment or spending by short term elected reps

Provides:

•Steady & balanced growth

Options

1) Forming BOG Structure

2) Upgrading BOTs

  Governors Trustees

Position Filled By Appointment  By Election 

Fiscal Responsibility 

Probability:Higher; Due to bigger donations made 

Probability: Comparatively lower

Eligibility Minimum: 100K  1K /  10K 

Daily activities  Not involved  Coordinate with Directors 

Policy Making For higher value For limited value

Board of GovernorsTodo list

Process IdentificationInform all Patron membersAmend the ConstitutionAmend the by-lawsVoting Approve & Form the Board of Governors

Learning from Temples in US

A couple (out of many) of

TRUE stories

Ganesha Temple in Flushing, NY

Due to the board members conflicts, the management is taken over by

Non-Hindus

Hindu Temple in Toronto, Canada

When board members did not work well with their members, the county planned to foreclose the property. Fortunately,

YDS(Yogi Divine Society) took over and continued the services.

Thank You