Author: Vijay Narang
Publication: Hindu America
Date: August 21, 2007
URL: http://hinduamerica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=216&Itemid=9
Hindu Mandir (Temple) Executives representing
97 temples and Hindu Organizations from more than 25 states of US and Canada
and Caribbean converged in Edison, NJ, to attend the second Hindu Mandir Executives
Conference (HMEC), from August 10, 2007 through August 12, 2007. They traveled
from as far as British Columbia in Canada, Hawaii, California, Florida, and
the heartland of America, with a mission to nourish, protect and sustain Hindu
Dharma in America. This very successful HMEC-2007 follows the first ever such
Conference of Executives of Hindu Mandirs held in Atlanta, GA, in June 2006,
which was attended by representatives of 57 temples from all over North America.
Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC)
- 2007
Hindu Mandir (Temple) Executives representing
97 temples and Hindu Organizations from more than 25 states of US and Canada
and Caribbean converged in Edison, NJ, to attend the second Hindu Mandir Executives
Conference (HMEC), from August 10, 2007 through August 12, 2007. They traveled
from as far as British Columbia in Canada, Hawaii, California, Florida, and
the heartland of America, with a mission to nourish, protect and sustain Hindu
Dharma in America.
This very successful HMEC-2007 follows the
first ever such Conference of Executives of Hindu Mandirs held in Atlanta,
GA, in June 2006, which was attended by representatives of 57 temples from
all over North America.
The executives represented a wide cross-section
of the Hindu community. These attendees who numbered over 200, were physicians,
scientists, businesspersons, homemakers, engineers, etc. besides being temple
executives with deep commitment to fulfilling the spiritual and social needs
of Hindu-American community. The group was diverse in terms of age, race,
generation, as well as national origin. A 29 year old Mandir President represented
the Hindu Youth at the Conference.
Addressing the temple executives from across
the country, Swami Dayananda Sarawati of the 'Arsha Vidya Gurukulam', who
was the keynote speaker, emphasized that the Hindu Mandirs should be halls
of learning for the Hindu youth besides being the altars of worship.
At HMEC 2007, Hindu Mandir executives collectively
deliberated on the evolving social, religious, cultural and spiritual needs
of 2.5 million strong, confident, diverse and vibrant Hindu-American community.
The conference had some parallel sessions for the youth representing temples
from across the nation.
In the concluding session of the Conference,
the delegates agreed on a series of action items and passed the following
resolutions unanimously for consideration of their temple's boards.
Resolution 1
We, the Hindu Mandirs of America:
Commend the US Senate in general and Senator
Harry Reid in particular for taking the courageous act of inviting Shri Rajen
Zed to perform the invocation for Senate session with a Hindu Prayer.
We will work together, and work with public
institutions to enhance the presence of Hindu traditions in public sphere.
Resolution 2
We, the Hindu Mandirs of America:
Will work together and with US Governmental
agencies to ensure that the upcoming eligibility criteria for issuance of
R1 Visa by US authorities Hindu "religious workers" does not adversely
impact the operations and effectiveness of Hindu Mandirs.
Resolution 3
We, the Hindu Mandirs of America:
Agree to adopt and promote within the US school
system the Hindu Dharma supplement published by Hinduism Today. An action
committee shall be constituted to enhance the dissemination and sustenance
of this effort.
