ISKCON Leadership Sanga Seminars and Plenary Presentations
The 1st GBC International Leadership Sanga (ILS) held in Sridham Mayapur this year hosted more than 40 seminars and workshops. Available now, are the various power point presentations from the plenaries and seminars. We will be updating this list as more become available.
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BBT – Book Distribution
Plenary
Presenters: Radha-mohan dasa, Shyama-mohini dasi
BBT-plenary.ppt
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BBT – Book Distribution
Book Distribution Outside the Book Bag
Presenters: Hanuman Dasa, Radha-mohan Dasa, Shyama-mohini Dasi
Gone are the days when book distribution was limited to full-time street sankirtana. As times change, there’s a flood of innovative, cutting-edge book distribution techniques that use the diverse skills and backgrounds of a wide variety of devotees. Their mantra? “Sankirtana is for everyone!” This seminar showcases some of the sankirtana strategies being successfully implemented in different parts of the world, bringing growth to book sales and commitment to Srila Prabhupada. Examples include Weekend Warriors, Smart Boxes, vending machine distribution, motel Gita programs, eBooks, online stores, and more.
BBT – Outside Book Bag.pptx
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BBT – Book Distribution
The Monthly Sankirtana Festival (MSF) – A Little from a Lot
Presenters: Radha-mohana Dasa, Shyama-mohini Dasi
The Monthly Sankirtana Festival (MSF) is a fun, organized sankirtana outing, complete with harinama, prasada, and book distribution. The MSF engages a team of devotees on the principle of “a lot of people each doing a little.” This seminar showcases the best practices of the temples where the MSF model is successful, and show how these festivals are revitalizating communities through the fun of saṅkīrtana. The seminar also introduces the MSF Toolkit – a series of easy steps to help you start your own MSF and make a difference in your community.
BBT- Monthly Sankirtan Festival.pptx
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Bhaktivedanta Book Trust – Responsible Publishing
Presenter: Dravida Dasa
Because Srila Prabhupada’s books are sacred, his followers may sometimes wonder: “Is it right to edit them? Is it proper to revise them?” In this seminar one of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust’s senior editors, Dravida Dasa, shows what the original editing of Srila Prabhupada’s books entailed and how the revisions of his books since his departure have brought the books even closer to his intended meaning.
BBT – Responsible Editing.ppt
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Constitution – Toward an ISKCON Constitution
Presenters: Sesa dasa, Pancharatna dasa
Srila Prabhupada spoke about his desire for an ISKCON Constitution. How can we fulfill it? This seminar presents the GBC’s Constitution Committee’s work-in-progress. The current draft, which has now been through five reviews with the GBC body, is presented along with the background and rationale of each component. The focus is on answering questions and receiving participants feedback on the Committee’s work.
Constitution – Plenary.ppt
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Devotee Care
Plenary
Presenter: Revati Raman dasa
Devotee Care – plenary.ppt
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Devotee Care – Essential Aspects of Caring Leadership
Presenter: Devaki dasi
A caring leader has to be a servant-leader, a true, well-wishing friend. We discuss compassion and a selfless interest in the welfare of the devotees under your care. We discuss the importance of good listening and communication skills, of exemplary behavior, and the ability to give balanced advice according to time, place, and circumstance. We also discuss the importance of leaders taking the time to care for themselves so they are strong and stable in their service.
Devotee Care – Caring Leadership.docx
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Education
Plenary
Presenter: Yadunandana Swami
Education – plenary.ppt
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Education
Educating Our Children in Krsna Consciousness
Presenter: Prana dasa
This presentation provides thought-provoking ideas to help us redefine our approach to educating our children in Krsna consciousness. The seminar includes an overview of resources currently available for teaching young devotees, and suggests how ISKCON’s leaders can create a nurturing environment that supports the raising of ISKCON’s greatest asset – our children.
Education- educating children in kc.ppt
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Global Finance
Fund-Raising
Presenters: Srutidharma dasa, Pranabandhu dasa
Fund-raising Bhaktivedanta Manor style. Topics discussed: setting up patron programs, getting support for the temple’s daily services, specialized fund-raising through festivals, maintaining databases, and fund-raising for specific projects
Global finance – fund raising.ppt
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Organizational Development
Exploring Present & Emerging Trends – Environmental Scanning
Presenter: Kaunteya dasa
When we talk about “Environmental Scanning” we are not talking about ecology or going green but about identifying trends in our communities and in the world at large. This is an essential aspect of strategic planning. This presentation focuses on techniques for making ISKCON more relevant and relatable in the four areas of interaction: new for the new (new programs and approaches for new people), old for the new (repackaging existing programs for new people), new for the old (new programs for existing devotees), and old for the old (improving existing programs for present devotees). Discover the required attitudes, skills, and available tools for effectively identifying important trends.
Org dev-environmental scanning.ppt
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Organizational Development
Unity in Diversity
Presenters: Braja Bihari dasa, Kaunteya dasa
In a letter dated October 18, 1973, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity … Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful.” What better opportunity than the ILS to delve into the meaning of unity in diversity? This theme is relevant to many aspects of our movement, but it is specifically important for ISKCON’s preaching, our ability to accommodate various opinions on the details of devotional service, and overcoming conflicts between devotees. The presentation focuses on statements from Srila Prabhupada’s books and letters and a GBC resolution that addresses this topic.
Org Dev-Unity in Diversity.ppt
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Organizational Development
Zonal Configuration
Plenary
Presenter: Kaunteya dasa
Org Dev – Zonal Configuration Plenary.ppt
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Organizational Development
GBC Zonal Configuration – a Vital Work in Progress
Presenter: Kaunteya dasa
In the words of a GBC member: “We need zones that can survive and transcend an individual and that have their own sustainable logic.” This presentation analyzes the history of zonal configuration from Srila Prabhupada’s times (including instructions from our founder-acarya on forming and assigning zones) to our present situation, which in the words of another GBC member has been “a mess that’s been developing in a random way for thirty years.” Zones are crucial building blocks of ISKCON; their size and manageability are an essential aspect of the overall health and effectiveness of the movement. Zonal configuration is already in motion. This presentation teaches you about the GBC resolutions already passed and how they connect with other crucial and interlinked issues: the size of the GBC body, the relationship between the GBC and other levels of leadership, geographical representation on the GBC, relationships with national councils, and more. We are at a point where the GBC is rethinking our global structure and way of functioning–zonal configuration is at the center of it all!
Org Dev-Zonal Config.ppt
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Organizational Development
Local Strategic Planning Part One: Solving Problems and Creating a Better Future
Local Strategic Planning Part Two: Executing Your Plans
Presenter: Gopal Bhatta dasa
Part One:
How can we excel at fulfilling our mission? Put another way, how can we structure our Krsna conscious plans so we’ll have the greatest impact on the world and the place we live? The essence is: Happier devotees and more devotees – to make the existing devotees more inspired, energized, and well-cared for while making more devotees. Strategic planning is a simple and spiritually powerful tool. By definition, strategic planning is the method by which any organization defines how it will move into the future. Learn the seven proven steps for creating a plan. This seminar leaves you with easy-to-use skills and substantial handouts to review at your leisure.
Part Two:
Writing a strategic plan for your project is only one-third of the task; executing the plan makes up the other two-thirds. Working on a plan and then simply going home is a waste of everyone’s time. How to stick to plans so they bear fruit? How to create a favorable culture to improving your life and the life of your projects? Learn tips and tricks to keep your plans dynamic and make the difference between wishful thinking and effective strategic planning.
Org Dev – strategic plan.doc
Org Dev – strategic plan statement.doc
Org Dev – strategic plan model 1.doc
Org Dev – Strategic plan model 2.doc
Org dev-socratic questioning.doc
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Outreach
Book Distribution and Leadership
Presenter: Navina Nirada dasa
Want to turn your congregation from spectators into preachers? Explore ways to implement Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mandate for ISKCON by making book distribution part of your integrated preaching strategy. Learn to build your team, train and empower your devotees, and monitor your progress in establishing sustainable preaching projects. We discuss the four functions of a leader, the three pillars of trust, the three types of power, and explore the synergy of teamwork and cooperative effort. Also: how to see potential, make new devotees, care for newcomers, and leave everyone with a good impression. Happy devotees are the most attractive element in our outreach.
Outreach-BD and Leadership.ppt
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Outreach
Contact Follow Up and Cultivation
Presenters: Bhakti Vinode Maharaja, Pancharatna dasa
Every day thousands of souls come in contact with Krsna consciousness through book distribution, festivals, temple visits, the Internet, and in other ways. Then what? This seminar presents and explores ways to cultivate first-time contacts and address their needs in their pursuit of spiritual development.
Outreach-Contact Follow up.ppt
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Outreach
Harinama Sankirtana
Presenters: Lokanatha Swami, Ekalavya dasa
This seminar briefly examines both the history and necessity of harinama sankirtana in ISKCON as well as sample some of Srila Prabhupada’s statements on the topic. Discussed are the various styles of harinama, and points about dress code, dancing, and kirtana standards.
Outreach-harinama.ppt
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Outreach
Preaching to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Your Congregation
Presenter: Subuddhi Krsna dasa
In this seminar, the opportunity and challenges inherent in reaching out to NRIs are identified. Discussed are ideas how to approach them and win their trust, and focus on successful programs in different parts of the world.
outreach-preaching to NRI.pdf
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Outreach
Social Media and Internet Preaching
Presenters: Pancharatna dasa, Subuddhi Krsna dasa
The way it’s going, by the end of 2012 there will be more people using Facebook than who live in India. Texting, IM, and tweets are surpassing email. What does it all mean, and how can Lord Caitanya’s mission be spread using social media and the Internet? This seminar presents an overview of the best tools and strategies for leveraging the power of these communications methods.
outreach-social media.ppt
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Rural Development
Building Sustainable Communities
Presenter: Gokula Dasa
It was Srila Prabhupada’s ardent desire to show the world ideal living according to the principles of daiva-varnasrama-dharma, based on the simple formula of land, cows, and Krsna. Building Krsna conscious communities worldwide to demonstrate a “simpler and more natural way of life” is great preaching to a world hungry for sustainable alternatives to modern life. As Srila Prabhupada pointed out, “If these farms become successful, then the whole world will be Krsna conscious.” (Letter, 1977)
rural development –sustainable communities 1.ppt
rural development –sustainable communities 2.ppt
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Srila Prabhupada’s Position
Plenary
Presenter: HH Bhakti Charu Swami and Akrura dasa
srila prabhupada position plenary.ppt
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Srila Prabhupada’s Position
Our Foundational Relationship With Srila Prabhupada
Celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s preeminent position in ISKCON and every Prabhupada follower’s foundational relationship with him
Presenter: Suresvara dasa
The full, multipart seminar, of which we are presenting a “sampler” at the ILS, moves from sambandha (deepening our understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s position as our founder-acarya) to abhidheya (deepening our service to his mission) to prayojana (deepening our love for him).
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Succession
Plenary
Presenter: Jaya Krsna dasa
succession plenary.ppt
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Succession
Developing Leaders in ISKCON
Presenter: Jaya Krsna dasa
Succession is one of the most critical aspects of ISKCON’s future. This seminar focuses on the challenges ISKCON faces on the topic of succession, presents the different stages and principles of succession, and reminds leaders about their responsibility to identify and support potential new leaders. Different tools to support succession will be presented.
succession – self assessment.doc
Succession – Identify Future Leaders.doc
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Team-Building
Plenary
Presenter: Praghosa dasa
team building plenary.ppt
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Temple Development/Systems Administration
Elements of a Well-Developed ISKCON Temple At a Glance
Presenter: Gauranga dasa
This seminar delineates the important and essential elements of a well-developed ISKCON temple, focusing on the general principles applicable anywhere. Discussed are the elements necessary for making and expanding a happy devotee community, including various aspects of nourishing, inspiring, and protecting the devotees. The seminar highlights the function and importance of the various temple departments and systems required to achieve strong devotional communities.
temple development plenary.ppt
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Temple Development/Systems Administration
General Management
Presenter: Gauranga dasa
This seminar discusses effective management, starting with defining goals and moving into creating systems, favorable environments, and executing controls and follow-up. This seminar offers effective ways to manage, such as the quiet-hour system. The idea is to help leaders create a framework for smooth and effective management.
temple development-general management.ppt
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ISKCON Affiliates
Presenter: Mukunda Madhava dasa
This plenary presentation discusses the difference between an ISKCON entity and an ISKCON affiliate, the objectives of affiliates and the need to create affiliates.
Affiliates – Plenary.ppt
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Education
Adult Education
Presenter: Yadunandana Swami
This presentation focuses on the advantages of developing ISKCON communities through education, especially with good śāstric study programs. Discuss are other relevant areas of education, such as training in leadership, preaching, and management, and offering our youth opportunities for a Krsna conscious education.
Education-Adult Education.ppt
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Education
Board of Examination (BOEX)
Presenter: Yadunandana Swami
This seminar offers general information about the purpose of the BOEX, the existing accreditation system for sastric courses, some statistics on the number and places of approved centers, and statements by Srila Prabhupada on sastric education. We aim to inspire project leaders and educators to establish accredited examination centers to serve the needs of their communities.
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Parallel Lines
Plenary
Presenter: Badrinarayana dasa
Parallel lines – plenary.ppt