https://htgc.org/HTGC/index.php and also more information is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Temple_of_Greater_Chicago or simply google HTGC for a lot of wonderful information on one of the most beautiful and picturesque temple complexes in the United Sates. My affinity and association goes back to its really early days even before the original Ganesh Mandir was built, and subsequent construction of Rama Temple and the various complexes that now is the Greater Temple Complex.
It is really beautiful and with a limited crowds most of the time and very serene. No matter what season, the temple complex is beautiful and inviting.
The history of the inception and the origins are on the weblink and on the internet, and the original donors and patrons of the "Rama Temple" are mostly no longer daily participants in the administration of the temple. I don't see many of them in the infrequent trips I make to Lemont these days. My own work schedule and time commitments don't allow me to visit regularly, but I do visit as much as I can as I have a personal affinity to the place.
On an annual basis (most times) I go to vote for the new board, or some major issue. But it is almost on an annual basis and seldom, I visit the temple for any kind of ad hoc development.
Today morning (7/7/2024) there was a general body meeting that was called for spending about $1.3 million for maintenance of the main gopuram. My cousin Jayadev Mettupalli who is very active with the temple activities asked last week, if I would come to the general body meeting and I was happy to go. The visit serves multiple purposes, visit the temple, visit my cousin and definitely visit the temple kitchen.
Today's visit included the ad hoc general body meeting, which was seeking approval to spend money maintenance/renovation of the main temple Gopuram. When I read the printed agenda, which was long and a lot of paper that was used to print the simple request for allocation of resources for maintenance, upkeep and refurbishing the temple main complex.
HTGC has a well defined constitution and only Capital spending on projects requires general body approval and not maintenance and repairs. This whole premise was blatantly ignored by the people who called this meeting.
I raised my hands many times during the long meeting but was not given a opportunity to tell the elders who are responsible for the temple maintenance (this was not the current temple management team). Instead of simple request for maintenance money, which I think was operating $$$ rather than new money required for construction, they made a 80's style slide presentation. None of the speakers had any the idea of protocol, or process of conducting a general body meeting. Everyone speaks, over each other and the lady only threatened the participants who disagreed with removal.
I will list my simple observations in points as I will probably never attend another of these HTGC meetings.
I intend to post this to the temple weblink and my own social media posts, as adults with interest in being part of something that is as precious as this temple should only serve the best interest of the temple and follow the established protocols of the organization, and not ignore the simple rules of Hinduism and Devotion.
1. The presentation and the meeting with people was totally wasted as it was maintenance dollars and not new construction requirements. At this time maintenance and resources and Indian team is already in place and working on the clean-up and upkeep. With the intelligence in the room, the distinction could have been easily made that your presentation premise is inaccurate. The slide show was really from the days of original windows and some one was just reading of the slides which held no interest of the audience. The presentation was amateurish and no one needed the details as everyone who was in the room already was aware of the spending.
2. I am not sure who wanted to spend the temple money on this ad hoc meeting, spending the temple money to call this meeting (wasted money) and all the people who attended (wasted time) and the entire meeting (disagreements), and few guys just deciding on a totally disorganized meeting. This time and money could have been spent on what the temple needed.
3. The speakers were emphasizing on replacing a majority of materials and making structural improvements to the temple main complex within 40 years of a Hindu Temple with all kinds of reasons for spending the money, and my whole mindset was that they still have the original silpis.
I am going to cut and paste from the internet the meaning of a silpi.
The word or phrase శిల్పి refers to a creator of great skill in the manual arts, or a professional whose work is consistently of high quality, or an artist who creates sculptures, or someone who cuts or carves stone. See శిల్పి meaning in English, శిల్పి definition, translation and meaning of శిల్పి in English. Learn and practice the pronunciation of శిల్పి. Find the answer of what is the meaning of శిల్పి in English.
I found this ironical as the speakers insist that about 40 years (with regular maintenance) is a lot of time due to weather and conditions of Chicago, the same guys who were originally involved with the construction of the Temple and more new guys from India are getting visas to once again help with the maintenance of the structure. Such irony with the team, who think less tan 40 years is a long time for a Hindu Temple.
I raised my hand to no avail. I wanted to protest to the learned men on the stage that the temples in India have stood for hundreds of years if not thousands of years, and I don't hear this incompetence of the crew that was involved with the original structure doing it again and again. What happened to regular maintenance and longevity of the structure, that comes with Hindu temples across the world?
3. The budget being presented (for the work that has already started) was simply guessing and not any accurate representation of what was actually required. The total went from about $1.2 million to $2.0 million, about a more than 40% ley in the presentation estimate, and I am sure they will blow through it by only Lord Rama knows how much. There is such gross disregard for the temple's finances and no one seems to care about the responsibility to the temple's money.
4. There is no protocol being followed. The folks on the podium think they are the control (except Bhimanna) everyone is feeling that we the audience are subjects. Such irregular handling of the protocols, and such inappropriate presentation of important spending of temple's money as if they are spending money from their pockets. None of the questions that were being asked were handled in a professional manner. The responses lacked clarity, and left the audience irritated.
This was a wasted opportunity to raise the required support for funding, explain the value of what was being spent on maintenance and upgrades, and complete disregard for history of Hindu temple construction and the basic protocols of a general body meeting.
Such disaster in presentation, protocols and such poor communication skills of the members, who are being tasked with the upkeep of the wonderful structures that represent the spirit of the community and the lord himself "Rama".
This is my final word on the organization. Get a team that believes in the spirit of the organization, and the god's work. The power of the word RAMA is greater than anything else. Listen to the people and donors, as they make the Temple a beautiful and significant place for all of us, and do god's work with full devotion. All the things that were the intentions of the temple's initial donors, volunteers and disciples that started the HTGC, follow the same practices and we will have HTGC and Ram Mandir be the place for worship and find solace in the name of RAMA for ever.
In the name of RAMA, whose name is the TRUTH, forever.
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