Fwd: update 2 - GN service to cows

[Abhay Khanore]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Parijata" <pari...@theyogafarm.com>
Date: Apr 29, 2017 12:03 PM
Subject: update 2 - GN service to cows
To: "DHRUVA" <dhr...@theyogafarm.com>
Cc: "Kesi-mardana Dasa" <kesim...@theyogafarm.com>

Hare Krsna Dearest Friends and Family

Please accept our respectful greetings.  All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to you!

Just an update: since i wrote you a few days ago, the amount raised is now $45 000.  You have been generous and therefore we believe that we as a community of family and friends who understand the value of cow protection in its entirety, can meet this goal!  We can do it!

Am writing a short follow-up to my pervious emails on some Questions asked - and am "replying all" for everyone’s benefit - please do email us if this is not adequate, or call Dhruva or I on 516 946 9780.

1. Q: what happens if we do not raise the full amount needed?

    A: we will take out a loan - to construct this goshala is a commitment we must honor - the contract is signed and we are obliged to fulfill all requirements - this is a risk decision taken by us as the benefits of this structure to the well-being and comfort of the cows is huge, in addition to daily feeding and caring efficiencies for both manpower and equipment needs.

2. Q: what will happen if we raise more laxmi than the amount needed?

    A: the surplus laxmi will be used for the cows based on their priority needs - this surplus amount, if any, and how it has been used, will be communicated to all donors/investors. 

Let us know how else we can serve you.

Your generosity will manifest a much needed facility.  And your blessings are most valuable and needed.

Thank you all

with gratitude and affection 

your servants always,

Dhruva, Parijata and the Team 

Begin forwarded message:

From: Parijata Devi Dasi <pari...@theyogafarm.com>

Subject: update on our time sensitive service to the cows appeal

Date: April 25, 2017 at 3:22:44 PM EDT

To: Dhruva Maharaj Das <dhr...@theyogafarm.com>

Cc: Kesi-mardana Dasa <kesim...@theyogafarm.com>

Dearest Friends and Family

Please accept our humble obeisances.  All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to your services!

Apologies for the quietness - i (Parijata) just returned from my country after 6 weeks, as my dad was ill - so am getting back into the the rhythm here at GN.

Friends and Family - your response to our appeal has touched our hearts - by your generosity, we have $40 000 collected from April 5th to April 18th.  We of course still need to raise the balance over the next 3 - 4 weeks.  

For those of you who have contributed, please accept our prostrated obeisances and heartfelt gratitude, from all of us including the cows.  We appreciate the sacrifices you make for your belief in and support of Gita Nagari and the goals and services here - we are deeply touched - thank you very much.

To those who are still deciding, we greatly appreciate your consideration, and if there is further information you would like, to help you decide, please call Dhruva or I on our cell on 516 946 9780.

We look forward to completing this service for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure, for the joy and comfort of the cows and ultimately for Sri Sri Radha Damodar, as the ultimate beneficiary of all our endeavors, alongside all of you.

Thank you always, Friends and Family

with much affection and gratitude

your indebted servants

Dhruva, Parijata and the GN Team 

Here is the appeal we sent out (we have generalized it for this communication), for your easy reference, and to those who are seeing this for the first time, we humbly appeal for your support - we thank you, from our hearts,  in advance:

Please accept our humble obeisances. 

 All Glories to our Founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada.  

All Glories to your efforts in devotional service.

Pray that all is well and we look forward to your association in Gita Nagari soon.

Prabhus - we are writing you and some other devotees because we need your support on an opportunity that has come up - here is the explanation and our appeal to you:

To begin with, your support over the years has allowed the servants of Sri Sri Radha Damodar here at Gita Nagari to fulfill a significant portion of Srila Prabhupada's desire as expressed in his 1956 essay entitled "The Conception of Gita Nagari".  For this we remain your indebted servants.  For the rest of what has yet to be achieved in service to Srila Prabhupada, and for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Damodar, we strive on and that remains, as you know, an ongoing endeavor, with more and more opportunities for devotional service and spiritual advancement.

I will get to the point: So at the end of last year, we applied for a conservation grant from the USDA for constructing a new roofed feeding area and manure storage facility costing $268,000.  We were successfully awarded a grant of $134k for the building.  It is a cost share grant so we have to raise the balance of the laxmi.  

The requirements are to build a very exceptional, well designed 15,000 sf roofed feeding area for our cows with a manure storage facility attached.  

Up to now, the land has been surveyed, the location carefully selected, and the engineers have produced their expert designs.  As Spring approaches, the plan is to prepare the ground and by late May, commence construction.  There is another strict requirement of a grant such as this: that we utilize these funds within their current fiscal year, which for the USDA is by September of this year.  So in order to meet these stringent requirements, with tight timelines, we are appealing to you to offer your generosity in this unique opportunity to serve the cows in this particular way, creating auspiciousness and prosperity for all who participate.

On conceptualizing how to arrive at $134 000 that we set as our goal, the part of the grant to be funded by us, we decided to list the names of 100 devotees who have been supporting Gita Nagari consistently in it endeavors over the years, both with financial and moral support, and who would consider offering $1000 - $5000 each.  As we listed the names, we only got to 48 potential donors.  This was both enlivening and concerning - enlivening because your generosity, being few in numbers yet great in contribution, has built Gita Nagari to what it is today and has laid a strong foundation for what it can become as a service to the worldwide ISKCON and broader communities.  Concerned because we will fall short of our financial target.

If you are inspired to serve the cows in this way and your circumstances allow you, please donate generously.  Please send a check to: 534 Gita Nagari Road, Port Royal, Pa, 17082.  Let me know if you prefer to do a bank transfer or other method.

The need is a high impact 6 week period of raising this laxmi if we are to fulfill the requirements of this grant - construction (with all the variables that go with it including weather patterns) and a sign-off from the USDA officials.  

This is not a huge, blanket "fund raiser".  This is a personal appeal to you (in your personal capacity) based on your relationship with Sri Sri Radha Damodar, Their cows and Their servants, to offer what you can to this devotional service opportunity.  

 I thank you in advance, Prabhus, for your generous support both over the years and in this specific opportunity.  We feel deeply honored to serve you in your service to Sri Sri Radha Damodar and Their cows.  And we look forward to more opportunities of service, side by side with you. I am reminded that devotional service in this lifetime is certainly a privilege and I thank you for engaging the team and I in this way. May you and your loved ones continue to be blessed by your beloved Sri Sri Radha Damodar and Their adorable cows.

PS:  Due to the sensitive nature of USDA funding rules, please do not circulate this email.  It is a personal email to you.

Thank you Prabhus.

With heartfelt gratitude and in humble service to you and family

your servants always

Dhruva Maharaj das, Parijata dd and the GN Team