RSVP related

[Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago]

Dear Devotees,

I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits.

First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who takes the time to RSVP for our events. 

Your responses help us plan and prepare appropriately, and we truly appreciate your consideration.

I am writing to address a situation from our recent gathering for Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday Celebration on January 11th, 2026. We had 230 devotees sign up, but 139 attended. While we understand that unexpected circumstances arise, the significant gap between RSVPs and actual attendance created challenges for our volunteers, who dedicated considerable time and effort to preparing food and arrangements for nearly 100 additional people.

Our volunteers put their heart into ensuring everyone is well cared for, and managing this discrepancy affects not just resources but also the time and energy of those serving.

We kindly request that if your plans change and you're unable to attend after RSVPing, please inform us 2-3 days in advance, whenever possible. This advance notice makes a meaningful difference in our preparation and allows us to serve more efficiently.

We understand life is unpredictable, and we're not seeking to create any burden. We hope that better communication will honor the efforts of our dedicated volunteers and ensure we're preparing appropriately for those who will attend.

Thank you for your understanding and continued participation in our community.

With my best wishes,
Swami Ishatmananda