The Role of Mandirs in Sustaining Dharma in America

HMEC 2012 Team

HMEC 2012 - Call For Papers and Participation

Chairman Dr. Umesh Shukla, VHPA, NJ Convener & Host Dr. Romesh Japra Fremont Hindu Temple, CA Co-convener Rajesh Verma Fremont Hindu Temple, CA Ramesh Mahajan Former FIA Chairman & Hindu Community Activist, CA Vijay Ruikar VHPA, Bay Area Chapter, CA Ravi Kunduru Columbus Hindu Temple, OH Sant Gupta Durga Mandir, VA Mythili Bachu Shiva Vishnu Temple, MD Dr. Shyam Shukla Fremont Hindu Temple, CA

Enhancing Hindu Community Through Mandirs Namaste On behalf of the Program Committee, it is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the 7th Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference 2012 (HMEC 2012), August 17-18, 2012 to be held in San Jose, CA. The theme of the conference is: "The Role of Mandirs in Sustaining Dharma in America�.

At HMEC 2012 you will deliberate on ways of ensuring the sustenance of Hindu Dharma in North America and explore avenues for expanding mandirs' roles to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. Your enthusiastic support contributed immensely towards making the previous five conferences of high quality. We plan to continue that tradition this year.

The program being developed will be filled with inspiring talks and discussions. We will have ample opportunity of networking with our peers from other Hindu Temples nationwide, develop long-lasting friendships and share common goals and aspirations for our future generations.

Keynote Addresses Exhibitions

Plenary Sessions Workshops

Nainan Desai Hindu Temple of Florida, FL Dhaval Joshipura HMEC coordinator, IL Dr. Abhaya Asthana VHPA, MA Dr. Sharma Tadepalli Meenakshi Temple, TX Kaushik Joshi Chinmaya Mission, IL Navin Kadakia Hindu Jain Temple, PA Amit Mehta Allentown Hindu Temple, PA Dr. Surendra Pandey Chief Editor, Mandir Vani, GA Sanjay Mehta VHPA, PA Pt. Roopnauth Sharma Ram Mandir, Canada YOUTH MEMBERS Keya Bhatt Hindu Temple of Charlotte, NC Ujjawala Gadgil Fremont Hindu Temple, CA

Panel Discussions Poster Sessions

Parallel Tracks: Seva and Outreach, Education, Temple Operations, Youth Programs, Arts & Culture

We come together from many walks of life, bringing with us varied experiences and points of view. It is this diversity which makes these conferences as successful as they have been. You are invited to offer your experience and wisdom in specific areas, for everyone else's benefit. Contributing as:

A youth speaker A panelist

A speaker A poster presenter

A session chair An author

A sponsor Workshop organizer

We join together as one and share and listen to each other’s stories, opinions and experiences. It is our hope that each one of us may take several new concepts from this conference and implement in advancing the growth of the respective temples. If you would like to contribute in any of the above roles please contact: Dr. Abhaya Asthana, Program Co-Chair, HMEC 2012 abhayaji@gmail.com, 508-875-0432H; 508-314-6069M

Shri Sant D. Gupta, Program, Chair, HMEC 2012 santguptava@gmail.com 703-495-9299H; 703-980-7487M

We are confident that participating in this conference will be a rewarding experience for you. Thank you once again for your interest and we look forward to working with you in the coming months in developing the program.

HMEC 2012 Program Committee

Proposed Topics, Subjects & Issues for HMEC 12 (Partial List - Adjustments to be made on availability of appropriate speakers and other topics not listed here)

Keynote Speeches and Plenary Sessions: • Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati Ji's address • Pujya Swami Vidyadhishananda Ji's address • Pujya Swami Chidananda Muni Ji's address • Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji –Video Message.

• Pujya Swami Adhyatmananda ji Maharaj – visiting from India • Swami Mukundananda of JK Yog, India • Swami Nikhilananda Ji (Radhe Madhav Society, TX) • Sadasivanantha Palaniswami Kawai Monastery (HT) • NextGen or Youth Perspective on Hindu Temples • Framework for temple content architecture (not physical) • GYAN engage all faith-based and secular entities on environmental issues • HMEC Steering Committee – Its role and responsibility • Summaries of Workshops and Parallel Sessions • Inter-faith and out-reach Project Updates: • First HMPC (Hindu Mandir Priest Conference) April 2012 • Hindu Chaplaincy Initiative • Hindu Prayer Book for Hospitals • Past Attendee(s) share learnings from previous HMECs • Seva Diwas - Blood Drive through Temples • Update World Hindu Congress in 2014 • Report on HMEC at WAVES (July 2012) • First Hindu Mandir Conference held in India (May 5) • Vanaprasthi Conference (Serving Our Senior Citizens) • First Hindu Mandir Bal Vihar Network Conference (May 12) Parallel Sessions and Workshops • Youth and NextGen • Education – Young, Yuva & Adults • Temple Operations, Management & Administration • Temple: Religious & Rituals • Outreach to Surrounding Communities • Services to Our Hindu Community • Seva for the community we live in • Priests – A variety of aspects • Other Programs to offer at the temple • Human Rights and State of Hindus Worldwide • New, Proposed / Suggested • Conflict Resolution and Team Work • Library Book Project – India Unveiled • Volunteer Recruitment and Retention • Teaching Sanskrit to Yuva and Adults

Other ways to participate in HMEC 12 • Poster Sessions • Contribution of Articles and Abstracts to Mandir Vani (Conference Souvenir) • Booths – Limited to Promotion (and sale) of Hindu and Temple Centric Material • Arrange Small Group Meetings to develop action plans, etc.

Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference · An Initiative of VHP of America www.myhmec.org · P.O. Box 611, Iselin, NJ 08830 · (732)-744-0851 · hmec-l@vhp-america.org