local bhakti newsletter

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Welcome to the Murwillumbah Bhakti Newsletter.

Please note that all external links open in a new browser window so that you will not lose your mail connection.

Haribol to all the wonderful devotees that constitute our sangha. Welcome to the new design newsletter. This design was chosen because of difficulties in getting the previous format to display correctly. If you experience any difficulty in using or navigating this newsletter please contact us here. Nevertheless, if the newsletter doesn't display at all you won't be able to use the link ... will you?
If you'd rather not receive a copy of this occasional newsletter, please contact us here so we know not to include you on the newsletter mailing list.
NB: The reason we are using the formmail rather than a simple mailto link is due to the fact that some people don't have/prefer not to use an email programme on their computer. This way everybody gets the opportunity to respond.
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Privacy Policy

We need to create a privacy policy as we are databasing our members' details. My thoughts on the topic are that we need two classes of information concerning devotees.

A class of devotees who are content to share their details such as address and phone number with other devotees, upon request by other devotees.
A class of devotees who are unwilling to share their details with anyone except those committe members (and their delegate(s)) who have permission to access their details for management purposes.

Other policy points to consider might be:

Management does not ever divulge personal information concerning devotees, to non devotees, except to such organisations as the Department of Fair Trading, etc, and then only if requested by them and as a means of proving our membership numbers, and then only via means of completed, seconded and accepted membership forms, which show very little personal information.
All email and webmail addresses are to be stored in the database in the format of: devotee_at_email.com so as to protect them from web crawlers searching for addresses to spam.
Databases can be locked so if you are very concerned that someone will steal your details, let us know.

Hopefully, we will have enough ideas regarding the privacy policy very soon, as the sooner we have it drawn up the sooner we can have it officially ratified by management and maybe even considered at the next general meeting. If you have any ideas on the topic please contact us here to let us know your thoughts on the subject.
Online updating of details is in the pipeline but not yet available. Soon my friends, soon as Lord Time permits. The web page is tantamount to ready but time is required for deployment and testing. The actual update will not actually online but the data can be collected online and transmitted to a devotee for inclusion/update of the database.
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Membership Forms

If you have not yet filled out a membership form then you should do so soon. This is Srila Gurudeva's society, not the management committee's society, we merely serve Srila Gurudeva and the community via our humble attempts at organisation, and we can only get the government benefits of being a registered society if we have a register of members; here I'm talking about tax free concessions and charity status, exemption from stamp duty on insurance, etc, all this takes lots of work by the committee members, and lots of cooperation from the devotees, so please do your bit to ensure that our registered society is properly constituted according to the laws of this country by filling out a membership form. Please don't waste Srila Gurudeva's money by being reluctant to complete a membership form. Forms are available from tarunkrsnadas and Lilavati didi.
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Garage Sale.

The first of two or even three garage sales, held in the garage at tarunkrsnadas's residence at 7 Nullum St, was a reasonable success. Saturday was fairly busy, but Sunday was a dead loss. Saturday's efforts brought in over $170.00 towards the Hari Katha Festival '05. Many thanks to all devotees who so generously contributed to the weekend. A special thank-you to Premadas prabhu for keeping us company all afternoon on Saturday. Much appreciated.

As mentioned above, it is envisioned that there may be enough unwanted goods still lurking in the deep, dark semi-subterranean recesses of your home / dwelling / residence to enable a second or even third attempt at garage sailing. Please contact us here if you can assist.

There are still quite a few leftovers from the previous sale but not enough to constitute a sale. We still need items to sell. Everything (almost everything) is very cheap so why not purchase something if you have nothing to contribute for sale?

A brand new gymnasium set valued at $280.00, selling for a mere $170.00 ono.
A breadmaker; an oldie but a goodie. Cheap.
A fax machine in working order selling for the small sum of $25.00.
Many tree ferns, large and larger sizes @ various prices.
More second hand clothes than you can poke a stick at. Cheap but many are very nice.
A B&W battery operated television which appears to work.
Lots of other stuff. But we need more.

As tarunkrsnadas will not be able to staff the next and subsequent garage sales, it is important that someone volunteer for this easy but important seva. Again please contact us here if you can assist. Or contact any local management committee member to convey your willingness for garage seva. We have less than one month till the festival, so please bear in mind that we need to make this happen quickly.

Gaura Purnima Festival

Reports are that the Gaura Purnima Festival held last Saturday was a small but very sweet and successful event. We are all indebted to Kanak Manjari and family for hosting this festival for the community.
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Hari Katha Festival '05

It is less than one month till the Hari Katha Festival '05, so fasten your bhakti seat belts and get ready for the ride of your life. But ... we still need to fundraise bulk bikkies to ensure a successful festival. Please put your thinking caps on and let's get rollin' as we ain't got much time.
At this point of time, there is less than 4 weeks till the festival begins.
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Regarding Criticism

Not that anyone we know would indulge in criticism of anyone.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, SB 1.17. 22, Maharaja Pariksit says to Dharma in the form of a snow white bull who was standing on only one leg because the personality of Kali had mercilessly beaten him and had broken his other three legs, and yet still refused to name the person responsible for beating him, "O you , who are in the form of a bull! You know the truth of religion, and you are speaking according to the principle that the destination intended for the perpetrator of irreligious acts is also intended for one who identifies the perpetrator. You are no other than the personality of religion."
This entire chapter is resplendent with good advice for those who would be willing to accept such advice. If this isn't enough to convince you, please consider the advice that Sri Narayana gives to Sri Uddhava in the verses SB 11. 29. 8 through to SB 11. 29. 34, especially the verse where Sri Narayana says, "Disregarding the ridicule of one's companions, one should give up the bodily conception and its accompanying embarrasment. One should offer obeisances before all - even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses - falling flat on the ground like a rod".
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