March 17, 2009

My Dear Friends,

2009 has continued to be a tough economic year. Your Board has taken the following steps to improve the utilization of our great facility to serve our community.

1. Relax the rental policy to encourage use of the basement for various activities as we have a separate entrance, a commercial kitchen, elevator, bathroom facilities, etc.

2. Introduce cultural/religious programs on second and fourth Sundays to attract devotees to the Temple

3. Work on programs that will eventually provide sponsored lunches on all Sundays

4. Add more classes for education

5. Hold four fundraising cultural events in a year

Although these activities and your donations do bring in funds, they have not been consistent. This year being a very difficult year economically the inflow of cash has been very small. Our current cost to operate the Temple per month is:

Priests’ Salary and Benefits	6500
Mortgage	5800
Utilities/supplies	3000
Cleaning	1300
Total	16600

Board is taking steps to reduce these costs per month to $15,000 with two priests on staff.

Temple has no funds to meet these obligations on a monthly basis. We need your help. These are various ways:

• Rent temple premises for your special functions and spread the word among your friends about the wonderful facility that we have
• Rent our professional kitchen facilities for vegetarian cooking for your large events.
• Volunteer to clean temple premises thus helping us reduce cleaning bills.
• Under these tough economic times we think everyone can get involved by contributing $20 to $100 per family per month for three years, after which general funding can resume due to improved economic conditions.
• A pooja/archana will be performed in the name of your loved ones monthly to your favorite Deity per your instruction if you sign up for the monthly program.

We request your generous contributions by making a pledge sent to our Treasurer Ms Smruti Shah

And help your Temple meet its obligations.

Manohar Naga

Chairperson

Board of Trustees