The GVT first outlined its' 11 proposed strategies in October 2003 as part of a five year plan to help create a turn around in how Krishna devotees function in this ashram and how the larger community is attracted by our wholesome, healthy and loving families. A number of these strategies have been completed or are up and running. some of which have been completed as indicated:

1. Identification of Vaishnava Marriage Educators, Counselors and Therapists for publication of a Vaishnava Marriage Directory to be distributed in the larger Vaishnava community.

Completed as of May 2004 although more people need to be added.

2. Identify and train Vaishnava couples who are willing to act as mentor couples.

Twelve mentor couples were trained in New Vrindavana along with the members of the GVT. The GVT couples will train other mentors. Other mentor couple trainings have taken place in Alachua, Florida (November 2004) New York City, South Africa, and in Canada.

3. Consider a mobile training team to train mentor couples and/or train temple and community leaders to assist married couples or those wanting to get married.

Although we don't have an official training team some of our couples have traveled to teach and are willing to go where other courses are requested.

4. Produce and publish and distribute a comprehensive Vaishnava Marriage and Family Course in 3 forms: Instructor manual, couple & family workbook and video form.

Each of the GVT couples took one segment of the course to develop. Then in August 2004 the entire course was put together for the first time with a number of couples taking the training. The name of this course is: "Strengthen the Bonds that Free us".

The three forms of this course have been completed, though some fine tuning is required. So far the course has been taught 5 times (as of July 2006). We are promoting this course to all NA ISKCON Temples. There is one problem to our traveling to teach this course. Since we haven't been able to really convince the NA leaders about the value of this course in practical terms, there is an apparent lack of funds by individual Temples to pay for the course. As we saw in South Africa earlier this year, if the leaders see the value of this course to the long term success of their communities they will find ways to raise the money.

5. Have workshops or seminars on marriage, family, parenting, etc. at every 'Hare Krishna' festival and conference.

We yearly hold worshops and seminars in NV at the FOI and the Women's Retreat. Seminars are also conducted often in areas where GVT members live and we have had numerous invitations  throught North America and world wide to such places as South Africa, Ireland and Mayapur.

6. Institute an education and information campaign in our society to encourage devotees to get skills for healthy relationships and to remind all that the grihastha ashram is a viable highly significant one because it is the springboard from which all other ashramas develop.

We have 8 flyers to date on various topics such as Become a Great Dad, Qualities to Look for in a Prospective Spouse, How to Become a Mentor  etc.

7. Implement a comprehensive survey to assess current attitudes and experiences of devotees regarding marriage and family in greater ISKCON today.

At the end of five years we'd do this same survey again to ascertain the effectiveness of our plan. And such a survey will give us a good idea of what we need to do to improve carrying out this strategy, though we all agree it's a very important one, will take some creative thinking and help from others.

The survey has been completed and distributed to couples around North America.

8. Draft a "Vaishnava Marriage Covenant" ( now called: Pledge of Support for the Grihastha Ashram and Community Development in ISKCON) and ask all temple leaders and Vaishnava ministers and community leaders who perform marriages to become signatories to the Pledge of Support for the Grihastha Ashram in ISKCON by making some serious agreements.

The covenant was completed and presented in May, 2004 at the temple president's GBC meeting, where 22 ISKON leaders including temple presidents and GBCs signed the covenant. At the Gaura-Purnima Festival in Mayapura India in March 2005, the updated version of "The Pledge of Support" was accepted by the GBC body. (The GVT encourages devotees to request that the principles of the "Pledge" be followed at their temple in order to help new couples remain fixed in their marriage.)

9. Develop short and long term plans to encourage economic growth and employment training for householders. Help devotees develop cottage industries.

We spoke briefly to Gopal Bhatta Prabhu about this objective but much remains to develop this strategy.

10. Publicize and refer single devotees to bona fide matrimonial services through identification and publication of services in the directory and other places.

This is in conjunction with item number 1.

11. Explore and develop practical short and long term options for single women, mothers, youth and elders. Educate devotees about the importance of protecting and giving shelter to these devotees.

This page last updated on:05/16/2007 10:17:46