We the volunteers, donors, devotees and the past and present Executive Council Members request your show of support to the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati.  

There is a smear campaign underway with very discriminatory statements and patently false allegations.  These are aimed to create fault lines in the Hindus of Greater Cincinnati by dividing this harmonious and united community.  

Allegation: “centralize power by electing Executive Committee members from the South, excluding voices from the North”
Fact check:  FALSE.  Please see the Executive Council makeup and decide for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allegation:  “crucial decisions are made behind closed doors”
Fact check:  TRUE.  Several of us have served the Temple over a decade. The Executive Council meetings are always held behind closed doors.  But the allegation does not tell you the whole story.  To promote communication, information is made available via Aradhana every 1-2 months via a note from the President.  

Allegation:  “disrespectful behavior”
Fact check: FALSE.  We have worked with each other and with Vinodji over countless hours in EC meetings, events, pujas and in various planning sessions.  Our interactions have been respectful and rewarding.  The tone, tenor and content of our conversations have been conducive to great collaboration which is why we have been able to accomplish so much.  Specifically around the allegation of being disrespectful to women, we can attest and bear witness that the allegation is false.  

Allegation: “authoritarian approach”
Fact check:   FALSE.  We have all worked together and we have always heard each other, had healthy and respectful debates and arrived at consensus opinions.  We follow a very democratic process in both dialogue and decision making.   Specifically, with regards to Vinodji, he has always brought out the best ideas and initiative in us and offers to help in every initiative - which, anyone could conclude, is the opposite of authoritarian.

The smear campaign goes on to suggest that funds should be diverted from the Temple to a fund that seeks to sue the Temple.  This is primarily the reason we chose to reach out to everyone.

Let us also share with you what we spent countless hours developing the vision, planning, executing and completing in the past 2+ years

• Temple loan paid off
• Felicitation of pioneers through commemorative 25 year Anniversary coin
• Introduced bonus for priests
• Installed Nepal and Bhutan flags to be inclusive of all Hindus
• Multiple temples joined in celebrating 25 years during the HMEC mtg in Sep’22
• Ramlila event started (2022,2023, planned in 2024)
• Student Government started to attract young adults – and continues to grow and now is part of
• Presidential Service Award Organization
• Sports, Technology, Religious Education, Cultural efforts increased
• Front expansion project efforts rekindled (Ground-breaking ETA Jul 2024)
• Temple financial balance increased and partially placed in CDs
• New Temple management system, new credit card system
• Security audit conducted with Union Township Police and Department of Homeland Security
• Grant secured from State of Ohio to improve Temple Security Infrastructure - $100K (work yet to begin)
• Audit and inventory system being developed for all Temple assets
• Gujarati priest hired
• Renovated the Temple Guest House
• Improved property maintenance through new HVACs, AV equipment, equipment store
• Hall renovation project started (with architect)

The Temple, is and always will be inclusive and pluralistic.   The Temple, its EC and other volunteers and its priests welcome people of all countries, nationalities, regions, ethnicities, ages, languages and genders to come and have a blissful and blessed experience.

Please come to the Temple.  Please support the Temple.  Please be your own judge and do not believe any ill-intended false propaganda.  Please further the principles of inclusion and set the right example for the future generations. 

By signing this petition we are asking your trust and faith on the committee members and their collective and unanimous decisions.

https://cincinnatitemple.com/managing-the-temple-with-the-devotee-in-mind/

Namaste