Prevention of Development of Complaints and Disputes

4.4.2.4.1 Complaint Registry Services

The Ministry of Justice shall maintain a registry of complaints against devotees, quasi-devotees, and devotee organizations which either refuse to participate in the dispute resolution mechanisms above or who fail to abide by agreements reached. Thus the ISKCON community will have one place it can go to find out information of previous complaints against individuals or organizations. Essentially this shall serve like a Better Business Bureau.

4.4.2.4.2 Prevention Registry

Another aspect of this service shall be to maintain a registry of questionable characters who travel the ISKCON world. Such individuals may be listed with the Complaint Registry and information would be available upon request. As this service has the potential of being misused, listing and reporting will be subject to the discretion of the Minister of Justice.

4.4.2.4.3 Publishing Services

1. The Ministry of Justice will compile and disseminate information conducive to the education of the ISKCON community in respect to the above services.

2. In all instances the GBC Body will remain the ultimate authority for resolution of complaints and disputes in ISKCON, and as such shall, at its discretion, accept appeals from the processes described above.

4.4.2.4.4 Other provisions

1. The Ministry will develop Continental Committees.

2. The above replaces the current Justice Committee in the GBC resolutions. As sections of the Ministry and procedures are developed, they shall be subject to revision by the GBC Body.

3. The Minister of Justice is to be fully acquainted with all the provisions in the Society's Memorandum of Association, Regulations and Rules of Order. He is to check all resolutions passed as being in line with these documents before they are made final. There should be legal review of all ISKCON resolutions before they are published.

Ministry of Communications

The ISKCON Ministry of Communications will be governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the GBC Body as its final authority.

1. Wherever the name 'ISKCON Ministry of Public Affairs" exists in ISKCON legislation it shall be changed to "ISKCON Ministry of Communications" which is the current official name. The Minister of Public Affairs shall now be referred to as the Minister of Communications

2. The purposes and goals of the Ministry shall be as per the document "ISKCON Communications Charter", dated February 13, 1991 and filed with the Corresponding Secretary, or as they may be modified by the Board of Directors in the future and reported in writing to the GBC Body. (91)

3. The Board of Directors of the Ministry of Communications will meet annually in Mayapur, and additionally as necessary, to review and set policies and goals for the Ministry. (91)

Ministry of Finance and Management

Duties

1. To provide the Society with a description of the Ministry's present available services

2. To recruit staff for the office of the Ministry to help in:

a. Correspondence

b. Data collection and consolidation

c. Investigation

d. Treasurer function

3. To recruit assistance to provide the following services for the society at large:

a. Business consultancy

b. Real estate advisory

c. Investment advisory

d. Advit and investigation advisory

e. Fund raising advisory

f. Financial systems and EDP advisory

g. Research department and manual development

4. To correspond with all BBT directors as well as all other international projects to ensure proper systems, propriety with objectives and policies, efficiency, reporting to all donors and directors, and audit if necessary.

5. To collect annual financial statements from each of the zones and consolidate the same for the GBC annual meeting.(86)

ISKCON Resource Manual

That the Minister of Management and Finance shall provide a manual, annually updated, detailing all resources at the disposal of ISKCON Leaders during the year and during their annual meetings.

It shall contain lists detailing

1. GBCs

2. Ministers

3. Standing Committees

4. GBC Deputies

5. Divisional Councils

6. The ISKCON Law Book

7. ISKCON Management Guidelines

8. An ISKCON Directory containing all addresses, e-mail addresses, phone and fax numbers of ISKCON Centers.

ISKCON Central Secretariat

 

4.4.4.3.1 Definition

The ISKCON central secretariat shall facilitate the management of ISKCON. The ICS (ISKCON Central Secretariat) is organized and managed by the Finance and Management Minister.

4.4.4.3.2 Duties

1. Create and maintain a database of information of all temples in the World and Minister's areas of responsibility.

2. Develop and implement a practical system of reporting by consulting Ministers, GBC's and Temple Presidents as to what they require, desire and are capable of providing. As far as possible, implementation shall be done through "regional' Committees (Regional, National, Zonal or Continental as the case may be).

3. Develop a database that may contain statistical information of:

a. Temple Finances (assets & liabilities, Annual income & expenses)

b. Temples/Managers Contacts (addresses, phone/fax, etc.)

c. Details of owned properties

d. Complete data on all transactions with Temple buildings.

e. Progress towards fulfilling mission statements.

f. Annual reports for all Ministries.

g. Devotee bio-data.

h. And any other information deemed useful

4. Present reports shall in a format useful for the individual Ministers, GBC Zonal Secretaries, Committees, and ISKCON Leaders.

5. Provide global status reports on ISKCON international projects. Areas which are declared as a security risk for reporting purposes may not have to report. This arrangement can be made between the local GBC and the Secretariat.(96)

 

4.4.4.4 Full-time Secretariat Office (2000)

1. A full-time Secretariat Office shall be established in Mayapur.

2. The office shall work directly under the Executive Committee which shall take necessary steps towards organizational improvement.