It was great to take part in the River Fund's Feed Everyone food drive and have a little Kashi Next reunion in the big city. We missed you Ned and Shavite, thanks for helping plan this and Thanks to Swami Durga Das for putting us to work! Lets plan to do it again soon.
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Tara, Nirmal, Dhumavati
Tara met with Nirmal & Sw. Dhumavati to discuss possibilities for KNGN to get involved with Ma’s India (MI) for profitable gain.
- MI makes $100,000 a year, $50k in the storefront and $50k on-line.
- Two ways to increase sales:
- More physical visitors to the on-site store
- Increased web sales
- MI is currently only doing about 25% of what could be done via Search Engine Optimization (SEO), might mean up to $150k more in profits a year. That is maximum expectation.
- The last 3 years have seen declining sales on the Internet.
- Site has recently been upgraded
- Profits have been up by 23% this year (2009)
- The fiscal year is from January 1 thru December 31.
- Other possibility: storefronts in other cities. What are the benefits of franchising MI:
- 15 years of experience
- Selection of merchandise, very mature and well rounded
- Well established relationships with vendors
- Working as a team: marketing together
- Current storefront is about 400 sq. ft.
- Possibility of MI moving up to one of the modulars on the Kashi property, at 1,000 sq. ft.
- Currently has $50k worth of inventory
- To set up similar site would need:
- $50k inventory
- $5-10k other: displays, counters, register
- $10 web site, marketing
- Percentage of gross sales goes back to MI (which is ultimately Kashi)
- TOTAL: $70-100,000
- Good example of competitor: Santosha.com
- Ranked #125 on the internet (MI in the 500’s)
- How much business do they do a year? Would be nice fact to find and see if we can reach that level.
If anyone is interested in setting up store in city you live in, MI team would be extremely happy to work with us/you and get this venture going.
**One of Ma’s books coming out: Karmic Spaces. How many connections does KNGN have on the internet media sites, FaceBook and MySpace?
Kashi Next Generation Network: Events
Submitted by Domenic Maruti Suppa
So far we have two main missions:
- To enhance and strengthen the young generations contributions to the Kashi organizations existing endeavors/projects, utilizing the infrastructure and platform already in place to promote growth.
- To focus on growth of the groups members and associates nationally, by creating awareness of who we are and what we are about, allowing KNGN to become not only a group of friends and family but a group that could also create its own opportunities, jobs, schools, and much more.
Meeting Notes
- Looking to increase communication through conference calls and web conferences. (Quarterly)
- Looking to add one more meeting each year in North East.
- Contribute to Kashi Church Foundation/Ashrams, River Funds, By the River, etc., by having more of us get involved with existing projects wherever we are.
Examples:
Summer NY meeting- using residents of the northeast to house travelers. For a weekend of service(maybe assistance with NY ashram event), another meeting and of course party!
Do you like the site? Do you think the pink in the logo is too sissy? Are you sissy? Speak up i can't hear you ;)
KNGN School Committee Submitted by Shaivite 1-22-10
We left KNGN meeting 12/26/2009 having concluded that a school has traditionally been a part of Kashi and would be a natural fit for the future.
We acknowledged that though an attempt at seeking to build a charter school had been met with disappointment, there was a window of opportunity for pursuing the construction of a school at Kashi.
Our discussion was newly being shaped when it was time to adjourn; we left with the goal of meeting again in the following week to continue our conversation about:
- charter versus private school
- identifying our student population
- pinpointing specifically what Kashi had to offer that would set us apart
Second school subcommittee meeting: the following weekend was well attended including Sw. Ramayana, Kashi Ma, and Matagiri who all shared their expertise and experience as educators.
- It was concluded that pursuing a charter school would put limitations on the schools potential and with regard to local opposition, would not be worth the effort.
- Much of the discussion focused on expenses.
- Sw. Durga Das made a convincing case that a private school could be funded through the combination of tuition and grants.
- Was agreed that a preschool would provide a foundation on which to grow, was the most financially viable as far as startup costs and income potential, and would meet the needs of KNGN members seeking to build a school at Kashi that their children could attend.
- Having a committed director in which parents could put their trust would be necessary for the schools success, e.g. Yashoda Ma and the River Preschool.
- Annapurna was acknowledged for already having a circle of parents and good name through Mommy and Me and previous work as an educator.
- Bhagavati Braun, studying education at Smith College, was a standout and inspiration expressing interest and a commitment to building something “from the ground up.”
CONCLUSION:
Market research would help us hone specific details including a better understanding of our potential student body. Sw. Ramayana offered to help design a survey. We asked those in attendance to research schools in their area with qualities that appealed to them, specifically looking at how these schools addressed community, health, and service, in addition to gathering data on tuition, enrollment, type of school, mission, etc.
2. Sw. Durga Das planned to meet with Sw. Ramayana and Bhagavati to take a tour of Kashi and discuss research and resources.
3. Jaya Ma, Sita, Annapurna, Shaivite, and any others with interest were to research specialty schools in their area and provide feedback.
Business Creation Group
KNGN 12-26-09 Meeting -
Tara, Tony, Priya, Ned, Soo Se, Ramesh
- Do we all want to get in on a venture, invest our own capital funds?
- Do we want to build something here in Florida and create jobs for members of our group?
- Land—a lot of people have interest.
- Yoga—need to capitalize on what Kashi has in place already. A large majority of our group is interested and participates in yoga in some way.
- Yoga clothing: KNG ownership
- Keep style mainstream
- Anyone of use can sell it anywhere in the world
- Retreat Center—plenty of opportunity. Need wealthy business partner, preferably once which same experience.
- Radio Station—bring in people for interviews, music, Kashi activities, kids hour
- Ramesh interested in running it
- Purpose to raise awareness, keep it interfaith and generate an income
- Need $5-10,000 to start and operate
- Tapas Restaurant—Ned has business plan already
- Access to property on US 1 in Wabasso
- Enough room for restaurant and land to grow food and well as space for possible other activities
- Need $500k to get running
- Ma’s India
- Can we participate?
- Can it grow larger?
- Can we invest in it and share in the profits?
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement is a simple message that identifies and unifies us as a group with a purpose.
Who are we? other than spiritual superheros?
At the core, we are the youth and young adults who have grown up at Kashi as well as our extended family and friends.
What unifies Us as a group? other than being able to count to ten in Korean?
All of us have a vested interest in the future and future direction of Kashi as it includes Ma's legacy as spiritual teacher and Guru, continuing the message of service and care for eachother and all, and the sustainability of Kashi as a community.
* Certainly growing up together as family with Ma is a strong unifying factor, but
this is not the primary reason why we are now coming together as KNGN.
What is our Purpose?
To help plan and facilitate the future of Kashi. To continue to strengthen our network of community and family. To create our own safe and welcoming community within Kashi. To increase self fullfilment and act on a universal humanitarian mission. To be youth in action.
Working Logo and Mission Statement
Some more notes and verbiage from our meetings
- to be a voice in the future of Kashi
- The legacy of Kashi and Community
- to be a support community for like minded people
- to Educate people about Kashi
- to remove the local Kashi stigma
- to be a support community for ourselves
- to make kashi sustainable both fiscally and in purpose
- The desire to keep Kashi as a community after Ma and the founding members are gone.
- Youth in Action
- Universal Humanitarianism
- Self fulfillment
- Define the relationship with kashi as we
- Focus on community
- Educate others about
- Integrate with others
- Mutual respect and non judgment desire to continue fostering a sense of community
Organized action network committed to service and compassion to ourselves, our community, and the broader world.
Other scripting and iterations of the statement:
Universal humanitarian action network, committed to ourselves, our comunity, and the broader world.
Committed to service and compasion to ourselves, our comunity, and the broader world.
Fostering an increasing sense of community, committed to supporting eachother and reaching out to like minded individuals.
Thanks to all the contributers: Radhe Schiff, Dhumavati, Luke Madhava, Shiva Kali, Laksman Frank, Jewel Lotus, Hanuman Joyce, Bhagavati and Ganga Devi Braun, Peter Turner and Jaya Frank
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