According to critics – without posting any membership list, the temple management had the AGM on Feb. 5. 2012 in which they have passed the resolution to increase the membership fee of LIFE MEMBERS retroactively otherwise their membership will be cancelled by March 31. 2012. By doing so they can easily win the election by weeding out the old life membership.
SURREY – The Hindu temple in Surrey (on 140th Street and near82nd) is under new management for the last two years. On the surface, every thing appears to be working as usual in a quiet and peaceful way. This team came in power after a long and dirty court case and election.
Since then no society member interfered in the day-to-day working of the templehoping the situation will turn around and the management will be more welcoming to the new as well the old members.
But according to members, unfortunately the board members treat members as their adversaries and intimidate them by blocking their ways. “Some of the executives are so rude, angry, frustrated and revengeful as if they are still harboring the old wounds by loosing the temple control in the courts and elections few years ago,” said one patron.
“Do they ever think or even care that why old members don’t come. Except a few, majority of the support is from the new immigrants who are there for their personal reasons. A word of caution for these new members “ beware of the half truths because you may be holding the wrong half.”
Since the election and the AGM was overdue, the management tried to keep the status quo in a very sneaky way. A very small sign dated January 4, 2012 was placed in a unknown place (no announcements in the temple) inviting nominations for election by January 15, 2012. Hoping no one will see this sign and they will elect the same board by acclamation.
But when a group of members approached for nomination formsand membership list, they were told that the election has been postponed for another five weeks because of the ill health of the board president. Now without posting any membership list, they had the AGM on Feb. 5. 2012 in which they have passed the resolution to increase the membership fee of LIFE MEMBERS retroactively other wise their membership will be cancelled by March 31. 2012. By doing so they can easily win the election by weeding out the old life membership.
The AGM was covered by the media. Two temple executives showed a bundle of returned mail of the AGM notices as a lame excuse for punishing and insulting all other life members in good standing.
“As this nonsense and baseless resolution is easy to challenge in the court, if that happens, the executive members should be spending personal and not the temple funds to defend their wrong decisions. Hope no one goes to court to satisfy their false ego and pride,” said one upset member
“If this is how we run the home of our God, one can very easily imagine our personal and business ethics. It’s unfortunate that legality is taking precedence and morality a back seat and instead of following the constitution, it’s being twisted and ripped in the name of Hinduism. Obviously, some one is running out of time other wise the temple can still be managed by respecting the constitution.”
