My name is Maha Visnu das (formerly Vyasadeva), a disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, and a US citizen. I was raised in ISKCON and received my entire education in Gurukula, most of it in Vrndavan/Mayapura.

I have been engaged in teaching Bhagavad Gita, part time and sporadically, for the past 10 years while simultaneously taking care of familial and financial concerns. My desire and endeavor has always been to preach Krishna Consciousness fulltime and maintain my family as well, this is a daunting task to say the least and is yet to actually happen.

I have reached a critical turning point in my work where I must now decide to turn what is merely a job into a focused career/profession or turn my part time preaching into a fulltime occupation.

I have chosen the latter for the simple reason that Krishna conscious and spiritual endeavors are my heart and soul and I would rather do nothing else. (I suppose in that sense Gurukula was a resounding success) Besides, it would be a shame to waste 20 years of Krishna Conscious education, training and experience working for Waste Management, regardless of the salary.

The following is my “ISKCONized” resume. The skills I have gained in the secular world are added where applicable.

Education:

ISKCON Gurukulas (1978 – 1991, US/Vrndavan/Mayapura)

Work Experience (ISKCON)

Mayapura Gurukula Asrama Teacher – (1991 1999)

- Boy’s Asrama teacher for various asramas, ages 8 to 16

- Taught ESL, Math, Bhakti Sastri, Sastra classes

Mayapura Gurukula Asrama Coordinator – (1995 – 1997)

- Oversaw and managed all Asrama teachers, classes and activities

- Recruited and trained new Asrama teachers

- Developed sastra curriculum for Asrama classes

Founder/Director Mayapura Varnasrama Academy – (1996 – 1999)

- Created and managed vocational training program for teens

- Recruited and supervised Instructors.

- Acquired and maintained facilities, materials and funding

- Oversaw development and implementation of vocational curriculum

Organizer Almvik Summer Festival, Sweden – (1999 – 2002)

- Chaired the Festival Organizing Committee

- Organized the transportation, prasadam and accommodation requirements of seminar leaders and festival participants

- Ensured festival was financially solvent and sustainable

Founder Gita Yoga, Web-based Seminar Company – (2002 – 2004)

- Designed and hosted an interactive preaching website for the Bhagavad Gita

- Researched and implemented web-based marketing.

V. President, ISKCON Boston – (2004 – 2006)

- Oversaw spiritual standards of asrama, kitchen and resident devotees

- Oversaw building and facility upkeep and maintenance

- Worked with congregation to improve temple activities/services/festivals

- Researched and implemented fundraising initiatives

- Ensured the temple remained within its budget and financially solvent

- Did everything else our brahminically inclined, Head Pujari TP didn’t want to do. ;-)

Church Consulting, Boston – (2004 – 2006)

- Helped churches increase the interest in and quality of their worship services

- Developed programs to increase church attendance

- Developed programs to improve church fundraisers and implement new ones.

- Worked with church leaders to identify and effectively solve church managerial and interpersonal problems and crises

- Facilitated communication between church leaders and their congregation

Founder/Director, Orbeth Inc. Humanitarian Program. (1999 – Present)

- Design and host a website to support my humanitarian interests

- Research and implement web-based fundraising initiatives.

- Research and implement conventional fundraising initiatives.

Qualifications:

Trained/Experienced Pujari

Trained/Experienced in Samskaras and Yajnas

Trained/Experienced Gurukula Teacher

Trained/Experienced Public Speaker, Lecturer

Trained/Experienced Project, Temple Manager

Experienced Crisis Manager

Trained/Experienced Mrdanga Player/Kirtan Leader

Trained/Experienced Cook, (Deity portions, 10 – 15 people)

Trained/Experienced in New Devotee development and training

Experienced in Web design

Experienced in MS Office

Interest/Activities (in order of preference)

- Public Speaking/Preaching/Seminar leading (Adults)

- Politics/Government/Crisis Management

- Gurukula Teaching

- Travel

- Event Planning and Organization

- Fundraising

- Web design

Languages:

- English (fluent)

- Bengali, Norwegian (spoken)

- Hindi, Swedish (basic comprehension)

Volunteer Experience

- HS Soccer Coach

- Aids Action Committee, Boston (Fundraising)

- MA. State Politics, (Fundraising, Office Management, Communications)

- Mitt Romney 2008 Presidential Campaign, (Focus Group Facilitator)

The ideal engagement would involve, travel, teaching/public speaking, and crisis management and resolution. If you have such engagement and the ability to employ a responsible devotee please contact me. If you know of some project/person that would benefit from my involvement/services please forward this letter to them.

Serving in Krishna consciousness fulltime is my goal and I now must either do it as an occupation or start seriously focusing on and furthering my secular profession.

I can be reached at mahavisnudas@gmail.com or at the ISKCON Boston Temple: (617) 247-8611



Pujari Service in Malaysia
by Gauranga das
Posted February 23, 2010

We now have a position open for a full time pujari at an ISKCON temple in Malaysia. The devotee will be paid a monthly honorarium, with free board and lodging. Please contact us at hkmmalaysia (at) gmail (dot) com



Alachua Child Care Needed
by Sudevi Sundari dasi
Posted February 17, 2010

Child care provider needed in Alachua for 5 yr old girl & 3 yr old boy. Hours needed Mon-Fri 10-2pm for a salary of approx. $500/month If you can provide some local transportation for the kids this is a plus. Expenses for activities, food and gas will be covered.

Please contact Madhavi Glick 352-283-0175 or madhvidasi@yahoo.com or on facebook.

Additional evening and weekend hours might be available for my kids and others. I will discuss details with interested parties.

BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI GURUKULA SCHOOL

Founder-acarya H.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

525 Tyalgum Road, Murwillumbah NSW 2484, AUSTRALIA

Teaching Principal Position Available

Applicants please submit resume via e-mail: iskool@nsw.chariot.net.au,

Summary

The Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula School is currently seeking to employ a full time School Principal. This is a full time salaried position. It is a wonderful opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada, the younger devotee generation and the future of ISKCON. If you are interested, please read the job description or pass it on to someone you know who may be interested. The devotee who fills this position will be able to live and work in the beautiful New Govardhana community in the Tweed valley, northern New South Wales. This pristine environment is perfect for raising a family and practicing Krsna Consciousness in the mode of goodness.

We will be holding interviews between March 1^st and April 30^th

School Principal Job Description

This is a full-time, salaried, management position. Hours are Mon.   Fri. 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM during the school year. The school year consists of four 10 week terms, and together runs from February to mid December. There are 3 two week breaks between terms, and a six week summer break from mid December to February. Applicant must be willing to relocate to New Govardhana or to live in the immediate community. Responsibilities include overseeing quality of devotional and educational environment, a small number of teaching hours, and management of the entire operation of the school. The present staff consists of an administrator, 2 full time teachers around 30 students in primary school grades (K to year 6).

REPORTS TO: Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula School Board and ISKCON Australia’s Executive Committee. Performance evaluations will come from teacher peer reviews and the School Board's evaluation.

SUPERVISES: Teachers in relation to school operations and for educational development, curriculum planning, training, discipline or performance reviews. Directly supervises a grounds maintenance person, and an independent accountant consultant. As the school develops, an administrative assistant may be hired to assist this position.

Responsibilities include

• Evaluating the planning, teaching and assessing of all teachers to ensure that the standards established by the NSW Board of Studies are being met, and assisting through teacher appraisal to enrich the quality of those standards.
• Ensure that all teachers develop detailed teaching plans, consistent with the relevant Krishna Conscious content and BoS syllabus prior to the commencement of each term, and that a copy of such planning be kept on record.
• Oversee the development of whole school approaches to education in various departments and subjects offered in the school including character development.

MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS

• Liaise with Spiritual authorities (i.e. GBC and Australian National Council) regarding the ongoing performance of the Gurukula and its relation and duties with respect to other ISKCON projects
• Communicate with government departments and education authorities on behalf of the school to ensure ongoing funding and registration of the Gurukula and compliancy with Federal Industrial Relations requirements.
• Develop agendas and hold weekly staff meetings with the teachers to develop, review and improve the school operations and deal with potential problems and resolution of existing problems.
• Establish adequate property inventory records and ensure the security of school property.
• Develop positive school/community relations and act as liaison between the school and community.
• Organising replacement teaching and covering of staff absences when staff are unable to perform any of their required duties.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

• Overseeing the health and safety of all children enrolled in the school, and encouraging other staff members to act according to high standards in this regard.
• Develop and administer student applications, enrolment, termination and discipline forms.
• Approve all school-sponsored activities and maintain a calendar of all school events.

FINANCIAL

• Manage the school's financial resources including the preparation and disbursement of the school's budgets and internal accounts.
• Closely monitor expenses & income to stay on budget.
• Develop relationships with the student's parents through ongoing communication and meetings. Send regular statements regarding tuition payments, and follow up with them for their timely payments.
• Prepare or oversee the preparation of all state and federal reporting, as well as accreditation reporting.

PURCHASING

• Order and maintain inventory of supplies, including academic materials, office supplies, and household items, ground maintenance equipment and supplies.

MAINTENANCE & SAFETY

• Oversee the grounds maintenance person to ensure the grounds are maintained nicely.
• Monitor the custodial program at the school to ensure a clean, healthy and safe learning environment.
• Supervise the orderly movement and safety of transportation vehicles between town and the farm.

LEADERSHIP

• Ensure that the standards set by Srila Prabhupada for proper behaviour and Vaisnava etiquette are being followed in the school
• Engage in strategic planning and development initiatives, both individually and with other staff, aimed at identifying ways to improve and refine our practices in order to better meet our stated goals
• Provide recognition and celebration for staff, student and school accomplishment.
• Perform other tasks consistent with the goals and objectives of this position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of management and administrative procedures.
• Knowledge of MS Office software applications and proficient in WORD and EXCEL.
• Knowledge of personnel procedures and basic H/R policies.
• Skill in human interaction and conflict resolution. Skill in handling student/teacher/parent problems, concerns and emotional distress with sensitivity and tact.
• Skill in project management, prioritization, time management, and successfully completing projects.
• Skill in working with professional consultants, lawyers, businesspeople, etc. to research and delegate responsibilities to complete projects beyond your own abilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with parents, students, teachers and the community.
• Model effective listening and positive interaction skills.
• Ability to read and interpret applicable laws, rules, policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets, with at least a basic understanding of financial reporting.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions with minimum supervision. Ability to handle multiple tasks in a professional and courteous manner.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Be an active and practicing devotee whose lifestyle, personal time activities, and professional conduct are in accord with the teaching precepts of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, as presented by Srila Prabhupada.
• The Bhaktivedanta Swami School considers all applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital, or veteran status.
• All candidates are required to have a clear criminal record.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

• Possess a BA, BS or Masters degree in Education from an accredited college or university.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching and management/administrative experience. 

SALARY & BENEFITS:

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include up to 21 days leave (sick/personal days combined), low rent or rent exempt accommodation if living on the farm, discounts in school fees if children enrolled in school, other fringe benefits may apply.

I'm a Ukrainian devotee looking for a permanent service or a job with devotees as a cook. I have several years experience as a cook in the restaurants "Gopinath Garden" (Radhadesh) and "Dinner Club" in Antwerp, and also as a temple cook.

If you are interested or need more information, please contact me by e-mail at vitalnatha@gmail.com or by telephone at 00382 6746 56 60