“Corporate ISKCON”

Apr 03, CANADA (SUN) — A systematic review of ISKCON-related corporations and projects.

We have recently had a series of articles in the Sun discussing problems at ISKCON Philadelphia and their suggested financial ties with Devideva dasa, who runs ‘Food for life’ programs that reportedly serve meat. The relationship between these entities – corporate, financial, and ISKCON-related – is not yet clear.

Along with his recent article, “Blame ISKCON Philadelphia“, Chaitanya Simha dasa provided two documents in support of his comments that there is a tie between Devideva dasa and ISKCON. These documents included the 2010 Not-for-Profit Corporation Annual Report, filed January 11, 2010, by “ISKCON Convention of Temples, Inc., and the Florida Non Profit Corporation Record for ISKCON Convention of Temples, Inc. Exactly who and what this corporate entity is, is not made clear in the documents.

Your Sampradaya Sun editors have long been interested in conducting a study of ISKCON corporate entities, and how they relate to one another at various levels. Given that we have just completed the Feature series on Lord Caitanya’s tirtha-yatra, we have decided the time is right for a serial presentation of available information on the family of entities we refer to as Corporate ISKCON. Our study will begin with ISKCON entities registered or headquartered in North America.

The ties between these corporations come by way of the personalities who serve as their corporate directors. By referring to the organizational chart below, a clear picture can be had as to exactly how these corporations and individuals are connected. Of course, this chart peels back only the first layer of the picture. Beyond their directorships, what active role these individuals play in the corporations, or how different entities work together, share funding streams, or report to others in a power hierarchy (e.g., to the GBC or BBT), is yet to be discovered.

Because it’s important to see the entire map of entities and points of connection, the reader will need to work from a large format version of the chart, linked below. When you click on the chart a new browser window will pop-up. Be sure to click on the image and enlarge it to its fullest size. If you’re using Firefox, simply double-click on the image in the new browser window. In Microsoft Explorer, a hidden mouse-over button should be found in the lower right corner of the pop-up image, which you can click to ‘zoom up’ the chart.

Below you’ll also find a legend containing details on all the incorporated entities shown on the chart. In the last section, there is a list of all the individuals serving as directors of these corporations, and sub-lists of other companies and persons in companies that the individual directors are related to.

You’ll note that in some cases, there are corporations listed under “Related Companies”, or people listed under “Related People” who do not appear on the “Corporate ISKCON – Cluster #1” chart provided below. Most notably in the report on Cluster #1, this is the case with David V. Jakupko (Kirtiraja dasa), Pierre Lemieux, John Sims (Abhirama das), and Carl Woodham (Kalakantha das). These individuals will serve as the ‘keystones’ for tomorrow’s chart, Cluster #2.

As you will see, Cluster #2 expands into a whole new layer of ISKCON-related corporations, with many connections made by way of these individuals, and others. Over the course of the next several segments, you will also note what we call the ‘zoom’ phenomenon, where the large picture becomes clearer as we periodically step-up to a higher view of the data. In other words, many important aspects of the overall Corporate ISKCON structure will only become evident as the individual clusters are shown together. You can then see, for example, how various clusters compare to one another in size and depth of connectivity.

We will do our best to manage the data throughout this process, weaving the various charts and narratives together so that a clear picture emerges of the actual corporate, power and financial structures present in the ISKCON society. We hope that this map will serve many purposes. It should help us to better understand the influences that are shaping ISKCON today; it will make clearer who holds power and where that power is centered, i.e., through what channels of influence; and it should create a picture of how money and corporate support moves through the system. It may serve to dispel some old ISKCON conspiracy theories, and who knows… it may create some new ones.

Not surprisingly, as members of the ‘fifth estate’, your Sun editors believe strongly in the curative power of disclosure. The truth should be sought in all matters, including ISKCON’s power structures. Once a clear and comprehensive picture of Corporate ISKCON has emerged, we hope our readers will be encouraged to use the information to appropriately exert pressure where needed, so as to effect positive change in ISKCON.

There is a great deal of wisdom in the old saying, “Follow the money.” By learning how to read these power structure maps, and employing strategies that leverage existing influence and association, a great deal can be accomplished. For example, increasing pressure on those associated with a party who is being encouraged to change, can greatly help in bringing about change. Such tactics are ‘classic Chanakya Pandit’.

Energy previously spent complaining about ‘what is’ in ISKCON is better converted to action that will shape ‘what can be’. Keeping the desires of Srila Prabhupada always at the center, devotees who are well armed with the right information can become agents of change in ways that can vastly improve the situation in our ISKCON movement.

As the Corporate ISKCON study unfolds, it will be very helpful if our readers can fill-in the blanks, especially by providing devotee names for individuals who are listed as corporate directors under their karmi names. This is a work in progress, so please let us know how we can improve our data coverage or presentation.

And to give the reader a further preview of our expected Feature coverage in the months ahead, we intend to present a mix of Feature articles from three categories over the Spring and Summer seasons. Alternating with this Corporate ISKCON series will be a serial study of the Mughal influence on Vaisnavism (temples, Deity worship, art and culture), and a third series on Prasadam, focused on regional recipes, temple preparations, bhoga production and customs, etc. We’ll work on a loose schedule, alternating topics as it fits our research and production processes. Hare Krsna.

Corporate ISKCON – Cluster #1

Because this issue came to the forefront with the topic of Devideva dasa, Food for Life programs and ISKCON Philadelphia, we will use that as our starting point, beginning with the two documents mentioned above that were provided by Chaitanya Simha dasa.

[ Click for large version chart ]

Based upon a relational link with the Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc., we find a cluster of 13 organizations that are in some way inter-connected, as listed below. Those corporations in bold are considered ‘keystones’, either because of their high degree of linkage with related entities, or by virtue of their known influence within ISKCON. Italicized names are corporations that are registered, but inactive.

• 01 — Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc.
• 02 — Mayapur Foundation, Inc.

  03 — Iskcon Foundation, Inc.

  04 — Children First International, Inc.

  05 — Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc.

  06 — Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc.

  07 — Friends of the BBT, Inc.

  08 — Attentive Childcare & Pre-K LLC

  09 — A U M Holding Company

  10 — Aum Services, Inc.

  11 — Food for All, Inc.

  12 — Green Hill South, Inc.

  13 — Southcare Nursing Center, Inc.

CORPORATE ENTITIES

01 — Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc.
Incorporated by David Dobson, David Jakupko, Pierre Lemieux, Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc. is located at PO Box 1378 Alachua, FL 32616. Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc. was incorporated on Thursday, April 21, 1994 in the State of FL and is currently active. Marvin W Bingham represents Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc. as their registered agent.

02 — Mayapur Foundation, Inc.
Incorporated by Douglas Greenberg, Gregory Stein, Stephen Raisz, Mayapur Foundation, Inc. is located at PO Box 747 Alachua, FL 32616. Mayapur Foundation, Inc. was incorporated on Wednesday, May 20, 1998 in the State of FL and is currently active. Seth W Spellman represents Mayapur Foundation, Inc. as their registered agent.

03 — Iskcon Foundation, Inc.
Incorporated by Charles Grandgent, Miriam Tassinare, Pierre Lemieux, Sawkney Ramesh, William Halvorson, Iskcon Foundation, Inc. is located at PO Box 1378 Alachua, FL 32616. Iskcon Foundation, Inc. was incorporated on Wednesday, April 14, 1993 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Pierre Lemieux represents Iskcon Foundation, Inc. as their registered agent.

04 — Children First International, Inc.
Incorporated by Douglas R Greenberg, James W Griffith, Stephen Raisz, Children First International, Inc. is located at 27511 NW County Road 241 Alachua, FL 32615. Children First International, Inc. was incorporated on Thursday, May 02, 2002 in the State of FL and is currently active. Stephen Raisz represents Children First International, Inc. as their registered agent.

05 — Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc.
Incorporated by Bhisham Prasad, Douglas R Greenberg, Stephen Raisz, Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc is located at 27511 NW County Road 241 Alachua, FL 32615. Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc was incorporated on Monday, February 10, 2003 in the State of FL and is currently active. Stephen Raisz represents Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc as their registered agent.

06 — Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc.
Incorporated by Alister Taylor, Dennis Harrison, Gopal K Goswami, Jayapataka Swami, John Sims, Seth W Spellman, Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc. is located at PO Box 177 Badger, CA 93603. Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc. was incorporated on Wednesday, December 02, 1992 in the State of FL and is currently active. Seth W Spellman represents Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc. as their registered agent.
07 — Friends of The BBT, Inc.
Incorporated by Ashok Dudakia, Douglas R Greenberg, Greg Stein, Jay E Israel, William T Suczek, Friends of The BBT, Inc. is located at PO Box 27 Alachua, FL 32616. Friends of The BBT, Inc. was incorporated as a foreign non-profit on Friday, April 29, 2005 in the State of FL and is currently active. Douglas R Greenberg represents Friends of The BBT, Inc. as their registered agent.

08 — Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC
Incorporated by Douglas R Greenberg, Haimwatti Greenberg, Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC is located at 16717 NW 173rd Ter Alachua, FL 32615. Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC was incorporated on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 in the State of FL and is currently active. Douglas R Greenberg represents Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC as their registered agent.

09 — A U M Holding Company
Incorporated by Miriam Tassinare, A U M Holding Company is located at 855 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34236. A U M Holding Company was incorporated on Monday, June 14, 1993 in the State of FL and is currently not active. John R Theis represents A U M Holding Company as their registered agent.

10 — Aum Services, Inc.
Incorporated by Miriam Tassinare, Aum Services, Inc. is located at 1642 Loma Linda St Sarasota, FL 34239. Aum Services, Inc. was incorporated on Wednesday, September 28, 1994 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Miriam Tassinare represents Aum Services, Inc. as their registered agent.

11 — Food for All, Inc.
Incorporated by David Dobson, Ettel Dobson, Food for All, Inc. is located at 7425 Old York Rd Elkins Park, PA 19027. Food for All, Inc. was incorporated on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 in the State of FL as a foreign nonprofit and is currently not active. Marvin W. Bingham, Jr., P.A. represents Food for All, Inc. as their registered agent.

12 — Green Hill South, Inc.
Incorporated by David Dobson, Green Hill South, Incorporated is located at 14603 NW 141st St Alachua, FL 32615. Green Hill South, Incorporated was incorporated as a domestic for-profit on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Marvin W Bingham represents Green Hill South, Incorporated as their registered agent.

13 — Southcare Nursing Center, Inc.
Incorporated by David Dobson, Ettel Dobson, Southcare Nursing Center, Inc. is located at PO Box 967 Glenside, PA 19038. Southcare Nursing Center, Inc. was incorporated as a foreign non-profit on Wednesday, December 31, 1997 in the State of FL and is currently not active. Marvin W Bingham represents Southcare Nursing Center, Inc. as their registered agent.

INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIPS

David Dobson (Devideva das)

Related Companies:
Food for All, Inc.
Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc.
Green Hill South, Incorporated
Southcare Nursing Center, Inc.

Related People:
Carl Woodham
David Jakupko
Ettel Dobson
Pierre Lemieux

Ettel Dobson

Related Companies:
Food for All, Inc.
Southcare Nursing Center, Inc.

Related People:
David Dobson

Ashok Dudakia

Related Companies:
Friends of The BBT, Inc.

Related People:
Douglas R Greenberg
Greg Stein
Jay E Israel
William T Suczek

Charles Grandgent (Bhakta Charlie)

Related Companies:
Iskcon Foundation, Inc.

Related People:
Miriam Tassinare
Pierre Lemieux
Sawkney Ramesh
William Halvorson

Douglas R Greenberg (Dina Sharana dasa)

Related Companies:
Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC
Children First International, Inc.
Friends of The BBT, Inc.
Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc

Related People:
Ashok Dudakia
Bhisham Prasad
Greg Stein
Haimwatti Greenberg
James W Griffith
Jay E Israel
Stephen Raisz
William T Suczek

Haimwatti Greenberg

Related Companies:
Attentive Childcare & Pre–K LLC

Related People:
Douglas R. Greenberg

James W Griffith

Related Companies:
Children First International, Inc.

Related People:
Douglas R Greenberg
Stephen Raisz

William Halvorson (Vidyananda das?)

Related Companies:
Iskcon Foundation, Inc

Related People:
Charles Grandgent
Miriam Tassinare
Pierre Lemieux
Sawkney Ramesh

Jay E Israel (Jayadvaita Swami)

Related Companies:
Friends of The BBT, Inc.

Related People:
Ashok Dudakia
Douglas R Greenberg
Greg Stein
William T Suczek

David V Jakupko (Kirtiraja dasa) An Alachua realtor

Related Companies:
Care for Cows In Vrindaban, Inc.
Friends of Vrindavan, Inc.
Green Hill of Alachua, Inc.
Greenwood of Alachua, Inc. Krishna Community Fund, Inc.
Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara Nitya Seva Fund, Inc.

Related People:
Alfred B Ford
Arvind Singh
David E Roberts
Helen A Jakupko
Ranchor Prime
John Sims

Pierre Lemieux

Related Companies:
Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc.
Iskcon Foundation, Inc.
Mayapur Foundation, Inc.

Related People:
Carl Woodham
Charles Grandgent
David Dobson
David Jakupko
Douglas Greenberg
Gregory Stein
John Sims
Miriam Tassinare
Pierre Lemieux
Sawkney Ramesh
Stephen Raisz
William Halvorson

Bhisham Prasad

Related Companies:
Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc

Related People:
Douglas R Greenberg
Stephen Raisz

Stephen Raisz

ISKCON Communications / ISKCON.net, Alachua
Executive Director, Friends of the BBT, Mayapur, WB

Related Companies:
Children First International, Inc.
Mayapur Foundation, Inc.
Sattva Alliance for Sustainable Development, Inc

Related People:
Bhisham Prasad
Douglas Greenberg
Gregory Stein
James W Griffith
John Sims
Pierre Lemieux

Sawkney Ramesh

Related Companies:
Iskcon Foundation, Inc.

Related People:
Charles Grandgent
Miriam Tassinare
Pierre Lemieux
William Halvorson

John Sims (Abhirama das)

Related Companies:
Mayapur Foundation, Inc.
Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc.

Related People:
Alister Taylor
Dennis Harrison
Douglas Greenberg
Gopal K Goswami
Gregory Stein
Jayapataka Swami
Pierre Lemieux
Seth W Spellman
Stephen Raisz

Gregory (Greg) Stein (Gopal Bhatta das)

Related Companies:
Friends of The BBT, Inc.
Mayapur Foundation, Inc.

Related People:
Ashok Dudakia
Douglas R Greenberg
Jay E Israel
William T Suczek
John Sims
Pierre Lemieux
Stephen Raisz

William T Suczek (Vaisesika dasa)

Related Companies:
Friends of The BBT, Inc

Related People:
Ashok Dudakia
Douglas R Greenberg
Greg Stein
Jay E Israel

Miriam Tassinare (Mukhya Devi)

Director, Sedona Center of Vedic Culture

Related Companies:
A U M Holding Company
Aum Services, Inc.
Iskcon Foundation, Inc.

Related People:
Charles Grandgent
Pierre Lemieux
Sawkney Ramesh
William Halvorson

Carl Woodham (Kalakantha das)

Krishna House, Alachua

Related Companies:
Iskcon Convention of Temples, Inc.
The Solomon Company, Inc.

Related People:
David Dobson
David Jakupko
Pierre Lemieux

Mayapur Vrindavan Worship Fund, Inc.

Directors will be included in Cluster #2 Report