Main Deity
We have chosen Ganesha as the first deity to be installed in the Temple, as he is the remover of all obstacles. Most Hindus pray to Ganesha. Additional deities in the Temple will depend on member support. For example, if a group of members want to install an idol of the Saint Mahavir or Jalaram Bapa, they can contribute towards this.

Annapoorna
Annapoorna is the Catering arm of the Temple run by volunteers. All food prepared is a donation to the Temple, and counts towards yearly membership. Please use Annapoorna for parties and other gatherings and help the Temple.

Baal Vidhya Peeth
The temple has religious Sunday classes, classical music and Sloka classes for adults.
The temple also offers classes in Geography and Mathematics for children.

September 30, 2003:
Today we have purchased the property on Plantation Road and Silver & Lewis Lane.
This lot is very centrally located.  At least 25 Hindu families live within
5 minute driving distance and 50 families within 15 minute driving distance
of this property.  It is accessible from Daniels Parkway as well as
US41 or Metro via Crystal.

The cost was $312,000 for 7.39 acres for this wooded lot.
It has very little wetland (0.5 acres), compared to all the other sites
we have looked at.  It has an FPL easement of 1.5 acres.  
We thank all those who contributed so generously to make this purchase possible.
This Temple can become a landmark of our community in Southwest Florida
with your help.  Please continue to support the Temple and enlist
your friends in its activities.
  SITE

Bhoomi Pooja, November 15, 2003. (Ground Consecration ceremony)
Bhoomi Pooja was performed in a most auspicious manner by Priest Sri Rangarajan and Mukesh & Jayna Vyas. Everyone who attended felt blessed by the many ancient prayers chanted. The prayer site had been cleared by loving hands and looked especially beautiful with flowers and decorations.
A Gold plated Ganesha pendant with rudraksh was given to each family that has contributed $1000 or more to the Temple.
If you have not received yours, please collect the same from the Secretary.
We also have more of these for those who reach the $1,000 target in 2004.
Please donate generously to the building fund, to enable us to build your temple soon.
Annual General Body Meeting, Sunday December 14th, 4pm.
The Annual General Body meeting and elections for our Temple Executive Committee will be
was held on December 14th, 2003 4pm, at the residence of Thanum & DevaCaanthan,
10080 Magnolia Pointe, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
1. 35 members attended the meeting.
2. K. DevaCaanthan, President, started the meeting reviewing the events of the past year.
He pointed out that volunteering for the Temple has brought us together as one large family.
He stressed that we should remain united in the years to come.
3. Mallika Nandur, Secretary, presented the Financial report for 2002-2003.
We have a cash balance of $26,714 as of Dec 10, 2003 and the site on Plantation Blvd.
Expenses were kept low by generous donations of materials by members.
4. Renga Sunderasan, Chair, introduced the Trustees and the Board of Trustees.
Chairperson - Renga Sunderasan
Lakshmi Bushan, K. DevaCaanthan, Vidya Kini, Raj Patel representing Jalaram Mandal,
C.R. Natarajan, Bhupendra Patel, Thakor Patel, Prakash Varshney. The Board of Trustees has
appointed Lakshmi Bushan and C.R. Natarajan as Officers-at-Large to the Executive Committee.
5. There was some discussion about the nomination process and proxy voting.
It was resolved that the next election would have a longer nomination period.
6. The Board had not received any further nominations, so the following were
unanimously elected to the next Executive Committee (2004-2005).
Sunil Lalla - President
Lakshmi Krishnan - President Elect
Mallika Nandur - Secretary
Mamta Mahajan - Treasurer
Kunwar Jain - Director - Building Chairperson
Mukesh Vyas - Director - Religious Chairperson
Subhash Kshetrapal - Director - Fundraising Chairperson
7. Sanmukh Swami was appointed as Auditor.
He requested the new committee to come up with a larger and more detailed brochure for
fund raising.
8. Sunil Lalla, the new President, asked members to pledge at least $11 per week to
the Temple. He also urged members to allow the Temple to make direct deductions
from their bank or Credit card accounts.
It was also resolved to alternate weekly meetings on Friday and Sunday,
to allow more people to attend.
9. Kumar Nandur urged the Temple to form a Youth Committee, and get the Youth more
involved in planning, construction and Temple activities.
10. Subhash Kshetrapal, Director, announced that he would guarantee part of
Car Raffle and looked for other guarantors.
11. Udaya Dash volunteered to bear costs of meeting monthly on the Temple grounds.
Janavi Sunderasan also proposed to have a monthly prayer gathering on the site.
Members will now meet at the site 10am-10:30am every second Saturday for Prayer.
Carpooling will be appreciated as parking is available only at the Celebration Family Church.
12. Lastly, delicious snacks were provided by Annapoorna, the Temple Catering Committee.