On the weekend of January 16, 2010, an ISKCON Belgium Council (IBC) meeting was held in Radhadesh. During 2010 the council will focus on strategic planning — creating a vision for how they would like ISKCON in Belgium to develop over the next few years.

Manohara Dasa, the chairman of IBC, began the meeting by describing the value of setting common goals for the various centers for the future development of ISKCON in Belgium and how it would facilitate better cooperation and improve efficiency.

There were some reports from those present about the different centers and their activities. Aravindaksa Dasa presented his analysis of the challenges for the Antwerp preaching centre. Jaya Bhadra Devi Dasi presented the activities of the Brussels centre and Malati Devi Dasi described how things are going in Radhadesh. Jaya Krsna Dasa, the facilitator of the meeting, presented an overview of Sudevi Dasi’s work in the universities, as well as the results of two surveys about the outlook of people in Belgium towards religion.

The IBC members then discussed their thoughts on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges for ISKCON in Belgium. A first draft was made of a vision for where the council would like to see ISKCON Belgium in 2020. Goals and activities were also discussed. The IBC will review this in their next meeting in March and start to implement the first points in the plan.

Hrdaya Caitanya Dasa expressed his satisfaction with the meeting:

I am very happy to see the great variety of activities the devotees do in their centers. Srila Prabhupada would certainly be pleased with everyone’s efforts. I am also very satisfied with the work we have done here this weekend. It’s been a great opportunity and very productive. We’ve discussed and clarified our thoughts about the future of ISKCON in Belgium and defined goals and actions we want to take to further improve and increase our service. It is a very hopeful start for the year, and I’m looking forward to the next meeting to further discuss the practical steps we can take to start to put this vision into effect.

The IBC was established in January 2007. Until then national decisions for Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands had been taken jointly under the auspices of ISKCON Benelux. Now Belgium and the Netherlands have their own councils, with Luxemburg presently under Belgium. The IBC meets about three times a year.

Members of the IBC

• Aravindaksa Dasa — Antwerp Preaching Center
• Hrdaya Caitanya Dasa — GBC
• Jaya Krsna Dasa — Bhaktivedanta College
• Jaya Bhadra Devi Dasi — Brussels Preaching Center
• Jita Kandarpa Dasa — Brugge Nama Hatta
• Krishnapriya Devi Dasi — Antwerp Nama Hatta
• Madhava Dasa — Antwerp Preaching Center
• Madhu Sevita Dasa — GBC
• Mahaprabhu Dasa — Hindu Forum and Communications Department
• Malati Devi Dasi — Radhadesh Temple
• Manohara Dasa — Radhadesh Temple
• Purna Tattva Dasa — Antwerp Preaching Center
• Rick Haverbus — Radhadesh Temple
• Tarunyamrta Devi Dasi — Communications Department
• Yadunandana Swami — Bhaktivedanta College