april 2004 volume 1 ~ issue 1 the keys P E A C E I S Right now I am working on a new project—a series of materials that address step by step what aspirants P O S S I B L E need to know to receive Knowledge. This will allow people to proceed at their own pace, as quickly or as slowly as they want. It will also make it possible for people who are in really remote areas to prepare. And those people who already have Knowledge will be able to take advantage of it, as well. These new resources will make it very easy for people to receive Knowledge—and be better prepared than ever before. I’m excited about it. It’s coming. Maharaji the gift Knowledge Sessions are on the increase in North America. the message Plans are that these opportunities 2003 was unprecedented in both the scope and scale of will be available in several loca- Maharaji’s activities. There were 79 events, attended by 1.1 million tions each month. Knowledge Ses- people, including 41 introductory and follow up events, attended by sion teams have been specially 718,000 guests. The first TV, print and radio advertising were released in trained throughout the region to major US markets. An interview by Maharaji was heard on three major facilitate these unique events in at airlines in late 2003. Clarity, a book by Maharaji was published, and least sixteen cities. more than 60 positive articles appeared in the press worldwide. “Asking for Knowledge” 171 Knowledge Sessions were held, with an almost 50% increase meetings are also being held more in the number of people receiving Knowledge compared to 2002. frequently. This allows for less Maharaji did a four-month tour of India, including the Delhi time between someone completing stadium event in March with 130,000 people attending. A helicopter was the preparation process, confirm- used for the first time for transport to the events in India, saving many ing that they meet the require- hours of travel time. 46,000 people attended the first Expressions event ments, and being able to learn the in New Delhi techniques of Knowledge the passion A lot of people in America what we should do or why it wasn’t come, join the party, and have are asking, “How can Maharaji’s working, we just did it. Sometimes the cake. It’s not work—you get message reach more people here?” it was a hit, and sometimes it was to have the cake. How does that happen? a miss. Sometimes no one came, All it takes is passion—the When I first came to the and sometimes everyone came. passion that comes from the heart, West, there were a few people and Things are happening now, not from the head. Be in that a lot of passion. Ask anyone from and we can all play a part. Will place, be in that mode, be in that that time. That’s all it was—pas- this message of peace reach passionate environment, and then sion. We really enjoyed telling more and more people? Yes. And everything is possible. people about the possibility of it will happen with you or without Maharaji Knowledge. We never talked about you. The opportunity here is to connecting with: cindy lategan Cindy Lategan is the contact person for the North American Introductory & Follow- up Team, a network of people in the United States, Canada and Mexico supporting the efforts of local teams to introduce Maharaji and his message to the public. She assists with communication between those local teams and other North American regional teams. Living in the greater Boston area, Cindy is married, with two children, and works part time as a consultant writer of medical articles and reports. CNA: Can you give us an overview of local activi- It’s really about taking creativity and simple ties that happened in 2003 in North America? ideas and actualizing them with the help of those who Cindy: There were nine programs with Maharaji, six have the same passion. Sometimes it takes the help of which were public. More than 6,400 people were and support of other teams who have been doing sim- introduced to Knowledge at these events. ilar presentations. In October 2002, a meeting was held in Miami CNA: What’s up for 2004? at which Maharaji spoke of the many people he felt Cindy: We are anticipating having a substantial would be very happy to be introduced to his message. number of public events with Maharaji speaking this From then, through December 2003, more than year. A single follow-up event is tentatively planned 17,000 people heard about Maharaji and Knowledge for the end of the tour to be telecast to many other at local video and broadcast events. The number of cities. Interested people could then attend a local people introduced monthly to Maharaji and his mes- program, and still be able to speak to Maharaji live, sage in North America more than quadrupled during via the telecast. that period. An average of 1,339 people a month were CNA: Any other significant points or comments introduced to Knowledge in 2003. about the events of 2003 that you would like During the past year, events have been held in to mention? hotels, libraries, homes, art galleries, assisted living centers, restaurants and even an airport, where an Cindy: Maharaji expressed his gratitude and happi- event was held for airline staff. In many cities, people ness at seeing what is happening in North America. can now hear Maharaji on cable access, on the radio He seemed very pleased to be able to speak to so channels of major airlines or watch the weekly satel- many at last year’s public events. He has expressed lite broadcasts. More people have been able to hear his thanks to everyone who has helped make his tours Maharaji than ever before in North America. so successful. CNA: How many Knowledge sessions were held KM during 2003 and how many people learned the techniques of Knowledge? Cindy: There were eight Knowledge sessions in North America in 2003 where 297 people learned the tech- niques of Knowledge. CNA: Can you give us some highlights to last year’s local events? April 2004 Cindy: The most beautiful thing is that people with passion can do things they didn’t think possible, just welcome by working together. For example, there is one team Connect North America evolved from the need in Florida that has become a traveling “introductory and desire to share relevant information between event crew,” doing presentations in community cent- teams and individuals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. ers and apartment buildings. They covered a large 2004 seems the perfect time for this project. Much is part of their county just by making themselves availa- happening, including possible events with Maharaji in ble and using a little bit of ingenuity. Researching North America. with chambers of commerce and other organizations We hope this publication offers you useful that might have an interest enabled them to set up a information, interesting initiatives and ways to series of events for one group that cares for the stay connected. (Also available in Spanish.) young and elderly. To access: [email protected] CNA - page 2 talking about: event management with jim vuko An opportunity to partici- decades.” Jim says that among Free copies of the Event pate in 1978 led to a life-long ca- other things, it contains job de- Overview manual are availa- reer for Jim Vuko. scriptions for forming a local event ble to any community in “At the first event in Kiss- team and descriptions of more North America. Community immee, Florida, I was the business than 32 milestones in the life cycle contact people or local event manager. I got my start in event of an event. team managers may get a management there,” he says. Jim notes that the team copy by contacting Jim at Today Jim is a partner and also provides personalized, spe- [email protected]. vice president with International cialized coaching based on the Conference Management, which pro- area of expertise of each of the vides software and web solutions for five team members. Jim coaches meetings, conventions and exposi- event management; Richard Gro- tions. He lives in Chevy Chase, Mar- den, productions; Jim Levin, fi- yland with his wife Evelyn. nance; Betsy Gibson, guest Event management for Ma- services, and Linda Gross, commu- haraji’s programs still figures promi- nications. “This,” Jim says, “gives nently in Jim’s life. He is a member each local manager a counterpart of the North American Regional on the regional team so they can Event Team. focus together on the same tasks.” “Last summer,” Jim says, They also provide on-site “representatives from the various training, he says. “At the Ft. going for growth teams involved in the recently com- Lauderdale event in February, for The number of people pleted tour got together in Miami example, each of the regional hearing Maharaji’s message is Beach to talk about how to improve managers organized a training growing worldwide, through his our ability to host successful session or ‘event classroom’ in own live events, and through the events, particularly in communities their respective areas.” The ses- media. An essential part of the that have had little previous expe- sion Jim arranged for event man- success of the tours, events, and rience. One of the outcomes was agers consisted of six hours of materials is the financial support the formation of the North Ameri- actual classroom time, followed by of people that care.