FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions



WSN website features

  1. On-line scoresheet for sending in your monthly book distribution results.
  2. Over 3,000 reports available for individuals, temples, countries, continents and world totals for the years 1983 to present, by month, year and special categories such as Congregational Preaching, Weekend Wariors, Srila Prabhupada disciples, most improved temples, countries per capita, etc.
  3. Quick name index of individuals, temples and countries.
  4. World records for individuals, temples and countries: yearly and lifetime.
  5. FAQ and help page for frequently asked questions.
  6. Expanded BTG subscription coverage.
  7. Easy links to histories and temple web sites.
  8. Audio and video of Srila Prabhupada on book distribution.
  9. Book counter updated every few seconds as new books are distributed. (Place mouse over counter to display the current rate of book distribution.)
    Features to be added soon include:
  10. Book distribution results for the years 1974 to 1982 from the original Sankirtan Newsletters.
    Wish list:
  11. An on-line database so you can directly enter your own scores and get instant updated reports.



How do I use the on-line scoresheet?

  1. Organize your monthly book distribution totals by book category and hard or soft cover:
      Small books (50 - 149 pages)
      Medium books (150 - 299 pages)
      Big books (300 - 499 pages)
      Mahabig books (500+ pages)

  2. Get your temple totals by book category as well as top individuals.
  3. Click here for the online scoresheet or click on scoresheet from the home page.
  4. You will be prompted for the number of individuals you want to enter. Enter the number of individuals you have scores for. Just enter your top individuals.
  5. Enter your temple information.
  6. Enter each individual result. Please spell each name the same way each month.
  7. Special buttons will do the following for you:
      Change # of individuals: will restart a blank scoresheet with room for more individuals
      (Re)Calculate Points: will calculate(update) the points column.
      Make temple totals = sum of individuals: Optional - forces the temple totals to be the same as the sum of all the individuals (in case you enter all your individuals).
      Print this page: Prints the scoresheet for your records.
      Clear scoresheet: Start over with a new scoresheet.
      Cancel: Cancels scoresheet.
      Submit scoresheet: Emails the scoresheet to us and to your email address. Closes scoresheet window, so print first if you want a hard copy!


 


How do I send in scores other ways?

Monthly scores can still be sent the usual ways: fax, phone, snail mail and e-mail. Please send them before the 15th of the next month.

      Email:   mayapur@aol.com
      Fax:(310)841-5844
      Phone:(310)837-0419
      Mail:World Sankirtan Newsletter
      3764 Watseka Ave.
      Los Angeles, CA 90034 U.S.A.
 Please use the same basic format as the scoresheet.
When sending scores by e-mail please make sure the columns line up properly. Use a mono-spaced font such as Courier or use Notepad and then copy the scores into your email or send as an attached .TXT file. Excel spreadsheet files are always good. 
   Temple: (Important!)       Month: (Important!)

                         (Enter books below, NOT points!)
                 SUB   M1   S1   H1   S2   H2   S3   H3   S4   H4   SETS
   Temple totals  27   51   17   10   20   23   16   20  266   69      7
   Top devotees:
   Bk Mike         1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    0      2
   Krsna d         3    4    8    6    8    9    9    0   23   65      1
   Radha dd       23   45    6         7    8        12  234    4      4
   etc.
Please...
    Try to limit each line to 80 characters maximum.
    You can omit the codes you don't use. You can start with H4 if you wish.
    Make sure the columns line up properly when viewed with a fixed-pitch font.
    Use spaces (not tabs) between columns.
    Include your temple's name! Temples should be listed by city name.
    Include the month the scores are for!
    Include temple totals for the month.
    Spell names the same way each month.
    List each month separately. Don't combine two or more months together.
    Don't just report Small, Big, Mahabig, etc.--->Use the codes S1,S2 etc. or make sure you
      specify hard or soft cover books.
    You don't need to send every devotee's score. Just the top devotees who
      will have a chance to appear in the newsletter.
    You don't need to calculate points, but it is helpful.

 


What are the book categories(codes)?

          SUB-E = BTG subscriptions-English (1 year)
          SUB-O = BTG subscriptions-Other   (1 year)
          M1 = Magazines
          S1 = Small-soft    H1 = Small-hard    50-149 pages
          S2 = Medium-soft   H2 = Medium-hard   150-299 pages
          S3 = Big-soft      H3 = Big-hard      300-499 pages
          S4 = Mahabig-soft  H4 = Mahabig-hard  500+pages
          SETS = Full sets of S.B. or C.C.

 


What is the point system?

Sankirtan Newsletter Point System
Books:MagazinesSmall BooksMedium BooksBig BooksMahabig Books
Pages:1 year BTG Sub10-49pgs50-149 pages150-299 pages300-499 pages500+ pages
Cover:EnglishOtherSoftHardSoftHardSoftHardSoftHard
Code:Sub-ESub-OM1S1H1S2H2S3H3S4H4
Points:5.02.5.10.25.25.5.51.01.02.02.0

Full sets do not have a separate point value. Make sure all books in sets are included in the H4 category (Mahabig-hard) or the H3 category (Big-hard).

 


How many points for a . . . ?

Points are based on the number of pages in each book. See table above. When in doubt, count the pages.
Include all pages except blank pages. Photos and front and back covers count.

Full sets do not have a separate point value. Make sure all books in sets are included in the H4
    (mahabig hard) category or H3 (big hard) category.
Bhagavad-gita CDROMs count as mahabig hard (H4).
Library of Vedic Culture CDROMs count as mahabig hard (H4).
Hidden Glories of India count as medium hard (H2).
Calendars and music CDs are not counted.
The one volume Caitanya Caritamrita is a mahabig(hard) (H4) book and not a set.
Krsna Book vol 1 and vol 2 are big(hard) (H3) books and not a set.
The new small size 30 vol. SB sets are big (hard) (H3) books.

 


What books can be included?

Since this is a BBT newsletter all books must be sold by your local BBT or have the approval of your local BBT.
If in doubt ask your local BBT.

 


Who can be included in the newsletter?

Temples and centers must be listed in Back to Godhead or have the approval of your local GBC representative.

 


When is the deadline for scores?

The deadline for scores is the 15th of the following month. If you miss the deadline no problem! Don't worry. Send your scores as soon as you can. Send each month separately. Do not combine two or more months together.

 


Fair Play Rules


                              FAIR PLAY RULES

1997 GBC Resolution #103: That the score system for the Sankirtan Newsletter
is changed to include the following for individual distribution:

1.  The category "Regular"

    (a)  to count only literature which is actually sold for some profit 
         (ideally double BBT price) and given into the hands of the receivers 
         personally.
    (b)  literature distributed by accepting post dated checks shall only be 
         counted when at least the BBT price has been received.

2.  The new category "Subsidized" for the following methods of distribution 
    for individuals:

    (a)  devotees working in teams of two or more and recording their group
         effort as one score.
    (b)  subsidized books which are sold for BBT price or less. 
    (c)  sponsored books which are given to people who can value them 
         (i.e. VIPs, libraries, schools, prisons, etc.).

    Those individuals who are doing these types of subsidized distribution must 
    specify it when reporting scores to the newsletter. Temple and Country
    scores stay the same. There is no need to report temple scores in two 
    categories.

3.  Free distribution

    Free distribution by individuals and temples who give out literature 
    free of cost shall not be counted in the newsletter (except as provided 
    for in "Subsidized" above).

 


Where can I find book distribution lilas?

By joining the Book Distribution Seminar (BDS) conference on PAMHO.NET you can have book distribution lilas as well as other sankirtan nectar and news emailed to you. You can go to www.pamho.net to sign up. There is a small annual fee.

If you have sankirtan nectar you would like to share please send it to BDS@pamho.net.

 


What about missing years?

We would like to collect all the published Sankirtan Newsletters so we can present the complete history of book distribution as presented in the newsletters. The newsletters we are still missing are listed below. If you have copies of them or know of someone who does, please let us know. The BBT Archives would also like to have a copy of the early years.

Unfortunately there are many difficulties with the early scores, since the top individuals were not consistently mentioned, there have been changes in the point system, and some months there was no newsletter at all. But we will do our best with the information we have.

We are in particular need of scores outside of North America during 1987 and 1988 when the Sankirtan newsletter only lists North American temples.

We are missing the following newsletters:
(Note: originally the sankirtan year ended on Gaura Purnima)

Missing Sankirtan Newsletters
YearVolumeMissing Issue #s
1974-1975Vol 1Missing #1,2,40,42,43,44,45,49,53
1975-1976Vol 2Missing all except #41-44 and 48
1976-1977Vol 3Missing #1,24,25, July 12-18, Oct 25-31
1977-1978Vol 4Missing #4,5,6,7,38,44
1978-1979Vol 5Missing (none)
1979-1980Vol 6Missing #40-52
1980-1981Vol 7Missing #16 on
1981-1982Vol 8Missing #30,33,36-48
1982-1983Vol 9Missing #11,46,47,48
1983-1984Vol 10Missing (none)
1984Vol 11Missing (none)
1985Vol 12Missing (none)
1986Vol 13Missing July - December
1987Vol 14Missing all (North American temples only)
Parama Karuna (North Europe) Missing half of them
1988Vol 15Missing #1,5,8,9,10,12,15,29,33,35,41,51 (North American temples only)
Need scores for Europe, Russia, South America, etc.
1989-2008Vol 16+Missing (none)

 


What can I do to help?

Please share your stash of Sankirtan Newsletters with us!

Let us know of someone who might have a newsletter collection.

Put your detective skills to work and see if you can dig up missing newsletters.

 


When is World Enlightement Day?

World Enlightenment Day will be in December acording to Vaisesika dasa. The goal is to distribute one million books in one day! Please help make this dream come true.

 


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                                   Mayapur Sasi dasa, Editor 
              Copyright © 2004 BBTI The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.

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