THE 20 YEAR HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY & NUMEROLOGY

In January of 2003, the International Association of Vedic Astrology & Numerology (IAVAN) was born. IAVAN was modeled on the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences (ICAS) with the blessing of Dr. Raman, the founder and first President of the Indian Council. The Council appointed Chakrapani Ullal posthumous chairman of the organization, as he was close to Dr. Raman and in regular contact with him. David Frawley was appointed the first President of the Council, and Dennis Harness was appointed Executive Vice President. The Council’s founding board of directors were Christina Collins, Dennis Flaherty, and James Kelleher, with Deborah Ress serving as recording secretary.

The mission of the Council, as stated in the incorporated bylaws, was:

• To establish and maintain a professional association for Vedic astrologers

• To establish and maintain a program designed to raise educational standards within the profession

• To establish educational standards and levels of certification for both practitioners and teachers of Vedic astrology

• To promote the free exchange of ideas and research among the various schools of Vedic astrology.

• The Council passed an important milestone on April 5, 2006, when it earned its 501(c)(6) non-profit status with the IRS. This legally recognized the Council’s function as being “operated to promote a common business interest and to improve business conditions in the industry.”

This was legally distinct from the status achieved later by the International Association of Vedic Astrology & Numerology (IAVAN) , which was recognized later on November 22, 2008, by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization being operated exclusively for educational purposes.

In 2009, the International Association of Vedic Astrology & Numerology (IAVAN)  held its first membership-based elections. Dennis Flaherty was elected President, and Gary Gomes was elected Vice President of the Council. At that time the Council, although legally still incorporated as the International Association of Vedic Astrology & Numerology (IAVAN)  started doing business as the International Association of Vedic Astrology & Numerology (IAVAN)  to reflect its growing international role and to distinguish the organization’s name from the names of the Australian Council of Vedic Astrology (ACVA), and the American College of Vedic Astrology (ACVA), two other IAVAN ‘s which were founded after the Council.

In 2010, Gary Gomes was elected as President of the Council and Sat Siri Khalsa was elected as Vice President of the Council. In 2011, Dennis Flaherty was elected to a second term with Sat Siri Khalsa serving a second term as Vice President of the Council.

In 2012, the Council’s board voted unanimously to emphasize the original mission of the Council, to establish educational standards and levels of certification for both teachers and practitioners of Vedic Astrology. The response from leading members of the professional Vedic astrology community was positively overwhelming at the resumption of the Council’s certification program. The Council’s certification committee is currently co-chaired by IAVAN Council members David Frawley, Saket Bhatia, Dennis Flaherty, Marianne Jacuzzi, and Jim Kelleher as the IAVAN Provost.

In 2020, membership secretary Mickey McKay passed the baton to Prema Lee Gurreri, and Marianne Jacuzzi is the managing editor of the IAVAN Journal.

In 2023 we are fortunate to have returning members Marianne Jacuzzi and Prema Lee Gurreri, and long-standing returning members Susie Patterson and Karen Wennerlind. Each bring their own expertise.  Non-profit organizations are constantly in need of fresh volunteers to continue the mission.  We at the IAVAN are fortunate to welcome two new members to the 2023 IAVAN board, Bruce Davis and Michael Alberts.  You’ll find here the biographies of all the newly elected members, so you can get to know them.

We wish to thank out-going IAVAN member, Mickey McKay, for her many years of service to the IAVAN . I especially want to thank IAVAN’s out-going Vice President, Nalini Kanta Das, for his support and personal counsel, as well as his service on the IAVAN certification committee. Nalini will remain on that committee and continue to publish articles in the IAVAN Journal as time permits.

We on the IAVAN board invite you to become a member of our growing international organization. The Council endeavors to continue our mission, a mission that started almost 30 years ago to create a strong, vibrant, professional organization of practitioners, welcoming equally and inclusively all schools of Vedic astrology.

Sincerely,

Dennis Flaherty, IAVAN founder and President of the IAVAN 

on behalf of
Chakrapani Ullal, IAVAN founder, Posthumous Chairman of the IAVAN 
David Frawley, IAVAN founder, First President of the IAVAN 
James Kelleher, IAVAN founder