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Home -> Board -> SanghaMeeting
April 19th 2009 at 11:00am. Action items are underlined
Location: Deep Spring Center
Attendees:
Deep Spring Board, Barbara Brodsky, Deep Spring Sangha stakeholders.
Agenda
11:00 – Social time
11:15 – Introductions (Curt)
All
board members were introduced: Curt Fish – President, Peg Tappe –
Vice President, Linda Longo – Treasurer, Anna Teare –
Secretary, Sherry Hansen – Incoming Treasurer, and Simon Ha.
The
new Class Coordinator, Vivian Sanders, was introduced. Part of her
role involves finding out what classes and programs the sangha
would like to see, and transmitting this information to the
teachers. The sangha is encouraged to email her with suggestions.
The deadline for fall classes is early June.
The
Deep Spring Teachers in attendance were introduced.
The
Guiding Teacher, Barbara Brodsky, was introduced.
It
was also announced that the Office Manager, Alice Britt, will be
leaving on 4/28 and that DSC will be looking for a new OM. Those
interested in this part-time position should send an email to
om@deepspring.org.
Replies will be sent out once criteria and process have been
developed.
11:30
– State of the Sangha (Curt/Anna/Peg)
What
we've done
Statistics
for classes were presented:
Winter
2008 7 classes 66 attendees
Spring
2008 4 classes 63 attendees
Summer
2008 2 classes 38 attendees
Fall
2008 6 classes 80 attendees
Winter
2009 8 classes 105 attendees
There
were also several drop-in programs, such as Sunday and Tuesday
sittings, yoga, healing circle, and days of meditation.
Statistics
for retreats were presented:
During
2008 there were 5 retreats offered.
The
June 2008 retreat had 52 retreatants, of which 24 stayed for the
whole week.
The
spring 2009 Steiner retreat had 17 retreatants.
Amongst
social activities offered during 2008 were the annual summer
picnic, election gathering, Thanksgiving celebration, holiday
festivities, drumming circle, and Tuesday breakfasts at Panera's.
Accomplishments:
The
DSC Newsletter went out 3 times in 2008 and is now up to 24 pages.
The
DSC Archives were finished – see http://archives.deepspring.org.
WiFi
is now offered at DSC.
We
have moved to digital record maintenance. The board meeting agenda
is published on the website one week in advance and the approved
board meeting minutes are published one week after the meeting.
The
board went from a 10-person to a 6-person board.
The
Dharma Within was organized between DSC, Jewel Heart, and the Zen
Buddhist Temple and had approx. 200 attendants.
Looking
ahead
Upcoming
classes:
For
spring 2009, 5 classes are scheduled.
For
summer 2009, currently 2 classes are scheduled.
Fall
2009 schedule TBD.
Barbara
will be offering a 2-year class for experienced students together
with Aaron. The application deadline is May 17.
Upcoming
retreats:
April
no-frills retreat.
June
retreat at Albion College.
October
non-beginner's retreat.
Other
day-long and weekend retreats.
The
drop-in programs will continue.
There
is currently limited social activity scheduled since the social
committee is down to only one volunteer, Thomas Slank. The social
committee is moving more toward coordination than arrangement of
actual activities.
Other
plans:
A
new lease has been signed, starting in August and running through
July 2011.
There
are thoughts about a fall fundraiser.
The
new framework will be implemented and used for long-range planning
(see below).
Visioning
- Anna presented the new DSC organizational/strategic framework:
The
purpose of the framework is to link previously separate pieces,
such as our mission statement and 2005 visioning process with the
current board initiatives and committees.
Its
main parts are 4 strategic areas: 1. Organization, 2. Finance and
Development, 3. Teaching and Sharing, and 4. Community. Through
color-coding (see framework chart), one can at a glance see what
areas are covered in the mission, vision, initiatives, and
committees.
The
benefits are that this framework allows us to see the big picture
while we accomplish the day-to-day tasks and it allows us to see
where our efforts are currently focused so we can make sure that
all parts of the organization receive attention. This is a way to
ensure a healthy organization long-term.
11:45
– Treasurer's report (Linda)
The
2008 actuals were presented. In 2008 we were close to breaking even
with only -$333 in the red.
The
2009 budget was presented. This year the projections point to a
$5,800 deficit. This is mainly due to donations being projected as
10% down, the 2009 retreat deposit (usually paid the year before)
being paid this year, and the retreat revenue being projected as
lower due to a change in venue.
If
needed, we can use part of our $40,000 CD savings to cover a
deficit.
Our
main income comes from donations, retreats, classes and workshops.
Our
main expenses are building and office, salaries, and retreats.
12:00
–
Guidance from our Guiding Teacher (Barbara)
Barbara
touched on the history of Deep Spring and its name (our inner wisdom
seen as a deep spring), and the current state of chaos in the world:
Our
practice is not about changing things but about spreading calm
through our practice. All instability is the result of conditions.
We need to put down the tension, fear, and habitual reactions and
hold a spacious container for this chaos, to ground this chaos. In
this way we heal ourselves and heal the world. Our dharma work is to
take what is and ask: How can I make lemon juice out of lemons; in
other words how can I use this in a way that brings greater wisdom,
love, and compassion to the world?
Aaron
reiterated what Barbara said and also spoke briefly on the meaning
of our mission statement. He pointed out that nonduality does not
mean that nothing exists but that everything exists
interdependently: This
means that the chaos in this world is the result of conditions. Your
work on a daily basis is to explore how you are participating in the
conditions for that which is unwholesome – as well as how you are
participating in the conditions for that which is wholesome. As the
Buddha said: "Cultivate the wholesome. If it were not possible, I
would not ask you to do it. Abandon the unwholesome. If it were not
possible, I would not ask you to do it." However, instead of
pushing away the unwholesome, sit with the wholesome; breathe with
it, give energy to it, and allow it to blossom. In this way you heal
yourselves and the world.
12:20
–
Sangha feedback
Feedback
on newsletter (Led by Rori)
The
DSC newsletter is printed in 500 copies, out of which 3-400 copies
are mailed out. Rori would like feedback on whether people prefer
paper copies or are satisfied with only the electronic version. She
will include a survey in the next newsletter. Rori also needs new
layout people and a content manager.
Feedback
on fundraising
Hal
volunteered to assist with fundraising.
Erica
and Linda proposed a plant split in the spring or fall, with
proceeds going to DSC. Anna proposed that perhaps anyone who makes
things (such as baked goods, jewelry, or art) could bring that to
sell as well. Contact Erica if you have items to contribute.
Feedback
on social activities
Barbara
proposed sangha softball games.
Jenny
asked for more social activities. Anna agreed and suggested
low-effort ideas such as getting together at a café on a weekend
afternoon.
Anyone
who has an idea can email Tom Slank so that he can help them
coordinate the activity.
Feedback
on Deep Spring vision, e.g. location
If
you are interested in moving to a different location come 2011,
contact Curt to get on this committee.
Repeat
call for volunteers
DSC
is a volunteer organization; you can even volunteer to help with
only one activity if you would like. Send an email to
om@deepspring.org if interested.
We
need a volunteer coordinator – please send an email to
om@deepspring.org if interested!
12:40
-
Wrap-up and closing
Respectfully
submitted,
Anna
Teare
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