• home
• contact
• events
• library
• newsletter
• photos
• places
• practice
• registration
• support
• teachings
• zen info
• __________
• dharma hall
• workgroups

newsletters

back to newsletter page

Responding Gate: Livelihood and Ambition

by Nomon Tim Burnett
September 21, 2008

Dear Sangha,

 

After a very quiet few months (boring even!) at my day job as a computer programmer lately things have been much busier and more stressful. So I've been reflecting on stress and trying to study that what's stressful for me is not activity or busy-ness exactly. Working hard and being busy can make me tired but I don't think that's what causes stress and suffering so much. Lately I'm noticing that stress emerges from busy times for a couple of reasons. The main one for me is the hook of productivity-desire. When there's a task that has any kind of urgency to it at all I want to finish it..today. I'm very susceptible to the worry and desires of other's around productivity and I quickly get caught in a kind of good boy overwork syndrome trying to do right for everyone around me and finish the work at double speed. That I have this tendency to spin around productivity that I need to watch and to actively release myself from.

And there's something under that desire for production, that ambition or drive to get this done so quickly. Maybe it's uncertainty and fear, maybe it's a sense of exposure - the others are watching. Maybe it has something to do with change and fear of change.

So I'm studying stress and busy-ness lately and I'm trying to keep my center in the midst of it. And it's very interesting to me that these two are so tightly associated in our minds and culture that we think they are the same thing.  I think studying the distinction and supporting each other in working with this may be an important Bodhisattva work for us. Great effort is called for sometimes but it need not add up to great stress and suffering.

Have you noticed how conflated they are in our culture? When we chat with someone and they say "oh work's very busy lately" we know the next thing we'll hear is "it's really stressful", or they don't even have to say that - it's implied and understood.  In our conceptual framework of the workings of the world we have effort and being busy so strongly linked with stress and difficulty that we think they are the same thing.

So in this round of a more busy worklife I'm trying to see if I can notice with more acuity what is effort and what is stress and where that stress seems to be coming from. To see if I can access the Buddha's brilliant analysis tool of the Four Noble Truths in my daily life and discern places where I can manipulate the situation to reduce stress and suffering or even better see the whole pattern unfolding and experience some liberation from it.

We too-often think of the Four  Noble Truths as just a description of a problem and we see doing the practice as a sort all-purpose response. One can take the Four Noble Truths as: because conditioned life is characterized by dukkha, or suffering, we need to practice in order to do something about it.  (Conditioned here means everything that's influenced by cause and effect so our usual known experience is all conditioned, this happens, then that happens and our conditioning kicks in and we are happy or we are sad.)

In effect we focus on the first noble truth of suffering and not on the rest of the pattern the Buddha was describing.  The second, third and forth noble truth though are a description of how and why it all happens and what to do about it in detail. So we are doing ourselves a disservice not to access those "truths" with more focus and attention. The wonderful Zen emphasis on emptiness, on letting go, can I think be misconstrued in a way.  Nothing to figure out, just let go. This is true and very wonderful, but there are also things we can do and things we can figure out about our lives that are helpful and reduce suffering. It would be a mistake to think that practice is always general, never specific, a cure-all ("just let go") and not a toolset for analyzing and working with our life more skillfully. It's both.

Last night at the zendo we had some wonderful advice from Seishu John Wiley on a very specific practice experiment he's been doing around paying more attention.  In his Dharma Talk he shared with us that on the one hand he's come to recognize and accept a roughly annual cycle in his practice.  That over the summer he tends to take a bit of a "Zen vacation" and now it's Fall and time to re-inspire himself and make more effort in his practice and enjoy the results of this.

I appreciate so much how practical John is in his approach. So down to Earth. Seeking inspiration, he told us, he reflected on his life and thought about times when he really felt connected and awake. A few of his examples were in formal practice - the Shuso's question and answer ceremony - and a few were very ordinary - having tea in the middle of a restless night when the tea is just so wonderful.

And he browsed around in some Buddhist books and magazines looking for inspiration and ran into an article from Thich Naht Han. He read a very paragraphs and I had exactly the reaction he thought we would when he read Thich Naht Han's famous and usual teaching about paying attention when you eat. He was describing eating an orange with full mindfulness and attention and the great joy that arises from really experiencing the richness and fullness of a slice of orange. In the mind I noticed the usual sort of chatter in response to this "yeah yeah, same old same old, boy Thich Naht Han's stuff is so simple and repetitive, booorrrinnnggg. " And then John got to the kicker which is such an effective teaching. Thich Naht Han said in there something like "And if you are not living in this way with full mindfulness and attention appreciating each moment of your life fully, what are you doing? Are you doing something more important?"

This struck John and it struck us strong last night. What are we doing? We have this one life. We have these few years and days on the Earth to appreciate and enjoy our life. What are we doing with our time?

John's wonderful response was to look at his life square-on and pick a few areas in which he would experiment with paying more attention. He mentioned times when listening to someone, especially when speaking with his mother on the phone, riding his bike, and doing chores (especially chores he's resistant to) and for a few weeks he really focused himself on seeing if he could attend to each of these activities 100%.  Not think about other things or multitask. Really attend with attention and mindfulness to his activity. And his results were quite wonderful. Very simple and very grounded practice and a beautiful reminder to us all that the whole enterprise with all of it's teachings and nuances and psycho-mental-physical complexity really can be boiled down to one thing: pay attention. Pay attention to this present moment, it's the only moment there is. And if you think there's something else you need to be doing notice the foolishness of that, really notice that, and return to this very moment.

We are very lucky in the sangha to have two wonderful lay teachers who are both teaching more. Both Seishu John Wiley and Yuzan Nancy Welch having practiced for many years and completed the shuso (head student in a practice period) training are considered lay teachers. Maybe lay apprentice teachers is the most accurate way of saying. They both teach with the support of our guiding teacher Zoketsu Norman Fischer and they and I talk regularly about teaching and support each other.

Nancy has lately been guiding people individually on the study of the Zen precepts and will be giving a 4-session class this winter on the precepts. She's also leading a half day Introduction to Zen class on Saturday October 25th (9am-1pm, preregistration requested). She tells me that he's really happy teaching, that it really nourishes and enriches her life and practice. I am so happy about this. It is good for Nancy, good for the sangha. Good for me too.

And both Nancy and John are now offering practice discussion during zazen at Red Cedar Dharma Hall as well as other times. So now sangha members have pretty even access to three local teachers (Nancy, John, me) for guidance and support and of course our Guiding Teacher, Norman, when he's here for retreats.

A side note about practice discussion. It's not required for attendance or membership so please don't feel pressured in any way. But please do feel warmly invited. Neither John, Nancy or I feel like we can see into anyone's heads and give magical advice. Nor do we expect people to bring us hard Zen questions (we don't particularly have hard Zen answers anyway). The idea of practice discussion is to bring up the Dharma together. There's something a little bit magical that happens when two people sit down in the context of practice with a shared commitment to honesty, curiosity, and respect for the mystery of being human. There's something about that encounter than can really help the practice come alive in our lives. There is not a prescribed list of topics to talk to and I even recommend signing up without a topic in mind. Just come and see what happens. Something always does. There is always something of importance to discuss and it might not be clear what that is until we sit down.  So just an invitation to come to practice discussion with me, John or Nancy and to attend the retreats with Norman which include doksuan. Dokusan the Japanese word for the more formal practice discussion that fully empowered teachers in our lineage offer.

Leadership Council changes, part 1

Short term and long term changes to our Leadership Council are in the works. The short term changes are that Bernadette Prinster and Marti Bartlett have both resigned, each for personal reasons, needing to cut back a bit on commitments in their lives. Marti will continue her excellent work for the sangha as bookkeeper and Bernadette is putting that energy into facilitating the ad-hoc  Restructuring Workgroup which has been meeting to consider how the LC/Board and sangha workgroups can be better organized to meet the current situation facing us as a growing sangha in our beautiful building. More on that below.

Just repeating the legal details of our Board and IRS tax-exempt status because it's a tad complicated:

The Leadership Council is the Board of Directors of the Red Cedar Zen Community. Red Cedar Zen Community is a registered non-profit corporation in the State of Washington and further receive our 501c(3) Federal tax exempt status from the IRS (federal government) through the group exemption offered by the Bellingham Dharma Association (formerly Bellingham Dharma Hall). Note however that we are completely our own organization and set our own direction. The 501c(3) tax status as a "subordinate" (the IRS's term) organization simply means we will maintain good relations with the Bellingham Dharma Association (on which I am also a Board member) and submit a brief annual report on our activities. The group exemption/subordinate entity pathway was a choice we made to skip the time consuming and expensive process of applying for 501c(3) status independently and it confers upon us all of the benefits of this tax-exempt status. Should anything change and that arrangement no longer make sense we will apply for 501c(3) status as independently at that time.

Red Cedar Zen Community Leadership Council (Board of Directors)

Contacting the entire Leadership Council can be done by emailing a message to

leadership@redcedarzen.org

This will copy every current member.

New phone line at the building (Voice Mail generally checked by Membership Coordinator) is 360-312-7088 but it does quietly ring downstairs you might reach someone if you call during an event.

Leadership Council changes, part 2

 An ad-hoc committee formed of 12 sangha members (with 4 or 5 additional members advising over email)  led by Bernadette Prinster and Edie Norton has been meeting to consider our organizational structure.  Nothing is final and we will be asking for more sangha input soon but there are some strong new (and revived old) ideas working their way through the process.

The current Leadership Council evolved about 5 years ago to be the Board and central coordinating committee of the sangha from the previous system of drop in business meetings. It served reasonably well when our activities and facilities and financial obligations were smaller than they are now but it's widely agreed that it's time for some changes. The goals of these changes being  (1) to make it more clear who the current sangha leaders are and what their responsibilities are, (2) to create a much, much clearer system to allow everyone in the sangha to participate more fully in sanga life with a set of sangha workgroups who gather to handle the work and decision making of sangha life - as a much wider collective effort  than we have ended up with, and (3) it appears to be skillful that our organization present to the broader world of donors and non-profit organizations with a  more conventional Board of Directors.  Much of this (certainly goals 1 & 2) was part of the plan when the Leadership Council was formed but given the way things can go and how small the sangha was at the time a clear system of sangha workgroups never really got off the ground. We ended up with a small group of people doing most of the work, making most of the decisions, and starting to burn out.

We're after inclusiveness, community, clarity, and all good things. Given the realities of time and scheduling and personality I'm sure it will never be perfect and that is okay but I support this process and hope you will too.  Change is always a bit challenging but I am happy with these recommendations and it will be interesting to see what comes out of the conversation between the Restructuring Workgroup, the Leadership Council and the sangha at large.

Soon in this process we will have some larger sangha meetings and request input on the new structure who would like to hold these new positions. I will paste in the draft report from the Restructuring Committee to the Leadership Council at the end of this Responding Gate. Please remember this is just a draft and official communication from the Leadership should be coming along soon in email, paper at the Hall and on the website.

upcoming events

Red Cedar Zen Community invites you to participate in any of the following upcoming events. For more information about these events, including online registration, visit our web site at www.redcedarzen.org.

October 2008

Dharma Study Group

1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Starting Wednesday,September 17, following noon zazen and service, a book group will begin to read together and discuss 'Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness.' This book, edited by Mel Weitsman and Michael Wenger, presents Shunryu Suzuki's 12 dharma talks, delivered to Tassajara students in 1970, on the 8th century Sandokai sutra.

We will meet every first and third Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 2:00 or 2:30 pm in the Red Cedar Library until we complete the book (12 sessions?). Please bring a bag lunch.

This will not be a formal class or teaching. Instead, we will explore together the ideas and meanings in this beautiful and mysterious sutra and commentary, bringing to bear whatever in our Buddhist and life experience our reading calls forth.

'Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness', originally published by the University of California Press in 1999 (paperback - 2001,) is available through Village Books, Amazon, or through Alibris for various discounted amounts (though shipping may take longer). Please try to get the book and read the Introductory pages 1 - 23 by the first meeting.

For more information, please call Edie Norton - 527-9101 or email: edwinanorton@earthlink.net

 

Zen Arts Tour

Tuesday October 07, 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Viking Union 605, Western Washington University

A neat sounding Zen arts tour: chanting, shakuhatchi flute, and archery, from a Rinzai Zen group that integrates zazen and martial arts.

Tim has been in contact with the organizers and helped them organize the Bellingham stop of their tour.

Note that they are looking for 2-3 volunteers who could arrive at 3:00pm to help unload their van and set up. Please contact Tim if you'd like to do so.

PRESS RELEASE:

For Immediate Release. September 6, 2008

Contact: Rev. Bunko (Diane Yen-Mei) Wong, (425) 736-6080

Zen Masters from Hawai`i to Make Presentations on Zen, Martial Arts and Fine Arts

SEATTLE – Two Zen masters from a Rinzai Zen monastery in Honolulu will make a series of presentations to demonstrate the practice of Zen in archery and music. While in the West, martial arts and fine arts are generally not practiced together, in Japan there is a long history of how these two practices are each just different Ways to train in Zen, which consists of the search to find one’s “True Self.�

Kyoen (Wayne) Honda Roshi and Jitsudo (Don) Tsuha Roshi, both masters from the Daihonzan Chozen-ji International Zen Dojo, will perform together to illustrate just how closely related in fact these seemingly disparate forms are. Honda Roshi will play shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute and will also do okyo, or chanting. At the same time, Tsuha Roshi will do kyudo, or Japanese archery, which uses an eight-foot bow. [Note: “Roshi� is the name used to denote a Zen master.]

“The way we train at Chozen-ji is unique,� said Tsuha Roshi, the Master Teacher of Chozen-ji kyudo, or “Way of the Bow.� He explained, “The underlying connection of the martial arts, fine arts and zazen (sitting meditation) is the kiai, or vital energy. It should all have the same feeling and be done with the same kind of awareness and intensity.�

In one part of the presentation, the two masters playing and shooting according to the energy of the four seasons. “Each season’s energy is different,� said Honda Roshi, who has issued two CDs of shakuhachi music. “Spring is emerging energy; summer is intense heat; fall is a time of transition; and winter is quiet intensity.�

“Though shakuhachi and kyudo look different as forms, the kiai, the energy, is the same,� added Tsuha Roshi, who recently retired after 32 years as a secondary school music teacher in Hawai`i. They both agree that all of us can sense the energy, but they emphasize that it requires serious training to strip away the layers of habits we’ve put on ourselves over the years.

The “Finding the Center� Zen tour includes several stops in Western Washington and also Vancouver, British Columbia. The Seattle Betsuin, a sub-temple of Chozen-ji, is providing local support; the Institute of Zen Studies, a Honolulu-based non-profit group that explores spiritual traditions and develops programs in Zen studies, health, martial arts, fine arts and other areas is tour sponsor.

For information on dates and venues, go to www.Zentour2008web.officelive.com/.

October - November 2008

Buddhism in Bellingham 2008

Saturdays (and one Sunday) 10am, October 11 - November 1

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

The Bellingham Dharma Association presents its third annual public lecture series: Buddhism in Bellingham 2008, a series of 4 lectures by local Buddhist teachers.

Talks will be held at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest Street, in Bellingham. A $5-$10 donations is suggested.

Family friendly: a quality children's program is available with Children's Art teacher Shelby Sneva. Suggested $5/child donation for the children's program. Please come early (doors open at 9:30am) to settle your child into the program.

Practical teachings from an ancient tradition by qualified local teachers. Talks will include a short guided meditation and a question and answer period. The public is warmly invited.

www.BellinghamDharma.org or (360) 398-7008

Buddhism in Bellingham talk 1:

Zoketsu Norman Fischer: "A Life Beyond Thinking, on Zen Meditation"

Saturday October 11, 10:00am - 11:30am

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Guiding Teacher of the Red Cedar Zen Community and founder of Everyday Zen Foundation, "A Life Beyond Thinking, On Zen Meditation." Norman is a Zen teacher and Poet who's most recent book is "Sailing Home: Use Homer's Odyssey to Navigate Life's Perils and Pitfalls." Norman recently appeared on the Oprah show to discuss this latest book.

Buddhism in Bellingham talk 2:

Paul Warwick, Bellinhgam Shambhala Center, "Buddha's Smile: the Battle Beneath the Bo Tree"

Saturday October 18, 10:00am - 11:30am

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Paul Warwick, teacher at Bellinhgam Shambhala Center, speaks on "Buddha's Smile: the Battle Beneath the Bo Tree"

Buddhism in Bellingham talk 3:

Nomon Tim Burnett, Red Cedar Zen Community, "The Practice of Serenity"

Sunday October 26, 10:00am - 11:30am

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Nomon Tim Burnett,Resident Priest of the Red Cedar Zen Community, speaks on "The Practice of Serenity."

Note: this lecture is on Sunday.

Buddhism in Bellingham talk 4:

John Robinson, Bellingham Insight Meditation Society, "Happiness is Not What You Think"

Saturday November 01, 10:00am - 11:30am

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

John Robinson teacher at Bellingham Insight Meditation Society, "Happiness is Not What You Think".

Dogen on Zazen - Study Retreat with Zoketsu Norman Fischer

Saturday October 11, 8:00am - Sunday October 12, 4:00pm

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

In this two-day study retreat Norman will teach on Zen Meditation (zazen) as taught by Eihei Dogen, the 12th century founder of Soto Zen. Norman will be working from translations of Dogen's 'Universal Recommendation for Zazen' (Fukanzazengi) and 'The Point of Zazen' (Zazenshin) as translated in the recent book Beyond Thinking edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi.

A study retreat is a regular feature in our fall practice schedule.

These retreats include sitting and walking meditation, but their main focus is study and discussion. There will be two talks and question-and-answer periods each day. Individual interviews with the teacher (dokusan) are not available at study retreats.

Scholarships to cover up to half of the retreat cost are available. Please contact the registrar.

.

Lunch will be provided. Please registrer soon if you are attending this retreat.

Intro to Zen with Yuzan Nancy Welch

Saturday October 25, 9:00am - 1:00pm

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

An introductory class and retreat with lay teacher Yuzan Nancy Welch. The basics on sitting and walking meditation and other ritual forms. On the spirit of living a life of healthy discipline with the guidance of Zen Buddhism. Designed for new students or those wanting to renew and deepen their understanding. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.  Preregsitration request for this class.

November 2008

Loon Lake Sesshin

Sunday November 16, 4:00pm - Saturday November 22, 4:00pm

Loon Lake Camp, near Mission B.C.

7 day residential Zen Sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer

Loon Lake, Mission, BC

A week-long retreat which runs Sunday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, sponsored by the Mountain Rain Zen Community. The retreat will be held at Loon Lake Camp located approximately 60 km from downtown Vancouver, on the shores of Loon Lake. This beautiful lakeside setting is found within the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, a 5000-hectare forest.

Registration materials will be posted on Mountain Rain's website:

http://www.mountainrainzen.ca/retreats.html

January - March 2009

Winter 2009 Practice Period

January 22 - March 8

Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Our annual period of more intensive practice. Look for extra zazen meetings, a class by the head student, opening and closing retreats with Zoketsu Norman Fischer and more.

June 2009

Samish Sesshin 2009

Friday June 19, 5:00pm - Saturday June 27, 12 noon

Save the date for Samish 2009. This year's retreat will be a silent Zen sesshin (meditation retreat).

DRAFT REPORT from Task Force on

Proposed New Organizational Structure for Red Cedar Zen Sangha

to be presented to the Leadership Council for consideration

September 2008

Introduction and Background

Over the summer, 2008, a Membership work group (Edie, Bernadette, Kathy and Karen) interviewed 33 Sangha members about their concerns about our new center and to gather Sangha suggestions for our future. The work group summarized the interview data and met with the Leadership Council to present the findings. Based on feedback from the Sangha, the work group made several suggestions including an exploration into restructuring the leadership of our new 501c3 corporation to better meet the new financial responsibilities.

Following that meeting, Edie and Bernadette proposed a draft structure and roles/responsibilities descriptions to a workgroup formed by the Leadership Council. Workgroup members were Tim, Latona, Diane, John Wiley. This workgroup then offered suggestions for changes to the draft structure and those were subsequently integrated. This group also decided the next step was to invite other Sangha members to look at the proposed structure. At a second meeting September 18, this larger workgroup (referred to here as task force) discussed the structure and offered additional changes to the organization chart and roles/responsibilities descriptions. Task force members were: Mary Apple, Marti Bartlett, Tim Burnett, Barbara Crowley, Mike Crowley, Latona Maillard, Jeff McKenna, Diane Mirro, Edie Norton, Bernadette Prinster, Marv Waschke, John Wiley (with  Brian Davidson, Greg Greenan, Kathy McKenna, and Terry Thompson sending their regrets).

This task force decided on two next steps; (1) write up the latest draft of the suggestions (this may eventually serve as a charter for formal by-laws), review the draft again, then send it on to the existing Leadership Council for their consideration. The intention for this draft is to clarify how the task force proposes working together as Zen practitioners within a new organizational structure; (2) form a nominating committee to meet with Sangha members in person regarding volunteering for Board roles and workgroups.

Latest Draft

 

 1.        Our Intention is to work together collegially and respectfully

•        Within Work Groups

•        Across Work Groups

•        Between Work Groups and Board Officers

•        Between Work Groups and the Board as a unit

•        Among Board Members

We intend to cultivate relationships distinguished by:

•        listening to and respecting one other

•        mentoring one another

•        encouraging creativity and initiative

•        problem solving together

•        inspiring introspection as Zen practitioners

 

Sangha Board members serve in a supportive role to the work groups, rather than directing or managing.  Please see the attached organization chart, which reflects this service relationship.

2.        Work Groups

•        Are composed of 1 to 4 members interested in a work area or a project and are willing and able to devote time and energy to the work group they choose.

•        Will initiate actions, and with the help of the responsible Board member supporting them, will develop and carry out actions as needed.

•        Will also modify and reinvent themselves as new opportunities and conditions require, will dissolve as necessary when work is completed.

•        Need and want everyone’s participation and help.

•        Our suggested motto is: ‘Ask not what the Center can do for you, but what you can do for the sangha.’

3.        Sangha Board members

•        As a governing body, with input from work groups and the Sangha at large, are responsible for policy, planning, and financial decisions for the Sangha. Board members have a direct role in clarifying and developing their areas of responsibilities as the organization evolves.

•        Support and communicate with the work groups within their functional areas.

•        Share information with each other about activities within their functions 

•        Work collaboratively to address Sangha opportunities and solve Sangha problems.

•        Help each other to accomplish their functional work group goals.

•        Practice seeing the Big Picture of Sangha needs and future goals so as to lead the Sangha flexibly and effectively.

•        Do not necessarily have to have the skills required in the work groups they support (though that may be useful, for example the Treasurer).

4.        Relationship Between the Work Groups and Board members—

•        Each Board member supports the work groups in his/her functional area.

•        The Board member talks frequently with the work group leaders to hear what needs there are in the work activity, to brainstorm solutions, to suggest resources, to hear the status of activities, to facilitate actions.

•        Work group leaders keep their Board member apprised of actions, issues, problems, and ideas for new activities.

•        The relationships of Board member and work groups are collegial, respectful, creative, and evolving, as exigencies demand.

•        Board member and work group members consider and initiate cross functional collaboration with work groups with common interests and responsibilities (such as tenant development under Vice President and building management under Treasurer)

5.         Sangha Board President

•        Coordinates and manages Board activities and decisions; sets Board and Sangha meeting agendas.

•        In collaboration with the Spiritual Director, speaks for the Sangha and is a public voice for the Sangha and Red Cedar Zen Center.

6.        Spiritual Director

•        Directs all practice activities and positions (Ino, Jisha, Chiden, Tenzo, Shusos, Retreat Manager, Registrar)

•        Creates and manages all practice programs (internal and external)

•        Manages practice outreach to other sanghas and teachers

•        Develops and manages Zen orientation classes for newcomers

7.         Vice President

•        Coordinates and supports external relations related work groups—

a.  Community Outreach (publicity, presentations, collaborations, etc.)

b. Welcome Workgroup (greeters and individual orientation to Center)

c.  Tenant Relations (search for tenants, cultivation, and management; in                 coordination with Building Management.

8.        Secretary

•        Coordinates and supports internal relations and member support work groups—

a. Board communications

b. Sangha communications

c. Membership development

9.        Treasurer

•        Manages and oversees Sangha finances and advises on financial implications of Board decisions

•        Coordinates and supports finance related work groups—

a. Finance Workgroup

b. Donor Liaison Workgroup

c. Bookkeeping

d. Building management

The proposed organization structure (see attached organization chart) is a starting point only. The organization structure will be flexible and continue to evolve over time.  As people assume roles, they will be encouraged to develop and change the roles to meet the circumstances and needs they encounter to get their jobs done. 

Assuming the draft chart of the organization structure is accepted as a starting point, it will be put up on the wall (downstairs) on a white board so that (1) Sangha members can see where help is needed and volunteer, and (2) changes can be made easily to the structure as the need becomes apparent.  Our structure will be alive and vibrant. It will be a key Board role to keep the white board organization chart up to date.

10.        Nominating Task Force—

•        A temporary work group will seek candidates for Board positions, work group leaders and members.

•        Make recommendation about which positions should be elected and appointed.

•        Recommend candidates to the Sangha at large.

•        Dissolve once the organization is adequately staffed.

yours,

Tim

 

Nomon Tim Burnett

Resident Priest

 

back to newsletter page