Minutes to Honey Locust Caretakers council meeting held Sunday, July 18 12:30-2:30 pm via Zoom.
Attending were Patrice Watson (chair), Jim Cox, Mike McMahon, Gina Matkin, Juanita Rice, Tina Ray, Mike McGann, Dave Watts, Mark Watson. Catherine Stremlau attended as a guest.
The first item was creating a sangha directory. Since this idea originated from Catherine, she presented the idea of making a directory to be able to contact for various reasons. To be able to reach out and help one another in times of need, ask for help from each other, and to just better communicate throughout the sangha. Catherine suggested that it would be a tool to better strengthen the community. Some members were concerned about privacy and security citing examples of church directories that had been misused in the past. Catherine said it could be a “soft document” only available online. Participation would be voluntary. Some on the council thought a secured directory could be created on the Honey Locust website. Catherine and Gina agreed to work on it together. The motion was voted on and approved by all.
The next order of business was to discuss how the CTC felt about the sangha meeting in person at the Yoga Path. Some members who felt the close proximity of meeting indoors was not yet safe given the current rapid increase of virus cases. After much insight discussion the CTC decided it might be safest to go back meeting on Zoom and holding sangha outside. We would review this decision at the next meeting in August. Also we would postpone the Shining Light ceremony for the three new OI ordinates Juanita, Jim, and Dave.
Also the council felt the a sound system should be discussed to help with acoustics at Monday night meetings and other sangha events.
Also there was discussion of trying to Include a Zoom during Monday night meetings when we do come back in-person to be inclusive to those left out. Especially during the pandemic. There was concern about the presence of a camera and monitor compromising the quality of the experience of being at sangha.
Addendum: The CTC also wanted acknowledge the many contributions of Michael Ciborski as teacher at the May retreat. His teaching and presence at the online retreat was invaluable. We were so fortunate to have a teacher so intimate with practices of Thich Nhat Hanh.
Attending were Patrice Watson (chair), Jim Cox, Mike McMahon, Gina Matkin, Juanita Rice, Tina Ray, Mike McGann, Dave Watts, Mark Watson. Catherine Stremlau attended as a guest.
The first item was creating a sangha directory. Since this idea originated from Catherine, she presented the idea of making a directory to be able to contact for various reasons. To be able to reach out and help one another in times of need, ask for help from each other, and to just better communicate throughout the sangha. Catherine suggested that it would be a tool to better strengthen the community. Some members were concerned about privacy and security citing examples of church directories that had been misused in the past. Catherine said it could be a “soft document” only available online. Participation would be voluntary. Some on the council thought a secured directory could be created on the Honey Locust website. Catherine and Gina agreed to work on it together. The motion was voted on and approved by all.
The next order of business was to discuss how the CTC felt about the sangha meeting in person at the Yoga Path. Some members who felt the close proximity of meeting indoors was not yet safe given the current rapid increase of virus cases. After much insight discussion the CTC decided it might be safest to go back meeting on Zoom and holding sangha outside. We would review this decision at the next meeting in August. Also we would postpone the Shining Light ceremony for the three new OI ordinates Juanita, Jim, and Dave.
Also the council felt the a sound system should be discussed to help with acoustics at Monday night meetings and other sangha events.
Also there was discussion of trying to Include a Zoom during Monday night meetings when we do come back in-person to be inclusive to those left out. Especially during the pandemic. There was concern about the presence of a camera and monitor compromising the quality of the experience of being at sangha.
Addendum: The CTC also wanted acknowledge the many contributions of Michael Ciborski as teacher at the May retreat. His teaching and presence at the online retreat was invaluable. We were so fortunate to have a teacher so intimate with practices of Thich Nhat Hanh.