Caretaking Council (CTC), Honey Locust Sangha
February 20, 2022
 
Present: Patrice Watson (Facilitator), Dave Watts, Jim Cox, Juanita Rice (note-taker), Mark Watson, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon, Tina Ray.  Absent and her presence missed: Catherine Stremlau.
 
We began with a prayer for harmony and a vow to stop and address any tension that  should arise for any reason, and a short meditative silence, followed by each member checking in.
 
Agenda Item 1: Spring Retreat Update.    Mike McGann reported from the planning committee that plans are well underway for either contingency: an in-person residential retreat at Creighton Retreat Center or a Zoom retreat.  The decision on which way to go will depend, of course, on Covid-19 Virus dangers.  Mark Watson assured us that Sister Terry Cortes-Vega will lead the retreat either way.  In addition she offered to contact Brother "BK" (Brian Kimmel) to see if they would also want to participate.  Brian is now an ordained Dharma Teacher and not an "Apprentice" as they were in the past. The Creighton Center has contacted Mark to confirm our reservation. Gina Matkin has shared notes from previous retreats held there. Randy Reinhart, our Treasurer, is confident that any budget requirements can be met.  
The dates are confirmed as Thursday afternoon/evening through Sunday afternoon, May 12-15, 2021.
The CTC suggested that the committee post these dates soon for members' early planning.
 
Agenda Item 2  The question was raised about whether there was unfinished business to discuss about rewriting the introductory paragraphs for the CTC Webpage.  Last month Juanita Rice had suggested several emendations for the page as we updated the new membership, and the topic was not fully discussed because Juanita's Zoom audio was, as it were, kaput.  With this month's new and improved audio technology, Juanita recommended that we stay with the minimum change, which was to list the new CTC members.  That change has been completed, and the issue was therefore dropped to our mutual agreement.
 
Agenda Item 3: Making arrangements for children in our sangha.  Dave Watts raised this topic after a talk with a young couple who have two young children and who wanted to know if there were any provisions for bringing children to in-person meetings.  Discussion led to several ideas for providing volunteer childcare at Yoga Path but questions of liability and responsibility led us to reconsider.  We  are not now meeting face to face.  We have not met with and come to know the prospective family and what they might want or need.  We concluded by affirming that we have no restrictions against bringing children to sangha and are not averse to making enabling arrangements once the parent/s and children become familiar with us.
 
Agenda Item 4: We considered discussion of the tabled item about resuming face-to-face Monday night sangha meetings.   We decided we don't have enough clarity about Covid and infection dangers yet.
 
Added Agenda Item 5:  Hearing-Assistance equipment.  Jim Cox suggested that we (he, with Mark's assistance as proprietor of Yoga Path) install the Hearing-Assistance system so it can be used on an informal basis if Mark wants, for his Yoga classes.  Mark agreed to set up a time for installation to work out any kinks. We reviewed again our plans that the system is an audio assist for those who want to use ear-bud boosts at person to person sangha meetings, and also to take to retreats for use with speaker/s and/or on walks; in other words, we think we have a very useful and versatile system.  Bravo to Jim for his research and self-education which enabled the sangha to purchase something to meet various sangha needs.
 
NOTES: There is still a tabled/postponed agenda item concerning how we treat Dana, especially during this prolonged period when we have lower costs for space rental. What does it mean to provide reminders about giving Dana, how to do it, what the traditional concept of "Dana" entails as a "blessed abode" of practicing generosity, what we should do with Dana received in excess of our concrete requirements, etc.  Thoughts about this would be welcome by CTC representatives.
 
*We neglected to arrange for the monthly notice of the sangha's available balance.  In the future we will resume this contact.  For now, the Treasurer reported a balance of $6143.73.
 
We adjourned early after this relatively lightweight agenda, which was a welcome treat on a day of inviting beautiful weather.