Honey Locust Sangha
CTC Meeting January 19, 2020
Present: Gina and Colleen at Gina’s house. Mark Watson and Mike McGann via Zoom
Unable to attend: Mike McMahon and Dave Watts (who were greatly missed!)
 
We opened with a meditation and brief check in.
Colleen read Thay’s Meditations before Meetings
 
  1. Treasurer for Sangha
    1. Randy Reinhart joined us for a discussion of the duties of the Sangha treasurer. After having her questions answered regarding the duties and logistics of the role, Randy agreed to be our new Sangha Treasurer to replace Steve Brown. The Caretaking Council voted unanimously to approve Randy Reinhart as the new Treasurer to replace Steve Brown.
    2. Mark and Steve Brown (current Treasurer) will meet with Randy to make the necessary transfers of signatures and check writing authorities and share the current set up for recording and tracking Sangha income and expenses.
    3. The CTC wishes to express our deep gratitude to Steve Brown for serving as Treasurer the past few years. Deep bows to you for your service to the Sangha.
  2. CTC Membership
    1. New Member applications were reviewed. There was a clarification that CTC members serve a two-year term (with the exception of current OIs who may rotate on or off as availability and needs arise). After the two years, another term may be granted depending on the needs of the CTC and the member.
    2. CTC membership and new appointments are reviewed and conducted each year at year’s end in time for our CTC/OI/Aspirant/Treasurer Spring DoM which serves as the first official gathering of the new CTC along with all present and past CTC members.
      • Patrice Watson has applied formally to join the CTC again. She was approved to serve a two-year term.
      • Mike McGann volunteered to extend his term for as long as he is needed to make sure the CTC has adequate Sangha member at large representation.
      • Current Aspirants will be asked if they would like to join the CTC. All were approved as new members pending their interest and willingness.
        1. Aspirants Jim Cox and Juanita Rice have agreed to join the CTC. 
  3. Excess Sangha Funds
    1. With approximately $9000 in our Sangha accounts, it was decided these funds should be used for furthering and supporting the practice and the Plum Village Tradition in alignment with our Financial Statement of Purpose. With that in mind, we discussed that we needed to reserve $2000 for ongoing expenses, and approximately $2000 for upcoming retreat expenses (down payments, airline tickets for teachers, etc.). That left  $5000 for distribution to worthy causes
    2. We discussed two potential places to support: 1) Magnolia Grove Monastery (MGM) for their general fund to be used as needed and 2) MorningSun Mindfulness Center (Michael Ciborski and Fern Dorresteyn’s retreat center) to help with the completion of “the Barn” residential facility for meditation and mindfulness retreat participants.
    3. After much discussion and deep listening about the needs of both of these, it was decided to support MGM with $1000 and MorningSun with $3000. Colleen made an additional suggestion that we reserve $1000 to be placed in a scholarship fund and communicated to Retreat Attendees for our own retreats/events or active Honey Locust Sangha members for our retreats, or other retreats such as Kansas City, Madison, or one of the Plum Village Monasteries. It was also suggested that we consider supporting Aspirants to their ordinations if requested. Gina will create a form that can be filled out to request scholarships and it will be shared with the Sangha and as part of future HLS retreat announcements.
The CTC ended with Gina providing a Poem in memory of our dear friend, Joe Goodding who transitioned from his earthly form recently. The poem is by Ellen Bass, titled “The Thing Is.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/151844/the-thing-is

There was harmony in the Sangha.
​
Omaha Community of Mindful Living
Date 501(c)3 Designation Established: 02/22/2018
Officers: Gina Matkin, President; Mike McMahon, Vice-President; Mark Watson, Secretary; Colleen Brown, Treasurer
​Submitted by Gina Matkin