CareTaking Council Minutes January 2024
The Honey Locust CareTaking Council (CTC) met January 21, 2024; we meet the third Sunday each month. Present were Patrice Watson (facilitator), Mark Watson, Gina Matkin, Tina Ray, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon, Dave Watts and Juanita Rice. Missing: Jim Cox.
It is our tradition to listen to a reading of a Prayer for Serenity, to sit silently and then check in before we start the agenda items.
Agenda Item 1: Finances. Money on hand is at @$6292 (Paypal 2220, Bank 4073), an increase of $1068 since last month. We will sit with this amount for the next few months for any deposits for a 2025 retreat and to reduce expenses for this spring’s retreat, including offering scholarships for retreat costs.
Agenda Item 2: Review Monday meetings. Several people mentioned enjoying the sense of unity enabled by recently having had weather-related cancellations of in-person meetings so that we were all together on Zoom. The in-person meetings are precious as well so there is no question of abandoning them. Hybrid gatherings (in-person/Zoom) seem to run very well these days, thanks to the volunteer crew at Yoga Path: Mark, Jim, Brian and Dave. Kudos to Tina who is also stepping in and Gina who is a quick-fix for Zoom-related glitches. All in all we seem to be meeting the hybrid challenges of Life After Pandemic.
We did decide to formally reconfirm the policy of automatic Yoga Path closures when the Omaha Public Schools announce closings, although we will also try to get word out via email.
Agenda Item 3: Lending Library. There is little to report yet, especially since the recent I n-person cancellations. The number of books available is adequate now; if it becomes reduced, we can call for donations. At this point there is little sense of urgency to develop methods for assuring books get returned further than recording date, title and person when they go out.
Agenda Item 4: Retreat Committee Report. This coming spring (2024) is set for Michael Ciiborski as Dharma Teacher at Creighton University Retreat Center although Michael has not yet set the topic and the committee is just beginning registration procedures, building on what Gina and Randy have kept track of over the last several years (and thanks to them for being organized). We confirmed that we want a 2025 Spring Retreat, at Creighton as our best option, and authorizing Mark and Tina to cooperate in finding a Retreat date availability that best serves the procurement of a Teacher. Further, we approved an invitation to Joe Reilly and, if he is not available, to ask Magnolia Grove Monastery to help us find a Monastic Teacher. We are not by any means abandoning our traditional teachers Chan Huy, Sister Terry or Michael Ciborski; we are just opening up to change “for a change.”
Agenda Item 5: Who Are We?
We continued an ongoing discussion of sangha culture with questions about if we are a Buddhist community vs a mindulness community of various faiths, and what's the best balance for leadership with OIs and other sangha.members
These are things we are always working on, hopefully with joy.
It was discussed that the Sangha should recognize and be aware of all faiths, traditions, and ancestry and how important such recognition is in the Plum Village tradition. Additionally, the CTC would work harder to be aware of those people who suffered trauma from past faiths/religion.
The Honey Locust CareTaking Council (CTC) met January 21, 2024; we meet the third Sunday each month. Present were Patrice Watson (facilitator), Mark Watson, Gina Matkin, Tina Ray, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon, Dave Watts and Juanita Rice. Missing: Jim Cox.
It is our tradition to listen to a reading of a Prayer for Serenity, to sit silently and then check in before we start the agenda items.
Agenda Item 1: Finances. Money on hand is at @$6292 (Paypal 2220, Bank 4073), an increase of $1068 since last month. We will sit with this amount for the next few months for any deposits for a 2025 retreat and to reduce expenses for this spring’s retreat, including offering scholarships for retreat costs.
Agenda Item 2: Review Monday meetings. Several people mentioned enjoying the sense of unity enabled by recently having had weather-related cancellations of in-person meetings so that we were all together on Zoom. The in-person meetings are precious as well so there is no question of abandoning them. Hybrid gatherings (in-person/Zoom) seem to run very well these days, thanks to the volunteer crew at Yoga Path: Mark, Jim, Brian and Dave. Kudos to Tina who is also stepping in and Gina who is a quick-fix for Zoom-related glitches. All in all we seem to be meeting the hybrid challenges of Life After Pandemic.
We did decide to formally reconfirm the policy of automatic Yoga Path closures when the Omaha Public Schools announce closings, although we will also try to get word out via email.
Agenda Item 3: Lending Library. There is little to report yet, especially since the recent I n-person cancellations. The number of books available is adequate now; if it becomes reduced, we can call for donations. At this point there is little sense of urgency to develop methods for assuring books get returned further than recording date, title and person when they go out.
Agenda Item 4: Retreat Committee Report. This coming spring (2024) is set for Michael Ciiborski as Dharma Teacher at Creighton University Retreat Center although Michael has not yet set the topic and the committee is just beginning registration procedures, building on what Gina and Randy have kept track of over the last several years (and thanks to them for being organized). We confirmed that we want a 2025 Spring Retreat, at Creighton as our best option, and authorizing Mark and Tina to cooperate in finding a Retreat date availability that best serves the procurement of a Teacher. Further, we approved an invitation to Joe Reilly and, if he is not available, to ask Magnolia Grove Monastery to help us find a Monastic Teacher. We are not by any means abandoning our traditional teachers Chan Huy, Sister Terry or Michael Ciborski; we are just opening up to change “for a change.”
Agenda Item 5: Who Are We?
We continued an ongoing discussion of sangha culture with questions about if we are a Buddhist community vs a mindulness community of various faiths, and what's the best balance for leadership with OIs and other sangha.members
These are things we are always working on, hopefully with joy.
It was discussed that the Sangha should recognize and be aware of all faiths, traditions, and ancestry and how important such recognition is in the Plum Village tradition. Additionally, the CTC would work harder to be aware of those people who suffered trauma from past faiths/religion.