CTC Minutes June 2023
Honey Locust Sangha Care Taking Council (CTC) met on June 18 in minimal strength: Mark Watson, Mike McMahon, Dave Watts and Juanita Rice, with Jim Cox and Tina Ray zooming in from car travel. With no facilitator we fumbled a bit, beginning without a check-in, or meditative sit, or the prayer for harmony. Gina Matkin, Patrice Watson and Mike McGann were unable to be with us. This report does not correspond completely with the published agenda but the order we followed.
Agenda Item 1: Monthly treasurer's report. The report summarized overall expenses and income through the retreat, concluding that the Sangha's expenses (including the retreat site and meals and Dharma teacher expenses and voluntary dana) and income by donations and retreat registration fees more or less balanced out and allowed for the fee to hold our planned 2024 Spring Retreat week at Creighton Retreat Center. We did not discuss "right actions to encourage financial donations."
Agenda Item 2: Summary of the survey responses from Spring Retreat: overall the survey was quite positive and only two requests seemed common. One, as usual?, was a plea to be more mindful of Noble Silence, in all places and in all of the various activities. Another was for planners to be mindful of time and distance between events: the Creighton Retreat Center can present a distance challenge to some of us. Another unresolved issue was whether the schedule should have been printed out for retreatants to carry around, which conflicts somewhat with our desire to preserve resources. The CTC concurred with the survey points and Tina Ray, who had a good experience with a retreat with
Sister Terry's home sangha, volunteered to make some little buttons or notes participants could wear to say, basically, please don't mind if I don't answer: I am in Noble Silence.
Agenda Item 3: Request for a new weekly study group. Paul Weishapl and Amy Holmes, who recently took the Five Mindfulness Trainings at the Spring Retreat, have requested a weekly meeting(?) with an experienced sangha member or members to familiarize themselves with the basic practices in the Plum Village tradition, i.e., the four-fold structure of Buddhist practice inculcated by Vietnamese Zenmaster Thich Nhat Hanh. We were happy to entertain the suggestion and could see the utility of such a means for newer practitioners to feel fully included and informed. Mark Watson volunteered to talk to Amy and Paul for more suggestions, and several OI/CTC members expressed eagerness to be of use. Amy has excellent skills in organizing and facilitating and offered her help. (Case in point: "OI" is shorthand for ordained members of the Order of Interbeing, those of us who have pledged ourselves to serve the sangha and support then Dharma (the core teachings of Buddhism, and specifically of Thich Nhat Hanh). We often wear the "Brown Coat" as a kind-of badge of service.
Agenda Item 4: Ongoing appraisals of our Monday night hybrid meetings.
First, of course, gratitude for Dave Watts and Jim Cox who between them have mastered the technical set-up and functioning. Then an acknowledgment that larger numbers of participants over the last several weeks are challenging our set-up. 1/ Although the technology serves getting in-house comments to the Zoom folks, and meets the needs of the Hearing-Assistance program, especially or I-Phone users, it is not satisfactory for hearing people at opposite ends of the seating. Jim Cox will further research the possibility of a single speaker to boost in-house comments. We do have already four mikes that could be set up around the inner perimeter. Whether this could solve the problem, unknown at this point. Juanita Rice also suggested that setting up with a long long circle alternating chairs and cushions is in her experience alienating. Sitting on a cushion between two chairs prohibits being able to see some portions of the ring. Mike McMahon offered that he appreciates the set up where we are all in the same circle, and perhaps people in chairs could scooch back a foot or so to allow people on cushions to see one anther better. We'll discuss this setting-up question later when we also will find out if a speaker could help, or if the pre-placed mikes will prohibit the two-level setup. I.E., there is one portable/unwired speaker, a breastpin type, that might be used to pass around the outside ring.
Agenda Item 5: New teacher resources, diverse community thoughts. The Retreat Planning Committee was asked to report on ideas for future retreats and outreach. They have, however, taken a well-deserved rest before resuming their deliberations and we will hear from then when they resume meeting. Tabled.
Agenda Item 6: Zoom Training Update: Tabled.
APPENDED: June 2023 Treasurer's Report
HONEY LOCUST SANGHA Treasurer Report 01-12-23 thru 06-01-23 (YTD)
INCOMING FUNDS (Sangha):
Dana from Sangha $2,516.44
Bank Interest $0.12
TOTAL INCOMING (from Sangha) $2,516.56
OUTGOING FUNDS (Sangha):
Rent (Yoga Path $100/mo) (Feb thru June) ($2,065.00)
Zoom fees ($109.89)
Deposit May 2024 Retreat ($1,334.00)
TOTAL OUTGO (for Sangha) ($3,508.89)
May 2023 RETREAT
Dana Collected (from registration and on site) $3,000.00
Dana Paid to Terry (05/18/23) ($3,000.00)
Terry Airfare ($421.96)
Scolarships for retreat ($1,225.00)
Retreat Fees collected minus $1800 for dana $8,797.15
Invoice from Creighton Retreat Center (minus $1050.00 deposit) ($5,745.50)
TOTAL COLLECTED FOR FROM RETREAT $11,797.15
TOTAL SPENT FOR RETREAT >>> ($10,392.46)
Excess from retreat after all fees paid $1,404.69
****************************************************************
PayPal Beginning Bal 06-01-23 $413.78
US BANK Beginning Balance 06-01-23 $4,912.35
Total funds as of 06-01-23 $5,326.13
Honey Locust Sangha Care Taking Council (CTC) met on June 18 in minimal strength: Mark Watson, Mike McMahon, Dave Watts and Juanita Rice, with Jim Cox and Tina Ray zooming in from car travel. With no facilitator we fumbled a bit, beginning without a check-in, or meditative sit, or the prayer for harmony. Gina Matkin, Patrice Watson and Mike McGann were unable to be with us. This report does not correspond completely with the published agenda but the order we followed.
Agenda Item 1: Monthly treasurer's report. The report summarized overall expenses and income through the retreat, concluding that the Sangha's expenses (including the retreat site and meals and Dharma teacher expenses and voluntary dana) and income by donations and retreat registration fees more or less balanced out and allowed for the fee to hold our planned 2024 Spring Retreat week at Creighton Retreat Center. We did not discuss "right actions to encourage financial donations."
Agenda Item 2: Summary of the survey responses from Spring Retreat: overall the survey was quite positive and only two requests seemed common. One, as usual?, was a plea to be more mindful of Noble Silence, in all places and in all of the various activities. Another was for planners to be mindful of time and distance between events: the Creighton Retreat Center can present a distance challenge to some of us. Another unresolved issue was whether the schedule should have been printed out for retreatants to carry around, which conflicts somewhat with our desire to preserve resources. The CTC concurred with the survey points and Tina Ray, who had a good experience with a retreat with
Sister Terry's home sangha, volunteered to make some little buttons or notes participants could wear to say, basically, please don't mind if I don't answer: I am in Noble Silence.
Agenda Item 3: Request for a new weekly study group. Paul Weishapl and Amy Holmes, who recently took the Five Mindfulness Trainings at the Spring Retreat, have requested a weekly meeting(?) with an experienced sangha member or members to familiarize themselves with the basic practices in the Plum Village tradition, i.e., the four-fold structure of Buddhist practice inculcated by Vietnamese Zenmaster Thich Nhat Hanh. We were happy to entertain the suggestion and could see the utility of such a means for newer practitioners to feel fully included and informed. Mark Watson volunteered to talk to Amy and Paul for more suggestions, and several OI/CTC members expressed eagerness to be of use. Amy has excellent skills in organizing and facilitating and offered her help. (Case in point: "OI" is shorthand for ordained members of the Order of Interbeing, those of us who have pledged ourselves to serve the sangha and support then Dharma (the core teachings of Buddhism, and specifically of Thich Nhat Hanh). We often wear the "Brown Coat" as a kind-of badge of service.
Agenda Item 4: Ongoing appraisals of our Monday night hybrid meetings.
First, of course, gratitude for Dave Watts and Jim Cox who between them have mastered the technical set-up and functioning. Then an acknowledgment that larger numbers of participants over the last several weeks are challenging our set-up. 1/ Although the technology serves getting in-house comments to the Zoom folks, and meets the needs of the Hearing-Assistance program, especially or I-Phone users, it is not satisfactory for hearing people at opposite ends of the seating. Jim Cox will further research the possibility of a single speaker to boost in-house comments. We do have already four mikes that could be set up around the inner perimeter. Whether this could solve the problem, unknown at this point. Juanita Rice also suggested that setting up with a long long circle alternating chairs and cushions is in her experience alienating. Sitting on a cushion between two chairs prohibits being able to see some portions of the ring. Mike McMahon offered that he appreciates the set up where we are all in the same circle, and perhaps people in chairs could scooch back a foot or so to allow people on cushions to see one anther better. We'll discuss this setting-up question later when we also will find out if a speaker could help, or if the pre-placed mikes will prohibit the two-level setup. I.E., there is one portable/unwired speaker, a breastpin type, that might be used to pass around the outside ring.
Agenda Item 5: New teacher resources, diverse community thoughts. The Retreat Planning Committee was asked to report on ideas for future retreats and outreach. They have, however, taken a well-deserved rest before resuming their deliberations and we will hear from then when they resume meeting. Tabled.
Agenda Item 6: Zoom Training Update: Tabled.
APPENDED: June 2023 Treasurer's Report
HONEY LOCUST SANGHA Treasurer Report 01-12-23 thru 06-01-23 (YTD)
INCOMING FUNDS (Sangha):
Dana from Sangha $2,516.44
Bank Interest $0.12
TOTAL INCOMING (from Sangha) $2,516.56
OUTGOING FUNDS (Sangha):
Rent (Yoga Path $100/mo) (Feb thru June) ($2,065.00)
Zoom fees ($109.89)
Deposit May 2024 Retreat ($1,334.00)
TOTAL OUTGO (for Sangha) ($3,508.89)
May 2023 RETREAT
Dana Collected (from registration and on site) $3,000.00
Dana Paid to Terry (05/18/23) ($3,000.00)
Terry Airfare ($421.96)
Scolarships for retreat ($1,225.00)
Retreat Fees collected minus $1800 for dana $8,797.15
Invoice from Creighton Retreat Center (minus $1050.00 deposit) ($5,745.50)
TOTAL COLLECTED FOR FROM RETREAT $11,797.15
TOTAL SPENT FOR RETREAT >>> ($10,392.46)
Excess from retreat after all fees paid $1,404.69
****************************************************************
PayPal Beginning Bal 06-01-23 $413.78
US BANK Beginning Balance 06-01-23 $4,912.35
Total funds as of 06-01-23 $5,326.13