Care Taking Council Notes - March 2017
Honey Locust Sangha Care Taking Council (CTC) Meeting Notes
The CTC Meeting took place on 3/12/17 2:30 – 4:30 at the Yoga Path.
In Attendance: Gina, Mark, Amanda, Patrice, Beth, Mike, Megan, Dave, and Colleen
1. Meditation
2. Check in
3. Our CTC meeting’s main purpose was to create harmony and open sharing within our group. We heard a reading from Thay about loving speech and deep listening. Clear instruction was given to never speak in irritation or to let tension occur. If tensions did arise we were to practice mindful walking or Begin Anew.
4. We started our meeting by sending our thanks and love to our sisters and CTC alums, Priya and Devon. Their wisdom, guidance, and courage have given us great gifts and clarity. We are grateful and felt their deep presence and voice at our meeting.
5. We shared our ideas about the purpose of the CTC. We also talked about our history.
* Take care of ourselves so that we can be strong and supportive of the Sangha
* Think creatively together to discuss, prevent, and solve issues and problems harmoniously
* Help plan events, retreats, and Days of Mindfulness
* Listen to the Sangha members and present their ideas and concerns to the CTC
* Consider and address financial issues, particularly large expenditures
6. The following decisions were made by consensus, after open dialog, loving speech, and deep listening.
* We will document the CTC guidelines that we establish for the Honey Locust Sangha.
· It will be a living document that is renewed and refreshed with every new decision or amendment.
* The CTC will have no more than nine members including the following.
· At least 3 members at large, serving staggered 2 year terms
· All Order of Interbeing (OI) members who are willing and able to serve
· All OI aspirants who are willing and able to serve
· In order to keep the total at 9 or fewer, OIs and aspirants may need to rotate CTC voting status.
* Decisions will be made by consensus of CTC members present at meeting.
· We will vote using the thumbs up, down, or sideways method.
- The person(s) making the sideways thumb sign will be asked to clarify their meaning:
- I am not ready to vote yet because I have something else to say on the matter.
- I disagree, but for the good of the Sangha, I will go along.
- I am not attached to the outcome, or I have no strong feelings about it.
· Establishing a quorum was discussed but not agreed upon.
* The CTC decided that for the next year, Gina would be facilitator and Megan would be note taker.
· Back up facilitator will be Amanda and back up note taker will be Patrice.
· Our CTC recognizes the importance of rotating the roles of meeting facilitator and note taker.
· The consistency of an experienced leader in the facilitator role was deemed best for the Sangha and CTC this year.
* The CTC decided that the OIs can make the final decision about the selection of leaders for our 2018 Retreat.
· Front runners currently are Peggy and Larry, but there are many terrific Dharma teachers to choose from.
· The CTC acknowledged that we may need to reconsider the retreat cost and/or dana to meet the needs of our guest leaders.
· Our 2018 Retreat will be held 4/26 to 4/29 at the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold IA.
* The Honey Locust Sangha will assume the cost of MeetUp - $180 annually.
· MeetUp has been our most productive web method for informing people about our Sangha.
· We will review the traffic and whether to continue MeetUp after one year.
* The Honey Locust Sangha needs someone to take over as Treasurer.
· We are looking for a known, trusted member who may be willing to serve perhaps a three year term.
· We will ask for a volunteer via our list-serv and an announcement at our Monday meeting.
7. We ended our productive meeting with a feeling of harmony and joy.
Next CTC meeting: April 9 at the Yoga Path at 2:30 - 4:30.
Suggestions for April Agenda:
* Best ways to communicate CTC meeting schedule
* Best ways to solicit agenda items from the Sangha
* How to communicate decisions and information to the Sangha
· For now, minutes will be posted and announcements will be made at meetings.
· We will discuss this carefully in light of feedback and suggestions we have received.
* Follow up on decisions from March meeting
* Assigning / assuming responsibilities
* Discuss establishing a quorum for CTC meetings
* Address outstanding financial issues
* Define the dollar amount that would require CTC consideration
* Decide how often and when to meet for the rest of the year
Please send any items you would like discussed to Gina at gmatkin1@gmail.com by April 7.
The CTC Meeting took place on 3/12/17 2:30 – 4:30 at the Yoga Path.
In Attendance: Gina, Mark, Amanda, Patrice, Beth, Mike, Megan, Dave, and Colleen
1. Meditation
2. Check in
3. Our CTC meeting’s main purpose was to create harmony and open sharing within our group. We heard a reading from Thay about loving speech and deep listening. Clear instruction was given to never speak in irritation or to let tension occur. If tensions did arise we were to practice mindful walking or Begin Anew.
4. We started our meeting by sending our thanks and love to our sisters and CTC alums, Priya and Devon. Their wisdom, guidance, and courage have given us great gifts and clarity. We are grateful and felt their deep presence and voice at our meeting.
5. We shared our ideas about the purpose of the CTC. We also talked about our history.
* Take care of ourselves so that we can be strong and supportive of the Sangha
* Think creatively together to discuss, prevent, and solve issues and problems harmoniously
* Help plan events, retreats, and Days of Mindfulness
* Listen to the Sangha members and present their ideas and concerns to the CTC
* Consider and address financial issues, particularly large expenditures
6. The following decisions were made by consensus, after open dialog, loving speech, and deep listening.
* We will document the CTC guidelines that we establish for the Honey Locust Sangha.
· It will be a living document that is renewed and refreshed with every new decision or amendment.
* The CTC will have no more than nine members including the following.
· At least 3 members at large, serving staggered 2 year terms
· All Order of Interbeing (OI) members who are willing and able to serve
· All OI aspirants who are willing and able to serve
· In order to keep the total at 9 or fewer, OIs and aspirants may need to rotate CTC voting status.
* Decisions will be made by consensus of CTC members present at meeting.
· We will vote using the thumbs up, down, or sideways method.
- The person(s) making the sideways thumb sign will be asked to clarify their meaning:
- I am not ready to vote yet because I have something else to say on the matter.
- I disagree, but for the good of the Sangha, I will go along.
- I am not attached to the outcome, or I have no strong feelings about it.
· Establishing a quorum was discussed but not agreed upon.
* The CTC decided that for the next year, Gina would be facilitator and Megan would be note taker.
· Back up facilitator will be Amanda and back up note taker will be Patrice.
· Our CTC recognizes the importance of rotating the roles of meeting facilitator and note taker.
· The consistency of an experienced leader in the facilitator role was deemed best for the Sangha and CTC this year.
* The CTC decided that the OIs can make the final decision about the selection of leaders for our 2018 Retreat.
· Front runners currently are Peggy and Larry, but there are many terrific Dharma teachers to choose from.
· The CTC acknowledged that we may need to reconsider the retreat cost and/or dana to meet the needs of our guest leaders.
· Our 2018 Retreat will be held 4/26 to 4/29 at the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold IA.
* The Honey Locust Sangha will assume the cost of MeetUp - $180 annually.
· MeetUp has been our most productive web method for informing people about our Sangha.
· We will review the traffic and whether to continue MeetUp after one year.
* The Honey Locust Sangha needs someone to take over as Treasurer.
· We are looking for a known, trusted member who may be willing to serve perhaps a three year term.
· We will ask for a volunteer via our list-serv and an announcement at our Monday meeting.
7. We ended our productive meeting with a feeling of harmony and joy.
Next CTC meeting: April 9 at the Yoga Path at 2:30 - 4:30.
Suggestions for April Agenda:
* Best ways to communicate CTC meeting schedule
* Best ways to solicit agenda items from the Sangha
* How to communicate decisions and information to the Sangha
· For now, minutes will be posted and announcements will be made at meetings.
· We will discuss this carefully in light of feedback and suggestions we have received.
* Follow up on decisions from March meeting
* Assigning / assuming responsibilities
* Discuss establishing a quorum for CTC meetings
* Address outstanding financial issues
* Define the dollar amount that would require CTC consideration
* Decide how often and when to meet for the rest of the year
Please send any items you would like discussed to Gina at gmatkin1@gmail.com by April 7.