Honey Locust Sangha
Omaha Community of Mindful Living
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Honey Locust Sangha Caretaking Council Meeting
March 17, 2019

Present: Dave Watts, Colleen Brown, Mark Watson, Mike McMahon, Mike McGann, Gina Matkin
Absent: None
Note: Beth Draper has completed her two year term on the council and stepped aside this month.

We began as we always do with check-in and meditation.


1)  Review of sangha bylaws and financial policy
These had been previously read and discussed.  They were approved unanimously.
They will be posted on the website. 


2) Question of what to do with Sangha financial surplus of some $6000.  

Per the bylaws we will attempt to keep not more than a prudent surplus of $1500 in the account. Ideas for ways of "spending down" included:
a) Consider hiring an accountant to track finances and helps us with taxes. This would be on a very limited basis.  Dave Watts has previously consulted with someone regarding sangha financial issues and thought that person might continue in that role at little or no cost.
b) Consider using funds to keep retreat costs lower for participants.
c) Use funds for community outreach projects.  Especially noting that we have a strong and mature sangha membership and to provide opportunities for them to extend the practice into the community.
d) Get an improved sound system- estimated cost $1200-$1500
e) Bring in highly regarded husband and wife dharma teachers Peggy Rowe and Larry Ward. In the past we have considered inviting them, but declined because of the expense of having two dharma teachers.
We decided to continue reflection and discussion on this subject. We welcome sangha input on this issue.

 
3)Discussion of process for bringing in new CTC members.
According to bylaws, the CTC is due to add two additional members with the departurure of Beth and Amanda- who served us wonderfully for two years!!! There was some discussion of our process for doing this. Also there was discussion regarding what is the best balance of OI/aspirant and at-large or lay people on the CTC.
We decided to continue looking into these concerns and re-address the issue at next council meeting

 
4) Sangha T-Shirts
After discussion it was approved that an individual or group of sangha members  may take on the project of designing a sangha t-shirt and finding a company to make them. There are a few stipulations:
a) This is a non-profit activity- no individual sangha member should be making money from  the sale of T-shirts.
b) Rather than ordering, paying for, and reselling a # of shirts in bulk, a sangha member would be asked to find a company that would do it on an individual order basis (like a university t-shirt where orders are collected along with individual size requirements paid in advance). The organizer then pays for , receives, and distributes the shirts to members who made an advance order.
c) The design must be approved by the CTC. 

 
5) Communication with Sangha
Discussion of best way to communicate significant concerns with sangha.  It was noted that there are 4 major means we use
a) in person announcements after sangha each Monday  evening
b) email over the list-serve
c) facebook
d) website

It was discussed that some sangha members attend to some of these ways of communicating, others attend to others, and probably no one attends to all four.
We discussed that when we have a retreat we use all 4 methods to communicate, and for other events/announcements we use some combination of the others.  This will probably be an ongoing concern as we strive to have good communication and keep the sangha empowered to participate in governing the sangha.

 
The meeting adjourned in good spirits and , since it was Saint Patricks Day, with CLOG DANCING.
The Honey Locust Sangha / Omaha Community of Mindful Living is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All funds donated help to fulfill the mission of practicing and raising awareness of the mindfulness practice in the Thich Nhat Hanh / Plum Village tradition.

​You can donate (provide Dana) using the PayPal link at the left (you do not need a PayPal account) or send via Venmo to @HoneyLocust. Please indicate General Dana or specific event (December DoM, for example) in the text via Venmo.