CTC Minutes March 21, 2021
Present: Dave Watts, Gina Matkin, Jim Cox, Mark Watson, Mike McMahon, Patrice Watson (facilitator), Juanita Rice (note-taker) and celebrating new member Tina Ray. Absent Mike McGann
The meeting began at 12:30 with a meditation, and the Buddhist prayer for meetings read by Patrice.
Check-In for all and Welcome w/flowers to Tina.
Check-in notably included taking notice of the terrorist murders of Asian-American women in Atlanta this last week, and suggestion that Monday night 3/22 should include a silent witness of the names and ages of the women killed. The tragedy had also been meaningfully discussed the previous day at Honey Locust book club, Tina noted, thanking Patrice for the shape of the conversation.
Agenda Item One: Care-taking of individuals in the sangha including those serving on the Care-Taking Council. Juanita raised the subject of how we prevent the wonderful competent and responsible sisters and brothers who serve the sangha from burning out. We agreed there is no procedure for it but also that there are many kinds and levels of personal distress that may afflict any and all people we meet with. Speculation about past burnouts, past and present suffering, we knew, was probably not very helpful but that we might try reaching out once more to hold all sangha friends and encourage well-being, whether from personal situations of distress or organizational difficulties or any reason, would be worthwhile. It was decided to ask Patrice to send out the memo about Connecting again, and a few more people volunteered their names as ready and willing to talk about needs or problems and make connections.
Agenda Item Two: Planning committee report on the May Retreat. Mark asked for discussion of the Planning Report he had emailed to everyone. The substance of the proposal was approved: the Spring Retreat will be May 14-16, Friday eve to Sunday afternoon. Michael Ciborski, an ordained teacher in the Plum Village tradition, will be the Dharma Teacher. Since there are no expenses to the sangha, registration costs are voluntary as "Dana" (generosity to support the offering of the teachings). Anything from $1 to $300 is suggested, and everything given will go to Brother Michael and his Retreat Center Morning Sun. We talked about the enormous "suggested range" but decided the $1 lower suggestion was useful because it encouraged everyone to come, no matter what financial position they were in, and to do so without applying for scholarship or assistance. Concepts like Sanctuary Space (open Zoom links while we were not in other official activities), separate zoom account links for all dharma sharing families instead of trying to use break-out rooms, and holding meditation vigil both nights were discussed and applauded
The retreat announcement will be ready this coming Friday 3/26 to be first announced officially at sangha 3/29.
Agenda Item Three: Committee report on "DEI" or Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness (or diversity, equity and interbeing?). The committee had met and generated a first statement for Honey Locust website of our commitment to relieving the suffering caused by racism, ethnic prejudice, gender prejudice and other reasons some communities are marginalized and endangered. Gina and Juanita were not excommunicated (see CTC 2/19) and had, in fact, met and made progress on their intention to offer introductions to the joys and richness of creative voices beyond those we in the white middleclass mainstream usually encounter. The committee decided to meet again to further consolidate.
Meeting adjourned, 2 pm., Juanita Rice, note-taker
Present: Dave Watts, Gina Matkin, Jim Cox, Mark Watson, Mike McMahon, Patrice Watson (facilitator), Juanita Rice (note-taker) and celebrating new member Tina Ray. Absent Mike McGann
The meeting began at 12:30 with a meditation, and the Buddhist prayer for meetings read by Patrice.
Check-In for all and Welcome w/flowers to Tina.
Check-in notably included taking notice of the terrorist murders of Asian-American women in Atlanta this last week, and suggestion that Monday night 3/22 should include a silent witness of the names and ages of the women killed. The tragedy had also been meaningfully discussed the previous day at Honey Locust book club, Tina noted, thanking Patrice for the shape of the conversation.
Agenda Item One: Care-taking of individuals in the sangha including those serving on the Care-Taking Council. Juanita raised the subject of how we prevent the wonderful competent and responsible sisters and brothers who serve the sangha from burning out. We agreed there is no procedure for it but also that there are many kinds and levels of personal distress that may afflict any and all people we meet with. Speculation about past burnouts, past and present suffering, we knew, was probably not very helpful but that we might try reaching out once more to hold all sangha friends and encourage well-being, whether from personal situations of distress or organizational difficulties or any reason, would be worthwhile. It was decided to ask Patrice to send out the memo about Connecting again, and a few more people volunteered their names as ready and willing to talk about needs or problems and make connections.
Agenda Item Two: Planning committee report on the May Retreat. Mark asked for discussion of the Planning Report he had emailed to everyone. The substance of the proposal was approved: the Spring Retreat will be May 14-16, Friday eve to Sunday afternoon. Michael Ciborski, an ordained teacher in the Plum Village tradition, will be the Dharma Teacher. Since there are no expenses to the sangha, registration costs are voluntary as "Dana" (generosity to support the offering of the teachings). Anything from $1 to $300 is suggested, and everything given will go to Brother Michael and his Retreat Center Morning Sun. We talked about the enormous "suggested range" but decided the $1 lower suggestion was useful because it encouraged everyone to come, no matter what financial position they were in, and to do so without applying for scholarship or assistance. Concepts like Sanctuary Space (open Zoom links while we were not in other official activities), separate zoom account links for all dharma sharing families instead of trying to use break-out rooms, and holding meditation vigil both nights were discussed and applauded
The retreat announcement will be ready this coming Friday 3/26 to be first announced officially at sangha 3/29.
Agenda Item Three: Committee report on "DEI" or Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness (or diversity, equity and interbeing?). The committee had met and generated a first statement for Honey Locust website of our commitment to relieving the suffering caused by racism, ethnic prejudice, gender prejudice and other reasons some communities are marginalized and endangered. Gina and Juanita were not excommunicated (see CTC 2/19) and had, in fact, met and made progress on their intention to offer introductions to the joys and richness of creative voices beyond those we in the white middleclass mainstream usually encounter. The committee decided to meet again to further consolidate.
Meeting adjourned, 2 pm., Juanita Rice, note-taker