CTC Minutes September 2021
The Caretaking Council for Honey Locust Sangha met via Zoom on September 19, the third Sunday afternoon at 12:30, our regular monthly meeting.
Present were: Patrice Watson, Facilitator, and Jim Cox, Gina Matkin, Mark Watson, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon and Juanita Rice (note-taker). We were presently joined by Tina Ray and Dave Watts. Mike McGann had to leave early.
The adjusted agenda:
1. Retreat plans
2. A Sangha sound system update
3. Monday night meetings"for now"
4. A Sangha directory update
5. Inclusiveness resources update
6. Dana : review of intentions/decisions
7. Payments to Yoga Path-reconsiderations?
We listened to Patrice read a Prayer before Buddhist Meetings, and sat quietly in meditation to contemplate harmony and kindness.
Check-in: although Mike McG was with us on loan from his Colorado family, and another grandchild is on the way soon for someone, and a small bike mishap was adjusting one person's relationship with vulnerability, we were all present with appreciation for the cooler soon-to-be-fall weather this September.
Agenda Item 1: Retreat planning.
Mark reminded us that we have a reservation at Creighton University Retreat Center (Griswold, IA) for an in-person retreat Thursday through Sunday, May 12 – 15, 2022 (the weekend after Mother's Day). We decided to plan on having the retreat there until such time as it needs to be cancelled for refund and redesigned for Zoom. We will also try to have a Winter retreat this year as well, via Zoom or in-person; the winter retreat is an extended Day of Mindfulness (Friday night and Saturday) between December and February.
It has been the custom for the last 3 or 4 years to have Sister Terry for one retreat and Brother Michael for the other. We had a brief discussion of some reasons it might be good to occasionally invite other teachers. There are a wealth of designated Dharma Teachers in the Plum Village tradition (i.e., they receive "transmission of the lamp" from Thich Nhat Hanh and the senior Mahasangha members). These two teachers are familiar with us, we are fond of their teachings, but before he went to Asia 3 years ago we also relied on our friend, respected Dharma Teacher Chan Huy. One name mentioned of someone we might especially want to invite was that of Dr. Larry Ward, author of the book America's Racial Karma, which was read this year by the Sangha Book Club.
We realized we are late to engage teachers for this year, however, so we deferred discussion of longer range plans and voted to ask if Sister Terry and/or Brother Michael are available for, and if so, to request they join us again this year, with the assumption of Sister Terry for Winter and Brother Michael for Spring. Mark Watson volunteered to contact them and to let the CTC know as soon as he hears. A Retreat Planning Committee was set up: volunteers were Gina Matkin, Jim Cox, Dave Watts. Tina Ray and Mike McGann. If Terry and/or Michael can NOT come this year, we authorized the committee to proceed with dispatch to seek other teachers as soon as possible. Sister Terry usually selects the theme for her retreats but Brother Michael asks for input from us. Sangha members might like to think about a particularly appealing Dharma theme and suggest it to one of the Retreat Committee members.
Agenda Item 2: Sangha Sound System.
We began to investigate sound systems last spring when it became apparent that we needed to improve audibility at in-person retreats; our former equipment was cobbled together with loaned pieces, not always fully functioning. It then emerged that some of the sangha regularly find it difficult to hear at in-person sangha meetings as well. The Americans with Disabilities Act may soon require public groups to supply hearing-assistance but we have adequate motivation ourselves to move forward. A number of us did some rudimentary investigation, learning, for instance, that many sanghas regularly rent sound equipment specifically for planned venues for retreats. But Jim Cox managed to comprehend the descriptive lingo well enough for explicit "hearing assistance systems" to be able to recommend a specific system that works with self-generating Wi-Fi to cellphone reception. Honey Locust would buy the mike and wi-fi generator and members wanting to use the system would download an app. If phone reception was not adequate, each person could choose their own "boosters"—earbuds, earphones, or direct phone-to-hearing-aid device/hookup. The bonus is that the system could also be connected to a speaker with a cord-from-phone hookup for use at a retreat. It does depend on the physical location of a broadcasting microphone, but that still seems our best solution. The total price was $549 plus tax and shipping. After further discussion, we voted to authorize the purchase as long as the total package was under $700. Jim will order it and our treasure will facilitate payment one way or another, to be determined between Jim and Randy (our treasurer). The brand is AudioFetch Express, and a clear PDF explanation/diagram is available online or by request from Jim.
We are grateful to Jim, our tech-wizard in this case, and always our "award-winning customer service rep."
(Smiling)
Agenda Item 3: Monday night meetings for now
We quickly reviewed the arrangement we have now, offering both a Zoom meeting and one at Elmwood Park each Monday night. The separateness satisfies the needs of people who can't or won't go to Elmwood Park (distance members and hearing challenged), and the needs of those who find the in-person meetings at the park satisfying and supportive in ways Zoom does not, and additionally because we do not know what the Covid-19 future holds for us, but we do know that fall's cooler weather and the end of Daylight savings time represent a probable end-time for the park meetings soon, we decided there was no good reason to consider changing the plan for now. Yes, continue Monday nights 6:30-8 online and 6:15-8 at Elmwood Park.
Agenda Item 4: Sangha Directory update.
Catherine S came to a CTC meeting earlier this year to present the idea of a directory for Honey Locust members to be able to contact each other, and we approved it with security stipulations. Beginning last fall, the CTC has several times encouraged members to reach out to each other, to ask for support or offer it, to just "check in" with someone who has perhaps been quiet or absent, to get together outside of formal meetings, etc. But not everyone had access to contact information. The directory is intended as a solution. Catherine and Gina have stayed in touch as Catherine developed methods to meet the CTC's criteria.
a. The directory would be voluntary and contain only the information each person volunteered.
b. Access to the directory would be limited to sangha members on the listserve.
c. The directory would not live on the web where it could be hacked.
Gina reported that Catherine has an email ready to send out to the sangha for input.
Agenda Item 5: Inclusiveness Resources
Almost a year ago, when inclusiveness practices were urgent to all our minds after the police killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Gina suggested a webpage be added to our sangha website with resources for inclusiveness, specifically to suggest novels, poetry, movies, podcasts or other media titles that would help our predominantly white sangha to be more in touch with others from whom we may feel distant or cut off. Juanita volunteered to help. Last fall the UNL's first full semester in the pandemic proved stressful to Gina and so they had to delay from month to month. At mid-winter Mike McM, Jim C, and Dave Watts volunteered to join the committee to write a broad introductory note to the new webpage; their suggestion was submitted in spring.
Still the realization of the project was delayed.
At last, now, September of 2021, Gina and Juanita reported a change of plans that bypassed an unspoken obstacle. They reported the difficulty of writing something that purported to express a sangha point of view, when in fact they only have the statement of commitment to social engagement as an expression of our unity.
Their solution is to withdraw the project as envisioned and to state instead their intention to develop a Blog that invites readers to enjoy the creative work of a diverse range of people whose experiences may not represent a common history, and instead give access to other lives, insights that enlighten us, that help us overcome the fragmentation of today's social worlds by truly inviting us to see deeply, to hear deeply, to feel personally someone else's perspective. The Blog by Gina and Juanita will, by permission of the CTC at today's meeting, be sent to the sangha listserve (and maybe to others). If in a few months, they feel the sangha is confident of their goals and methods, they may then be invited by the CTC to save the Blogs to a "Beloved Revelations" webpage (or something).
They may consider guest writers for the blog, but with the proviso that what is offered is consistent with our personal intentions. It's not a Sangha expression. It is Gina and Juanita.
So moved and passed.
Sort-of.
Agenda Item 6: Reconsideration of our view of the role of Dana
Through the past year of pandemic isolation the CTC had noted that with the non-presence of a physical Dana ("Generosity") Basket at in-person meetings, financial donations had shrunk significantly. We took several steps to enable donations as dana: we signed up with Venmo, an app that allows quick and easy donations so that donating a dollar or five is more feasible than when you use Paypal or arrange to send a personal check. We sent an email out trying to be explicit about recommending the practice of dana, understood in a broad sense of any kind of support for the sangha and dharma. And saying that financial donations were also useful for those who were able to consider them, and how to make them. We decided at a couple different CTC meetings that it would be useful to occasionally announce/remind the sangha of the meanings of Dana.
The question before us today is whether we are placing too great an emphasis on financial contributions, especially when we don't have a specific need or use.
A. As a first step, we considered financial reports to the CTC. A monthly report of the balance and/or any significant change was recommended. It could be sent to Patrice and included in the announcement. A quarterly report could also include general sense of income and outgo. We would only expect a thorough report with the Treasurer's presence (Randy Reinhart) once a year in January.
B. The general information this month is that we have a steady income from a few members through Venmo. And that there is enough money to cover the sound system. A sidenote is that Paypal has increased its rates somewhat. Also that maybe we need to clarify the Venmo icon & its use on the website.
C. Discussion revealed a number of different ideas about what we "had decided" to do about announcing dana. And the ever-present need to avoid accumulating money for its own sake. We need to review the organizational by-laws about possible minimum and maximum money to have on hand, and obligatory spend-down if an excess accumulates. Those stipulations were not evident in a quick check of financial bylaws.
D. In sum, we agreed there is a need to review our policy and clarify its application. This will be an agenda item for October.
Agenda Item 7: Payments to The Yoga Path.
Mark Watson, owner of The Yoga Path studio, recused himself.
This topic also revealed some (several) unclear recollections about when and why and for how long the sangha decided to increase its monthly stipend to the Yoga Path to retain our storage, our future site for meetings and the "prime time" we have reserved. There were enough different ideas about how much, how long and why that we also bound this over for an agenda item in October, when at any rate we would need to make a new decision. Everyone is invited to review the minutes for Fall 2020 through the present. In the meantime we will observe the short-term agreement to pay full rent to the Yoga Path through November 2021. This will be an agenda item in October.
Gina volunteered to ask Mark if he would like to comment. Mark Watson is recused from CTC discussion when the topic is payment to the Yoga Path Studio to keep it reserved for our Monday Night Sangha meetings.
Odds and ends: Tina threw out a suggestion that Honey Locust have a presence at the next Pride celebration (Omaha).
Dave and Tina reminded the CTC of our "fiduciary responsibilities" to know our finances and to be able to defend our payments to the Yoga Path to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest as a non-profit.
Conclusion
This was a dense and newsy meeting and the CTC remains grateful for the smooth-operator-facilitator Patrice, and to all of each other for speaking and listening from their hearts in a spirit of interbeing. We take refuge in the 3 Jewels.
The Caretaking Council for Honey Locust Sangha met via Zoom on September 19, the third Sunday afternoon at 12:30, our regular monthly meeting.
Present were: Patrice Watson, Facilitator, and Jim Cox, Gina Matkin, Mark Watson, Mike McGann, Mike McMahon and Juanita Rice (note-taker). We were presently joined by Tina Ray and Dave Watts. Mike McGann had to leave early.
The adjusted agenda:
1. Retreat plans
2. A Sangha sound system update
3. Monday night meetings"for now"
4. A Sangha directory update
5. Inclusiveness resources update
6. Dana : review of intentions/decisions
7. Payments to Yoga Path-reconsiderations?
We listened to Patrice read a Prayer before Buddhist Meetings, and sat quietly in meditation to contemplate harmony and kindness.
Check-in: although Mike McG was with us on loan from his Colorado family, and another grandchild is on the way soon for someone, and a small bike mishap was adjusting one person's relationship with vulnerability, we were all present with appreciation for the cooler soon-to-be-fall weather this September.
Agenda Item 1: Retreat planning.
Mark reminded us that we have a reservation at Creighton University Retreat Center (Griswold, IA) for an in-person retreat Thursday through Sunday, May 12 – 15, 2022 (the weekend after Mother's Day). We decided to plan on having the retreat there until such time as it needs to be cancelled for refund and redesigned for Zoom. We will also try to have a Winter retreat this year as well, via Zoom or in-person; the winter retreat is an extended Day of Mindfulness (Friday night and Saturday) between December and February.
It has been the custom for the last 3 or 4 years to have Sister Terry for one retreat and Brother Michael for the other. We had a brief discussion of some reasons it might be good to occasionally invite other teachers. There are a wealth of designated Dharma Teachers in the Plum Village tradition (i.e., they receive "transmission of the lamp" from Thich Nhat Hanh and the senior Mahasangha members). These two teachers are familiar with us, we are fond of their teachings, but before he went to Asia 3 years ago we also relied on our friend, respected Dharma Teacher Chan Huy. One name mentioned of someone we might especially want to invite was that of Dr. Larry Ward, author of the book America's Racial Karma, which was read this year by the Sangha Book Club.
We realized we are late to engage teachers for this year, however, so we deferred discussion of longer range plans and voted to ask if Sister Terry and/or Brother Michael are available for, and if so, to request they join us again this year, with the assumption of Sister Terry for Winter and Brother Michael for Spring. Mark Watson volunteered to contact them and to let the CTC know as soon as he hears. A Retreat Planning Committee was set up: volunteers were Gina Matkin, Jim Cox, Dave Watts. Tina Ray and Mike McGann. If Terry and/or Michael can NOT come this year, we authorized the committee to proceed with dispatch to seek other teachers as soon as possible. Sister Terry usually selects the theme for her retreats but Brother Michael asks for input from us. Sangha members might like to think about a particularly appealing Dharma theme and suggest it to one of the Retreat Committee members.
Agenda Item 2: Sangha Sound System.
We began to investigate sound systems last spring when it became apparent that we needed to improve audibility at in-person retreats; our former equipment was cobbled together with loaned pieces, not always fully functioning. It then emerged that some of the sangha regularly find it difficult to hear at in-person sangha meetings as well. The Americans with Disabilities Act may soon require public groups to supply hearing-assistance but we have adequate motivation ourselves to move forward. A number of us did some rudimentary investigation, learning, for instance, that many sanghas regularly rent sound equipment specifically for planned venues for retreats. But Jim Cox managed to comprehend the descriptive lingo well enough for explicit "hearing assistance systems" to be able to recommend a specific system that works with self-generating Wi-Fi to cellphone reception. Honey Locust would buy the mike and wi-fi generator and members wanting to use the system would download an app. If phone reception was not adequate, each person could choose their own "boosters"—earbuds, earphones, or direct phone-to-hearing-aid device/hookup. The bonus is that the system could also be connected to a speaker with a cord-from-phone hookup for use at a retreat. It does depend on the physical location of a broadcasting microphone, but that still seems our best solution. The total price was $549 plus tax and shipping. After further discussion, we voted to authorize the purchase as long as the total package was under $700. Jim will order it and our treasure will facilitate payment one way or another, to be determined between Jim and Randy (our treasurer). The brand is AudioFetch Express, and a clear PDF explanation/diagram is available online or by request from Jim.
We are grateful to Jim, our tech-wizard in this case, and always our "award-winning customer service rep."
(Smiling)
Agenda Item 3: Monday night meetings for now
We quickly reviewed the arrangement we have now, offering both a Zoom meeting and one at Elmwood Park each Monday night. The separateness satisfies the needs of people who can't or won't go to Elmwood Park (distance members and hearing challenged), and the needs of those who find the in-person meetings at the park satisfying and supportive in ways Zoom does not, and additionally because we do not know what the Covid-19 future holds for us, but we do know that fall's cooler weather and the end of Daylight savings time represent a probable end-time for the park meetings soon, we decided there was no good reason to consider changing the plan for now. Yes, continue Monday nights 6:30-8 online and 6:15-8 at Elmwood Park.
Agenda Item 4: Sangha Directory update.
Catherine S came to a CTC meeting earlier this year to present the idea of a directory for Honey Locust members to be able to contact each other, and we approved it with security stipulations. Beginning last fall, the CTC has several times encouraged members to reach out to each other, to ask for support or offer it, to just "check in" with someone who has perhaps been quiet or absent, to get together outside of formal meetings, etc. But not everyone had access to contact information. The directory is intended as a solution. Catherine and Gina have stayed in touch as Catherine developed methods to meet the CTC's criteria.
a. The directory would be voluntary and contain only the information each person volunteered.
b. Access to the directory would be limited to sangha members on the listserve.
c. The directory would not live on the web where it could be hacked.
Gina reported that Catherine has an email ready to send out to the sangha for input.
Agenda Item 5: Inclusiveness Resources
Almost a year ago, when inclusiveness practices were urgent to all our minds after the police killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Gina suggested a webpage be added to our sangha website with resources for inclusiveness, specifically to suggest novels, poetry, movies, podcasts or other media titles that would help our predominantly white sangha to be more in touch with others from whom we may feel distant or cut off. Juanita volunteered to help. Last fall the UNL's first full semester in the pandemic proved stressful to Gina and so they had to delay from month to month. At mid-winter Mike McM, Jim C, and Dave Watts volunteered to join the committee to write a broad introductory note to the new webpage; their suggestion was submitted in spring.
Still the realization of the project was delayed.
At last, now, September of 2021, Gina and Juanita reported a change of plans that bypassed an unspoken obstacle. They reported the difficulty of writing something that purported to express a sangha point of view, when in fact they only have the statement of commitment to social engagement as an expression of our unity.
Their solution is to withdraw the project as envisioned and to state instead their intention to develop a Blog that invites readers to enjoy the creative work of a diverse range of people whose experiences may not represent a common history, and instead give access to other lives, insights that enlighten us, that help us overcome the fragmentation of today's social worlds by truly inviting us to see deeply, to hear deeply, to feel personally someone else's perspective. The Blog by Gina and Juanita will, by permission of the CTC at today's meeting, be sent to the sangha listserve (and maybe to others). If in a few months, they feel the sangha is confident of their goals and methods, they may then be invited by the CTC to save the Blogs to a "Beloved Revelations" webpage (or something).
They may consider guest writers for the blog, but with the proviso that what is offered is consistent with our personal intentions. It's not a Sangha expression. It is Gina and Juanita.
So moved and passed.
Sort-of.
Agenda Item 6: Reconsideration of our view of the role of Dana
Through the past year of pandemic isolation the CTC had noted that with the non-presence of a physical Dana ("Generosity") Basket at in-person meetings, financial donations had shrunk significantly. We took several steps to enable donations as dana: we signed up with Venmo, an app that allows quick and easy donations so that donating a dollar or five is more feasible than when you use Paypal or arrange to send a personal check. We sent an email out trying to be explicit about recommending the practice of dana, understood in a broad sense of any kind of support for the sangha and dharma. And saying that financial donations were also useful for those who were able to consider them, and how to make them. We decided at a couple different CTC meetings that it would be useful to occasionally announce/remind the sangha of the meanings of Dana.
The question before us today is whether we are placing too great an emphasis on financial contributions, especially when we don't have a specific need or use.
A. As a first step, we considered financial reports to the CTC. A monthly report of the balance and/or any significant change was recommended. It could be sent to Patrice and included in the announcement. A quarterly report could also include general sense of income and outgo. We would only expect a thorough report with the Treasurer's presence (Randy Reinhart) once a year in January.
B. The general information this month is that we have a steady income from a few members through Venmo. And that there is enough money to cover the sound system. A sidenote is that Paypal has increased its rates somewhat. Also that maybe we need to clarify the Venmo icon & its use on the website.
C. Discussion revealed a number of different ideas about what we "had decided" to do about announcing dana. And the ever-present need to avoid accumulating money for its own sake. We need to review the organizational by-laws about possible minimum and maximum money to have on hand, and obligatory spend-down if an excess accumulates. Those stipulations were not evident in a quick check of financial bylaws.
D. In sum, we agreed there is a need to review our policy and clarify its application. This will be an agenda item for October.
Agenda Item 7: Payments to The Yoga Path.
Mark Watson, owner of The Yoga Path studio, recused himself.
This topic also revealed some (several) unclear recollections about when and why and for how long the sangha decided to increase its monthly stipend to the Yoga Path to retain our storage, our future site for meetings and the "prime time" we have reserved. There were enough different ideas about how much, how long and why that we also bound this over for an agenda item in October, when at any rate we would need to make a new decision. Everyone is invited to review the minutes for Fall 2020 through the present. In the meantime we will observe the short-term agreement to pay full rent to the Yoga Path through November 2021. This will be an agenda item in October.
Gina volunteered to ask Mark if he would like to comment. Mark Watson is recused from CTC discussion when the topic is payment to the Yoga Path Studio to keep it reserved for our Monday Night Sangha meetings.
Odds and ends: Tina threw out a suggestion that Honey Locust have a presence at the next Pride celebration (Omaha).
Dave and Tina reminded the CTC of our "fiduciary responsibilities" to know our finances and to be able to defend our payments to the Yoga Path to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest as a non-profit.
Conclusion
This was a dense and newsy meeting and the CTC remains grateful for the smooth-operator-facilitator Patrice, and to all of each other for speaking and listening from their hearts in a spirit of interbeing. We take refuge in the 3 Jewels.