Expressing Our Appreciation For Extraordinary Service

We’ll have an opportunity on Thursday evening (Aug 10, 7 to 9:15 pm) to express our appreciation to Renee Kunz and James Barnes for their extraordinary service to our community. Renee is a long time SIM member, a former member of our Board of Directors and SIM’s former Treasurer. James is a more recent community member and a former member of the Board of Directors who has focused his energy on a number of important special projects, including development of the Family Sangha.

Our celebration of their contributions will include cake and tea!

          

One of the most fundamental practices in building sangha/community is through service, both within/for the sangha and for the larger communities. Below are three opportunities that will not only provide service, but will also build sangha for those who participate.

Supporting Sangha

Have you arrived “early” for a Thursday sitting and/or a Saturday one day retreat? Have you seen the dharma hall empty, or is it fully set up, ready for the activities of the day? Do you know how it transforms from a generic space to SIM? (hint–not through devas or magic) To “become SIM,” volunteers are needed.

Set-Up Volunteers

John and Carol Meininger have retired from set-up crew after 10 years.  We are very grateful for all that they did — and we also now need to fill the gap.
Many thanks to Ian McLeod and Alan Gottlieb for volunteering for events in May and early June.  It was very much appreciated!

Now: Regular or Occasional Set-up

If you are able to  become a “regular ” set-up volunteer, that would be great. We need “regular” volunteers for the first Thursdays and fourth Thursdays of the month. If you aren’t able to commit to a “regular” schedule, but are able and willing to help on a one-time basis, on one (or more) of the dates below, that help will  be gratefully accepted. No experience necessary; training will be provided.  Note that set-up starts an hour before a meeting or daylong, and that the set-up crew also handles closing up at the end.  Please contact Margaret Buss at bussmlou@gmail.com if you are interested in helping.

Below are dates and times in June and July when volunteers are needed:

• Thursday June 22 at 5 pm (before the monthly meditation instruction) — need one
• Saturday  June 24 at 9 am — Daylong Retreat with Heather Sundberg  —  need two or three (note retreat ends at 5pm)
• Thursday July 6 at 6 pm — need two
• Thursday July 27 at 5 pm — need one

Click here if you’re interested in volunteering in any way.

Set-Up Volunteers Needed

Some of our long-time set-up volunteers would like to move on to other opportunities, so SIM is seeking sangha members who would be interested in embracing this rewarding way to serve the sangha.  We would also like to expand our existing teams from two to three to lighten the workload and shorten the time it takes to do the work.

If you become part of a set-up team, you commit to coming one Thursday per month an hour before the meeting, 6 p.m. the first three weeks of the month, or 5 p.m in the fourth week (that week the beginning meditation instruction starts at 6 pm).  Closing down after the meeting takes between 30-45 minutes, depending on how much extra help other members can provide.

If you’d prefer to be part of a general pool that assists on an as-needed, as-available basis, that would also be very welcome.

This work of transforming the Dharma Center space into a welcoming place for sangha members to gather is rewarding work.  It’s an opportunity to get to know our new place intimately and to get to known fellow sangha members you might otherwise never interact with.   If you are interested in becoming either part of a volunteer-team or part of a volunteer-pool, please email Margaret Buss.

Volunteers Needed for One-Day Retreat January 28th

If you plan to attend the one-day retreat on January 28th with Amma Thanasanti, would you consider helping with either set-up or take-down of the Dharma Hall?  Tasks include bringing flowers, setting up the tea service and/or cleaning up kitchen and break room afterwards, setting out name tags, setting up the sound equipment, and arranging chairs and cushions — you won’t have to do them all; you would be part of a team and would be guided in the tasks.

The daylong start at 10 a.m.  The set-up team will meet at 8:45 a.m. to ensure the Dharma Hall is ready by then.

If you are interested in this special act of dana to the community, or if you are able to bring flowers, email Margaret Buss.

Flower Yogis Wanted

If you have a green thumb and a colorful garden (or other source) and would be willing to bring flowers to sangha meetings or one-day retreats, on either a one-time or regular basis, please email the Set-Up Coordinator Margaret Buss.