Dharma Rain - Board Minutes

Board Minutes — November 30, 2006

Present: Gyokuko Carlson, Kyogen Carlson, Gary Oshiro, Fumyo Mishaga, Kisei Martin, Kei’un Lewis, Jeanna Moyer, Kat Strieby, Sherman Coventry, Shisei Niski
Absent: None
Guest: Domyo Sater

The meeting began shortly after 7:10.

1) Approval of Minutes from prior meeting
The September Board meeting minutes were approved by e-mail. The Sangha Forum minutes have not been approved yet.

2) Date for next meeting: Thursday, 11 January, 2007

3) Operations Report (Domyo)
Roof Update: Fujaku is still the contact with the roofers; work hasn’t started, but we are in the queue. Domyo has, meanwhile, nailed down the tarp on the roof, and so far there are no leaks.
General Operations: Other substantial operations projects simply haven’t been done since May due to short staffing.
Conditional Use Permit: We are still working on the conditional use permit; as long as we check in every six months or so, the City seems basically content.

4) Member Appreciation Day (Domyo)
Domyo, as a member of the Calendar Committee, reported that we have a few openings in 2007 for a Member Appreciation Day, as discussed in September’s Board meeting. February 24th and April 21st and 28th are currently open. The eventual consensus was for the Board to host a dessert party (perhaps called “Just Desserts”?) for Sangha Members to show our appreciation for their support – without them, after all, there would be no temple at all. Board members will each bring a dessert and will serve them to the Sangha. The Board will send out formal invitations and approach some members for stories of their experiences with DRZC.
The Board decided the event would be the evening of Saturday, 21 April, with Jeanna Moyer as contact person. Shisei offered help with scanning photos from the Temple archives. There will be more details after New Year’s, but we will tell Sangha early to mark their calendars.

Arising out of the discussions of work practice and honoring the support of the sangha, Fumyo stepped forward and strongly urged the Board to look into tapping the labor power of the Sangha. He pointed out that it’s not just about getting jobs done – volunteering is a spiritual practice, a way for people to enter the Dharma. It was generally agreed that the Apprenticeship Committee needs to start meeting again regularly, and that it needs to brainstorm ways to bring volunteers in and maintain that contact with the job and the temple. Kisei will be Shuso next year; it seems as if this will be her job.

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5) Treasurer’s Report
Notes to October 31, 2006 Fiancial Statement from Gary Oshiro:
Our October 31, 2006 Income and Expense Statement shows a net loss of $29,131. At the same time the previous year, October 31, 2005, we showed a net loss of $37,396. However, in 2005, excluding the gain on sale of assets, we ended up with a net loss of $25,200. Both 2006 and 2005 are pretty close in both income and expenses. Over the last two years our automobile expenses, computer equipment software and hardware, furniture, insurance, interest expense, and maintenance expense exceeded any income gain we have made in the past two years.

We have $47,536 in cash at the end of October 2006. Out of that amount, $36,354 is for the general fund, and the rest is in restricted funds. $9,469 of the restricted funds is for the zendo roof.

6) Bookstore Report (Fumyo)
Fumyo reported that he was going to start writing up a document of new policies and procedures, but decided that it would be good to get the consensus of the board first. He wrote up a set of talking points, of which the following is a summary:

Over the last several years, the DRZC bookstore operations have drifted somewhat and its purpose and operational guidelines are unclear; it may be a good time for the Board to revisit why we want or need a bookstore and how it should operate to provide service to our sangha without becoming a financial burden.

  • The bookstore exists for the convenience of our sangha and is not maintained or oriented for the general public or as an outreach service.
  • Our bookstore will not try to compete with local retail bookstores or order books or other materials other than items needed for basic meditation (zafus, zabutons, incense, etc.), books needed for DRZC classes, basic books and materials for new members or beginners, or books specifically dealing with our lineage or with Soto Zen as practiced at DRZC.
  • Ordering is the sole responsibility of the bookstore manager. For orders greater than $250.00, the bookstore will obtain the approval of one of the abbots. The bookstore will be open on Wednesday evenings after services and on Sunday mornings after services and other times with the approval of the abbots. Staffing the bookstore is the responsibility of the bookstore manager.
  • The bookstore manager will maintain an inventory of stock and keep records of sales. The manager will submit cash and checks from sales to the Treasurer for temple records on a weekly basis.

The Board agreed with Fumyo’s assessment of the situation and with his suggestions for changes. Fumyo will now draft a document of Policies and Procedures and present it to the Board for review.

7) Board Elections
We have profiles from JD Onryu Devros, Lara Cartwright, Sally Schoolmaster, and Mike Gyoshi Kaplan. Kisei’s second term is ending and Kat has decided not to run again.

8) Fundraising
There is nothing new to report on our work with Gary Spanovich. Fumyo said he would call Harry and see if he has contacted Gary. If not, Fumyo will himself.

Meeting adjourned at 9:07.

Respectfully submitted,
Kat Strieby
Secretary

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