Dharma Rain - News
Zen Center News
September-October 2006 issue
Annual Sangha Picnic
About 18 people attended the annual Sangha Picnic July 29 at Colonel Summers
Park. The potluck food was all delicious, with Kakumyo Lowe at the grill, and
a relaxing time was had by all.

Ethics Council and Board Openings
The Dharma Rain Zen Center Board formally
adopted the new ethics document, including the Reconciliation and Grievance
Procedure.
Many
thanks
to the committee,
Eric Johnson, Gay Kei'un Lewis, Jeanna Moyer and Kyogen Carlson for their
work on this. Thanks also to the sangha for their patience and thoughtful input
during this process. The next step is to empanel the Ethics Council. This
is
a standing committee of five members, three core members and two alternates,
that will handle grievances and disputes. The Board will select the council
from nominations received from the membership. Council members must be full
members of DRZC, which means they have taken the precepts at Jukai and have
been active members for at least one year. Please submit nominations in writing
to the Center or by e-mail to Board@dharma-rain.org.
Also from the Board is this reminder that we elect new members in the fall. There
are two seats up this year, with Kisei leaving after two full terms and Kat Strieby
up for re-election this year. We're looking for several full members with
an interest in serving on the board to step up and run for these positions. Qualifications
are the same as for the Ethics Council. If you are interested in running, please
let us know, either in person, by mail, or by e-mail to Board@dharma-rain.org.

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eScrip: Raise funds for the Center and Dharma School while shopping
Here is a new way to contribute to the Center that doesn’t cost you
anything extra. Put your normal shopping to work for us by enrolling in eScrip.
The way it works is that merchant members budget an allowance for donation
to schools and charities. The fundraising company eScrip disperses the funds.
We qualify for these donations because of our work with children. This is the
first grant program we have found for which we qualify, and we would like to
take maximum advantage of this opportunity.
To join in this opportunity, you may simply sign yourself in at escrip.com or
give your name, address, zip and Safeway Club Card number to Gyokuko. You can
sign up on forms at the Center or e-mail gyokuko
at dharma-rain.com (using the proper symbol for the at).
If you would like to do more, you may go to escrip.com and
register credit and debit card numbers. Then when you use the registered payment
cards at a member merchant, that merchant will make a donation based on the
size of your payment. A partial list of merchants include: Market of Choice,
Whole Foods, Yoke’s Fresh, Zupan’s, Carl’s Jr., Big 5 (WA
only), The Perfect Grape, Sierra Trading Post, Pep Boys, Orvis, Office Max,
Linens ’n’ Things, Eddie Bauer, It’s a Beautiful Pizza, New
York New York, Blue Bamboo, Cactus Jacks TexMex, Casa Colima, Chen’s
Dynasty, Got Curry?, Halo Thai, Amadeus, Big Daddy’s BBQ, Marrakesh Moroccan,
Montego Bay, Pasta Pronto, Sakura Bana, Samurai Sam’s, Tambayan Restaurant,
Crab Bowl, Rose and Raindrop, Tik Tok, Tuscany Grill, Village Inn (Lloyd Center
and Beaverton), Wong’s Chinese (Tualatin and Wilsonville), Zao Noodle
Bar.
Additional merchants and restaurants may be seen on the escrip website, where
you may also download coupons that save you money and generate another nickel
for the Center each time one is redeemed. There is also an option to shop the
Online Mall, which includes Home Depot, JC Penney and Target.
Start with the easy part, though. Just register your Safeway Club Card number
to let Safeway donate toward our work with children.

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Member News
This section allows members and friends to share important news
in their life. Getting married? Having or adopting a child? Moving? Starting
an exciting new career? Graduating? Won a major award? Let us know! Send
an email to newsletter@dharma-rain.org, with the subject noting “Member
News,” or drop off a note to the Center with your announcement. Deadline
for submissions for the November/December issue is September 25.
As of July 27 Kyogen's stepmother is in hospice, and Kyogen is in California
with his father. Kyogen plans to remain there throughout this process, so he
is out of the Center indefinitely. Doctors estimate that it will be no longer
than a month, although Kyogen will assist his father after his wife passes in
dealing with practical affairs and deciding what is next for him. Gyokuko and
Kyogen are hoping that Kyogen's father will agree to drive up to Portland with
them and stay for awhile. Gyokuko will be going down to Calif. as well at some
point. (Details on this situation may change between editing and publication.)
Christina Valela received her degree in Psychology from Portland State University
(with honors!). This is her second degree.
Lisa Mann continues to play with her band in the greater Portland area. More
info can be found on her website: www.lisamannmusic.com.
Heidi Enji Hoogstra helped to plan the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Member Gathering
in New York. Her writing about her experiences can be found on the bpfportland.com
website. A small bit of that report is going to be included in Turning Wheel,
as will a short article about her experience in forming the Portland chapter
of BPF.
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Thank You
Thank you to all who give and support the stability and growth of the Center.
Gassho to Dun Gifford for condiments, rice and other food; Nikki Andria
for Cranberry jam; the residents of the Lighthouse for plums; Kakumyo Lowe
for stump seats; and Rich Mackin for tea.

Newsletter Submissions
The newsletter is assembled and edited during the last week of every other
month. Submissions are welcome and necessary. Please submit short or long
articles, which can focus on any point of practice, including travel, research
or personal experience, descriptions of events we’ve had, the occasional poem
or drawing. We do not print anonymous articles. Please submit typed submissions
if at all possible, preferably by e-mail, to: newsletter@dharmarain.org (this saves the newsletter staff from having to retype the work). If
you have questions or ideas for an article, contact Choten at the above email
address.
Possible topics and deadlines:
- November-December issue (Founders’ Day, Rohatsu, Holiday Season):
deadline September 25
- January-February issue (New Years): deadline November
29
- March-April issue (Spring, Jukai/Precepts): deadline January
25
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