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