Filming a Birthday Video for Brian this Sunday
Sunday, January 19 after Sunday sit (6pm)
Brian's 50th Birthday is just around the corner.  His wife, Robin has asked friends far and wide to celebrate Brian for his 50th Birthday. So we would like everyone to join us at the Sangha right after Sunday sit (6pm) to film a short birthday video (should only take a few minutes).  As a Sangha, we have funds that we will donate to one of his charities. Here is Robin's letter that explains her idea:

Hi Friends! Hope you are well as we begin this calendar year on the planet together 😊 
It is 2020, the year my beloved Brian turns 50! His birthday is Feb 5th, and one of his favorite gifts to give or receive is donations to charities. So if you would like to honor his birthday in some way, you could make a donation either to your fav charity / organization or to one of the ones listed below.

Then, please send a short video to me that includes that you made a donation and to which charity. If it is one of yours, tell him something about why you support them. The amount is irrelevant, it’s the movement of generosity. 
If you would like to do this, please send me your video before January 23rd.
And if, by the fates, we are all in the same area some time this year, we’ll have a meal together to say “yay! You made it to 50! So glad we’re in the world together!”

Some of Brian's favorite charities: Kiva, Natural Resources Defense Council, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, Environmental Defense Fund, ACLU.
Love, Robin

Come for sit if you can, or just for the filming.  The Sunday sit topic is Sangha!

With metta and gratitude,
Your Sangha Board

​COMMUNITY DAY OF PEACE
On Tuesday January 14 the Salida Sangha and other members from Salida's faith based community will participate in a day of prayer & meditation for peace & unification in the new year. The Sangha house will be open for anyone to come between noon and 6 pm.  Or you can visit any of the following participants who will open their doors to everyone who would like to come in for a special time of silent prayer & meditation for peace in our lives & our world. 
1. First Presbyterian Church 7 Poncha Blvd. 9 am - 5 pm. 2. River Valley Community Fellowship is participating however their building is closed. 3. Saint Joseph Catholic Church. 320 E. 5th Street. 9 am - 6 pm. 4. Salida Sangha. 248 D Street. 12 pm - 6 pm 5. Salida Vineyard Church. 1201 E Hwy 50. 11:30 am - 6 pm. 6. SHINE. Library of First Presbyterian Church. 7 Poncha. Blvd. 5:30 pm- 6:30 pm.
 
A MEN'S SIT WILL BE HELD FROM 5-5:30 ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH
This is a new time and once a month gathering that we hope will better meet the needs of our Sangha.  All men are welcome!
 
BOOK CLUB MEETINGS SUSPENDED
Due to lack of participation the meetings of the book club have been temporarily cancelled.
 
WONDERFUL NEW POETRY ADDITION TO THE LIBRARY
Denny Radabaugh, board member and poetry enthusiast, has assembled an incredible binder of poems which he has offered to sangha members in the hope that it will deepen your practice.  It is now in our library.  Many entries are drawn from the Mindfulness Poetry genre, and many were written by practicing Buddhists.  We hope you will thumb through it whenever you have the inclination or need.  Please do not remove it from the library.
 
Our intention is for this volume to be a living, growing thing; we hope that all readers will add their favorite poems to it.
 
The entries are somewhat arbitrarily divided into six categories, although the categories overlap.
 Affirmation and Comfort
Connection
Direction and Guidance
Perspective
Times of Turmoil and Stress
Death and Loss
 
If you discover one that speaks to you in a special way……
 -          Consider memorizing it; make it a part of you so that you can draw on it, or share it when it’s needed;
 -          If you want a copy for yourself, you can probably find it with an internet search using the author’s name and the poem’s first line.  If you do not have access to the internet or a printer, contact Denny Radabaugh and he will get one to you.
 May these poems bring you joy, understanding, solace, peace; may they deepen your practice.
 
UPCOMING RETREATS
Our non-residential retreats with Brian Lesage at Meadow Rock Ranch are scheduled for April 18-19 and September 12-13.  Save the dates!
 
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED
The sangha house is made available to us at extremely low cost and your financial donations are making it work.  What we still need to keep things rolling along are more sit leaders and helpers to keep the house in order.  Please consider signing up for a yogi job in the kitchen at the house!
SANGHA HOUSE TO BE LOCKED
Due to a recent incident in which someone spent the night in the sangha house without permission and left a mess, the house will now be locked except during times when we have scheduled events.  We will keep you informed of this situation as we resolve how to handle it going forward.  Our concern is making sure that everyone is safe.  Note:  If you are signed up for house cleaning, snow shoveling, etc. you will be given the access code.  Please contact a board member if you need the entry information.
CALENDAR
Here are a few reminders of our regular events:
Weekly sits on Sunday at 5:00, Tuesday and Thursday at noon.
Mindful Recovery, Wednesdays at 7:00
Five Mindfulness Trainings are third Sunday of the month at 3:30.
Tea, snacks and social time are offered after Sunday sit on the first Sunday of each month.
Board meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m.  They are open for anyone who would like to attend.
Cindy Sasso http:// www.cindysasso.com and Denise Ackert http://www.deniseackert.com have classes beginning soon.  You can find out the details on their websites.

And you can always check the calendar page at  http://www.salidasangha.org

With metta and gratitude,
Your Sangha Board