Salida Sangha Annual Meeting Minutes and Sangha UpdateUpdate:  Sit leaders can now sign up on our website!  Please click on this link  http://www.salidasangha.org/community.html and scroll down to "Sunday Sit Leader" where you can click to find available sit leader dates and sign up for one.  Thank you Leslie for setting this up.
For the time being Yogi Job signups will still be handled in the kitchen at the sangha house.  We need snow shovel volunteers and house cleaners in December and January. Thanks to everyone who has signed up to help this winter!

Sangha board meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of the month from 9-10:30 am at 248 D St.  We welcome anyone who is interested to attend.  Board meeting minutes and financial statements are posted each month in a notebook in the library.
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Salida Sangha Annual Member and Board Meeting
November 12, 2016
Meeting called to order at 5: 00 pm
 Board Members present:  Roberta Smith, Denise Ackert, Cindy Sasso, Jane Whitmer, Elizabeth Ritchie
Members present:  Oren Dreeben, Melodee Kennington, Dixie Goldsby, Dan Weinshenker, Eunice Collette, Judy Brey, Kym Mellsop, Phil Sasso, Dee Sapper, Leslie Henslee, Greg Phillips, Ruth Phillips, Ron Ferris, Dee Dubin, Julia Harris
First Order of Business – Review of Mission, Vision, and Goals reviewed by Elizabeth
Second Order of Business – Accomplishments

• We have been able to maintain the Sangha house both financially and by yogi jobs thanks to the Sangha and to Roberta.   
  
• We have a beautiful new altar and a Buddha statue thanks to Roberta, Dixie and Elizabeth.
  
• We organized 2 non-residential retreats at Meadowrock Ranch.
  
• Brian has made a commitment to continue teaching twice a year.
  
• We have advanced in our technology and have a wonderful website, online registration for retreats and mail chimp.
  

Third Order of Business – Board Election

• Jane introduced the proposed new Board of Directors to include: Roberta Smith, Denise Ackert, Cindy Sasso, Elizabeth Ritchie, Jane Whitmer and Denny Radabaugh.  A motion to approve was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.
  

Fourth Order of Business – Financial Report and Budget

• Cindy reviewed the 2016 Budget and proposed Budget for 2017.  It was proposed to increase the rent payment to $650 per month and budget $50 less per month for the repair and maintenance fund.  A motion to approve the 2017 budget was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.
  

Fifth Order of Business – Yogi Jobs and Sit Leaders

• Yogi job signups will continue to be posted on the kitchen cabinets.
  
• We are currently developing an interactive online calendar for sit leader signups.
  

Sixth Order of Business – House repairs

• The gutter has been replaced along with installation of heat tape inside the gutter.  The stucco has been repaired on the side and the back porch railing has been installed.   Thanks for Phil, Greg, Ron and Dan.
  

Seventh Order of Business – Retreats 2017

• Blazing Mountain Retreat Center residential retreat in Crestone, March 3-8.
  
• Meadowrock Ranch non-residential retreat, September 16 and 17.
  

Eighth Order of Business – Technology

• Our new website is up and running thanks to Leslie, Denise and Cindy.
  
• Mail chimp is now being used for managing Sangha emails.
  
• We plan on creating a business card with essential information.
  
• We discussed the possibility of creating a Facebook page.
  

Ninth Order of Business – Committee Reports

• Melodee, Caring Committee, reported that 7 sangha members have been helped.
  
• Judy, Book Club, stated that the group meets the first Wednesday of the month, 6:00 – 7:30 pm and is currently reading A Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield.
  
• Jane, Dharma in Jail, offering yoga to the women.
  
• Denise, Dharma in the Jail, discussed the meeting with the Commander of the Chaffee County Detention Center, and the plan to start the Path of Freedom course work.  If the inmates complete the course they will get time off their sentence.  Also they plan to teach meditation to the deputies.
  
• Judy, Aging and the Dharma, is in the conceptual phase and open to ideas from the Sangha.
  

Tenth Order of Business – Saturday Sit

• Elizabeth discussed the attendance on Saturday has been approximately 0-3 people over the last few months and identified the need to increase the notification of the sit by sending out email reminders to the Sangha.  
  

Eleventh Order of Business – New Year’s Sit

• Roberta discussed our plans to host the sit at the Sangha house and requested a leader and members to organize the event.   Phil, Kym and Dixie volunteered.
  

Twelfth Order of Business – New Business

• Discussed watering and weeding at the Sangha house and the idea of having a spring cleanup.
  

Dixie volunteered to lead.

• Leslie brought up the issue of racism and social justice and how can we educate and bring our community together.
  

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm followed by delicious potluck and great conversation.

Salida Sangha Annual Board MeetingOur annual  Sangha Board Meeting will be held this Saturday, November 12 at 5pm at the Sangha House, 248 D Street, Salida followed by a potluck after the meeting. At this meeting, we will elect (or re-elect) our Board of Directors, review and approve our 2017 budget, and give an update of Sangha activities.  We would also love to hear your comments, suggestions and feedback about the Sangha.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Board Member, please let us know in advance of the meeting.

If have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

With metta,
Denise
Salida Sangha Board Member