Salida Sangha Annual meeting agenda

The 2017 Salida Sangha Annual Meeting and potluck will begin at 5:00 on Dec. 3 at 248 D St.  In order to keep the meeting short we are sending out all of this information for you to review ahead of time.  Please give some thought to the questions we will be discussing. 
                     THANK YOU.  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
 
Mission, Vision
 
New Year’s Eve Sitting, Walking, Potluck and Bonfire; December 31, 2017 4:30-7:30 at the sangha house, 248 D St.
 
Non-residential Retreats May 19 & 20, 2018
                                           September 29 & 30, 2018
 
Book Club, SenGen, Caring Committee, Jail Programs
 
Prayer Wheel Update
 
Yogi Jobs, Sit Leaders and Dana  2018 Signup Sheets are posted in the kitchen.  Sit Leaders can also sign up on our website Community Page.   Our deepest gratitude for all of your support!
 
2018 Proposed Budget
 
Board Election
Roberta Smith, President
Denise Ackert, Vice President
Elizabeth Ritchie, Secretary
Cindy Sasso, Treasurer
Denny Radabaugh
Jane Whitmer
New Board Members are always welcome.  Please contact Roberta at 539-1732 if you are interested in joining the board.
 
Questions for discussion:
 
1.  What makes our Sangha healthy?
 
2.  Based on your practice, what are your needs that the Sangha is meeting and what needs are not being met? 
 
3. In order to be a more inclusive Sangha, what types of events would you like the Sangha to host?
 
4.  How can we, as a Sangha, be more welcoming to all people? 
 
If you are unable to attend the meeting please feel free to email your thoughts on these questions to sangha@salidasangha.org
 
Group Reports
 
Caring Committee   The Caring Committee was formed in 2014 to provide non-financial assistance to sangha members, family and community members during times of need.
Until Elizabeth's meal train in September, sign ups were often slow and sometimes not all days requested were filled, and the same people would end up filling the spots.
So far, in 2017, 2 meal train requests have been sent out to 130 people on the meal train data base.   We are looking for someone to take over the management of this important committee beginning in January.
 
Book Club   Our Book Club continues to explore how the dharma interfaces with our daily life through reading books chosen by the members.  It is an opportunity to read selected books, discuss content and develop language expressing how we learn and grow through greater understanding of our individual process.  At each meeting, we decide how quickly we would like to progress through the book.  There is a lot of laughter and much fun.
We meet the second Wednesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 at the Salida Sangha.  This past year we read The Book of Joy by The Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu,  Humble Before the Void by Chris Impey and Open Heart, Open Mind by Tsoknyi Rinpoche.
Come join us in our exploration.  Feel free to show up at 6 PM on the second Wednesday of the month at the Sangha house.  Contact Judy Brey at 505-259-6419 with questions and to be placed on our email list.
 
SenGen   Salida SenGen is a senior discussion group for those 60 and over to discuss the dimensions of aging in a safe, supportive environment.  Salida SenGen was started from a discussion in late 2016 between Cindy Sasso, Dixie Goldsby and Judy Brey about the need for seniors to have a place to talk about their challenges around aging. Judy had been involved with the seniors group at the Durango Sangha called SenGen. With the guidance and structure from the folks in Durango, we held a meeting of interested people in January of 2017. From their interest, a smaller group of facilitators began planning for the launch of the Salida SenGen. The Salida Sangha offered the space for the senior generation (SenGen) discussion group. Our first meeting was held in April 2017 which was guided by two facilitators. Our topics have included: As I age, what inspires me, what challenges me, what touches me, what surprises me; Is it too late; Navigating life’s transitions; and How Do You feel about your end of life? Our December 21 topic will be “How do we cope with feelings of isolation as we age?” We meet at the Salida Sangha House on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 2:00-3:30. Visit our website www.salidasengen.com for more information.
 
Men’s Meditation at the Jail   There is a meditation class with interested men at the Chaffee County Corrections Center (aka jail) that meets Thursday mornings at 10 and Sunday afternoons at 4 PM for one hour each.  The  ongoing 12 week course follows a curriculum developed by the Prison Mindfulness Institute called the Path of Freedom.  While we do not espouse the course as "Buddhist", there are many ideas that reflect our Buddhist practice, ie meditation techniques and inner contemplation.   We welcome and need help with co- facilitating either and/or both sessions on a regular or occasional basis in this safe environment of 10 to 12 participants.  Interested?  Contact sangha member Dan Weinshenker  at 719-942-4626 or danweinshenker@gmail.com.
 
 Women’s Yoga and Mindfulness at the Jail  Seeing the success of the Men's Meditation Class, a group of women from our Sangha offered a meditation and yoga class to the women in the Chaffee County Jail. It began two years ago, and has evolved into primarily yoga classes ending with a short mindfulness practice. It has been very well received by the women, usually having about half of the women who are currently incarcerated participating. For more information, please contact Jane Whitmer @ 719 221-9642.
 
Men’s Yoga at the Jail  The Commander of the Chaffee County Jail approached the women's yoga teachers about offering a class for the male inmates. Currently there are three men teaching weekly classes, which began in July. The average attendance is 12-15 men in each class. For more information, or to volunteer, you can contact Ron Ferris @ 719 221-7973, or Tony Ricci @ 719 221-3448.

With deep gratitude for all you do,
The Salida sangha board