Meeting Agenda:
10:00 Start with a short meditation
10:05 Group check-in to help everyone get to know each other a little more and feel more connected.
10:25 Assaya updates - Women in Buddhism series by Soto Zen Association, Jumpstart Meeting, Monday Evening Sit, Postcards re-boot
10:45 Fundraiser - Update on registration and money raised, Logistics for the day’s event and volunteer roles.
11:10 Other volunteers needed - location for Monday, Community meeting up on blog, newsletter etc.
11:30 Close

Meeting Notes: 
Jumpstart Meeting: Kate reported the meeting was very productive in brainstorming ways to attract diverse groups (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, mothers with young children, etc) to Assaya. 
Sangha Member Natalie Brain and Kate Munding ran the meeting, and members Maureen A., Francisca P., Ramona Lisa Ortiz Smith, Nicole Meyers, Barbara Hooks, and Yanli Wang participated in the meeting. Next step is to plan the outreach and marketing campaign.
 
New Monday Evening Gathering:  Kate said that in response to many requests for a regular evening and in-person gathering, a time slot was chosen and 3-4 locations are being explored (Ellen S. Will research) to have a physical space to meet.  This will be a regularly offered meditation and Dharma talk taught by a rotation of Assaya Sangha teachers and the occasional guest teacher.
Monday August 19th will be the first evening  gathering to be held on zoom.  Once a location is chosen, the goal will be to offer a hybrid gathering and additionally to offer special meet-ups before the meeting for specific interest groups such as: 20-30’s age group; BIPOC; women with small children; full sangha potluck; or beginning meditators, etc.
 
“Reclaim Our Vote” postcard-writing parties:  Maureen A. Reported the postcard-writing parties will resume Wednesday, August 21 through October following the Wednesday Intensive at the home of Beth Fedman, 1851 San Ramon Ave. in Berkeley (refer to the Assaya Sangha August newsletter for more specific details).
 
Opportunities to consider: 

• *Lynne P. Suggested participating as a group in the Women in Buddhism series done by Soto Zen association on zoom. 
• Kate to send email to Assaya members with info.
• *Maureen A. Suggested a possible series offered by Rhonda McGee on racism curriculum for white people. Kate to research.

 
Fundraiser update:

• To date 44 people have registered for in person and 5 for zoom with donations of $4760 towards our goal of $10,000. Kate reported this was a very promising start as most people typically do not register until a few weeks before the event.
• Kate will do a short video to market the fundraiser later this month as there was such a good registration response from last year’s video.
• Lynne P. Said that Sharon G. Has had to withdraw as Volunteer Coordinator due to health reasons. Judy M. volunteered to take over those duties and Lynne P. To support.
• Volunteers from meeting signed up as follows:
  • Friday set up: Kate, Lynne P. Ellen S.
  • Saturday set up: Judy M., Nadine, Jude P.
  • Sat. registration table: Wendy K., Deb T., Nadine.
  • Zoom monitors: Liesl (on zoom) and 2 volunteers needed in-person to split duties(morning shift and afternoon shift).
  • Cleanup: Maureen A.

 
Action Items:

1. Kate to send email about Soto Zen zoom event.
2. Kate to contact Rhonda McGee regarding possible series.
3. Kate to do video to publish in August marketing September 28 fundraiser
4. Jude P. to confirm with Tanya re: How she wants to recruit volunteers for the flower arranging session Friday, September 27.
5. Ellen S. to contact Gyoto to clarify set up on Friday
6. Judy M. to update the proposed list of volunteers needed outline from last year and identify volunteer support still needed And recruit people to fill those jobs as needed. Judy to have Event Planning document with updated job and volunteer assignments to Kate by 8/30/2024.
7. Kate to work with Betsy and Tuere to prepare an outline for the day long retreat.
8. Kate, Judy M. Jeanie B. to explore ways to post monthly community meeting, summary and minutes to our website blog.

 

At this gathering our community members joined the Board of Directors for our annual presentation and discussion on the current state of Assaya Sangha, a non-profit, as well as envisioning the future of Assaya Sangha. They reviewed the financials, the 2024 budget, and the 2024 strategic plan. During the meeting community members provided feedback and there was good discussion about important topics making sure the organization's plans are aligned with its community's needs. 

Town Hall Presentation:
First Half: Watch the video recording 
Second Half: Watch the Video Recording

​Read the full Presentation : 

For March, we choose Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master by Amy Schmidt for our book club reading. 

​This Dipa Ma biography is about one of the few women in her generation to devote herself entirely to the pursuit of meditation also includes Dipa Ma's spiritual teachings, which have made her a major figure in contemporary Buddhism.

We will read and discuss the life story and spiritual teachings of Dipa Ma, a major figure in contemporary Buddhism. She was the teacher of such well-respected western Buddhists as Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, Alice Walker and Sylvia Boorstein, among others. An accomplished yogi, she was an inspired teacher and a devoted mother and grandmother. A woman who found great freedom through profound levels of insight and one who exemplified in her every action immense kindness, generosity, and mindfulness.

The March book club will be held safely outdoors on March 6th from 10:30-11:45 a.m. pacific time. Zoom access will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. Please join our community to receive emails with details of this and future meeting. REGISTER TODAY!

We choose Sylvia Boorstein's book, Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life, for our book club. 

On September 26, 2021, Assaya Sangha had its first dharma book club! (Via Zoom.) We had an engaged discussion. Everyone participated, we asked each other questions and talked about how specific principles of the dharma that she talked about apply to our daily lives. We enjoyed her stories.

Sylva Boorstein provides answers to questions such as: How can we stay engaged with life day after day? How can we continue to love–to keep our minds in a happy mood–when life is complex, difficult, and, often, disappointing? She offers warm, wise, and helpful ways we can experience happiness even when the odds are against us.

She draws from the heart of Buddhist teachings to show how Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration can lead us away from anger, anxiety, and confusion, and into calmness, clarity, and the joy of living in the present. These qualities strengthen our ability to meet encounters of every kind with balance and intelligence, providing us with a grounded sense of true contentment. 

The next book club will be held safely outdoors on November 7th from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
We will discuss A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment by Spring Washam. Zoom access will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. Please join our community to receive emails with details of the next meeting.

​On 9/6 & 9/8/21 we had Creating Community thru Crafting and Conversation events - small groups met in an Assaya's sister's back yard to connect more informally while making wreaths.  "It was a relaxing and joyful time- connecting with each other and nature, getting out of our heads, being in the moment and creating something beautiful with our hands!" 

​This was an hour and fifteen minute meeting, open to all people interested in being part of the growth and next steps of Assaya Sangha. The meeting was well attended, with Antoinette Williams, Deb Todd, Hannah Nguyen, Kate Munding, and Tanja Schlosser facilitating. The overall spirit of the meeting was one of excitement, gratitude, and interest. It was a joyful event! The following is a distilled account of what was shared by those leading the meeting and those attending