Town Hall Meeting Summary, June 16, 2021

​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

Welcome and purpose of the meeting

1. Explanation of the structures upholding Assaya Sangha, including Governance Circle; Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Circle; and Teachers Circle. Still to be formed: Harmony, Ethics, and Reconciliation Circle.
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2. Overview of Mission and Values.
   
   
   

All of this is now or soon will be on the Assaya Sangha website.

Short sit with guided reflection: "How has Assaya touched your life?"

Sampling of Responses:

• Safety in community
  
• Daily sitting
  
• All women’s spiritual refuge
  
• Assaya has given me resilience to look inside and be with the vicissitudes of my world.
  
• A big grandmothers quilt that belongs to us all
  
• A place to share my deep love of the dharma and my deep love of women
  
• A place where i have found mentors and friends on the path, where i can learn to listen, share and deepen my practice
  
• A way to stay grounded in love and community
  

Group Visioning of Assaya: "What is your image of Assaya's fullest potential? What would that look like, feel like, sound like, and so on?"

Sampling of answers:
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• Meaningful connection and relationships and that this be balanced with the structure of the Dharma.
  
• More events with unstructured time and opportunities for smaller breakout groups for easier sharing and getting to know one another better and make friends.
  
• Feminist organic farming.
  
• Hiking and book groups.
  
• A place for women-sensitive, women-informed support.
  
• A Community Activity Center, a bustling hub of activity where people can come and get the care they need, with music, food, activities, an inclusive multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-class Dharma center, compassion in action, engaged Buddhism.
  
• Connecting through art and being creative, making things together, silent auction or arts and crafts sale/trade as a way to connect with each other and the greater community, to get to know people more and to raise money for Assaya, possibly a scholarship fund.
  
• Include Bhikkhunis as guest teachers to learn from and for them to be part of our larger community.
  
• An intentional spiritual community on 10 acres of land, communal garden, daily meditation time, music, shared food.
  
• Satellite groups in different locations, growing our spiritual practice.
  
• Assaya could be a place to support women in transition: programs for girls having their first period; starting a first job; having a loss in the family; miscarriage; specific programs for the challenges that are found in women’s lives. Menopause support. Programs for women coming out for the first time.
  
• Support for mothers who would like to pursue a spiritual practice but don't have the time or energy with their children.
  
• Continue with virtual meetings in the morning as well as evening meetings for those who work and can't make the 7:00am sit.
  
• Obtaining a permanent space that serves as a center for Assaya with satellite groups throughout the country.
  
• Global communities that resonate with Assaya's mission and values.
  
• Sutta study groups.
  
• As we grow, retain the small group feel and personal connection by breaking into small groups and having different channels of participating and practicing, with a range of activities (i.e., movement, sutta study, walking, etc.).
  
• Diversity of practitioners where all feel welcome.
  
• Helping those women who are under stress with grounding practices.
  
• Being advocates for just causes and participation as a community to show up and make a difference.
  
• Intergenerational activities to bring the dharma to families.
  
• Recognition of Assaya as a Dharmic force within the Buddhist community.
  
• Meet in person every two weeks.
  
• Maintain accessibility via Zoom.
  
• Mini education and training sessions.
  
• Skill-sharing, mentorship.
  
• Do community work such as working with people with disabilities.
  
• Spiritual mentorship.
  
• Collaborate with other spiritual groups.
  
• Have discussions on our meditation practice. How is it going? What problems are you running up against? What questions do you have?
  
• Have a way to connect with one another, such as a private Facebook group, etc.
  
• Have a space to reach out to for support from the community if having problems, needing guidance or a spiritual hug.
  

Update on what is needed to transition forward 

As we grow, we'll need even more help, even just help on little tasks is a big deal.

• Database help
  
• Fundraising help
  
• New Membership coordinator, Welcoming Committee
  
• We need a laundry list of needs and to come up with a system to collect and match interests/skills with need: a Volunteer Coordinator or committee.
  
• People need to know what the commitment is and what the expectations are for volunteering.