Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Peace and love to all my brothers and sisters: FYI DAYAMRITA RETREAT March 26, 2005 Portland Insight Meditation Center Portland, Oregon Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Talk by Swamiji: The idea of regional satsangs is to support each other, not just to support the tour. The theme this year came to me from Amma's words that everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear at lest for one night, to eat their fill for at least one day, and to have one day when hospitals don't see a single admittance due to violence. Everyone including little children should help raise money for the needy. Children can make a toy or some small thing to sell. It is Amma's prayers that this aim be realized. This is what I started with for this year and then the tsunami hit us. We all saw the fundraising that was done all over the country. When Amma announced the $23 million she was donating, then everyone saw their responsibility in contributing. Swamiji said, "just imagine that if the millions she has hugged all over the world and each gives $1, then we have met our budget." Amma has been teaching us how to give. She never has taught us how to take. You see her example from morning to late at night giving and giving. She says teaching meditation should not be charged for, so she's unlike other masters who charge for each level of meditation training. I've selected seven main areas to focus on in 2005. I'll read them off to you, and then we can break into satsang groups and inventory how each satsang is doing in meeting these goals. See if you can come up with ideas for each category and have someone volunteer to lead that project. After that, we'll take turns reporting back to the whole group so we can learn from each other's ideas. For example, in San Ramon we've already saved about $25,000 for this year's tour by working on the first point. The main areas we are requested to focus on in 2005-- (bullets = Seattle Satsang's plans and progress) 1. Cost and expenses reduction--especially during tours Tour Kitchen--$50 rental found by Eswar (ordinarily would be $2000-3,000) Tour Food--receiving donations of food from local growers Flower donations--give ideas to Parvati (NW Wholesale Florist) Satsang venue rental--no rent at Holistic Center (formerly $200/month) Snack shop items--donated by health food stores (contact Danny re Nature's Path) New emphasis on recycling--at programs and retreats (have kids do drawings to represent that effort and post above the recycle stations) 2. Improved communication. More structure, especially during the tour (e.g., an organizational chart); NW satsang gatherings: Karuna and Millen (Eugene) are the 2 regional satsang coordinators; Deepthi (Eugene) is fundraising coordinator Creation of Steering Committee Website online calendar--events can be posted by anyone Minutes & agenda from SSSC mtgs will be posted online (under "current events") Add Seattle Satsang webpage address as a signature to all outgoing emails Need volunteer to act as backup for emailing announcements to satsang when Karuna and Tripuri are both out of town Organizational chart done by Vanamali (posted on wall during Retreat) Post organizational chart on web page with contact info for main leads to help people who want to volunteer or sign up for something (consider issue of exposure to spam etc°™could have private satsang log-in to protect privacy) We're working on a bulletin board that will be pass-coded Write announcements on whiteboard at satsang 3. Increased attendance in satsang and programs--providing information and publicity to increase awareness of Amma. Divided opinion about whether weekly satsang has grown or not Surveyed recently via questionnaire--results are on table at satsang. Devotees who want to read it can contact Maheswari. Welcome committee--needs volunteers (Anupama volunteered to work with Colette) 4. Devotee well-being and satisfaction. e.g., Circle of Love (devotees helping each other with shopping etc when people are sick), Mother's Kitchen-- i.e., helping each other locally, not just focusing on helping the world at large. Kumuda will coordinate local Circle of Love development Mother's Kitchen--Steve says not much happening, can re-start at Compass Center any time (12 hands went up to help) Questionnaire results are out--Karuna encouraged everyone to read. Others can contact Maheswari and ask for a copy. 5. Well-run organization--making responsibilities and roles clear, and providing info of who's doing what; help to eliminate wasting time. Steering Committee Hope requests that SSSC discuss how to include people in organizational roles when they volunteer interest in helping run aspects of satsang activities 6. Increasing charitable activities. For example, Mother's Kitchen, although focus on that seva has been temporarily interrupted due to focus on tsunami relief. Visala has idea of buying entertainment coupon book and selling them to make money Nirmala is collecting fundraising ideas from people We can use World Health Care Charities (an arm of AIMS) when an organization is willing to match monies we raise (use when businesses don't want financial connection with a religious organization) 7. Increased culture and value-based activities. Ways to practice the message Amma gives us by bringing our families closer together, for example. Book club--discussing the teachings Reading Amma's teachings out loud at satsang Bhajan practices--post on web bulletin board Sri Kari has an idea (see her) Teaching pronunciation (Kumuda, Tripuri) Indian/Iranian/Mexican/Vietnamese dinners; a group of devotees get together to make a dinner (have donation baskets) Have newcomers'night (easy bhajans, dinner, etc) Assign a "buddy" to newcomers Name tags Multi-religion or satsang gathering for holiday celebrations Rose, Madhuri will help Nirmala with fundraising ideas Hope's father (and possibly her cousin) have a professional studio and could help us with creating CDs for fundraising if the material is original or we have copyright OK from Steve Fleisher (easy bhajans or kids' tape); Meera has idea of teachings set to music sung by someone (e.g., nursery rhyme-style music done by kids but using Amma's words). Maybe do a CD for November tour. Visala says she knows a realtor who will donate her commission to tsunami relief if any of us, or someone we refer, buys a house from her. Create a fundraising section on the website get clearance from Deepthi on any fundraising idea (she will get approval) Find sevas that kids can do in satsang, during tour (suggested in Millen's report) All these things can be done on an individual basis in our lives as well--turn off the lights, the running water, and give Amma the money you save by doing this; improve communication between family members and spend time together; discuss the values and instructions Amma gives us. Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service, Supriti Omenka Nnadi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks, Omenka. These are beautiful ideas. There is a lot here that anyone can use where they are. Thanks for helping us "tune in." Aikya Ammachi, Omenka Supriti Nnadi <oomenka> wrote: > Peace and love to all my brothers and sisters: > > FYI > > DAYAMRITA RETREAT > March 26, 2005 > Portland Insight Meditation Center > Portland, Oregon > Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. > > > Talk by Swamiji: > The idea of regional satsangs is to support each other, not just to support the tour. The theme this year came to me from Amma's words that everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear at lest for one night, to eat their fill for at least one day, and to have one day when hospitals don't see a single admittance due to violence. Everyone including little children should help raise money for the needy. Children can make a toy or some small thing to sell. It is Amma's prayers that this aim be realized. > This is what I started with for this year and then the tsunami hit us. We all saw the fundraising that was done all over the country. When Amma announced the $23 million she was donating, then everyone saw their responsibility in contributing. Swamiji said, "just imagine that if the millions she has hugged all over the world and each gives $1, then we have met our budget." > Amma has been teaching us how to give. She never has taught us how to take. You see her example from morning to late at night giving and giving. She says teaching meditation should not be charged for, so she's unlike other masters who charge for each level of meditation training. > I've selected seven main areas to focus on in 2005. I'll read them off to you, and then we can break into satsang groups and inventory how each satsang is doing in meeting these goals. See if you can come up with ideas for each category and have someone volunteer to lead that project. After that, we'll take turns reporting back to the whole group so we can learn from each other's ideas. For example, in San Ramon we've already saved about $25,000 for this year's tour by working on the first point. > The main areas we are requested to focus on in 2005-- > (bullets = Seattle Satsang's plans and progress) > 1. Cost and expenses reduction--especially during tours > Tour Kitchen--$50 rental found by Eswar (ordinarily would be $2000-3,000) > Tour Food--receiving donations of food from local growers > Flower donations--give ideas to Parvati (NW Wholesale Florist) > Satsang venue rental--no rent at Holistic Center (formerly $200/month) > Snack shop items--donated by health food stores (contact Danny re Nature's Path) > New emphasis on recycling--at programs and retreats (have kids do drawings to represent that effort and post above the recycle stations) > > > 2. Improved communication. More structure, especially during the tour (e.g., an organizational chart); NW satsang gatherings: Karuna and Millen (Eugene) are the 2 regional satsang coordinators; Deepthi (Eugene) is fundraising coordinator > > Creation of Steering Committee > Website online calendar--events can be posted by anyone > Minutes & agenda from SSSC mtgs will be posted online (under "current events") > Add Seattle Satsang webpage address as a signature to all outgoing emails > Need volunteer to act as backup for emailing announcements to satsang when Karuna and Tripuri are both out of town > Organizational chart done by Vanamali (posted on wall during Retreat) > Post organizational chart on web page with contact info for main leads to help people who want to volunteer or sign up for something (consider issue of exposure to spam etc°™could have private satsang log-in to protect privacy) > We're working on a bulletin board that will be pass-coded > Write announcements on whiteboard at satsang > > > 3. Increased attendance in satsang and programs--providing information and publicity to increase awareness of Amma. > > Divided opinion about whether weekly satsang has grown or not > Surveyed recently via questionnaire--results are on table at satsang. Devotees who want to read it can contact Maheswari. > Welcome committee--needs volunteers (Anupama volunteered to work with Colette) > > > 4. Devotee well-being and satisfaction. e.g., Circle of Love (devotees helping each other with shopping etc when people are sick), Mother's Kitchen-- > i.e., helping each other locally, not just focusing on helping the world at large. > > Kumuda will coordinate local Circle of Love development > Mother's Kitchen--Steve says not much happening, can re-start at Compass Center any time (12 hands went up to help) > Questionnaire results are out--Karuna encouraged everyone to read. Others can contact Maheswari and ask for a copy. > > > 5. Well-run organization--making responsibilities and roles clear, and providing info of who's doing what; help to eliminate wasting time. > > Steering Committee > Hope requests that SSSC discuss how to include people in organizational roles when they volunteer interest in helping run aspects of satsang activities > > > 6. Increasing charitable activities. For example, Mother's Kitchen, although focus on that seva has been temporarily interrupted due to focus on tsunami relief. > > Visala has idea of buying entertainment coupon book and selling them to make money > Nirmala is collecting fundraising ideas from people > We can use World Health Care Charities (an arm of AIMS) when an organization is willing to match monies we raise (use when businesses don't want financial connection with a religious organization) > > > 7. Increased culture and value-based activities. Ways to practice the message Amma gives us by bringing our families closer together, for example. > > Book club--discussing the teachings > Reading Amma's teachings out loud at satsang > Bhajan practices--post on web bulletin board > Sri Kari has an idea (see her) > Teaching pronunciation (Kumuda, Tripuri) > Indian/Iranian/Mexican/Vietnamese dinners; a group of devotees get together to make a dinner (have donation baskets) > Have newcomers'night (easy bhajans, dinner, etc) > Assign a "buddy" to newcomers > Name tags > Multi-religion or satsang gathering for holiday celebrations > Rose, Madhuri will help Nirmala with fundraising ideas > Hope's father (and possibly her cousin) have a professional studio and could help us with creating CDs for fundraising if the material is original or we have copyright OK from Steve Fleisher (easy bhajans or kids' tape); Meera has idea of teachings set to music sung by someone (e.g., nursery rhyme-style music done by kids but using Amma's words). Maybe do a CD for November tour. > Visala says she knows a realtor who will donate her commission to tsunami relief if any of us, or someone we refer, buys a house from her. > Create a fundraising section on the website > get clearance from Deepthi on any fundraising idea (she will get approval) > Find sevas that kids can do in satsang, during tour (suggested in Millen's report) > > > All these things can be done on an individual basis in our lives as well--turn off the lights, the running water, and give Amma the money you save by doing this; improve communication between family members and spend time together; discuss the values and instructions Amma gives us. Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service, > > Supriti Omenka Nnadi > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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