Sangha Meeting and Board Meeting Highlights – Dec 2024
Dear Sangha:
Here is a recap of the Sangha Meeting and the Board Meeting that occurred on 15 December 2024.
Sangha Meeting Overview:
The meeting was well-attended by sangha members. Tim Campbell, Managing Director, facilitated the meeting to allow people to ask questions or raise issues of interest. Many people made contributions and the meeting was energetic, open, and constructive.
Issues raised included:
- Sound issues in the Portland Center and sometimes on Zoom. AV Team member John Rothermich acknowledged some recent issues as a work in progress.
- Outreach and DEI efforts/goals at KCC. Outreach was addressed separately from DEI.
- Outreach: KCC doesn’t have a lot of expertise in this area. We have a website and an email list but not sure what else we should put effort into. A sangha member has professional background in this area and volunteered to help.
- DEI: The Board established an Inclusivity Committee earlier this year. Sangha members volunteered to be involved. It was acknowledged by many meeting attendees that KCC is predominantly a white sangha. And acknowledged that POC have attended KCC, did not have a comfortable experience and left. The aspiration that KCC be a welcoming home for diverse seekers of the Dharma is in the KCC strategic plan.
- Classes and Portland-based retreats. There was enthusiastic support for classes, book groups and weekend retreats at the Portland Center. It was also noted that more “introductory” opportunities could help newcomers be more comfortable with KCC and the practices it offers.
Board Meeting Highlights:
The Board reviewed the current finances which are looking strong and approved a budget for 2025 and approved monetary bonuses for all KCC staff members. The Board discussed the status of the Emeritus Lama Fund and will support fundraising efforts in this area.
The Board Officers for 2025 were voted on and the officers will remain the same. The Director provided an update on programming activities and recruitment for the upcoming SCOL vacancy.
Lastly, the Board reviewed an insurance proposal for SCOL from the Washington FAIR program. Further analysis is needed, no decisions were made.
The December board minutes will be approved in January and posted on the website.
The board generally meets on the third Sunday of every month from 1:30pm – 3:30pm at KCC; all are welcome to attend. After approval, the meeting minutes are available here. Please email if you have any questions or concerns that you feel a board member can address.
