MOUNTAIN
SILENCE

Issue 27;

Sangha Update

Chairs report from Annual General Meeting: The Annual General Meeting Report

By Angyu Devin and Ji Den Frances

REPORT BY CO-CHAIR PERSONS DANCING MOUNTAINS AGM 19th April 2015
Devin Ashwood & Frances Collins

Between October 2013 and April 2015, Dancing Mountains has developed considerably.  We have completed the formation of the Dancing Mountains Community Interest Company with a constitution and articles of association. Meetings have been honoured regularly by board directors who agreed the intentions for 2014 -2015 as:-

1.)    Promote information sharing with sangha
2.)    Communicate with teachers from SFZC to explore interest/ availability and to support all teachings of Suzuki Roshi lineage in UK.
3.)    Support local sangha activity
4.)    Support and build membership
5.)    Build documentation that enables clarity on handover of board directors
6.)    Begin to explore ways to fundraise toward future purchase of properties for place of practice in UK
7.)    Encourage generosity through volunteering support and skills
8.)    Support development and training

1.    Promoting information sharing with sangha
Mountain Silence Newsletter and Dancing Mountains website have continued to be a way of enabling sharing of information with a wide community internationally. Devin has been the lead on this activity since its beginning. This responsibility has now been generously accepted by Karen Reddy who has offered her first newsletter with great enthusiasm. This has enabled us to announce the development of an international ‘virtual’ daily sitting group. As a board we have actioned a virtual survey as a means of listening to our sangha's views and understanding of our reasons for creating a CIC. This has provided useful feedback for further discussion that we may continue to serve the sangha through the CIC.

2.    Communicate with teachers from SFZC to explore interest/ availability and to support the teachings of Suzuki Roshi in UK
We are delighted to welcome back Rev Catherine Gammon to UK to support our national & local sangha activities. Following discussion with Reb Anderson last year in Sweden, Frances has been able to act on Reb’s recommendation of SFZC priests and teachers interested in visiting UK. Her attendance at January Intensive practice period at SFZC 2015 enabled direct contact with said teachers to explore availability for 2016 and beyond. We were delighted that proceeds from membership fees & generosity shown have allowed that we could respond positively to request for financial support from Ingen Breen to develop his plan for an Irish temple albeit that Ingen did not proceed with this plan. Planning and advertising a rohatsu retreat to be led by Ingen was initiated by Devin albeit this did not take place.

3.    Support local and international sangha activity
Suggestions for sangha facilitator weekend from Carol Hunter have been warmly received as a meeting of local groups in Norfolk in June 2015. We were particularly grateful to work of the newly formed international organising group dedicated to our founding teacher Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi teaching in Europe. Their hard work made a wonderful retreat in Sweden available in 2014 that was enjoyed by a significant number of our UK sangha. We want to take this opportunity to thank all the sanghas for practice activity and particularly to the continued commitment of local sangha facilitators.

4.    Support and build membership
Our membership secretary has been able to provide updates on membership growth. Our current total membership is 16 which show an increase of 8 (8 as last AGM) over a year. New members have responded to newsletter and attending sangha groups. The newer membership has expanded from areas of Somerset, Dorset and Cheshire.

5.    Build documentation that enables clarity on handover of board directors
We have developed an inventory and procedures to make assets such as equipment for zen ceremonies available to sangha around the country with identification of a role of custodians trusted with responsibility as a practice.

6. Begin to explore ways to fundraise toward future purchase of properties for place of practice in UK
Frances has initiated the search for information about fundraising for social enterprise organisations and templates for business plan that enables application for charitable funding. In its earliest stages this activity needs dedication of energy to take forward as a continuous activity of the CIC.

7.    Encourage generosity through volunteering support and skills
 It is with gratitude that we thank the generosity of volunteers in the form of our hard working directors that have nurtured our organisation to where it is today. We continue to encourage people to step forward and accept this opportunity to support this service for the whole sangha in any small way they can through volunteering any skills, time or energy that enable this work to continue. Without this generosity we cannot continue this work.

8.    Support development and training
Kath & Frances attended The January Intensive at Green Dragon Temple and gave a gift from our UK sangha of an envelope to hold the okesa being sewn by our good friend Myoyu. This is offered with great appreciation and respect for his intense 5 years of practice and preparation toward priest ordination with Tenshin Roshi (so far!). In addition we are delighted to support our friend Devin Ashwood as he begins priest training here in UK with Ingen Breen.
Action: Frances - to forward NCVO details

Treasurer’s report - Chris    See attached profit/loss report. Currently income from membership – approx £110/m. No major events organised but some involvement with local sanghas. Major effort has been in formulating accounts in line with Companies House format for CIC. Need to pay 20% on any annual surplus for this year (approx tax bill £500) but this offset against any future expenditures.    

Secretary’s report - Kath    See attached notes.
Catherine recognised that the greatest effort had already occurred to establish CIC – now for others to carry the momentum forward.    

Membership Sec’s report - Karen    Membership had grown from 8 at last AGM to 16. New membership came from newsletter enquiries or local sanghas. New members now received a ‘welcome letter’ & DM stitched napkin. Contact list also audited & updated. There was discussion around ensuring sangha contacts/members were practicing in the tradition of Suzuki Roshi lineage, had attended facilitator’s event and/or endorsed by Directors. It was agreed that local contact listings on the website would need to be approved at a Director’s meeting.    
Action: all – to agree all new local contacts

Election of Board    In line with CIC docs all current Directors (5) resigned. According to the DMZ Mem & Arts there is a minimum requirement for 3 Directors on the Board. Frances has resigned as co –chair. Kath resigned as secretary. Devin expressed willingness to stay-on for 6 months to ensure CIC continues until volunteers step forward. One suggestion for inviting potential Directors was proposed for/during facilitator’s w/end.
Nominations:Chair: Devin - proposed Kath, seconded Frances – elected
Treasurer: Chris – proposed Devin, seconded Karen – elected
Secretary: Nil nominations – Chair/Devin to assume role in short term
Membership Sec: Karen - proposed Chris, seconded Frances – elected
Nominations for other positions - nil    

Motions    None     

AOB   

   1. Catherine – Spoke about ‘Branching Streams Group’ for all affiliated sanghas. DMZ & other sanghas need to register as affiliated groups. Felt there was benefit in registering as BS beginning to fund priests to visit. Their intention is to support practice worldwide in tradition of Suzuki Roshi
   2. Catherine – shared her vision that is shared with a few other priests from SFZC to establish a retreat centre and arts/craft base – envisions an active engaged community/ residential training place. The location has not been decided. DMZ, when able may consider support. Discussion re potential funding streams followed.
   3. Kath – Incense purchased at GG to be distributed to local sanghas with members.
   4. Frances – has a number of Reb’s books & suggested these distributed to local groups as a donation to fund raise or held as a resource.
   5. Asset threshold – Chris outlined that we need to state our ‘threshold on tax return to HMRC.
   6. Chris – still exploring purchasing new zendo items.     Action: Devin – To Talk to Steve at GG about affiliation.
Action: Devin – to circulate link for ‘Social Enterprise’ training & internship.
Action: Frances – to count & pass books to Karen

Meeting closed: 3.30pm                             
Next Meeting:  6 May 2016

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