Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Annual Meeting Report - Newsletter Article


Shao Shan Temple Annual Meeting
and Potluck
On September 24 members of the Development Committee and the temple sangha met for the Annual Meeting and Potluck at the Maple Corners Community Center.  After some conversation and visits to the potluck buffet, sangha members sat in a circle to talk about events at the temple during the past year.  Taihaku and Kenzan began by welcoming the members of the sangha and thanking them for their continued support. They then reviewed various programs and activities at the temple during the past year. Highlights included a growing interest in the temple’s website, an increase in attendance for the Study Group Program, the Family Program, the Young Adult Program, the newly initiated Open House Program, and the different types of private ceremonies including memorials, baby blessings, and weddings that have been held at the temple.
Donna O’Malley reported on a sewing retreat that she and Kathleen Daye attended this summer in Minnesota and Kenzan reported on the status of the cemetery and how to purchase a lot.  Taihaku then advised the sangha on new facilities projects at the temple including the new “Treasure House” cabin, which was supported by an anonymous gift, and refurbishment of the temple exterior, including a new roof for the bathroom.   Taihaku also provided an update on the land transfer project.  
To begin the financial report Taihaku and Kenzan thanked the sangha for their generous support of the first Annual Alms Round which was mailed at the end of July.   A total of 37 sangha members and friends of Shao Shan Temple made donations to the temple in response to the mailing.  Total donations amounted to $6,521.  One-time gifts were donated by 26 people and 11 people made monthly pledges which will total $593 per month.  Monthly pledges are especially important because they make it easier for the temple to budget expenses and ensure a steady cash flow.
Taihaku subsequently explained the temple’s financial structure which includes a General Fund for operating expenses, a Repair Fund for capital improvement, maintenance, and repair of the buildings and grounds, the Land Transfer Fund, and the Endowment Fund, which is for the long-term care of priests and the temple. The temple’s annual budget is $21,000; $16,000 is budgeted for the General Fund and $5,000 is budgeted for the Repair Fund.  Donations are used to first meet the needs of the General Fund.  If the General Fund needs are met, additional donations are placed in the Repair Fund.  In the event that more than $21,000 is donated in a given year, the additional funds are directed to the General Fund.  Kenzan then presented the year-to-date financial report.  He highlighted several major expenses for 2017 including the purchase of a new computer for the temple, the new roof for the bathroom, and additional expenses related to completing the new cabin. 
During a brainstorming session at the conclusion of the presentations the sangha made three suggestions:   1) investigate how sangha members and friends of Shao Shan can make bequests to the temple;  2)  move the Annual Alms Round from July to November so that the fundraising effort will coincide with the holiday gift-giving period (based on this suggestion the Development Committee has decided to launch the next Annual Alms Round in November, 2018);  and 3) convene the next Annual Meeting at Shao Shan in conjunction with another temple program.  The Development Committee has scheduled the 2018 Annual Meeting for Saturday, June 9, after the completion of the regularly scheduled Saturday morning programs.  The meeting will be held in the Little Hall building.
After the discussion sangha members continued socializing with temple friends and made another visit (or two) to the delicious potluck buffet table.

This article was written for the Fall, 2017 Shao Shan Temple Newsletter.

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