SHAO SHAN TEMPLE ANNUAL MEETING
MEETING SUMMARY
June 8, 2019
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Screen Room, Shao
Shan Temple
On June 8 members of the Shao Shan Temple (SST) sangha gathered
in the Screen Room to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting. Present were Development
Committee members Taihaku, Kenzan, Stella, Noah, Judy, and Max. Nine other
members of the sangha were also present. TEMPLE REPORTS
The 2018 Temple Reports were distributed by email prior to the meeting and were also available at the meeting. The Development Committee took questions on the Sangha Report, Program Report, Buildings & Grounds Report, Cemetery Report, and Financial Report. Sangha members were pleased to hear that participation at the temple programs remains steady. There were approximately 103 first-time visitors to the temple in 2018. Sangha members noted that attendance at Saturday Work Practice has declined. A discussion followed which focused on suggestions on how to improve participation in Work Practice activities. Sangha members were encouraged to hear that donations in 2018 were up from the previous year in almost all categories.
2018 FINANCIAL &
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
The
results of the 2018 Annual Alms Round fundraiser were also heartening. Approximately
85% of donations came from one-time donations, and 15% from monthly donations. About
43% come from people who do not regularly attend SST. Sangha members were
encouraged to think about monthly pledges as they allow SST to do more
financial planning. Any amount is appreciated but if everyone gave $70 per month
we could meet the annual budget requirements. Donations in the offering bowl
were down slightly from last year. It was suggested that the offering bowl in
the entrance of the temple could be made more visible. There was a very good
response to the Holiday Fair at the temple and at the Maple Corner Community
Center. Bequests and Charitable Gift Annuities were also presented as an
additional way to contribute to SST.
SHAO SHAN TEMPLE MASTER PLAN
It was reported that the Development Committee was actively
involved in reviewing the bylaws and other temple policies. Now that the
organization is more developed there is a need to expand the original bylaws. A
subcommittee has been created for this purpose. Part of the bylaws review
includes exploring a new organizational structure for the temple which involves
a shared management model among the Abbot, Board, and in certain circumstances,
a proposed “Council” of Abbots from other small Zen temples in the United
States. The Council would help provide support and advice for the temple should
the need arise. For example, the Council could be involved with mediating
conflicts which might arise between an Abbot and a Board.
The Development
Committee is also working on a plan to transfer the land that the temple,
buildings, and cemetery currently rest on from Taihaku to the Shao Shan Temple
nonprofit organization. The temple and cemetery property will be conveyed to
SST in the near future. The land where Connie’s house and the White Jewel
Mountain are situated will be transferred to SST upon Taihaku’s death. The land
where the rental properties and the garden are located will be conveyed to
Taihaku’s children upon her death. The survey of the land has been completed
and the necessary wastewater/water permits have been filed with the state and
the town to meet regulations for subdividing the land.
2019 IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS
A number of planned improvement projects were discussed
including:
·
Completing the winterization of the Little Hall
bunkroom and entrance/storage area,
·
Installing thermostatically controlled electric
heat in the main room and bunkroom of the Little Hall,
·
Removing from the temple property the red pines
which could damage the temple buildings if they were to fall.
·
Performing temple interior/exterior maintenance,
·
Continuing the driveway maintenance program.
Sangha
members were interested in the possibility of SST converting to solar energy. Several
suggestions were offered by the sangha which included putting a new roof on the
Screen Room over which solar panels could be installed, using the space freed
up when the red pines are taken down for a free-standing solar panel system,
and investing in a solar farm at a location other than SST. It was pointed out
that financial incentives are currently available which might reduce SST’s
upfront costs.
FEEDBACK AND
EVALUATION
Sangha members were very pleased with the programming that
the temple is offering, including the idea of a special meeting for formal students.
Sangha members were very positive about the newsletter as well. It was
mentioned that the articles were informative, short, and provided readers with
a good overview of what was going on at SST. Sangha members particularly
enjoyed the new “Heart of the Way” feature.
It was group consensus that the Annual Meetings were very
helpful and the sangha appreciated the efforts of the Development Committee to
organize and present the agenda. The meeting was a good balance between a
formal agenda and an organic discussion which grew out of the agenda items. It
was suggested that these types of meetings be held twice a year and that one of
the meetings be held closer to the Annual Alms Round and the giving season.
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 am.
