Summary of the 2022 Shao Shan Temple
Annual Meeting
On Saturday, February 5, the Shao Shan Temple sangha
gathered online at 10:00 am to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting. Present
were Board members Rev. Kenzan, Stella, Noah, and Max. Twenty other sangha
members were also present.
Kenzan began the meeting by thanking people for their continued support and
participation at the temple, despite a difficult year. He also expressed
his gratitude to the Board and the Shao Shan Temple Soto Zen Council for their
assistance. He then presented highlights from the Sangha Report,
Program Report, Buildings & Grounds Report, Cemetery Report, Financial
Report, and Organizational Report, all of which were distributed by email prior
to the meeting. Questions and comments from the sangha were then
discussed.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TEMPLE REPORTS
- Special
services including a Memorial Service and an Abbot's Funeral were
held to honor Rev. Taihaku's passing.
- Rev.
Kenzan was appointed by the Board as Abbot on December 1, 2021.
- 36
practitioners at the temple have either received the first five precepts
or are formal students.
- 343
people currently receive the newsletter.
- Most
of the temple's usual ceremonies and celebrations were held in 2021,
despite the need to sometimes offer them in modified online formats.
- Monthly
Children's Programs and Zazenkais were offered along with the annual
Rohatsu Sesshin in December. An Introduction Program is now
being offered approximately once every two months.
- Volunteers
stepped up to regularly tend to temple cleaning and management of the
gardens, including the vegetable garden which yielded produce for the
temple, sangha members, and local food shelf programs.
- The
Stupa Pole (Toba), which had fallen, was moved and installed on a
sturdier base. The
roof on the outhouse was replaced.
- In the
Shao Shan Temple Cemetery, new wire hoops were installed to outline the
center ceremonial circle, and the wooden benches were replaced.
- 100%
of temple expenses were paid for in 2021 due to the generous contributions
of the sangha and friends of Shao Shan Temple. There was no Alms
Round this year. Please refer to the Financial Update feature below
for more detailed information on 2021 financial donations and
expenditures.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022
·
Rev. Kenzan announced that the 2022 Schedule had
been published on the website.
· The Board is developing plans to build a
Bell Pavilion on the grounds of the temple in honor of Rev. Taihaku. Rev. Shinjo’s temple in Japan will be
donating the bell.
·
The stucco on the sides of the temple is
cracking and will need to be repaired with the help of the sangha.
· Noah spoke about the Garden Committee and its
plans for 2022. Noah and Ann will
continue to coordinate garden activities for 2022.
·
Rev. Kenzan thanked everyone who helped with the
temple gardens, cleaned the zendo and temple buildings (including the outhouses),
and helped with various construction and maintenance projects. As we approach the spring, he said that it
would be helpful for people who were able to volunteer on a regular basis to sign
up for work.
·
Rev. Kenzan reported that he was looking for
another member for the Cemetery Committee.
·
The twice-weekly emails from the temple are the
best way to learn about the upcoming programs and status of COVID restrictions
at the temple.
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION
·
There was general consensus that sangha members
very much appreciated the photos that Rev. Kenzan included with the twice-weekly
emails.
·
It was suggested that Rev. Kenzan might need someone
to help with coordinating jobs at the temple.
Rev. Kenzan advised that the online sign-up lists were working well and
would continue for 2022.
·
It was suggested that there be a list for
“on-call” people who are willing to help on short notice. This option will be included in the online
sign-up lists.
·
Sangha members wondered if there would be any
visiting priests coming to the temple to assist Rev. Kenzan. Rev. Kenzan advised that there were no plans
to recruit assistants at this time. He spoke
of Rev. Taihaku’s model that the right person will appear when the time is
right.
·
It was discussed that there will be impacts
on the temple after Rev. Taihaku’s estate is settled. The Board is continuing to work on these
details.
·
There was a discussion about how programs would
continue in the event that Rev. Kenzan needed to be away. It was reported that volunteers are in place
to fill the roles necessary to proceed with most programs in Rev. Kenzan’s
absence.
Stella thanked everyone for their participation and ended
the meeting at 10:52 am.
