Minutes from the Annual Meeting Tucson Community Meditation Center

April 5, 2009 

Board members present:  Blake Ashley, Steve Villaescusa, Chuong Tran, Frank Tomizuka, Linda Bacon, Debra Raeber 

President Blake Ashley opened the meeting by saying that he is very happy with everything that TCMC is doing.  The center has events booked most every weekend.  He thanked the Retreat Committee and the Environmental Arts Committee for all their work.   

Board member Linda Bacon who is not running again thanked all the board members she worked with over the past year.  

Financial Report:

Steve Villaescusa gave us the following report.  A copy of the

2008 Preliminary Report is attached. Last year we had an increase in revenue due to having more events.  We have prepaid our rent for the center through July of 2009.  Our total income for 2008 was $55,410

Total expenses for 2008 was $57,462.   

As of the end of February 2009 our net assets are approximately $40,000.  

The monthly rent at the center is now $750 per month.   

Wanda Poindexter thanked Steve for all his hard work on behalf of TCMC. 

A member asked if it would be possible for TCMC to purchase a building.  Steve replied that to do so would cost us much more in monthly payments than the rent we currently pay. 

Call to the Audience:  Pam Ballingham on behalf of the Environmental Arts Committee proposed that we paint the back meditation room, hallway and front bedroom.  She would also like to see a screen in front of the fireplace.  The committee would also like to replace the plastic garden chairs with better ones.  We would choose a style and ask members to purchase one as a donation to the center. 

There was a question from a member about whether there is a Landscape committee.  Blake Ashley will put that on the agenda for a board meeting.   

Tim Clark and Dana Ferris mentioned that they have cleaned out the storage shed.  There is a pile of trash to be picked up by the Brush & Bulky city pick up in May. 

Tim also reported that the repair on the side of the building is finished and was very well done by the contractor who did the repairs.   

Terry Magee wanted to recognize Blake Barton for all his work on the Retreat Committee.  He has been instrumental in organizing many retreats.  Terry mentioned that the retreat committee can use volunteers. 

Election of Board Members:

There were two new candidates on the slate of nominees.  Dee Kinsey has been involved over the years with TCMC attending retreats and classes.  She wants to give back to the center by being more involved.  She has an idea about a future fundraiser that she will talk to us about.

Molly McKasson began meditating at the center when it was at Mary McWhorter's home.  She has been attending Monday and Wednesday night sits at the center regularly.  She would like to work on bringing more people to the Shinzen Young telephone retreats we've been having at the center.  She would also like to see TCMC expand to include more younger people and she likes the idea of introducing music meditation at the center.   

Ballets were passed around by Wanda Poindexter who is on the Nominations Committee.  The members who were present voted and the entire slate was elected.  The board members for the coming year are:

Blake Ashley, Blake Barton, Chuong Tran, Frank Tomizuka, Steve Villaescusa, Debra Raeber, Dee Kinsey, and Molly McKasson.