Minutes of the Board of Director’s Meeting Tucson Community Meditation Center

April 15, 2007  6:30 pm 

Present:  Della Estrada, Terry Magee, Blake Ashley, Debra Raeber, Frank Tomizuka, Board members; Bruce Latta, Lynda Gordon members 

The minutes from the last meeting, February 22, 2007 were approved. 

There was no financial report. 

Call to the audience for members to speak:

Lynda Gordon spoke about how much she appreciates Culadasa as a teacher and wanted to express to the board that she would like to see Culadasa hold regular, weekly classes and sits at the center.  Lynda feels that having a regular teacher at the center would pull the sangha closer together.

Bruce Latta agreed with Lynda about Culadasa being a great teacher.  Bruce commended the board on our getting different aspects more formalized.  He asked if the board was thinking of expanding to include more members.  He doesn’t want to see any of the current board members get burned out and feels it is a good idea to bring in new members to the board. 

Posting minutes in the library:  The board approved keeping a notebook in the library which will contain the minutes of past board meetings once they have been approved by the board. 

Repair Report:  Four people stayed after the sit last Sunday and really cleaned up the garden.  We have lots of garbage bags which will need to go into the dumpster a few at a time. 

Swamp Cooler:  Pez has volunteered to get them up and running.  Chuong will look at the leak in the wall.  Chuong also will run a snake in the plumbing below the kitchen sink.  Blake was able to get the garbage disposal working but now the sink isn’t draining.  Chuong mentioned that the storage shed has mold in it.   

Letter from Willoughby Britton:  In a letter received from our landlord, Willoughby Britton, she spoke about a long term lease to us.  In the letter she implied that she would like to raise the rental amount at some time in the future and asked TCMC to think of ways to bring in more revenue.   

Lhasha mentioned that it is important to know how the classes are doing financially in terms of being sure TCMC covers its costs. 

Steve from the COD Ranch and Sheryl Norris bought TCMC a new pedestal sink which Chuong will mount. 

Tea Ceremony:  Lhasha is thinking of having two Tea Ceremonies at the center, one in October and one in December.  There would be 2 or 3 seatings of 4 – 5 people at each seating.  The board approved that Lhasha be encouraged to have the Tea Ceremonies. 

Culadasa Retreat:  Blake Barton has asked the board to approve a class with Culadasa on Sunday afternoons, a 3 hour class, for 5 weeks in April and May.  He would share with TCMC 50/50 any donations received.  The board approved. 

Lhasha asked if it would be more of a beginners class or for more experienced meditators.  Terry and Lhasha are giving a class for beginners and she feels it would be good to have a class for those who are more experienced.  Bruce Latta mentioned that Culadasa had said it would be a class for intermediate meditators. 

Yoga Class on Thursdays:  Mary Grace Naughton is going to be teaching a yoga class at the center on the 1st Thursday of the month. 

Frank asked how does someone rent space at the center?    There was some discussion about this. 

Calendar online:  Both Blake Ashley and Frank can edit the Calendar and so anyone who has events that should be posted can let either of them know. 

Nomination to the Board:  The board typically makes a list of nominations that are voted on at the annual meeting.  We currently have 8 board members.  Blake moved that we nominate the current 8 members to the board for next year.  Frank seconded the motion and the board approved.   

There was some discussion about adding another board member to the board.  If we added one more member it would be easier to get a quorum for our meetings.  With 9 members we would need 5 for a quorum, the same as with 8 members. 

Frank moved that we add a member to the Board of Directors making the number of board members 9.  Lhasha seconded the motion and the board approved it.   

Chuong reported that TCMC received $120 in donations from the all night sit. 

Blake reported that he has been having good attendance for the Monday evening class practice. 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.