Monthly Archives: March 2021

Post-Latihan Zoom April 4th

Here’s the zoom:
Come one, come all! SUBUD zoom is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Afterrrr Latihannnnnn
Time: Apr 4, 2021 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
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+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

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Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

SGS Treasurer Summary Report March 27, 2021

If You Haven’t Donated, Now Is The Time

Your committee appreciates everyone’s financial support. Even though Spring Street Center is able to provide some of our income needs. It is not able to cover all costs. Your donations, on average, cover only 51% of our costs. Our goal for 2021 is to have everyone contribute something toward the upkeep of our center. When you give a little bit each month, you become a part of a membership dedicated to preserving our building for the future. If you have not yet donated this year, please do so! If you need a reason to donate please read the rest of this report. Thank you!

Future Expenses

The extensive wet weather this year allowed water to permeate the window frames on bedrooms 2 & 3 and our small deck on the 2nd floor. iTrip has been helpful coordinating contractor estimates to help us understand how this was possible. When the building was painted, the caulking of the window frames was not completed correctly. When the deck was added, it was not sealed correctly. In order to stop further water damage to the interior of the building repairs need to be made as soon as possible.

Our painting contractor has gone out of business and moved out of state. We did deck installation ourselves. The committee believes that our only recourse is to have the work done professionally as quickly as possible. Karen Hunt of iTrips is helping us with coordination of this work. Current estimates for both jobs is $8820 with tax. The committee believes that the costs could be higher once the contractor starts work. I am now holding in reserve $10,000 for possible repairs.

Some of these costs can be covered through rental income. However, I believe that the costs for these repairs will exceed both our savings and iTrips year to date income. Jim will be exploring the following options for covering the additional costs: Home Equity Loan, Insurance coverage, a SPNW regional loan from the housing fund.

Building Rentals

iTrip booked 3 rentals in Spring Street Center in March. Income from all rentals is being held in escrow to pay for repairs.

Donations

Donations through March have been lower than similar months in 2020. Last year member contributions picked up starting in March. I am hoping that will be possible this year as well. Our donations plus iTrip income against our expenses for 2021 have resulted in a small net income of $614.

During a recent discussion regarding our need to operate our rental business, a member stated that they believed we could handle our expenses without having the rental business. On average this year, donations have covered roughly one half of our expenses. So, every dollar donated by a member is appreciated.

March Expenses

Our March PSE gas bill was $82 lower than February. Thanks to our members remembering to not put the thermostat in the women’s hall on Permanent Hold.

Budget for 2021

Your committee is in the process of creating our budget for 2021. Until we have a clearer picture of income and expenses, I am unable to finish this work. Once the committee has a clearer understanding of these, we will present a budget at a general meeting for your consideration.

Important! New name for donation checks to Subud Greater Seattle

Use only “Subud PNW – Seattle Center” on any future donations to our center. Bank rules, recently changed, are delaying deposits. Please be sure to change the “Pay To The Order Of” section of your handwritten or automatic withdrawn check from your account and use this name. If you intend to make your donation to the Region, please earmark your check Subud PNW.

Thanks for those who have setup monthly donations

Thanks to all our monthly donators who have a recurring donation sent from their bank. You save on envelopes and stamps. And, you don’t have to remind yourselves to write a check. These regular checks really help us meet our monthly commitments to the region and pay for our use of our facilities.

If you’d like to know how to set up a recurring donation to our group through your bank, please contact me, Oswald Norton.

Proposal to Regenerate Community Post-Covid at SGS

It has been over a year since the shelter-in-place guidelines designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 the novel coronavirus began to impact our ability to practice Latihan Kejiwaan. While in-person Latihans have resumed, attendance is very small. Concern of many members about their exposure to the virus, along with compliance with the state’s health guidelines has prevented larger Latihan experiences. With the availability of vaccinations, this situation has potential for change and will resume to the “new abnormal” – the life after Covid-19 before too long. The Subud House will have a different feel for those who have not attended Latihan since March 2020. Women must enter the chapel via the handicap ramp and men, the men’s Latihan hall via the basement. Fellowship in the kitchen and living room after Latihan is not possible anymore given the needs of the centerprise and the restrictions forced by Airbnb for lodging. This leaves us in a new situation. According to Subud Greater Seattle Treasurer Oswald Norton, member donations covered 29% of SGS expenses in 2019 and 43% in 2020. In that March 20, 2021 email Oswald wrote: “…Even before the major costs of recent repairs, it was the enterprise that allowed us to continue to have the use of the building as it took on more and more of the ongoing expenses for repairs. It took a major fund raising effort over many months to cover the gap that money from the enterprise didn’t cover…” Without a gigantic and unforseen contribution to Subud Greater Seattle, the revenues generated by the Centerprise will be necessary to maintain the Subud House for this and future generations. How to proceed? The kitchen next to the Men’s Latihan Hall requires an update, but is suitable for cooking, providing tea and coffee and supporting post-Latihan gatherings. For too long that kitchen has been neglected and now we have a good reason to update it and stock it with cups, plates, silverware, tea, snacks and all the amenities that aid genuine fellowship. What kind of fellowship? I propose that we have a post-Latihan event every Sunday after Latihan. Each week could have a theme: First Sunday – Culture Day: A performance, talk or workshop designed to give people the experience of culture that is informed by the Jiwa. This is how Subud was descibed as spreading to the general public and we should pay our artists (a mdoest stipend, $50), promote the event to Subud and non-Subud people alike and use it as outreach and fellowship at the same time. We are running out of time to do outreach and people will be looking for new, more meaningful experiences after the stress of the year-plus lockdown and we can hit the ground running. Second Sunday – Testing Day. General testing for membership to experience important aspects of how the Latihan impacts their lives along with testing for members who have personal issues for which they desire clarification, or guidance. Third Sunday – Helpers Latihan and Meeting. Helpers gather to meet and discuss issues affecting the membership and harmony of the group. Fourth Saturday – Dewan Meeting. Fourth Sunday – Fellowship Potluck. No agenda, but hanging out, eating each other’s cooking and enjoying the company of other Subud members. Fifth Sunday – Open House/Work Day. Let the community come to learn about our organization and experience the company of Subud members. At least one helper from the men and women should be present. In addition to greeting potential members, we can work on gardening and other issues affecting the upkeep of our house. I would recommend that we put stairs from the back deck to the back yard area and clean up/renovate that area for fellowship, plus install a security gate at the south entry to the area behind the house. May 30, August 29, October 31, January 30, 2022, May 29, 2022, July 31, 2022, and October 30, 2022 are all upcoming 5th Sundays. Submitted this 3rd Sunday of March, 2021 by Paul E Nelson 

Post-Latihan Zoom March 28th

Friends will gather after latihan on March 28th. Here is the link to join:

Topic: Zoom after Latihan with Ramon
Time: Mar 28, 2021 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,9882021449# US (Tacoma)
+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

Updated Latihan Guidelines

 

 

The Helper Dewan met on Sunday, March 21, 2021, and decided that it was now appropriate for 8 women to gather for Latihan at the Subud House and 8 men until further notice. This will be reviewed at the regular third Sunday Helpers meeting in April. Masks are required and each person practicing must sign a release to hold Subud Greater Seattle harmless. Release forms are in the respective halls. Paul Nelson will serve as main helper for the men and Annie Padilla for the women. We will operate under Phase Three Guidelines as issued by the State of Washington.

Members are welcome to attend, are asked to follow CDC guidelines and are encouraged to be two weeks past their final vaccination before practicing in person.

Sunday, March 28 after Latihan there will be a Night of the Ancestors Latihan for those who care to have one. (See this from 2020.)

Post-Latihan Zoom March 21st

If you would like a chance to talk to your Subud brothers and sisters after latihan this Sunday, here is the link to connect:

Topic: After Latihan
Time: Mar 21, 2021 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,9882021449# US (Tacoma)
+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

Post-Latihan Zoom March 14th

You are invited! PST will be PDT starting Sunday, so don’t miss out. Here is the link to join:

Topic: SUBUD zoom’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Mar 14, 2021 11:32 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,9882021449# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8