Dewan Meeting 02/23/2019
Members Present:
Committee:
Jim O’Hallaran Chair
Bhakti Watts Vice Chair
Oswald Norton Treasurer
Ramon Hildreth Secretary
Members:
Insiah Caspers
Hanafi Libman
Halimah Bellows
Lucinda O’Halloran
Sebastian Tedrow
Marston Gregory
Abadin Gunatilaka
Elijah Gullixson
Debbie Machado-Santos
Hadijah O’Bar
Sherwin O’Bar
Rayma Norton
Halstein Stralberg
Marston Gregory
The meeting began at 11:08 with discussion and agreement on agenda-focusing on the test questions. The dewan then split up for latihan and testing; reconvening for sharing of receiving.
The questions and responses are listed below. The responses in bold are the committee members own recollection of the testing results. The list below each numbered section are the general responses from the helpers and committee members who participated in the testing session.
Testing:
What are the needs of the Group:
-more sharing of Bapak talks
-worshipping together
-scattered, more community, more togetherness
-wake up, more energy
-compassion, focus & gentle guidance
-gently blow some life into the group
-support the center as a place of a worship
-group is confused but doesn’t know it, reaching out no sense of center or community
-do latihan, more latihan experiences, important to share your experiences
-important to remember difference between individuals and group
-a chance to experience undistracted latihan, the latihan radiated and connects everything
-harmony and organization, participation through the latihan coming together
-understanding our strengths and the breadth of those strengths.
- How would Almighty God have me perform my duties as ____for the coming term?
- What are the strengths that I bring to the work of the committee?
- What are the challenges that I will face in doing my work for SGS?
- How will I be able to overcome the challenges in my work for SGS?
Jim:
- Smiling and happy
-bring Joy to the group
-keep doing what you have always been doing
-very light and joyful, worshipful
-to get people involved with Subud activities
-marching forward like a band leader
-do what you are doing, connected to tomorrow will be better day
- Bring a sense of levity, think about a lot of the details, a lot of movement
-a nice feeling of Jim’s strength, lot of levity
-deep surrender “bring it on”
-a sincere desire that the work you do will benefit the group
-unique quirky sense of humor
- Resisting the perception of not doing well with the challenges
-disappointment that people aren’t responding, keep going in spite of the lack of response
-overwhelmed by the volume of work
-when you move into warrior mode – not connected with the actual receiving into how to do the job, not allow yourself to be cut off from without, from the members, not yourself
- Do latihan to let go of other people’s perceptions of my shortcomings
-being centered would help bring a quiet to challenges
-keep doing what you are doing
Bhakti:
- With love and enthusiasm and my whole self,
-grace love and a gentle nudging forward
-with grace and humility
-to open to supporting and inviting the committee to use her talents for support
-straight ahead about taking care of business
-with love, openness, constantly in touch with gods will for you to how to do the job
- Caring loving and a good organizer
-focus, strength, love and compassion and honesty
-commitment and willingness to help others
-willing to use your talents
-strong inner and outer connection
-well balanced, inwardly strong,
- Really hate meetings. Might get worn out
-feeling like she is not being heard, feeling not motivated others
-nothing that she cannot handle by asking for help
-need time for introspective healing at times
-‘I don’t have enough time’
-not wanting to speak up
- The group is a collection of individuals meetings can help provide connection
-staying grounded and stepping into the challenge
-asking for help
-may feel off balance, but you will reach stability
-give the worries to God
-find your voice, trust your intuitiveness
Oswald:
- To look around and grasp what needs to be done
-wide surrender and capacity
-take each detail as it come
-to follow what Sherwin has already setup, do the duties in a smooth manner and document the transition
-extremely focused
-open to receiving what is needed for the job
-hard to let out, hard to surrender
- Willing to do the work, willingness to do the work
-absolute integrity, upright
-bring organizational skills and persistence
-insistence that everything brought in the open
-nothing will be swept under the rug, the light will be on things at all
-been doing latihan for a long time
-lot of corporate experience
-served a lot of roles
-lot of knowledge
- Messages, constant emails, need rhythm to get the work to done
-little things that come up all the time that need to addressed
-little irritants
-tedium
-communication issues; other people communicating with you, other’s communication deficits
-understanding other people’s way of doing things
-boundaries that need to be respected, somethings that you can’t do in this job
-surrender and be willing to ask for help.
- Surrender and ask for guidance.
-‘How should I face this; how should I approach this’
-open to alternatives
-balance between how it was done in the past and will done in the future
Ramon
- With openness and worshipfulness
-know the job, specific functions and take pride in doing those functions
-important job, will make a big difference in the strength of unity in the group
-impact of the life and vitality of the group
-accuracy
-do whatever comes up
-time when you question the work – give it a voice, why is this question being asked
The answer will be a surprise that will show you an easier way
- Staying on task. Just do the job
-clear thinking
-understand the roles in a committee
-long time latihan
-can do anything
-wide open and willingness to do the work
-life is hard, try to break you and bend you down
-hands love to do this job, hands are guided
-been in a lot of roles
- Inflexibility
-distractions
-really full life – outside of this that are demanding your time
-distracted, disconnected, somewhere else
-image of no longer on your schedule, new tasks that need to fit into your stream of tasks
- Turn the challenges over to God
-compartmentalize
-prioritize, compartmentalize.
-stay focused
-surrender ‘I am your vessel help me create what I am to become’
-surrender
Debbie
- Willingness to listen to god first – will not rent to anyone without receiving it first
-keeping the spiritual part in front helps with material/physical
-doing it perfectly well
-arms wide open, lots of love attached
-with ease and flow
-love light and grace
- Willing to listen/approach with sincerity and clarity
-keep control and balance,
-efficient
-strong, forthcoming, organized, pushes away negativity
-energy for getting things done, knows what needs to happen
-love life and take work seriously
- A Few challenges
-isolation when tired
-too much to do, delegate
-always want to do wants right – perfectionist
-humility and team
-getting others to understand your needs
- Asking for Help/Family support
-do whatever it takes to breathe deeply
-don’t take it too seriously, dance and have fun, loosen up
-listen for guidance, be part of the group
-stay centered and ask for help
Sebastian: said he realized he needs to be more involved
Elijah: be responsive, show up be more open/bring what I bring
Halstein: being open to the latihan, the latihan needs to be present all the time
Approving minutes:
Jim stated that the previous minutes were lost but that they basically covered the following;
Reviewed reports from Marston, Paul and Debbie
Discussed the upcoming general meeting;
Oswald moved to approve minutes as presented by Jim
Passed with no opposition
Marston provided details on upcoming sewer repair.
Date: March 27th Wednesday: 24 hours, no flushing
Debbie and Marston will put up signs and not allow any early check in from Airbnb guests that day.
Census helper and committee reports:
Oswald and Lucinda will complete the census – the center part will be completed by the committee via email.
Helper Reports:
Women:
Lucinda: no applicants at this time – discussed various women members that had health issues.
Tuesday 11:00 AM Latihan is still being offered in Seattle.
Rayma – schedule/roster? Future helper meetings? Helpers will setup helper meetings time amongst themselves at end
Men:
Eastside latihan comes and goes – Oswald and Rachman are usually there, please join.
Tuesday 11:00 AM helpers have been assigned
Sherwin:
<will attach financial report>
Debbie:
<insert rental report>
Oswald will ask Rachman to update the website with new committee info
Marston:
Contract to paint building has been signed. Insiah will present some color scheme options
Choices
-keep what we have
-do something different
Need to know by May
New Business:
Ramon to build out page on website for creating subscription option for pledges – then maybe use it to help raise funds for housing needs
Group Events – we need to schedule some, bring those great ideas:
Next general meeting will be March 15th – Friday after latihan.
Motion to adjourn at 2:15 PM. Passed without objection.
Action/Decision Log:
A = Action D= Decision
| Item | Assignee(s) | Target Date completed | Actual Date completed |
| A: build subscription option on website | Ramon | 3/27 | |
| A: complete census center report | Oswald & Lucinda | ||
| A: provide PayPal info to Ramon | Oswald | ||
| A: ask Rachman to update website | Oswald | 2/24 | 2/24 |