Working Group Objectives

for all groups

Mandala Governance and Structure

Objectives for governance

1.     Articulate the overarching principles of governance, and in particular, those that could guide decision making across the mandala.

2.     Develop recommendations (suggests choices) that articulate potential configurations and roles of central governing bodies for our mandala.

3.     Develop a set of recommendations to clarify, guide and bound the particular governance and decision-making relationships between and among the central governing bodies and other principal entities of the mandala. In particular, make recommendations that address current conflicts in authority and decision making.

Objectives for structure

1.     Develop a realistic model that identifies and prioritizes the critical tasks and services in the mandala, and identifies where responsibility and authority for managing these could most effectively reside.

2.     Develop a set of recommendations for structuring the mandala to create a robust form for accomplishing our mission.

3.     Coordinate these recommendations with the budget and funding model being developed in the New Economic Model work group.

Leadership and Succession Planning

• Research existing models and ‘best practices’ of leadership structure and succession planning in Shambhala centers and practice centers. 

• Develop a variety of models for the recruitment and development of leaders in Shambhala centers and practice centers - exploring the idea of mentorship.

• Develop other pertinent recommendations or proposals concerning the structural processes of leadership and succession (example: form a clear proposal for job descriptions across the mandala).

• Consider what is needed to help individuals and centers realize the vision of Shambhala leadership - including the view of leadership as path/practice, as well as basic leadership skills.  Present these ideas to the next Shambhala Congress.

New Economic Model Working Group

• Develop a financial model that enables all constituent parts of the Shambhala mandala to have a sound financial foundation.
• Propose structures for basic financial planning, reporting, and controls throughout the mandala that will help enable our society to flourish and engender trust from our members.

Membership

• Facilitate a Mandala-wide discussion of view of membership, review the Vidyadhara’s teachings about membership in Shambhala society, review the Sakyong’s teachings about membership in Shambhala society, and consult with President Reoch concerning view of membership.
• Generate a written report which identifies core issues and key questions related to view of membership. I.e
  • What is a Shambhala Buddhist?
  • What does it mean to be a member of a Shambhala Buddhist group or Center?
  • Of what is one a member?
  • What is the role of Shambhala International in the development of membership policy?
  Identify core areas of agreement and disagreement regarding view of membership within our Mandala.
• Generate a report which describes current membership issues and policies at a representative sample of Centers and Groups throughout our Mandala. What are the differences and simliarites in membership policy across these groups? What are the view(s) that are reflected by these various policies?
  
• Based on the above, generate recommendations regarding Membership Policy. 

Community Care

• Identify what are the qualities of a caring individual and community. Explore ways that our community and traditional communities might relate to the acute needs of community members and maintain the long-term, ongoing sense of connection which allows us to share both joy and suffering.
• Collect "skillful means", best practices, and models of care which show how to create a caring community as part of our practice. Identify practices that are working well now and share them with the community.
• Create specific proposals about how our sangha community can increase our awareness of each others' needs, stay connected to each other, and be more proactive in helping one another.  This may be different in each local area depending on the community.
• Explore the role of Shambhala Center administration, the deleg system, the Dorje Kasung (particularly the Desung Arm), Upaya/Wisdom Councils, self help groups and other relevant forms within the Shambhala community in providing a structure for community care. Look at how people in these positions are trained in providing an environment which fosters a caring community.
• Offer community processes to respond to the needs of community members. These processes could include both those that have been successfully put in place and those that are just getting started.
• Connect the recommended care models with the Shambhala Buddhist teachings using the Shambhala Treatise on Society and Organization as the ground.

Communications

• To work with the question “How do we communicate change?” on an ongoing basis throughout this year-long process.
• To communicate with the entire mandala about the change process we are involved in over the year so that no one can say “I didn’t know this was happening.”
• To create a time line and implementation strategy for the information sharing process, including Shambhala News Service Bulletins and a kit to help centers with the future town meetings.
• To make recommendations about the communication areas that currently need attention:
  1. Web information
  2. Database
  3. Clean up existing forums

Outreach

The objective of the Working Group on Outreach is to provide a set of resources for individual centers around the mandala. These resources fall into three main areas:

1. a publicity toolkit
2. adaptable gateway formats, and
3. a set of tracking devices.

The idea is to address how we magnetize new people to a program (publicity), what we do in an entry-level program (gateway formats), and how we follow up so that new people stay involved (tracking).  All three areas form an integrated package around our existing gateway programs, and we plan to present and make available our "toolkit" at the next Shambhala Congress.

Diversity and Accessibility

Inform the Shambhala community why there is a need for greater diversity and accessibility within our mandala.

Inform the Shambhala community about diversity and accessibility problems and promising diversity and accessibility activities that are occurring within the mandala. 

Develop a list of practical steps that Shambhala Centers can follow to promote greater diversity and accessibility. 

Submit recommendations to the Mandala Governing Council for promoting diversity and accessibility throughout the Shambhala community.

  By this merit may all attain omniscience!

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Updated 2004/06/22