Social Engagement Advisory Group

Shambhala Path of Social Action
Dorje Denma Ling

June 26, 2004, Saturday

Social Engagement Advisory Board to President Reoch

Minutes of second meeting of this advisory board.

Present:    Lance Brunner , Tashi Colman, David Wimberly, Barbara Blouin,
Laura Simms, Richard Haspray

The notes taken were not verbatim.

An agenda was tabled taken from suggestions from members.

• Draft Agenda: Meeting two held at DDL conference.
• Volunteer to take minutes.
• Call for any additional agenda items.
• Tabling of minutes of previous meeting.
• Membership on Advisory Committee. – List and discuss any additions or subtractions.
• Communications-     Conference calls.
• What to do with proceedings- communities, staying in touch with
•      participants from this program.
• Preparation for next Congress- to do list:  reports, feedback, etc.
• Timing of deadlines – Report from this conference, etc.
• Transcribing of tapes of this Congress.
• Do what’s on the flip charts!
• Supplication to Sakyong for Sadhana for the Earth.
• Request to Sakyong for guidance/his thoughts on social action.
• Better names than Social Action.
• Next meeting of Advisory Committee - when, how, etc.

David took notes.

Richard Reoch sent message asking that Advisory Group members should be careful not to make pronouncements on what SPSA should be:  Get everything OK’d by our Chair, Lance.

Noted that there are active members who couldn’t be here, including Rita Gross, Fleet Maul, Madge Rossinoff, Newcomb Greenleaf.  However, various other members have not been active and in some cases haven’t even answered a single email.  We need to contact each member directly to see if they want to be active members or do we need to replace them with active member who will represent the various sectors.  Ron Renz and Sue Corning on Advisory Group list only for purposes of this program, but not as long-term members beyond this. 

Advisory Committee already has 19 names on it.  We need to not let it get too big to function.

Justin Miles, an African-American youth from Baltimore has accepted membership.
Several other youth are also interested.  Vajra Dawn conference at Karme Choling this summer will have a social action component.

Gesar is interested in being a member. We welcome this.

Member from South America-  Maga Menenses from Chile (Centre Co-Director from Santiago) has accepted membership to the group. 

Review Group membership- offer should be extended.

Conference Calls.  Needed to activate group properly. But should not be overdone.  Guideline for conference calls:  No more than every other month and/or when issues need to be decided.

Buddhist Peace Fellowship- excellent website to help us.   HYPERLINK "http://www.bpf.org" http://www.bpf.org

Laura will transcribe Marty Janowitz talk.  Lance will transcribe Acharya Cashman’s talk.  Barbara will transcribe RR’s opening and closing talks. 

[Later Lilly Gleish volunteered to transcribe Gesar Mukpo’s talk.]

“Listen & Talk” software downloadable for $15 US for transcribing.

Helpful in Report from conference:  Short list of actions items for next month, as bullets.
Need something brief about the PROCESS we used.  Formed groups.  Wrote letters. Posted them to Mandala Governing Council.  – then some sort of comment from Richard.  Include interesting links – like Karuna Talk  – post links, gather links.

Target date - July 15 for report from program..  Advisory Group will compile and submit.

July 26 to Aug 22nd  (what?)

Target date- September 1 for report from Advisory Group – Draft ? – for comment by sangha.

Request to Sakyong - Our leader needs to say something promoting this SPSA as important.  Preferably in writing.  Request Richard to ask in writing.  Include 4 letters.  Ask Richard to write a letter on our behalf asking the Sakyong to comment to support SPSA, as people need to know that our leader is in support of this.  Letter to include 4 letters from Congress and other materials as deemed appropriate.

Name change possibilities discussed:

• Shambhala Path of Social Action
• Shambhala Path of Compassionate Activity
• Shambhala Path of Compassionate Action
• Shambhala Path of Social Transformation
• Shambhala Path of Social Awakening
• Shambhala Path of Social Engagement

Most support for present name [Shambhala Path of Social Action] as best, most direct, most powerful.  

Also support for Shambhala Path of Compassionate Action and Shambhala Path of Social Engagement.  

No support for other names.  

Process of examining names looking for better will continue.

Need to make Table of Contents to web space and Introduction.

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Updated 2004/08/14