Minutes – Council Meeting Jan 2020

Agenda by AH (Chair)

Prelims to settle:

 Minute-taking, -posting, and access issues

 Setting Time for meeting and agenda items

 Leaving time to firm up decisions, actions, and statements

 

1 Minutes and Matters arising if not part of main agenda

2 team reports and action points for council

E.g. feedback on the solstice day

projects to be approved , and other programme items

3 issues raised by invitation to Sakyong by the Boards and DCL , including statements from LMSC teams, next steps?

4 preparations for Shambhala day, community involvement, survey/ ballot re next strategic steps for LMSC

5 David Schneider resignation letter LMSC response / actions

6 PT feedback

7 Council chair meeting with  Trustees this Saturday 11th re: new structure review

8 AOB

9 Next meeting

 

Present: PB, AH, FH, MK, PG

 

1 Previous Minutes by MK reviewed and approved

  • Action: PG to help MK with upload of minutes to Google Drive. [done]
  • Action: AH to organise Google Drive training for rest of Council.

 

2 Team reports:

  • CDI team: John Seex to facilitate sth. about SI and Sakyong? Or rather an external facilitator? Some time between Shambhala Day and June?
  • CDI also to host a tea party in context of refurbishing PMH.
  • Action: FH to email Jez about Shambhala Day event.
  • Action: CDI to define date, facilitator, and process for community discussion, to be circulated among all teams and trustees.

 

  • HW team: nothing to report, other HW member currently away.
  • Action: HW team to follow up on Care and Conduct cases (in January).

 

  • P&E team: see P&E minutes (programming, changes, holding space for range of views),
  • Action: AH to create simplified protocol for programme proposal form.

 

  • Finance team: LSMC to cut 30% of dues to SE due to reduced income and need for savings. Question of SMR’s return and organisation’s reputation. Need for financial strategy and incremental income growth: rental options, book shop, question of teachers’ honorarium (to be simplified); payment for Oxford group’s rent to be stopped in 6 months; renewal of LSMC lease (Paul V); simplified programme protocol form, improved marketing; Lama Rod programme (£40 per day and person, £20 concessions, + donations in 50/50 split); possible benefactor with £150k and another matching donor with £150k for LSMC property? Patron price to subsidise programme fees? Pricing structure for programmes in general?

 

  • Feedback from Solstice: very successful, warm atmosphere.

 

3 issues raised by invitation to Sakyong by the Boards and DCL , including statements from LMSC teams, next steps? 

+

4 preparations for Shambhala day, community involvement, survey/ ballot re next strategic steps for LMSC

+

6 PT feedback

 

  • Organising a proper discussion and community consultation
  • Community to form view together, process
  • With input from existing emails and conversations 
  • Liaise with other groups and centres
  • PT feels sidelined, where is the community involvement? Ongoing PT-wide Zoom calls, felt lack of empowerment and agency.
  • Question of disaffiliation and its consequences (legal and financial, e.g. Shambhala database, websites, ability to offer Shambhala Training etc.)
  • Question of process
  • Options: do sth. very soon, something between Shambhala Day and June, and/or gather more information and organise more consultation, more time needed.
  • Actions: CDI to define date, facilitator, and process for community discussion, to be circulated among all teams and trustees. CDI to propose consultation to commence prior to Shambhala Day 2020, in a series of meetings over 6-7 weeks with Open Space technology, perhaps facilitated by an external professional. Proposal for process to include comments from Council emails and other input by LSMC members. Shambhala Day to follow a similar model as for Solstice.
  • Action: AH to share Cynthia MacKay’s messages to his account.

 

5 David Schneider resignation letter LMSC response / actions

  • David Schneider resigned from his role as Acharya (senior teacher & representative appointed by SMR).
  • Council feels this is a courageous step and appreciates his open, heart-felt letter.
  • David Schneider is already invited to teach an arts programme and for the Bleddfa retreat.

 

7 Council chair meeting with  Trustees this Saturday 11th re: new structure review

  • Action: AH to attend meeting and inform trustees about Council activities: learning curve, not all teams fully formed, concerns about energy/understaffed roles, question of the extent to which community feels exhausted or energised. Community building at the heart of our approach.
  • Action: Place special focus on community building and inclusion on next agenda.

 

8 AOB

  • Cailin accepted invitation to join Council meetings as youth representative.
  • Action: FH to share Cailin’s text.

 

9 Next meeting

  • Date of next meeting: Monday, 10th February 2020, 6-7.30 pm UK time.