Present:

June, Brock, Bruce, Brian, Lawrie, Grant (at beginning), Theresa (at beginning)

Absent with Regrets:

No one

Agenda Items:

1. Review and Approve AgendaMotion from Brian to approve.
   Carried.
2. Approve Minutes of September 18^th, 2014Motion from Brian to approve.
   Carried.
3. Business Arising from the Minutes and Updates
   • Marlene Lovell has offered to help with the Pot Luck on Oct 18, 2014. Two more sangha members have volunteered to be part of the entertainment (poetry and comedy).
   • Yoga studio is booked for 2015 Study Group dates: Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 8, May 3, June 14, July 12.
   • Deposit of $400 sent to UVic for Cadboro Commons for Ajaan Geoff retreat Aug 2/3, 2014.
   • Bruce has Heather Martin’s January retreat information and has posted it on the website.
   • 9 people came to the October 5th, 2014 Beginner drop-in.
   • Review of Sept 27/28 retreat with James Baraz – Insight Meditation retreat
     • 97 registrants (including their guests)
   • Review of Oct 4/5 retreat with James and Jane Baraz – Awakening Joy
     • 96 registrants (including their guests)
   • Brian will send a thank-you card to Christine Mauro and her husband for providing accommodation in their home to James and Jane.
   • Gratitude also goes out to:
     • Margo McLoughlin for arranging local accommodation.
     • Paul Kline for providing local transportation.
     • Therese Williams for bringing lunch.
     • Managers and registrars Brock Brown, Joyce Elliot, Margo McLoughlin, Brian Chapel, June Fukushima, Blaire Pardee
   • Decision made at a special meeting called on October 3, 2014 to send an announcement about a 5-part series on Buddhism and Climate Change offered by senior Vipassana teachers and, at the newsletter producer’s discretion, to include additional information sent by James Baraz. 6 voted implement; 1 set aside. Announcement about 5-part series sent out Oct 3, 2014.
4. Decision Making Process used by Council
   Will continue to use a mixture of yes/no and gradient voting.
5. Financial UpdateAccount balances as of September 30, 2014:

   Savings  $1,220.86
   Chequing $6,006.61
   

    

6. Margo McLoughlin Retreat Nov 9, 2014
   • Registrar: Lawrie
     Managers: Lawrie and Carol Eby
     Sound: Lawrie and Bruce
   • Registration Opens Monday Oct 13, 2014.
7. Council Members’ Updates on Roles and Tasks
   • Sunday Night Sit – Discussion and Direction from Council:
     Facilitator Group meeting on Oct 20th: Margo, Lawrie, Sandra, Eric, Pascal, Rod, Isy, Theresa. Margo has a roster for opening and closing the studio for Jan – June 2015.
     Moved by Bruce that we approve the committee to organize the Sunday Night Sit with Lawrie as the council rep.
     Carried.
   • Reminder Letter from Awakening Joy:
     Bruce will suggest different wording regarding electronic devices and send it to Lawrie.
   • 2015 Retreat Operations – roles, tasks, coordination:
     Bruce is willing to coordinate Heather’s Jan, 2015 retreat. June and Brock coordinating Mar, May, Aug retreats. Sandra, June and Brock reviewing list of tasks for Coordinator and Manager roles.
   • New Volunteers:
     Paul Monfette has offered to learn to do sound. Sheila Whincup has offered to be a registrar and offer photography skills. Other volunteers which have come forward for general tasks are Jean Grant, Will Pegg, Audra Poole, Christy Linder.
     June will contact them.
   • Retreat Planning and Coordination:
     Brock and Sandra are working on it.
   • Recruiting for Newsletter Producer:
     Will ask at Sunday Night, Margo’s retreat, newsletter.
8. 2015 Programs
   • Ajahn Tiradhammo is available to come to Victoria on July 18/19 2015:
     Motion from Brock to fomally invite Ajahn to lead a one-day retreat on Saturday, July 18^th and lead the Sunday Night Sit on Sunday, July 19^th.
     Carried.
   • Confirmed Retreats:
     • Jan 24/25 Heather Martin – Goward House
     • Mar 14/15 Christina Feldman – Goward House:
       Topic: Brahma Viharas on the Path to Awakening.
       Travel budget: $750 – she is coming from Boston.
     • May 23/24 Ajahn Sona – Goward House
     • Aug 22/23 Ajaan Geoff – UVic Cadboro Commons rooms:
       Suggested topic: Karma
     • Sept 26/27 Margo McLoughlin – Goward House
     • Nov 7/8 Howard Cohn – Goward House
9. 2016 Retreat Planning
   • Lawrie has received tentative confirmation from Steve Armstrong for Sept 17/18, 2016.
     Motion from Lawrie to officially invite him.
     Carried.
   • Pascal Auclair is on the West Coast in March. He could come to Victoria on Mar 26/27. Goward House is not available that weekend but it is on Mar 19/20.
     Motion from Brock to invite him for the Mar 26-27 weekend and plan on having it at UVic.
     Carried.
   • Christina Feldman possibly available Oct 15/16. Goward House is available.
10. Grant and Theresa have resigned.
    • Council thanks them for their service.
11. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 pm