Council Minutes April 2015

VIMS Council Meeting Minutes

Thursday, April 16th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Sandra’s home

Present:

June, Sandra, Rod (guest), Bruce, Brock, Brian

Absent with Regrets:

No one

Agenda Items:

  1. Review and Approve Agenda

    Motion from Bruce to approve.
    Carried.

  2. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting

    Motion from Bruce to approve minutes from March 19th.
    Carried.

  3. Business Arising from the Minutes and Updates
    • Beginner drop-in update:
      • 3 attended in April.
    • Study Group Update:
      • Conducted by Kate Dresher.
      • Well attended.
    • AGM Emails:
      • Replies received from everyone.
      • All reports are in.
    • Salt Spring Website:
      • Back online but not fully functional.
  4. Financial Update
    • Council gratefully received a first quarter report from Wei Wu, our volunteer VIMS bookkeeper. Wei is bringing her professional skills to improving our financial record-keeping.
    • Account Balances on March 31st:
      Chequing      1,958.84
      Savings       5,234.74
    • A summary of the VIMS budget vs. actual is not yet available but June has calculated that we are on track with all budget areas and that we are exceeding the budget for net gains for retreats.
  5. Communications
    • Sound – Bruce sent some audio files to Neil and Derrik to practice with.
    • Newsletter – Margo is working on it. Constant Contact says 57.9% open rate for last mailing.
    • Information about the next few retreats has been sent to BC IMS.
    • Ayya Medhanandi’s visit will be mentioned in the Unitarian church’s newsletter.
  6. Council Members’ Updates on Roles and Tasks
    • Discussion of council members intentions at/after AGM and changes to council and to workload distribution.
    • 2015 Retreat Operations – Rod and Isy will take on a greater role.
    • Update on Sunday night sit.
  7. 2015 Programs
    • Ajahn Tiradhammo will lead a retreat at the Unitarian Church on Saturday, July 18th and the Sunday night on
      July 19th.
    • Ayya Medhanandi will be here from June 12th to June 14th.
      • Moved by June that we publish $25 as the suggested dana.
        Carried.
      • Moved by June that we offer $400 to the hermitage for Ahimsa’s travel expenses.
        Carried.
    • May 23/24 – Ajahn Sona has been confirmed for Goward House.
      Isy and Tess will co-manage.
      Joanna will be the registrar.
    • Public talk by Ajaan Geoff at UVic on August 21st. Sandra will put up posters.
      Retreat/workshop on Karma by Ajaan Geoff on August 22/23 in UVic Cadboro Commons.
    • Retreat by Margo McLoughlin on September 26/27 at Goward House.
      Sandra will be the manager and coordinator.
      Brian will be the registrar.
    • Retreat by Howard Cohn on November 7/8 at Goward House.
      Blaire Pardee and Kathy Jago will co-manage.
    • Following a request through Janet Lironi, Arinna Weisman might come to Victoria later this year to lead a Sunday night sit. VIMS will offer up to $100 toward her travel costs.
  8. 2016 Retreat Planning
    • Jan 16/17 – Heather Martin is confirmed for Goward House.
      Bruce will be the coordinator.
    • March 25/26 – Pascal Auclair is confirmed for Goward House (Good Friday and Easter Saturday).
      Brock will be the coordinator.
    • May 21/22 – June will invite Ajahn Passano.
    • September 17/18 – Steve Armstrong is confirmed.
      Lawrie will be the coordinator.
    • October 15/16 – Christina Feldman is confirmed for Goward House.
      Brock will be the coordinator.
  9. 2017 Retreat Planning

    One weekend is available at Goward House in each of: January, March, May, September, October

    • The September weekend might be best for Ajaan Geoff.
    • Sandra will contact Andrea Fella.
    • June will contact Anna Douglas.
  10. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Next Meeting (to be preceded by AGM)

May 21st, 2015
7:00-9:30 p.m.
Brian’s home