VIMS Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting at June and Brock’s home
Present:
Brock Brown (chair), Joe Barrett (Director), Rhonda Duncan (Director), June Fukushima
(Treasurer), Kevin Keliher (Secretary) and Bruce MacRae (Vice-President).
Absent:
None
Agenda Items:
1. Review and Approve Agenda
Motion from Joe to approve agenda. Carried.
2. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting September 21st, 2022
Motion from June to approve September 21, 2022 minutes. Carried.
3. Business arising from the Minutes and Updates.
a. Christina Feldman October 15-16 Retreat. Thanks to Sandra Joy for driving Christina
from Parksville to Victoria, June Fukushima and Brock Brown – hosting Christina, June
Fukushima – Registrar, Brock Brown – Retreat Coordinator, Joyce Elliott and Joe Barrett –
Managers, Bruce MacRae – Sound, June Fukushima – Zoom Coordinator and Suzan Denis –
Zoom Host. VIMS hired a driving service to drive Christina back to Parksville from Victoria
following the retreat at a cost of $350. VIMS also gave Christina $800 towards her travel costs
from the UK. RETREAT STATS: Goward House: Saturday 47, Sunday 41. Online: Saturday 55,
Sunday 52.
a. Ajahn Candasiri November 12-13 Retreat. Thanks to Sandra Joy for hosting Tea with
Ajahn Candasiri on Friday evening, Katell – Ajahn Candasiri attendant, June Fukushima –
Registrar, Brock Brown – Retreat Coordinator, Josephine Tobin and Kathy Jago – Managers,
Bruce MacRae – Sound, Metta VanderVliet – Zoom Coordinator and Suzan Denis – Zoom Host.
RETREAT STATS: Goward House: Saturday 44, Sunday 34. Online: Saturday 47, Sunday 36.
a. Ajahn Candasiri’s answers to questions was a rich part of the retreat she recently led.
Bruce asked permission to post these Q & A sessions on the website. It was agreed the
answers only would be posted.
a. Motion from Joe for Brock to purchase a USB Interface to a maximum of $300 to help
with future hybrid retreats. Carried.
4. Financial Updates
a. Coast Capital Account Statements
Accounts September 30, 2022
Chequing: $ 4,380.00
Savings: $ 8,830.62
TOTAL: $ 13,210.62
Accounts October 31, 2022
Chequing: $ 7,097.24
Savings: $ 8,838.12
TOTAL: $ 15,935.36
Accounts November 30, 2022
Chequing: $ 9,417.16
Savings: $ 8,845.51
TOTAL: $ 18,262.67
Projected Year End Balance: $15,442.67
$2,285 still to be transferred to Milntuim Hermitage, as well as a $575 payment to
be made in December to S. Denis. Motion from June to approve sending $2,285
CA to Milntuim via PayPal. Carried
b. Coast Capital Statements available for viewing at the meeting.
b. November 2022 Financial Report from Wei Wu sent by email and for viewing at
the meeting. Motion from June to approve November 2022 financial statements.
Carried
b. Donation to be made to Dharma Resources – Dharma Seed ($200 USD), Birken
Forest Monastery Video Production Fund ($250 CA), and Wat Metta Book Fund
($200 USD). Motion from Brock to approve donations to Dharma Seed, Birken
and Wat Metta. Carried
b. 2023 Budget – projecting approximately $4000 deficit. Motion from June to
approve 2023 VIMS Budget without scholarship fund. Carried.
b. Suggestions to decrease costs in 2023: some retreats in-person only (e.g., Ajahn
Jotipalo), and increase suggested Dana for VIMS. Motion from June that the
suggested dana for one day retreats be $30 and that the suggested dana for two
day retreats be $50. Carried.
Motion from June to approve Event & Directors’ Insurance. Carried.
Motion from June to contract with Patrick Conroy to complete VIMS T2 for fiscal
year 2022. Carried.
2023 VIMS Budget Approved Dec 14 2022
5. Communication – Newsletter, Website, Constant Contact
a. Plan is to switch from Constant Contact to Mail Chimp for the VIMS Newsletter. Bruce
will contact Constant Contact and get more information regarding possible reimbursement. As of
Dec 2022, there are 1,122 people on VIMS mailing list.
6. Sunday Night Community Sit:
a. No change. Mention of this will be removed from further newsletters.
7. 2023 Upcoming Retreats:
a. All events at Goward House unless indicated otherwise.
2023 Upcoming Retreats
Mar 4, 5
Margo
McLoughlin (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid Kevin Keliher (Manager)
Apr 1, 2
Tuere Sala (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid Also on March 31, 7-8:30 Zoom evening session
Apr 29 Jeanna Corrigal with James Lowe (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid
April 30 suggestion is for Mindful
hiking/walking – location TBD. Jeanne
and James to stay at a supporters home
May20, 21
Ajahn Jotipalo (Y)
Goward House
In-Person
Joe Barrett (Manager)
Sep 23
Brock Brown (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid Rhonda Duncan (Manager)
Oct 22 Tempel Smith (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid
Nov 11, 12
Howie Cohn (Y)
Goward House
Hybrid
b. Volunteer Support – Brock requested people offer support to assume required
positions for upcoming retreats. Several positions were filled. Brock to find others
to fill remaining positions.
8. 2023 Retreats – Dana Count.
a. Plan to continue to collect Dana before lunch and the end of each retreat day. Dana for
the teacher to be given to them at the retreat's end. No need to count it. VIMS Dana to be
placed in a sealed envelope and counted by two council members at a later date.
9. Next Council Meeting: Wednesday, February 22nd at 6:30 p.m.