Community Visioning Meeting Report

Dear Sky Lake members,

Our Community Visioning Day, August 18th was filled with emerging ideas
and conversations followed by a sumptuous meal. We began with a current
‘state of the center’, evolving into an Open Space Visioning session
creatively led and scribed by Barbara Bash. The intention being to
generate alive questions about how Sky Lake could move forward and
reach out to a wider community. After breaking into groups, we all
gathered again to harvest the heart of what each interest
group discussed. Some volunteered to continue tending the inspirations
from seeds planted in the group conversations.

In summary, the ‘state of the center’ touched on several on going
topics, beginning with our current vitality and the integration of our
programs, B&B and Rentals. Sky Lake as a unique hybrid of a small land
center and local Shambhala Center, our original mandate from the
Sakyong was to create a center for ‘meditation, arts & community’. We
are experiencing the cross-pollination of the B&B with the meditation
center, guests coming with the intention to receive
meditation instruction, participate in pubic sittings and dharma talks.
Rental groups are increasingly requesting meditation instruction and
guided walks on the meditation trail. What were originally ways we
supported our programs, are integrating more and more with Sky Lake’s
purpose as we discover a natural synergy between all three.

Sky Lake’s finances are holding steady after a period of slow rentals
over the winter and spring. They are currently in vital condition after
a period of restructuring facilitated by consultation with Pat Brett,
which is being implemented by the new Rental’s Manager, Emma Stamm, who
along with Amy Glavasich is working on our Social Media presence and
development. Throughout August our B&B has been hosting appreciative
groups and individuals from around the world.

Shambhala International in its role as a continual support and
inspiration was spoken about. Our access to online teachings and a
dynamic and deepening curriculum is every increasing. The Sakyong’s
invitation to the Shambhala mandala for creating Enlightened Society
being the guiding directive for all we do here The structure of the 3
Pillars of a Shambhala Center were described. These being a working
rapport with Governance, Practice & Education and Kasung
(protector principle). Our current model of a Working Council at Sky
Lake is incrementally changing into a Governance Council, representing
those 3 Pillars as well as other working groups in our community, for
example, Health & Wellbeing, Children & Families.

Our current dedicated group of Working Council members are: Jeff
Rubin/Chair, Ben Berliner, Ron Blass, David Daub, Steve Derrickson,
Cyndi Levine, Nadia Scoggins, Sam Scoggins and Jen Woodin, many of whom
have facilitated the running of Sky Lake for several years since our
major transition in 2007. Quarterly group meetings and numerous
committee conference calls throughout the year insure Sky Lake’s
continuing health. Some of these members will continue as the
Governance Council more formally takes it’s seat as Sky Lake’s
governing body .

There was an introduction of Sky Lake’s newly formed Practice and
Education Council and it’s new Coordinator, Jen Woodin who recently
took an oath for that role. Steve Clorfeine and Jenny Bates generously
volunteered as mentors for the first 5 months of the Council, Linda L
Lazin is in the role of Shambhala Training Coordinator, Cyndi Levine as
Administrator, Mary Ranges and myself as members of the Council. Sandy
Sklar has given her time as an organizer of various practice activities
,Ashe and Vajrayana ,and as a master of practice
encouragement throughout the sangha. (though not officially on the
Council) In these few short months the Council has organized quarterly
community Practice Days (Nyinthuns) including the practice of the
Sadhana of Mahamudra, umdze trainings, monthly Open Houses w/ dharma
talks, scheduling the Way of Shambhala programs and adding a general
tone of uplifting our container for practice here that has
greatly benefited the center.

Although we did not get to this topic on the agenda, I wanted to relay
our current request from the Sakyong on Visiting Teachers. During this
next period of time (2 or 3 years??) Shambhala Centers will be inviting
teachers for vajrayana studies instead of for general public audiences.
With the intention being to study and work in our communities to create
Enlightened Society, focusing on the Way of Shambhala teachings (Heart
of Warriorship, Sacred Path, Everyday Life Series, and the
Basic Goodness teachings) and going outward in the world. It is felt to
be less confusing for beginning students to experience Shambhala
teachings at our Shambhala Centers. We are encouraged to invite
teachers from other lineages for the purpose of deepening the study of
vajrayana. This is a departure from our visiting teacher history and
will be this way for now and the near future.

Some of the discussion group subjects for our Community Day were :
Sangha Salons, Mind of Recovery, Beauty & Shelter of Sky Lake,
Contemplative Art Exploration, Touch the Earth, Internet Presence,
Mindful Education for Children, Multi-Purpose Building.

The Multi Purpose Building /Children’s , Shambhala Arts space on the
land next to the meditation trail is a project close to my heart (also
doubling as extra sleeping space for programs). It has been clear that
we cannot serve children and families here without some other area to
do so. The vision for this structure is as a community participating
project ,which could be created incrementally. Possibly first as a
platform/pole barn/or pavilion. How we go about manifesting this
space is as important as the finished product. We already have 3
skillful volunteers for the physical visioning, Architect, David Daub,
trained engineer, Dan Guenther, whose expertise in taking apart old
buildings and re-using materials and knowledge of green building is
vast, as well as seasoned contractor Al Wolcot. When the time comes to
lay our hands on the materials and actually put the structure together
(we already have a donation of a metal roof) I can see our community
coming together with all the varying skills we have for events similar
to ‘barn raising’………..working and celebrating with delicious meals at
the close of construction days. This participation will add to the
sweet satisfaction of using the space for enrichment of our offerings
here to an expanded group of people. I can actually see
children skipping down the trail in the mind’s eye, feel the sun,
elements, smell the lhasang smoke, flowers, hear the music and
laughter. I am committing to seeing the project through to fruition.

Fyi: last week during our hugely successful Dragon Explorers Dharma
Kids Daycamp, taught by Dana Fulmer, Daniel Berlin, Timothy Quigley,
Rachael Timberlake & Alison Pepper ….Sky Lake’s land was singing with
31 children doing nature studies, meditation, drumming, tribal
decorations, feasting and much more. This delightful offering was a
re-igniting of our past children’s programing and much appreciated.

We are anticipating a visit from the Reciprocity Group in the next
year. This group organizes group retreats for youths whose families are
presently living in NYC shelters. Going forward, it feels important to
welcome wider circles of people to benefit from what Sky Lake has to
offer.

This fall Jen Woodin and I will be working on a volunteer and Work
Study system. All of you are invited and encouraged to contemplate what
it is that you could do in a volunteer capacity. Sky Lake is a
primarily volunteer organization and is only as vibrant as our
community participation. Our amazing windows team will be finishing the
final phase of the installation project in the dining room this fall
and winter. The Land Stewardship Group is crafting and enlivening our
meditation trail system. We have office volunteer opportunities,
Practice & Study support teams who could benefit from additional folks,
programs that welcome staffing, events and celebrations that are fun to
assist with……………….

PLEASE STEP UP……. WITH A SERVICE AS PATH ATTITUDE ! ……. You could
be surprised to find what a delight it is to help this vibrant Sky Lake
container continue as a welcoming environment for your community and
those new folks walking through the door.

In the Vision of the Great Eastern Sun,

Katy