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Board Meeting Highlights – March 30, 2025

May 13, 2026 | Board Meeting Notes

Approval of email vote for Branching Streams Expenditure

  • Approved unanimously

Guiding Teacher’s Report 

  • Programs/Events:
    • 1 Day sesshin March 23 (27 attended), 3-Day Sesshin May 16-18
  • 2025 Spring Practice Commitment Period
    • Compassion’s Way: The Dharma Of 3 American Zen Ancestors
    • Sunday March 23, 2025 – Sunday May 18, 2025
    • Approximately 25 Sangha members are enrolled, 10 others are joining in
    • Taigen seminars, March 14 and 15.
    • Upcoming in August and October 2025 (Gyobutsu Igi )
  • Peer Led Groups
    • Zen Creatives meeting biweekly Thursday Evenings
    • Avatamsaka reading group and Decoloniziing consciousness   Taigen/David Wray
  • Zendo functioning
    • Gerrie is serving as Benji (Shusho’s assistant) during the PCP
    • Co-nos: Wade and David Wray
    • Eishin stepping away for the summer/fall and departure ceremony on Mon May 5
    • Buddha’s birthday (April 6) and temple workdays
  • Zen training:
    • PCP Shuso, Benji, acting co-inos, doans, dokusans
  • Jukai and Sewing class (Karen L joining remotely, Matthew, Paul C, Gerrie, Reuben, Borko)
  • Douglas to be grandparent, Eishin departure 5/6
  • April 8 – Susan S. – Kuan Yin statue receiving
  • Temple affairs and Administrative:
    • Working with the Board president
    • Promo: Website – webmaster and social media, monthly newsletter
    • Post YEAA Fundraising – working with Director
    • Misc work projects- library, framing, temple plaque gate?
  • Community Engagement /Networking:
    • Faith in Place (sponsor Fall AES?)
    • Branching Streams – kudos – Douglas and Paula
    • Book talks and visits by Jiryu (Sept) and Ben C (October)

 

TREASURER POSITION

  • David Wray emailed the Board his  resignation from the position of Treasurer on March 17th, 2025.
  • We greatly appreciate his service to ADZG Sangha.
  • A more precise financial reporting system has been created for the ADZG organization.
  • Paula put forth Adrienne Ciancetta as a candidate to fill the Treasurer’s position.
    • Adrienne is Paula’s business partner and Paula has known and worked with her for over 20 years.
    • She has been the person primarily helping Paula transition ADZG finances to Quickbooks.
    • Adrienne has a background in Finance.
    • Adrienne is a regular monthly supporter and can be appointed by the ADZG Board according to the Bylaws.
  • Paula moved to appoint Adrienne Ciancetta to ADZG Board Treasurer and Howard seconded. Vote passes unanimously

 

FINANCIAL REPORT 

  • Currently, donations are $2500 to $3000 per month.
  • YEAA raised $38,549, representing 85 donors
  • Thank you to Dylan for all the effort he put into the YEAA campaign
  • Filing the Form 990 for 2023 & 2024
    • The accountants have received all the data for ADZG 2023 tax return
    • Extension was filed for  2023
    • Accountants  will send back forms for review later this week before submission.
    • Paula has been working with the accountants to get them all the necessary forms and information for the 2024 return.
  • Filing 8940 forms
    • To change ADZG status to a religious organization to exempt us from filing the Form 990
    • Once the Form 990  is submitted, we will begin to investigate what would need to be done to file the Form 8940, Request For Miscellaneous Designation, since we are a religious organization.

 

BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES 

  • Finance and Fundraising
    • Paula is in discussions with Sangha members to serve on this committee
  • Program Committee
    • Practice Council is already serving this role, and there is not a need for a separate committee.
    • Paula moved to disband the Program committee.  Hogetsu seconded the motion. Vote passes unanimously
  • TECHNOLOGY REPORT
    • No significant changes with overall stable analytics at this time.
  • PROMOTIONS REPORT
    • Currently Promotions Committee is in a transition period with FaceBook  and Instagram promotions
    • There has been a great increase in ADZG use of social media for promotional purposes.
    • Moving towards looking more professional and polished
    • A mentorship program was suggested, so that new people can join the committee and learn from those with more experience.
    • Mark believes that Promotions should meet more often
    • Look at the use of video work to help promote ADZG.
  • HOSPITALITY AND SANGHA CARE 
    • No new report at this time from the committee