Welcome New Board Members:
- New members, Yana Spitzer and Rick Stravers, are welcomed by the Board
- Rick and Yanna share their excitement to be serving on the Board at this time
Treasurer Report:
- Please see attached reports
- Ended year (2025), excluding the Building Fund, with approximately $130 K in banking and savings accounts. Income for the year is approximately $30 K.
- We do not have comparisons for other years yet given change in accounting formats, but next year at this time we will.
Fundraising Update:
- This year we are looking specifically at funds given to the Year End campaign, and excluding funds for monthly donation, sesshin fees, or other donations during the Year End campaign time period.
- 56 specific donors for the Year End campaign, raising $39,105.
- Donations for the Year End campaign will continue through January 2026.
- Two specific goals for the Year End campaign were to raise funds for the Visioning Project and a reimagining of the ADZG website.
- An operational budget will be created by the Adrienne and reviewed by the Finance Committee
- We continue to migrate autopay subscriptions from Stripe to Zeffy for donations and monthly supporters
Visioning Project:
- Hogetsu shares that the goal of the Visioning Project is for community building and visioning as part of the 20th anniversary for ADZG
- Renee, the facilitator for the Visioning Project joins the meeting and introduces herself to the Board.
- Renee reviews the Visioning exercise proposal with the Board
- Entering 20th anniversary year
- Transition in Guiding Teacher
- Changes through the COVID pandemic, transitions to online and hybrid practice
- How to ensure future stability for ADZG
- Project will be for strategic planning and more
- Three core ideas for the proposal
- Document core identity of ADZG, looking at the past and building a bridge to the future. Shared sense of identity, what is essential that is carried forward
- Identify a set of learning questions, strategic questions (e.g. What did we learn from building search experience?). What does the community need now and might need in the future?
- Undertaking exercises that help to identify opportunities in the future. Strength and weakness analysis
- After Renee presented her proposal for the Visioning Project exercise, the Board has closed discussion to review the proposal
- Motion made by Paula to release $3500.00 to pay Renee Michaels for Visioning Project, seconded by Kevin
- Approved by the Board unanimously
Promotions Committee:
- Committee continues to keep up with all the activities that ADZG has
- Nothing new to report
Hospitality and Sangha Care Committee:
- Nothing new to report at this time
Technology Committee:
- Consistent metrics, occasional blimps. Nothing new to report at this time
Other Board Business:
- Paula would like to step down as Board President
- She asks that someone from the Board volunteer to fill this important role
- Will be discussed again at the next Board meeting
- Target date for Paula is end of March 2026
Guiding Teacher Report:
- Please see attached report
1-18-26 ADZG Board Meeting Hōgetsu’s Teacher Report
Nutshell: Happy spots: New people engaging in practice and the warm connection among sangha. A
shuso candidate! Great support on all fronts. Someone offered to build a website! Personal retreat.
Challenges: Sangha care – Would love to keep more connected personally. Staffing and finances are
background worries.
Programs/Events
Upcoming dharma events: one day sesshins in Jan & Feb. Ceremonies: Parinirvana, Buddha’s
birthday
- Spring Practice Commitment Period: Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Sunday, May 17, 2026
- PCP Sesshin: March 1 day; 4 day sesshin May 14-17
Scholar talks and Guest Teachers: still tbd
- 2026 – 3-4 scholar talks – tbc – Paul Copp: Kevin Buckelew, Steve Heine, Dale Wright, Paula
Arai, Stephan Licha – ideas?
- 2026 Guest Dharma teachers –Kathleen Rude (2/2026 Joanna Macy wkshop), Shodo Spring –
book talk?, Guo Gu ?, Jiryu? Kokyo Henkel, Lien Shutt
Taigen’s teaching:
Dharma talks bimonthly Sunday, Mar 8; Sunday, May 31; Sunday, July 19.
2026 Seminars Sat May 23 & June 13: Eihei Koroku, Dōgen’s Extensive Record
Peer Led Groups and Sangha Initiatives:
- Libby and Alan WTR February launched
- Ongoing: Avatamsaka reading group, Decolonizing consciousness Taigen/David Wray
LGBTQ+ Queer Dharma -Wade, Leo, Meditation and recovery
Zendo and practice functioning:
- Tech issues continue and improving
- Zendo is settling in to an annual cadence of events (see below) and well attended.
- Finalizing a Temple Practice Structure document
Zen training:
- Brian will come in May 2026 and Lay Dharma Entrustment planned – Nov 2026 in Corrales.
- Biweekly Sewing class: Jukai – Ongoing 8 people sewing rakusus
- Created a document personal priest discernment and training document
- Dokusan – 8 hours per week
Pastoral/community: Welcoming new people and returning folks
- Meeting with people informally and informally about practice
- Wade and Mike to be uncles, Adam surgery
- The community is vibrant, practicing deeply, and sustainably growing
Temple affairs and Administrative:
- 2026 Calendar functioning
- 2026 Strategic planning process
- November 8 2006 adzg incorporated- should we have a 20 year fundraiser YEAA
anniversary?
- Working with Director on fundraising – YEAA campaign
- Year of the Horse cards to monthly supporters and major donors
- Pat H – New podcast admin working out well
- Misc work projects:
o Eishin may help with some sewing projects e.g. altar clothes, valences
o Painting volunteer – Nina
o Need library volunteer
o Aspiration: outdoor shrine for Maitreya; Zendo design and lighting
o Zendo window treatments
Community Engagement /Networking:
- Will need a new representative for Branching Streams Council
- Planning SFZC Sangha week trip
- Connected to Ben C. in Minneapolis re: Renee Good death
- Monthly newsletter