Treasurer Report
- See attached report
Financials Update
- FY 2025 Financials moved to Quickbooks (completed)
- Draft of Taxes Form FY 2024 should be available from accountants for Adrienne to review next week.
- FY 2023 and 2024 Form 990s will be signed and sent out in the next couple weeks.
- Adrienne discusses the determination of two Signers on Bank Accounts, who would need to be Board members. Paula will serve as primary Signer and Adrienne will be the secondary Signer.
- ByLine Bank Account is now closed, and money moved to Citibank
- Adrienne recommends a transfer to Chase from Citibank for Checking Account. From her professional experience, Chase is easier to work with than Citibank.
- Board agrees with and supports this plan.
- Adrienne recommends moving the Building Fund from the current Savings Account to LiveOak Bank for a better interest rate return.
- Hogetsu suggests a separate savings reserve account to place the operating reserve from the checking account to get a better interest rate than Chase. There would be two separate savings accounts with LiveOak to keep the Building Fund separate.
- Credit card transactions will be processed with Zeffy (a nonprofit arm of Stripe) moving forward, and that will eliminate higher transaction fees.
- Paula discusses that once the Form 990s for FY 2023 and 2024 are signed and sent out, she and Adrienne will discuss with our accountants what will need to be done to file a Form 8940 that will allow us to file as a religious organization for tax purposes.
Guiding Teacher Report
- 2025 Practice Commitment Period continues, Compassion’s Way: The Dharma Of 3 American Zen Ancestors Sunday March 23, 2025 – Sunday May 18, 2025 (25)
- Shuso ceremony, the first at ADZG since 2018, will take place on May 18, 2025.
- Jiryu, Abbot of GGFZC, will be visiting in September after Branching Streams. He is publishing a new book of Suzuki Roshi’s Dharma Talks. Jiryu will give a Sunday Dharma talk with a reception to follow.
- Tova Green will visit in Sept before Branching Streams and offer a Dharma talk
- In June, ADZG will be celebrating Pride Month
- Queer Voices and Ceremony
- LGBTQ+ Queer Dharma Group, led by Wade.
- Lisa Hoffman will lead a half day sit and seminar on the strength of Sangha in June.
- Taigen has expressed his interests in giving Dharma talks at ADZG, perhaps every other month. He continues to offer seminars. Details are on the ADZG website.
- Eishin departed 5/6 after the ADZG ceremony, Douglas is now solo Tanto
- Hogetsu has been in contact with Engage Wisdom – audio archive for our dharma talks
- Hogetsu will begin working with Paula next month for planning the 2025 YEAA Fundraising campaign.
Sangha Meetings
- Sangha Meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2025
- Plan is to have two per year, the next meeting tentatively scheduled for October 19, 2025
- This will lead up to a Board Election on November 30, 2025 (Reuben’s seat and a possible empty seat right now)
- Sangha Meeting on June 1, 2025, will be led by Paula
Fundraising Update
- Paula wants to learn how to use the tools that Salesforce has that we are not currently using, to begin implementing them as a way to reach out to donors. This will lead into the Summer Monthly Supporter campaign.
Board Committees Update
- Paula hopes to recruit two Sangha members to advise her with a Finance Committee
- Finance Committee would review the finances quarterly to make sure money in and out looks sound. Finance Reports will be made quarterly.
- Fundraising Committee will have increased importance to create more momentum with fundraising.
- Paula discusses recruiting the right people for Fundraising Committee, implementing step by step to improve fundraising.
- Find someone who has experience in grant application by placing a blurb in the monthly newsletter.
- If this is unsuccessful, consider posting on social media to find someone
Technology Report
- There was a large spike website traffic in April coming from Hong Kong, possible bot??
- Otherwise, there is no significant change in website activity.
Promotions Committee
- Mark is asking for more photos (people, flowers in the garden, etc) to use on Facebook postings
- People react more to pictures rather than just information
- Mark suggests having a Welcome brochure.
- Mark suggests developing a video would be beneficial.
- These could increase the pool of people who know about ADZG
- There have been no new complaints from people about ADZG postings on social media.
Hospitality and Sangha Care Committee
- Kathy Bingham contacted Chris and Hogetsu, and she has resigned from HSCC.
- Chris expresses that he is very thankful to Kathy for all she has done in support of ADZG Sangha.
- Chris asked that other Sangha members be considered to serve on the HSCC
- Otherwise, there is no significant information to share at this time.
Other Business
- Branching Streams funding for ADZG representatives, 4 Sangha members
- Hogetsu suggested ADZG fund those who are sent (Hogetsu, Paula, Douglas, possibly Howard). Cost is $650 per person
- Faith in Place 2025 Environmental & Spirituality Summit Donation
- ADZG sponsored the summit last year
- It gives ADZG visibility in the community
- Guest Teacher Fund to sponsor visiting teachers, perhaps look at fundraising for this in the future.
- Dharma Talk Archive/Podcast development for preservation of these talks. This would require funding.
- Douglas sent Paula a revised Ethics and Reconciliation (Conflict Resolution) Documents
- Paula will forward to Board members with a plan for discussion and vote of approval by the Board at the next meeting
- Zendo Emergency Exit Plan
- Tanto is working with information to develop a plan.