Sky Creek Dharma Center

(530) 592-4288

Minutes of the July 8, 2018 Administrative Sangha Meeting

Members in attendance: Janese Carpentier (presiding), Bob Speer, Joanne Allred, Jasper, Leigh Ann Lipscomb, Carissa Wyles, Jake Davis, Jay Sewell, Roger Trent

Opening bell with period of silence, and call to order at 4:10 PM.

Minutes of Administrative Sangha meeting on May 6, 2018 were distributed after the meeting by email to all Admin Sangha, pending some minor changes. All receiving the amended version were invited to vote by return email for any further changes. No further changes were requested and minutes were therefore approved.

Old Business

  • Kitchen sink: The garbage disposal (in small center sink) is jammed, but the two adjacent sinks work. Jasper will see if the garbage disposer can be unjammed.
  • Windows: Two replacement screens have been bought. Jake will install them. Bob Egert is looking into getting new wheel sets for back slider in Buddha Hall. Replacing our broken windows would be expensive (they’re 5’ x 6’6”), but Janese will get an estimate from Lash’s Glass company.
  • The Property Owners’ Association (POA) broken “lift pump” issue: Bob Speer reported that one of the two pumps will be replaced for about $9,000, split among the POA members (who are now organized). Trees around the pumps need to be removed to prevent root intrusion. Jake will see if he can cut them down, but further steps will be necessary to kill the roots and prevent regrowth.

Committee Reports

  • Budget Committee: Treasurer’s Report
    • Leigh Ann distributed an Income/Expense summary for January through June, 2018.
    • She reported that our daily expense fund stands at $1,272.
    • Our income to expense ratio hovers around 1.
    • We still need to see if we can get our FEMA flood assessment reduced. Leigh Ann and Janese will explore this.
  • Site Committee Report
    • A new (i.e.,, “not obsolete”) backwater flow prevention device was installed to meet CalWater requirements ($1,245).
    • Roof repairs: discussion deferred again (but see New Business)
    • Brush/grass as a fire hazard: We discussed whether tenants might be interesting in hiring the goats to reduce fire fuel in the POA area.
    • General agreement that we will hire Jake to tidy up and make sure all is ready for scheduled Center users.
  • Legal and Compliance Committee
    • Our current renter agreement (for Center users) isn’t strong enough to protect the Center’s Board. Don recommends we buy liability insurance for $1-3 million at $12/person/month.
    • Moved/seconded/passed. Joanne will arrange this.
  • Communication
    • Bob Egert is now handling most scheduling (Thanks, Bob!)
    • Discussion led to a general agreement that each of our sangha’s should have a point person for communication with the Admin Sangha.
  • New Business
    • Web management and improvement: Carissa provided background on her webmaster skills and interests. She has adapted our site to run on mobile devices (pads and phones). For next steps she needs from us:
      • More group photos (she’ll edit them so we can just email them to her(cwyles725@gmail.com )
      • We need to decide what we really want to have outward facing on our site: Recent minutes? Recent financial statements? Updated Admin Sangha description and bios? A “giving page” (and a PayPal account to facilitate giving)? “Not Annie B’s” information? (We talked about coming up with a better name for our annual fundraiser, now that Annie B’s is fading into history)
    • Tree house removal. Jerry volunteered to pull it down and haul it away. This led to a discussion of whether we are dealing with outdoor problems just by removing things and not replacing them—a recipe for decline. For now, we agreed that our main outdoor priority has to be making the shed roof sound, or risk losing the shed entirely. Moved/seconded/passed: Jasper will get a quote on shed roof repairs. We will prioritize hauling away old wood piles.
    • Plumbing: The handle on the “back” shower no longer functions. Bob Francis will replace it and patch the wall.
    • Fall clean up tentatively scheduled: October 20.
    • Rug cleaning: Roger will do.
    • Fall fund raiser: Main tasks are A) mass mailing solicitation, and B) talking it up with our individual sanghas. We tentatively planned to address envelopes at our September meeting. We need to think about who we might add to our mailing list.

Meeting adjourned at 6:15 PM
Underscored above are action items.

Dates
Next Board Meeting scheduled for Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 4 PM.

Roger Trent, Secretary
August 8, 2018

Addendum: Roles and Responsibilities for 2018

Board Officers
  • President: Janese Charpentier
  • Vice President: Bob Speer
  • Treasurer: Leigh Ann Lipscomb
  • Secretary: Roger Trent
At Large Members
  • Don Brooks
  • Lakshmi Ariaratnam
  • Joanne Allred
  • Bob Eggert
  • Laurie Howard
  • Jessica MacKenzie
  • Jayson Sewell
  • Jasper Lerch
  • Jake Davis (Grounds Keeper)

Committees for 2018

Communication

  • Booking—Joanne & Bob
  • Announcements—Joanne & Roger
  • Website—Bob & Don (who will look for a webmaster)

Fundraising

  • Leigh Anne
  • Laurie
  • Roger

Legal/Compliance

  • Don

Promotion/Outreach

  • Janese
  • Laurie
  • Lakshmi