Monthly Archives: August 2014

News from Vancouver, BC

(Paul Edwards is chair of Vancouver)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Capri Hall Vancouver

Capri Hall Vancouver

It is my happy assignment to give you some very big news. Thanks to all your hard work and commitment for the last long 34 years, our last Mortgage payment on our Fraser Hall was made on August 15th. Of course we still have all of our other commitments that need our support, but this is wonderful news indeed!!!  The current Board of Directors have decided to host a celebration party for this very important event. I will update you on the details as they develop, but we wanted to let you know!

On other happy news, five (yes, I said 5) new members have all been opened recently.  They are:

Blair Goodwill, Mustafa Subroto, Adena Von Hahn, Casey Von Hahn, Davida Paul. All of these new members are under 40! We welcome you all with open arms!

And one more tid bit….  we will have a second World Congress sharing at the Sunday Social on September 14th…. please mark your calendars! Anyone from Bellingham or further south is welcome to join us. Latihan quiet time starts at 10:00 am; the social part usually gets going after 11:00 am.

 

 

Poems for Peace Sept 20 7PM

Poems For Peace 2014

Poems For Peace 2014

The third annual celebration of poetry and peace, Poems for Peace, sponsored by the Subud International Cultural Association, is set for Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 7PM at the Spring Street Center/Seattle Subud House, 1101 15th Av, Seattle, on the corner of 15th & Spring.

Anne Padilla and Paul Nelson are your hosts and the evening will feature food, drinks, fellowship and poetry related to the theme of peace in honor of the U.N. International Day of Peace. Invited to read are those poets who participated in the 8th August Poetry Postcard Fest reading a poem or two they wrote during the month and one or two they received. Confirmed performers include:

Samar Albuhassan
Dan Blunck
Jim O’Halloran
Faiza Sultan
Thomas Walton
Bhakti Watts

THE SUBUD INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (SICA) is a nonprofit organization providing programs and services to individuals and organizations working to nurture human values through art, culture, and creativity. SICA provides information, training, networking and support services as well as opportunities to engage and collaborate with cultural initiatives and events around the world. SICA, which has a constituency in almost 90 countries, is an active member of the International Coalition of NGOs for Peace jointly led by Peace One Day and Interpeace as well as Americans for the Arts. SICA was begun by members of the World Subud Association in the UK in 1983 and is currently based in Austin, Texas, USA.

SICA

SICA

Celebration of World Congress

Rachman Cantrell at it again

Rachman Cantrell at it again

On August 24 after latihan, those who have recently returned from Puebla, Mexico will share their World Congress experiences and we will honor the new Subud USA Chair, local member Daniel Stralberg.

The Congress ended Saturday night and Subud Greater Seattle had a large presence at the Congress. Hopefully Rachman Cantrell can show some of his photos, new foundation Chair Marston Gregory will discuss his plans for the Muhammed Subuh Foundation and Oswald Norton will discuss potential SUSA collaborations.

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My Community Day at the 2013 World Subud Congress

Oswald, Liza & Haris in Puebla

Oswald, Liza & Haris in Puebla

Haris Wolfgang, Liza Ramey and I were invited into the delegate session during the My Community Day to work with the delegates on the concept of helping their own local communities flourish. Here is a summary of what happened in the first session: “Subud is a like a tree.  Its roots are our local Subud communities.  Its roots need to be nurtured for the tree to be truly healthy.” ~ from our new WSA Chair Elias Dumit We went through a process of identifying and sharing our needs and hopes for our communities in a safe and inclusive space is a starting point for learning conflict resolution, creating consensus and intention  toward building healthy, vibrant  communities. What we learned from Friday’s experience: We shared a small piece of the beginning of the community building process. Even though very abbreviated, each sister and brother were able to share, listen and acknowledge their hopes for their community.  We also learned that we share many of the same hopes. (see attached PowerPoint for a summary of themes)  How can we see these hopes realized? Next steps:

  • Using the common themes identified, we will go through a process of choosing one theme that resonates with the group through consensus building
  • Groups will  create a strategy to carry out that theme through activities and projects.

What we have witnessed with groups going through this process is that members become engaged working toward a shared vision they have had a part in creating. When we nourish the roots of the tree, we invite members that are empowered to  create thriving communities making the tree grow and flourish.

Elisha Swings in Puebla

Our own Elisha Gullixson was featured at a concert last night at Teatro Principal, a beautiful, 600 seat auditorium in Puebla, Mexico, last night. It was one of the many arts events at this 14th Subud World Congress. He played piano in a quintet led by NYC Subud alto saxophonist Benjamin Drazen and thrilled the packed house. Some Mexicanas backstage wanted to know when they were playing again. Elisha’s solo on St. Thomas was particularly inspired and their appearance was one of the evening’s highlights.

Benjamin Drazen and Elisha Gullixson in concert, Puebla, Mexico, Subud World Congress, August 7, 2014

Benjamin Drazen and Elisha Gullixson in concert, Puebla, Mexico, Subud World Congress, August 7, 2014

Elisha prepares to plow into his first bit of Chiles en Nogada

Elisha prepares to plow into his first bit of Chiles en Nogada

Applying the Downbeat (jazz) Magazine’s blindfold test to the meal afterwards, Elisha pronounced it “Cinco Estrellas.”

Puebla Congress News

Marston Gregory

Marston Gregory

Some brief news bits from Puebla. Our own Marston Gregory tested before delegates, International Helpers and others gathered in the Constantia of the Centro de Convenciones in Puebla, Mexico, at the 2014 World Congress, for the position of Chair of the Muhammed Subud Foundation. In his own testing he reported that he felt he had the qualifications but that the test was not powerful. The International Helpers disagreed and recommended him for Chair. In an additional test, Marston’s receiving was powerful and the delegates ratified the Helper’s decision. Marston is the new Chair of the Muhammed Subuh Foundation! Congrats Marston!

Evan Padilla came in a close second for the position of Chair of the Susila Dharma International Association.

At this writing, your humble correspondent, Paul Nelson, is set to perform poems at the Poemas de la Paz event tonight (Wednesday, August 6) and another poetry event Thursday night, as well as host a Conversation Cafe panel on the Future of Storytelling next Wednesday, August 13th.