Dear Subud PNW Members,

This coming Friday we will be selecting our new committee and regional helper teams.  I thought it would be good to reflect on where we are right now and where we might be able to go.

 We are financially sound

We have put aside money in our housing fund and in our reserve account so that we currently have the ability to take care of our financial needs.

 We have held a regular annual kedjiwan event for over 25 years

For over 25 years the Pacific Northwest Region has hosted a kedjiwan gathering at the Menucha Conference Center east of Portland. Organized by the regional helpers, this event has served thousands of Subud members in and outside of our region.

We have three centers we own

Our Portland, Bellingham/Skagit Valley and Seattle centers have buildings we use as places for the latihan, enterprise and hosting events throughout the year.  These centers, assets created through the hard work and dedication of the members of these areas, are important in showing new members that we are able to work together to achieve something.

We have four other groups who meet for regular latihans

In Boise, ID, Spokane, WA, Flathead Valley, MT and Eugene, OR we have members who meet on a regular basis to continue their practice of the latihan.

We have regular monthly latihans two times a month

Due to the efforts of your regional helpers and a member who has regularly emailed the announcements and taken care of our phone-in system, we are able to offer regularly scheduled regional latihans for isolated members who are not near a group.

We have a regional website where we tell our stories and make announcements

During this term your committee, with the help of Paul Nelson, we created our new regional website.  We have used the site to publish regional board minutes, tell each other stories and announce upcoming events.  The power of this website is that, with MailChimp technology a regional newsletter is created and sent to every member of Subud PNW with the news of the week.

We have men and women interested in joining Subud

Recently, in Seattle and Portland, we have begun to have a new group of mostly young men and women coming to find out about Subud and getting opened.

How much time does it take?

I did a brief survey of your regional committee and helpers on the time they spent doing this work for you.  Those details are below.  Please review and consider: Are you willing to add your time and efforts to help Subud grow?

Are you willing to help Subud grow?

Both at our annual Kedjiwan event at the Menucha Retreat Center and in local meetings, I’ve heard the phrase: “We’re shrinking.  What can we do about it?”  If you will be willing to be a part of the many hands it takes to keep Subud growing by volunteering regionally or locally, we’ll find out together.

With Love and anticipation of a great Regional Congress,
Oswald Norton
Regional Helper

Time spent in Committee Work

Role	Event	Time Spent Working w/others
Chair	Monthly Board Meeting Planning	30 min
Chair	Monthly Board Meetings	60 min
Chair	Helping in Menucha Planning	1-2 hours/year
Chair	Helping Plan Arts Camp	2 weeks
Chair	Coordinating with others on regional business	2-3 hours/month
Vice Chair	Monthly Board Meeting Planning	30 min
Vice Chair	Monthly Board Meetings	60 min
Treasurer	Monthly Board Meeting Planning	30 min
Treasurer	Monthly Board Meetings	60 min
Treasurer	Quarterly Financial Reports	1-2 hours
Treasurer	Paying Regional Expenses	2-3 hours/month
Secretary	Monthly Board Meeting Planning	30 min
Secretary	Monthly Board Meetings	60 min
Secretary	Monthly Board Minutes	1-2 hours/month
Website Edits	Adds content to SPNW website as needed	1-2 hours/month

Time Spent In Regional Helper Work

Role	Event	Time Spent Working w/others
Woman RH	Monthly RH Meeting	30-45 min
Man RH	Monthly RH Meeting	30-45 min
Woman RH	Bi-Monthly Regional Latihan	30-45 min
Man RH	Bi-Monthly Regional Latihan	30-45 min
Woman RH	Monthly Regional Board Meeting	30-45 min
Man RH	Monthly Regional Board Meeting	30-45 min
Men & Women RH	Annual Planning Retreat	1-2 days
Men & Women RH	Menucha Planning Retreat	1-2 days
Men & Women RH	Menucha Event Leadership	4 days
Men & Women RH	Visiting Centers and Isolated Members	1-2 days every other month. Shared amongst the team.
Woman RH	Latihan Support Art’s Camp	2-3 days
Man RH	Latihan Support Art’s Camp	2-3 days

Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Pacific Northwest Region,

We are now 2 weeks away from our regional congress and we have a request of those of you who pray.  Would you please pray that strong candidates step forward to test for positions on our regional committee and for the positions of men and women regional helpers in for the next term?

Committee Candidates

To those of you who are considering answering that inner voice in you that is asking, “Can I do the work of the committee in our region?” I can assure you that should you become our new chair, or vice chair, you will be provided training and assistance in understanding the role and responsibilities.  You will assist in the further development of a strong region, with a solid set of bylaws, regular meetings and financial health.  You will have the opportunity to help our region to grow further through your efforts.

If possible, please grab a local helper and pretest regarding putting your name forward.  If this is not possible, testing can occur at the congress.

Regional Helper Candidates

To those of you who are considering answering that inner voice in you that is asking, “Can I do the work of a regional helper in our region?” I can assure you that should you become a regional helper, both Elizabeth Flanders and I are committed to assisting you in understanding the role and responsibilities of this job.

The role being primarily to serve the regional members in a way that you will discover during your term.

The responsibility is to just be sincere in doing the work and willing to grow as the work helps you to grow.

Also, know that if you travel out to visit our members, there is a budget for regional helper travel so that this work can be facilitated.

If possible, please grab a local helper and pretest regarding putting your name forward.  If this is not possible, testing can occur at the congress,