At the last helpers’ meeting it was proposed that members of our group have a potluck in the park across the street from Spring Street Center on July 4th. Is this something you would enjoy? Please contact a helper to give feedback. Stay tuned for further details!
Category Archives: General Announcements
House Repairs Complete (for now)
No Post-Latihan Zoom Sunday May 16th
Post-latihan Zoom has been poorly attended (read no one) the past two weeks. Zoom fatigue may be a factor, or perhaps we are just ready to see each other in person. At any rate, Sunday Latihan in person carefully continues. There were 6 men and 3 women last Sunday. We are wearing masks and disinfecting surfaces before leaving.
Post-Latihan Zoom May 9th
Jim O’Halloran will be hosting the post-latihan Zoom this Sunday, May 9th. Here is the information to join in:
Gathering after Latihan When in Person
Since Spring Street Center is being rented as a whole-house rental, we will be needing a place to gather and visit after latihan post-COVID. For potlucks or special events we can reserve the house, but for our weekly chatting after latihan a space will be needed. The Dewan members had the idea that the corner of the men’s hall nearest the downstairs kitchen might be a good location. Do you like that idea? Do you have another one you would like to propose? Would you like to have a couch or two added for comfortable seating? If you have ideas about this, please email Bhakti (bhaktiwatts@gmail.com).
SICA-USA Fund Drive
Paul Nelson, Subud Greater Seattle Local Helper (and rental agent for 9 years) has been Chair of SICA-USA since November 20, 2020 and his latest report as Chair features these developments:
SICA’s website (www.SICA-USA.org) is averaging 80 hits a day in 2021, up from 44 last year and 43 the day before that, a 55% increase. March was an average of 100 hits a day. Posts have been done for approximately 114 consecutive weeks. There are several regular bloggers and our Cultural Conversation was launched this year. A Lawrence Pevec idea, the direct link is: https://sica-usa.org/sica-usa-cultural-conversation/ SICA hopes to be engaging members in this conversation online and, when we again can meet, at workshops at Congresses. The Board feels that the conversation about culture has the potential to transform SICA AND Subud.
Website submission guidelines are being developed. Lauren Stomel has joined as Web Coordinator.
SICA has awarded grants in 2021 to Patrick Morgan, former Office Manager for Subud USA for his memoir, River of Dreams. He died in March. His memoir is available on the SICA-USA website. Emmanuel Williams was also awarded a grant for Crinolina – a Young/Adult fantasy novel.
SICA’s fund drive, the first ever in SICA-USA history, started a few weeks ago with a goal of $20,000 and 200 contributions of $100 a piece. So far we have raised $4,250.
https://sica-usa.org/contribute/
Role Testing was done this past Friday (April 23) and the results were pretty amazing. The men’s testing was taped and a transcript being developed from that.
SICA needs a Secretary. Please refer potential candidates to:
Splabman@icloud.com
Paul woud love to see Subud Greater Seattle members support SICA-USA at this time and gives thanks to those members who have already donated.
Remembering Patrick Morgan
Patrick Morgan with Maria Cantrell, circa 1987 at an early PNW camp.
Those of us who have been around for a while might remember Patrick Morgan who passed away very recently. I was going to do a tribute to him in the newsletter but Paul Nelson has created an excellent one in the SICA news so I am posting the link below and urging all who remember Patrick to read it! Patrick also wrote a memoir of his life which is also in the recent issue. I remember him as a gentle, hard working soul who did a lot of work for Subud in the late eighties and early nineties. He along with a lot of other folks performed a ‘Peace Dance’ at the Evergreen College which was attended by many and seemed well received. I did a video of it but never got it put in a viewable state on the Internet. I have often wondered about what happened to Patrick in later years and this article, by his friend Mandy Landa, and his memoir has satisfied my wonder! Check it out!
Garden Mulching
Our house is looking even more beautiful thanks to the mulching we had done recently.
Post-Latihan Zoom May 2nd, Ramon Hosting
April Financial Summary
SGS Treasurer Summary Report, April 23, 2021
If You Haven’t Donated, Now Is The Time
Your committee appreciates everyone’s financial support. Even though Spring Street Center is able to provide some of our income needs. It is not able to cover all costs. Your donations, on average, cover only 51% of our costs.
Our goal for 2021 is to have everyone contribute something toward the upkeep of our center. When you give a little bit each month, you become a part of a membership dedicated to preserving our building for the future. If you have not yet donated this year, please do so! If you need a reason to donate please read the rest of this report. Thank you!
Future Expenses
The extensive wet weather this year allowed water to permeate the window frames on bedrooms 2 & 3 and our small deck on the 2nd floor. iTrip has been helpful coordinating contractor estimates. We have now engaged Absolute Rot Repair Inc. to repair the damage in both areas. Their estimate for repairing both areas is $20,919. The work has now begun.
In this month’s Subud PNW meeting – as previously reported – Jim O’Halloran was able to secure a commitment to a loan of $10,000 from the SPNW housing fund, which the group will have to repay. I had set aside $10,000 of our savings for these repairs. We also have approximately $4,990 iTrips was holding in escrow to assist in payment.
If the actual work to complete the repairs does not exceed Absolute’s estimate, and we draw on the loan from Subud PNW, we should have the ability to pay for the repairs as they occur.
The committee hopes to repay the SPNW loan before the end of the year through a combination of rental income and member donations.
Building Rentals
iTrip booked 4 rentals in Spring Street Center during April. Income from all rentals is being held in escrow to pay for repairs. Due to continued limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no booking for our halls during the same period.
Donations
Donations through April have been on average 30% lower than in 2020. We are now running a deficit and hope that members who have not donated previously will now consider joining those who do so already.
If you believe we can handle our expenses through member contributions, please consider this:
On average this year, donations have covered roughly one half of our expenses. The rest has been covered by our enterprise. Every dollar donated by a member is appreciated.
April Expenses
Our April PSE gas bill was in line with February’s, in spite of having 4 rentals.
Budget for 2021
Your committee is in the process of creating our budget for 2021. Until we have a clearer picture of income and expenses, I am unable to finish this work. Once the committee has a clearer understanding of these, we will present a budget at a general meeting for your consideration.
Important! New name for donation checks to Subud Greater Seattle
Use only “Subud PNW – Seattle Center” on any future donations to our center. Bank rules, recently changed, are delaying deposits. Please be sure to change the “Pay To The Order Of” section of your handwritten or automatic withdrawn check from your account and use this name. If you intend to make your donation to the Region, please earmark your check Subud PNW.
Thanks for those who have setup monthly donations
Thanks to all our monthly donators who have a recurring donation sent from their bank. You save on envelopes and stamps. And, you don’t have to remind yourselves to write a check. These regular checks really help us meet our monthly commitments to the region and pay for our use of our facilities.
If you’d like to know how to set up a recurring donation to our group through your bank, please contact me.