It has been over a year since the shelter-in-place guidelines designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 the novel coronavirus began to impact our ability to practice Latihan Kejiwaan. While in-person Latihans have resumed, attendance is very small. Concern of many members about their exposure to the virus, along with compliance with the state’s health guidelines has prevented larger Latihan experiences. With the availability of vaccinations, this situation has potential for change and will resume to the “new abnormal” – the life after Covid-19 before too long. The Subud House will have a different feel for those who have not attended Latihan since March 2020. Women must enter the chapel via the handicap ramp and men, the men’s Latihan hall via the basement. Fellowship in the kitchen and living room after Latihan is not possible anymore given the needs of the centerprise and the restrictions forced by Airbnb for lodging. This leaves us in a new situation. According to Subud Greater Seattle Treasurer Oswald Norton, member donations covered 29% of SGS expenses in 2019 and 43% in 2020. In that March 20, 2021 email Oswald wrote: “…Even before the major costs of recent repairs, it was the enterprise that allowed us to continue to have the use of the building as it took on more and more of the ongoing expenses for repairs. It took a major fund raising effort over many months to cover the gap that money from the enterprise didn’t cover…” Without a gigantic and unforseen contribution to Subud Greater Seattle, the revenues generated by the Centerprise will be necessary to maintain the Subud House for this and future generations. How to proceed? The kitchen next to the Men’s Latihan Hall requires an update, but is suitable for cooking, providing tea and coffee and supporting post-Latihan gatherings. For too long that kitchen has been neglected and now we have a good reason to update it and stock it with cups, plates, silverware, tea, snacks and all the amenities that aid genuine fellowship. What kind of fellowship? I propose that we have a post-Latihan event every Sunday after Latihan. Each week could have a theme: First Sunday – Culture Day: A performance, talk or workshop designed to give people the experience of culture that is informed by the Jiwa. This is how Subud was descibed as spreading to the general public and we should pay our artists (a mdoest stipend, $50), promote the event to Subud and non-Subud people alike and use it as outreach and fellowship at the same time. We are running out of time to do outreach and people will be looking for new, more meaningful experiences after the stress of the year-plus lockdown and we can hit the ground running. Second Sunday – Testing Day. General testing for membership to experience important aspects of how the Latihan impacts their lives along with testing for members who have personal issues for which they desire clarification, or guidance. Third Sunday – Helpers Latihan and Meeting. Helpers gather to meet and discuss issues affecting the membership and harmony of the group. Fourth Saturday – Dewan Meeting. Fourth Sunday – Fellowship Potluck. No agenda, but hanging out, eating each other’s cooking and enjoying the company of other Subud members. Fifth Sunday – Open House/Work Day. Let the community come to learn about our organization and experience the company of Subud members. At least one helper from the men and women should be present. In addition to greeting potential members, we can work on gardening and other issues affecting the upkeep of our house. I would recommend that we put stairs from the back deck to the back yard area and clean up/renovate that area for fellowship, plus install a security gate at the south entry to the area behind the house. May 30, August 29, October 31, January 30, 2022, May 29, 2022, July 31, 2022, and October 30, 2022 are all upcoming 5th Sundays. Submitted this 3rd Sunday of March, 2021 by Paul E Nelson 

Friends will gather after latihan on March 28th. Here is the link to join:

Topic: Zoom after Latihan with Ramon
Time: Mar 28, 2021 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
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+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

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Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

The Night of the Ancestors is this Sunday, March 28th. Here is a link to an interesting article about the Month of the Ancestors:

https://sica-usa.org/news/ancestors-more-questions-than-answers/

The Helper Dewan met on Sunday, March 21, 2021, and decided that it was now appropriate for 8 women to gather for Latihan at the Subud House and 8 men until further notice. This will be reviewed at the regular third Sunday Helpers meeting in April. Masks are required and each person practicing must sign a release to hold Subud Greater Seattle harmless. Release forms are in the respective halls. Paul Nelson will serve as main helper for the men and Annie Padilla for the women. We will operate under Phase Three Guidelines as issued by the State of Washington.

Members are welcome to attend, are asked to follow CDC guidelines and are encouraged to be two weeks past their final vaccination before practicing in person.

Sunday, March 28 after Latihan there will be a Night of the Ancestors Latihan for those who care to have one. (See this from 2020.)

If you would like a chance to talk to your Subud brothers and sisters after latihan this Sunday, here is the link to connect:

Topic: After Latihan
Time: Mar 21, 2021 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,9882021449# US (Tacoma)
+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

You are invited! PST will be PDT starting Sunday, so don’t miss out. Here is the link to join:

Topic: SUBUD zoom’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Mar 14, 2021 11:32 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9882021449

Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,9882021449# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,9882021449# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 988 202 1449
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdouZ8kIh8

Don’t forget that we are springing forward, and that your latihan on Sunday will be on Daylight Savings Time!

https://www.subudgreaterseattle.com/month-of-ancestors/

February 26, 2021

Building Rentals

iTrip booked rentals in Spring Street Center for both January and February. Income from those rentals is being held in escrow as we work out repairs needed due to water leakage in our building. (see below for details.) iTrip is currently working on rental forecasts which will be included in our draft 2021 budget to be presented at the next committee meeting. 

Donations

Donations through February were down from similar months in 2020. Last year member contributions picked up starting in March. It is hoped that this will be possible this year as well. Our donations plus iTrip income against our expenses for 2021 have resulted in a shortfall of $1186. This shortfall was covered using our current savings. The committee is hopeful that as rentals and donations will pick up and we’ll again be in the black soon. 

January and February Expenses

Our heating expenses were up in January and February which are particularly cold and damp months. However, we believe that we can lower these costs further, if members who use the building do not leave the thermostat in the women’s hall on Permanent Hold. We have placed a sign on the thermostat to request member help with this. 

Budget for 2021

Your committee is in the process of creating our budget for 2021.  A draft budget will be presented at the March committee meeting.  Once the committee feels it is ready, we will present soon after at a general meeting for your approval. 

Future Expenses

Your committee continues to monitor and keep our costs as low as possible. Our winter heating bills will continue to be high, due to the cold temperatures and damp weather we’ve been having. 

Due to the extensive wet weather in the last 3 months, we have had water leaking through both window sills in bedrooms 2 & 3 and our small deck on the 2^nd floor.  iTrip has been helpful coordinating contractor estimates to repair this damage. (We do have an old building). We are having the deck repaired first to keep water from leaking into the downstairs bathroom. It is hoped that this work will be able to happen in the first two weeks of March, weather depending. The window sill work is still being explored. iTrips has developed a work-around for the sill issue, while still being able to rent those rooms.  I am currently estimating $9,790 for both jobs. Some of these costs can be cover through current rental income. 

If You Haven’t Donated, Now Is The Time

Your committee appreciates everyone’s financial support of our center.  Our goal for 2021 is to get everyone to contribute something toward the upkeep of our center.  When you give a little bit each month, you become a part of  the membership dedicated to preserving our building for the future. If you have not yet donated this year, please do so! Thank you!

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 setup a recurring donation to our group through your bank, please contact me.

Submitted by Oswald Norton