Relocation: New Year, New Opportunities

February 17, 2017 by Abbey Pleviak
Over the past few years our Portland Shambhala Meditation Center has grown its membership, classes and offerings, and budget to a size consistent with many other community-based nonprofits, religious communities, clubs, and social action groups in the Portland area! The challenge we face is that the physical space of our Center is limited and cannot meet our expanded needs. It is only with careful scheduling and negotiation that we are able to continue our current offerings as well as adding new ones in service to the community.
 
Last fall we began the process of envisioning and working toward relocating into a new, larger, more flexible space. Here are a few of the things we laid down as priorities:
 

  • A larger main practice hall

  • A larger dining/kitchen space

  • Multiple teaching and practice spaces for multiple events

  • Providing accessibility

  • Garden and outdoor spaces

  • Possible live-in/residential spaces, or rental spaces for collaborative individuals and organizations, or for Members’ needs

  • Location that reflects Eva Wong’s suggestions for us re: feng shui (read about her and the practice at https://www.shambhalamountain.org/program/fengshui/), and is easily reached by car/bike/bus


In order to move toward these priorities we established a set of Working Groups:

  • Community Vision: Linking Finance, Research and Communication needs with the visioning process will be headed by Center Director Lisa Stanley, with Jay Stewart serving as the overall Coordinator. We are shaping and adapting the identified priorities of our community with ongoing input and conversation, in response to knowledge gained of needs and options, and our financial goals and capacity.
  • Finance: David Parker and Jack Bodner have begun looking at options for raising funds towards financing the purchase of a new facility. We currently have $77,000 in a restricted fund for relocation. Although this is a good start, based on our market research we will need to raise much more toward a substantial down payment. We will also need to increase and maintain our ongoing monthly income from dues and program revenue in order to qualify for a mortgage loan and to meet the increased costs of a larger building and its upkeep, repair and insurance.
  • Research and Planning: Bettina Hetz and a small team of volunteers have begun looking at options in the Portland metro area that might suit our needs. Although none have yet proved sufficient or affordable, we have learned a great deal about what is available and what is possible for us. We need to continue to research the costs of the various options of either buying an existing building, building on an empty lot, or a mix of the two, in various neighborhoods.
  • Communication: Mark Douglass and Jay Stewart will be reporting to you, our community, as the process unfolds, as well as facilitating inter-communication between teams and team leaders, and with the Governing Council.
As we move forward in meeting our vision you can support and participate in the process by:
  • Joining one of the working groups above, or for discrete projects as they arise by emailing the team leader(s)
  • Donating time and money, becoming a Member or increasing your monthly dues
  • Spreading the news
  • Engaging support from friends and associates
  • Volunteering in general in the areas of programming (staffing) and membership activities; contact Abbey Pleviak for more information

—

Mark Douglass

Societal Health and Well Being Director
Shambhala Meditation Center of Portland
1110 SE Alder St. #203
Portland, OR  97214

 

Leave a Reply