The Portland Shambhala Center Director Search

The Governing Council of the Portland Shambhala Center is pleased to announce that, after an extensive search process, Lisa Stanley has accepted the position of Portland Center Director! The entire community is warmly invited to witness her take her oath to succeed our current Director, Lesa Ricci, on Shambhala Day, February 11, 2013.

The Portland Shambhala Meditation Center’s new Director search process began in May 2012 (See the time line & search process below). The Governing Council appointed three people to be on the search committee, who advertised for the half-time position internationally through Shambhala media, collected resumes, gathered applicant responses to a questionnaire, interviewed them and checked references. The Search Committee then presented their finalists to the Governing Council on Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Council remotely interviewed Ms. Stanley, who is currently the director of Human Resources at Karme Choling. We found Ms. Stanley to be a thoughtful, grounded, and well-seasoned practitioner with broad experience in many areas of the sangha. In the interview and a subsequent meeting, we were impressed by her devotion to Shambhala vision and found her to be kind, forthright, and spacious. Luckily for us she has been wanting to move to Portland for several years. We feel that Ms. Stanley’s thoughtful approach will help deepen and enrich our sangha.

Thanks to the leadership of our current director, Ms. Lesa Ricci, we’ve grown significantly as an organization, have taken on more than we thought possible, have attracted many people to the Center and are now ready for the next phase of growth. We look forward to supporting Lisa Stanley as our new director and as she puts down roots in a new town.

Signed,

The Governing Council of the Portland Shambhala Center

Ann Cason, Desung
Chris Poor, Rusung
Alice Price, Finance Director
John Smith, Shambhala Counselor
Candace Stoughton, Director of Societal Health & Wellbeing
Jay Stewart, Head Dekyong
Angie Reynolds, Council Secretary

Background

On February 5, 2012, our current Center Director, Lesa Ricci, announced her intention to retire as of Shambhala Day 2013. The new Director search process was initiated by the Portland Shambhala Governing Council at its May 6 Council Retreat.

At this retreat, the Council:

• Studied the Guidelines for the Appointment of Leaders of Shambhala Centers and decided to follow the process set forth in that document.
• Established the general time line for the new Director search process.
• Decided to establish a three-person search committee, who will search for candidates, conduct initial interviews, and submit finalists to the Portland Governing Council, whose responsibility it is to submit nominations to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for appointment.
• Decided who to invite to sit on that committee, with an eye toward diversity of Shambhala experience and age.

Appointment of Leaders of Shambhala Centers

Overall our appointment process aspires to reflect good linkage to the lineage of Sakyongs and to the central governance of Shambhala, as well as to the community as a whole. The process works in accordance with the Three Pillar Model of Kalapa Governance and includes the local community. In this way, newly appointed leaders can rely on a collaborative relationship with their community as well as with the center of the mandala, thereby greatly contributing to a culture of joining heaven and earth.

Appointments from the Center of the Mandala:

In accordance with mandala principle, the core leadership positions in all Shambhala Centers, Dzongs and Practice Centers are appointed from the center of the mandala. Such appointments are made with the following values in mind:

• Linkage: The sense of connection between the leader and the center of the
  mandala and to the Sakyong is increased.
• Empowerment: The importance of the role and the legitimacy of the person
  holding it are underscored.
• Support: The ability to tap into real support from the center of the mandala is
  strengthened.
• Communication: Two-way communication between appointees and the
  center of the mandala is increased.
• Relationship: The overall sense of shared vision and goals is underscored so
  that a true partnership between the center of the mandala and local leaders is
  possible.
  

This view applies to all Shambhala Centers and Dzongs, regardless of size and circumstance of the Shambhala Center. The aim is to have a clear and transparent process in place for how leaders are appointed.

Term Limits:

Appointments are normally made for a three-year term of office (once renewable by mutual consent). Term limits give a clear parameter to both the community and the appointed leader regarding the length of service, thereby contributing to community harmony. Working with a three-year term provides a time frame for each office holder in which to conduct strategic planning and priority setting. Term limits also increases an overall sense of freshness among the leadership and encourage the continued development of new leaders.

Position Announcement

• The Appointment of Center Directors section of the Guidelines for the Appointment of Leaders of Shambhala Centers
• View and Context for the Position of Center Director

• Job Description
• Portland Shambhala Organizational Mandala
• Search Committee: Nancy Smith, Rebecca Jamieson, Marc Otto
• Process for Applying: Interested individuals are warmly invited to submit (1) a statement of interest, and (2) a resume to the Search Committee at portlanddirectorsearch@gmail.com. The Search Committee will receive applications until August 30, 2012.
  
• General Time Line:
  • June: Position Description is completed by outgoing Director.
  • July: Position Description is approved by the Portland Shambhala Governing Council and shared with the community.
  • July: Center Director Position Opening is advertised to the worldwide Shambhala community.
  • August: Search Committee receives applications
  • September: Search Committee reviews applications and selects interview candidates.
  • October: Search Committee interviews candidates.
  • November: Search Committee selects finalists for consideration by the Portland Shambhala Governing Council.
  • December: Portland Shambhala Governing Council determines which finalists to submit to the Sakyong for appointment.
  • January: Portland Shambhala Governing Council receives Kalapa Court appointment; Finalizes details with appointee; Appointment is announced.
  • Late January: Overlap for hand-off between current and new Center Directors.
  • February 11: New Director takes oath; Changing of the Guard Celebration held.
  • Rest of February: Former Director remains available to consult with New Director.

Learn more about meditation and buddhism at shambhala.org
Read more about meditation and buddhism at shambhalatimes.org

Glossary of terms at labelingthoughts.org.

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Shambhala Meditation Center of Portland
1110 SE Alder Street, Suite 203, Portland,  OR 97214
Tel. 503 231 4971   

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