Relo Team Community Bulletin for May

Your Relo Team Community Bulletin for May

What we’re thinking about and doing to ensure a home for our community.

Background: We will keep a pulse on our collective wishes to see what we want and what we have the energy and resources.  For example, right now, our dues alone do not cover our expenses. We do have 100 members, but at this time, are choosing to withhold dues. Finally, in keeping with our last report, we felt we needed to move ahead energetically in order to make the best possible decisions. So we are actively considering all our options and making plans on all fronts.

What We’re Thinking

Shelter in Place:  Remaining in the Carnegie Building with possible changes has the advantage of giving us time to let things in Shambhala overall and locally settle so we get clearer on the landscape of what is possible.  Options include:

  • Sub-let or rent out space
  • Reduce size of what we now lease here
  • Ask for rent reduction if extend our lease
  • Other ideas

Lily Pad:  This entails finding a place to land for a while that sustains us but is not necessarily permanent.  Advantage is that we could lower our monthly costs while still having a space to practice and offer classes.  

  • Sub-let space from another organization
  • Interfaith space-sharing with another similar community.
  • Smaller commercial space with reduced monthly rent.

Purchase a New Center:  Because buying anything involves a 15-30 year mortgage commitment, this does not appear viable for now.  We would first need clarity about Shambhala International as well as our local community. We will, though, keep our eyes open for possible options and the market in general.

No Bricks and Mortar Space:  Forgo having a space for a time. Advantage is that we could build up dues for future rental or purchase. We considered this undesirable because practicing together physically provides community energy.

  • Could meet in people’s homes as when Portland Shambhala first started.
  • Could have monthly or bi-monthly fun community events

What We’re Doing

Window Shopping: These are activities that educate us prior to having to make a recommendation to Council on any moves. Purpose is to gain experience in assessing spaces, see various layouts and identify how much/little space might still work to reduce our monthly costs. Current and future actions:

  • Already started visiting “for rent” commercial spaces with low square-foot costs to see if workable for us eventually.
  • Talking with another org. needing a new space to see if a partnership might make sense and work for mutual benefit.
  • Checking out viability of sub-letting space in a NE Lutheran Church and possible cost/square foot; visit if sounds promising to view options.
  • Checking out and contacting other possible spaces in like organizations.
  • Seeking help from Director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon who offered to help and may know of available churches for sub-letting or interfaith space sharing.
  • Exploring current market rates for leases in our identified best area.
  • Possible request/ad in Northwest Dharma Association newsletter.

In summary we are planning for what might happen in a year when our lease is up at Carnegie and meanwhile open to opportunities now.  

Question for You, Yes YOU!

Fewer members seem to be showing up to practice at our center.  So, we want to hear from you. You are at the center of our efforts, after all.  Here’s the question: How important is it, to you, to have a place to meditate with others in community?

Please reach out to us through our communications chair, Mark Douglass, at [email protected].  Let us know your thoughts, any questions or concerns, and if you would like to lend time and energy to our efforts. Thank you.

With appreciation for your time,

Jay Stewart, Facilitator
Mark Douglass, Communication
Jack Bodner and David Parker, Finance and Fundraising
Bettina Hetz and Doug McCanne, Research and Planning
Nancy Smith and Happy Barnes, Community Members

Leave a Reply