During the 2016 Subud California Regional Congress, an informal gathering of members shared visions for our future. The ideas were expressed in response to this challenge posed by Robert Mertens: “Declare a possibility that you can see for Subud California that inspires you and would help to transform Subud in California?”
Here are very brief summaries of the possibilities raised, which give an initial flavor for the range of ideas offered.
- Arthur Barrett (Los Angeles): Form community partnerships to develop facilities offering integrated care for both children and the elderly
- Leo Horthy (Santa Cruz): Develop center visions which give meat to the bones of possibility and open unexpected opportunities
- Luqman Katz (Los Angeles): Develop Subud’s wings through center-based connections to cultural and charitable communities for more spiritual growth across Subud California
- Rosetta Narvaez (Treasurer, Subud USA, Hawaii): Rethink ways of connecting to all regional members, recognizing that increasing numbers of members are not part of a local center or group
- Manuel Oliver (Palo Alto): Enable emergence of member clusters to help dispersed communities such as Subud parents or artists connect virtually for latihan and fellowship
- Robert Mertens (San Joaquin): Engage local communities, exploring all the various ways that each center can engage to support or develop its local community
- Henrietta Haines (Walnut Creek): Honor human dignity by valuing and caring for our elder members.
- Hasan MacNeil (Chico): Create space for meaningful conversations about the things which matter most. Ask “how has the truth been faring among you?”
- Elizabeth Trudell (Palo Alto): Commit to the next generation, with efforts by centers and the Region to make Subud more accessible for parents and their children.
- Latifah Taormina (Los Angeles): Foster circular flow from the spiritual to the material by balancing committee/helper focus. Pool our resources and have the courage to take Subud to all mankind.
- Helena Mertens (San Joaquin) Support organic development by taking small steps to open pathways toward growth and change. Have the courage to make more opportunities for sharing the gifts we gain from the latihan.
- Dennis Oliver (Palo Alto): Strengthen connections across centers with specific initiatives designed to provide opportunities to interact.
- Fernando Fatah Nieva (Zone 7 Representative, Mexico): Wake up the wings by seeking ways to integrate wing activity at the regional level, across regions and internationally.
- Jeff Stone (Santa Cruz): Attract members organically through local community involvement which makes Subud more visible in the world.
- Sylvia Des Tombe (Palo Alto): Experience harmony working together. Tap into our gifts through the latihan and realize that creativity is God.
- Farah Hess (Sacramento): Find new ways to share use of the properties and recognize these buildings are resources centers agree to manage for a place to do latihan, and whose rental income maintains them as financial assets for the betterment of the Region and all California’s members.”
- Philip Lindstrom (Palo Alto): Make connections with everyone in the center and encourage sharing and engagement