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Instruments

By Hani’a Hummingbird

There is a secret place. A peaceful place. A place where no trouble can abide.

There are gentle people who are aware of this secret place, and who go there to help not only themselves, but also those who know not yet of this secret place.

When the gentle people have a trouble in themselves or are aware of troubles affecting others somewhere in the world, they gather in the secret place to give themselves over
…to the Embrace…
…of the Silent…
…and when the Music arises…
…they begin to Sing and to Dance.

Peace is made available from their singing and dancing, not only for the gentle people, but also for those who, wherever they may be, are seeking through prayer a relief of their heart’s troubles.

The gentle people do not ask thanks, nor do they seek recognition for this help that is made available through their singing and dancing — because they understand
…they are not the Musician…
…nor are they the Music…
…they are simply the Beloved’s faithful instruments.

This lovely piece was originally published in the Marin Center’s January 2024 newsletter

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Menucha is Coming!

The Pacific Northwest Regional Helpers invite you to the annual PNW Kedjiwaan retreat at the Menucha conference center, near Portland, Oregon, on November 9-12, 2017. For event details and registration information, please click here.

 

Support the Silent Auction
For the last few years, Subud Portland has sponsored a women’s clothing exchange at Menucha. This year, instead of a clothing exchange, they are offering a Silent Auction. As always, this event will help raise the seed money for next year’s Portland Matching Fund for Susila Dharma USA. Everyone is invited to donate treasures for this auction.

Items donated must be in new or good condition. Please save clothing items for another year!

If you are coming to Menucha, please bring your items with you.  If not, please coordinate with others who are coming. If you have questions, please contact Leana McClellan, leanamcc@gmail.com; 503-515-5191. Or, make a cash donation to Susila Dharma here.

Thank you on behalf of Susila Dharma and the PNW Region!

Update on Arcata, June 2015

Submitted by Halimah Collingwood, Regional Councilor

  • Latihan Address:  1920 Zehndner, Arcata, CA 95521
  • Mailing Address:   P O Box 903, Arcata, CA  95518
  • Phone Contact:    707-822-4444

Latihan Days/Times: Men: Mondays, Thursdays, 7 pm, Women: Monday or Tuesday, 7 pm 

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

  • Active Women Center Helpers: Halimah Collingwood
  • Active Men Center Helpers: Stefen Solat

Committee Names/Phone & Email Contact:

  • Treasurer: Halimah Collingwood
  • Property Manager: Real Property Management, Sanderson Morgan is liaison
  • Regional Councilor:  Halimah Collingwood

 Life of the Center Report Summary:

We celebrated Halimah’s 50 years in Subud at a local restaurant. It was also a welcome to our new members.

Lisa Enge participated in an art opening with her hand-crafted ceramics.

We hosted two African Singing Workshops in May for Subud and community members.

Our Subud House is in good shape and is well used by our community. It is paid for, no outstanding debts and brings in revenue for the Region. We are getting estimates to paint our House this summer.

Arcata Center Update, April 2015

Submitted by Halimah Collingwood, Regional Councilor

Latihan Address:  1920 Zehndner, Arcata, CA 95521

Latihan Days/Times: Men: Mondays, Thursdays, 7 pm

Women: by appointment Monday or Tuesday, 7 pm

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

Rental income: $1600 per month from Stepping Stones Preschool, $150 per month from Quakers, $25 per month from donations. Stepping Stones just took over payment of the water bill so they are now responsible for all utilities.

Life of the Center Report Summary:  Center life is quiet at the moment. One member is on a sabbatical from Subud, two older members are living in old age homes and cannot walk (they are visited by the helpers), one member has a hard time getting to latihan at night and in the morning  (Halimah occasionally latihans with her at her home), and several others are busy doing other things. There is communication between helpers and inactive members but that doesn’t translate to center activity. Some members prefer to latihan at home.

Our Subud House is in good shape and is well used by our community. It is paid for, no outstanding debts and brings in revenue for the Region.

Committee Names

Chairperson:  None

Treasurer: Halimah Collingwood

Property Manager: Real Property Management, Halimah is liaison

Regional Councilor:  Halimah Collingwood

Regional Council Meeting

Our next regional council meeting is hosted by the Sonoma group on the weekend of Feb 20-22. All California members are welcome to come as visitors.

Each center or group is invited to be represented on the council. Councilors are appointed for a four year term after testing with their group or center members. Do speak to your local committee if you have an interest…it is a great way to learn more about Subud in the region and beyond.

Alert re Subud California Renter’s Insurance

by Farah Hess

All center committees, property managers and rental coordinators need to know that the Region’s Tenant  Insurance  Policy (TULIP) ends December 27, 2014.
  • Bapak spoke often of the importance of enterprise
  • More than half the centers in California have an enterprise with rental income

About five years ago, the Region established a contract with a large insurance company to make renter’s insurance easily available and affordable to individuals and small organizations in our communities who need rental space. This partnership with our centers has increased rentals and earned extra income. It has made it possible for centers to fund maintenance and repairs locally, and to have a greater presence in the communities in which we live.

The policy has been terminated by the insurance company as of December 27th. At that time, all renters must have their own insurance coverage and furnish rental coordinators with a ‘Certificate of Insurance.’ (please contact your center chairperson or regional council representative for details).
The Regional Committee is in the process of searching for another insurance provider.

Gleanings from the National Congress 2014 Board Meeting

by Renata Reid

Having returned from the National Congress, I’d love to share some my experiences. While sitting in the board meeting and voting on the resolutions were important and yielded new information, the most powerful take home for me was from a break out session during the Board meeting. In small groups, we wrote out what the regional chairs, wing chairs and national helpers felt about “What Worked” and “Challenges Faced” in the previous year.

There were several commonalities among us but also some distinct differences.  California is unique in that we have an entire council and, like the National Board’s executive director, we have the benefit of an office manager who provides a lot of continuity as well as historical information and guidance.

Here are challenges that seem to affect ALL aspects of Subud:

  • Lack of continuity from one committee term to the next
  • Top heavy and personnel light
  • Difficulty getting info out to members
  • Lack of involvement or lack of new participation
  • Burnout by members who serve without support
  • Balancing Subud life with personal/work life
  • Not attracting new members and young members
  • People aren’t staying
  • Disconnect between local, regional and national committees/ boards
  • Spin off groups
  • Difficulty raising funds

But here are the responses to “What Worked” in the past year:

  • Having amazing resources of talents within Subud
  • The Latihan! The helpers feel that the latihan is strong and there is evidence of inner growth
  • The Dewan and the National Board worked harmoniously together
  • Our Regional Dewan and the Council work harmoniously together
  • Having an national executive director
  • New Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to keep member information up to date
  • THE JUICE: meaning, the energy we get from working together
  • That our wings, SICA, SES and Susila Dharma are evidence of Subud working in the world– cannot emphasize this enough!

Lastly, our new National Committee is decisively moving to work more closely with the regional AND center chairs. Our new national committee will be kicking off their term with council meetings that will be dedicated to the business of the regions, the wings and the helpers respectively.  If you’ve thought about stepping forward to serve on a committee or pick up the baton of the helpers it has never been a better time.

Welcome! Theo Parfet joins Sacramento Subud

Sacramento Subud’s  newest member, Theo Parfet,  was opened May 7th. He moved here from Colorado and has two sisters in Subud who live in the PNW.

Call for Congress Proposals

The Subud California Congress, which will be held this year on Labor Day Weekend (Aug 29 to Sep 1, 2014) will be a  multimedia arts spectacular in the desert at the new and improved Joshua Tree Retreat Center. (See article)

We invite you to share your personal expression at this brave new congress – offer a workshop, share your music , build an outdoor art installation, tell a story: add a piece of your inner light to the glow. We especially want to encourage young people and people that have not previously organized or shared anything to bring your unique self to complete the Subud family tapestry.

Contact us at cal congress [at] gmail.com or at our individual emails below.

Or send us a message on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/SubudCAli2014

 

Call for proposals: 

– Films for the Subud film makers Film Festival

– Musicians

– outdoor art installations

– art and items to sell at the Art Gallery / Giftshop

– workshop proposals

– yoga leader

– guide for a star gazing tour

– volunteers for childcare

– Subud healers to offer healing at the Healing Garden

– Subud humor (cartoons, drawings, art, video) for a proposed Laughter Latihan corner

– and any other ideas you have!

 

Congress team    

Email the team at:   calcongress@gmail.com

or contact us individually:

Ethan Harris:      ethan.s.harris [at] gmail.com

Michael Menduno:      subudcatreasurer [at] gmail.com

Naomi Onaga:      nc_onaga [at] yahoo.com

Laksar Reese:     laksar2 [at] gmail.com