Have you been present at a Subud California Regional Congress when members were chosen to serve for two-year terms in the roles of Regional Chair and Vice-Chair? Have you wondered what their responsibilities on the Regional Council are or thought about taking such a role yourself? If so, you’ll want to read on, and also pre-test with your local helpers about this possibility.
Talking with people who have served as officers or in other roles on the Regional Council makes it clear that the experience offers many opportunities for personal growth and for making new connections. Council members meet people from across the Region, see how the Region supports Subud CA’s centers and groups on both the material and spiritual level, and gain an understanding of how the Region interacts with the Subud wings and Subud USA. To get some sense of the work of the Council, see the report on the 12/8/2018 council meeting here.
Below are brief job descriptions from the Region’s bylaws, which offer some sense of the official duties. However, the best way to find out more is to talk with a current
Chair: The Regional Chair shall have, in consultation with the Regional Council, general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at Regional Committee meetings, and at the meetings of the Regional Council, shall represent Subud California at meetings of the Subud USA Board of Directors and serve as the Regional delegate at Subud USA National Congresses. The Regional Chair shall have other powers and duties as may be described by the bylaws of the Corporation, or the Regional Council or the Regional or Special Congress may prescribe.
Vice-Chair: In the absence or disability of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall perform all duties of the Chair. The Vice-Chair shall have such other powers and duties as the Chair, the Regional Council, or Congress may prescribe.
The Chair and Vice Chair also work with the Executive Director and the Region’s standing committees for Property Management, Congress Development, and Community Development, who provide continuity for the administration of the Region over time
The Region’s bylaws list the key purposes of Subud California, as overseen by the Regional Council (also known as the Board of Director):
“The specific and primary purposes for which this corporation is formed are:
- To provide for the worship of God and the Spiritual growth of its members in accordance with the principles and practices of Susila Budhi Dharma.
- To engage in religious, charitable and educational work which in the opinion of its Board of Directors is appropriate to the achievement of the religious and spiritual purpose of the corporation.
- In addition to said specific and primary purposes, this corporation shall have the following purposes or powers, namely: to establish and provide for the conduct of assemblies and meetings and to carry out
the specific and primary purposes of the corporation: to print, publish, sell, or otherwise distribute books, magazinesand pamphlets which its Board of Directors believe will promote its specific and primary purposes; to acquire and own any property of any kind and to use, manage, improve, pledge, mortgage, or convey by deed of trust and sell, exchange or transfer any property which it may acquire or of which it may be the owner; and to solicit and accept voluntary contributions of real and personal property of any kind; and in general to carry on any other activities which its Board of Directors believe will promote its specific and primary purposes.
Being a member of the Regional Council, whether as an elected Committee member or some other capacity, is a great opportunity to contribute to Subud and to expand your understanding of how Subud works in the world.