From Subud Sacramento report to the regional council, January 2014
By Farah Hess, regional council, Sacramento
Center life
Ariana Ward who was a member of Sacramento Subud recently became a helper; she now lives in Nevada City, so has been taken under the wings of the Regional Helpers due to the family’s far distance fem our local center. New chairperson, Myrna Echols, is recruiting for a committee. Our treasurer, Lucas Hess, has become an active helper again, holding the job until another treasurer can be found.
We had a great wedding of two of our members in December, Aminah Ulmer and Benedict Herrman. Family and friends of the bride and groom came from far and wide!
Rentals
We increased the rents one year ago for the Duplex to reflect local rents in the area and to garner more income for repairs. Hall and Yurt loans paid in full. In May 2013, when we lost our tenant, we had to temporarily suspend the extra $500/mo. we sent to the Region, earmarked for the Regional Housing Fund. This will resume when our new tenant signs another lease and we have a repair cushion in saving.
Our new Montessori school tenant since 9/1/13 is “Diamante Montessori”, and is doing well. She increased her enrollment to 16 students. The shared use relationship is going well and we expect to sign a longer term lease June 1, 2014. Since the Region’s loan to purchase of our Subud house in 1995, a building set up and licensed as a pre-school, it has proven to be the successful enterprise we hoped it would be.
Fundraising event
We held a garage sale in November, sold hot dogs and hamburgers and netted $900. Five hundred dollars went to the Region for Helper travel.
We spent $100 of money from our fundraiser to rent a beautiful “lodge” (community room) in a member’s apartment complex for a New Year’s Eve party for members and friends. We played pool, ping pong, listened to holiday music and ate by a roaring fireplace until 10pm.
In 2013 our Center pledged $1000 to Susila Dharma. By end of the year, we achieved our goal and sent funds to Susila Dharma. We are continuing to explore new creative fundraising projects.