The Shambhala Board

Dear Community —

As we witness yet another instance of violence against Black Americans—a moment which stems from hundreds of years of systemic oppression—we Shambhala leaders wish to speak out not only to express our sorrow, outrage and emotion over this moment in time but to demonstrate a tangible commitment to action.

Doing so without acknowledging our own failings as a community would be insincere and hypocritical. For years, our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) teachers, leaders and members have been asking for change, and directly expressing what they need. There have been many well intentioned efforts to both educate our white sangha and to listen to and support our BIPOC members, and yet white fragility and racism are still as prevalent as ever.  This acknowledgement is not intended to discredit those who have tried to enact meaningful change in our community, particularly the ongoing work in many of our local centers. Many initiatives have started, but often did not receive the support and resources needed. Shambhala has lost some of its most dedicated members and teachers of color due to these failings. This must be acknowledged. We must do better.

As many of you may already be doing, those of us on the Shambhala Board are making personal donations to organizations that support the protestors, fight for social justice and do political advocacy work. These include:

• ACLU Foundation

• Amnesty International

• Black Lives Matter

• Color of Change

• Equal Justice Initiative

• Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

• Massachusetts Bail Fund

• NAACP

• National Urban League, Inc.

• Northside Achievement Zone

These donations are only a start and cannot be the whole of our action.

We would like to invite individuals and groups within Shambhala to apply for a second round of Community Grants that will focus on initiatives of diversity and inclusion.  We would also welcome proposals that collaborate with groups or individuals outside of Shambhala who bring knowledge and experience on these topics.  If you have an idea for such a grant, please contact the Board at board@shambhala.org.

Internally, in the near future, the Office of Community Care and Conduct will be releasing a policy on Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination, along with the new Code of Conduct policies, and a training on Right Use of Power. We hope this policy and training will serve as a catalyst for dialogue on how each one of us and our community can address systemic discrimination and support diversity and inclusion.

Those of us who identify as white must take action to understand whiteness. The Board is committed to listening to BIPOC voices, educating ourselves, and further developing an ongoing course of action. We urge you to join us in this work.

Black Lives Matter.

The Shambhala Board

Veronika Bauer
Mark Blumenfeld
Phil Cass
John Cobb
Susan Engel
Lilly Gleich
Peter Nowak
Tai Pimputkar
Susan Ryan
Paulina Varas

Dear Shambhala Community,

We hope that you are safe and well and we wish to express our sympathy to everyone suffering from the conditions of the global COVID-19 crisis.  Like many, the Board members have been staying in place at home while continuing our work.  We are impressed and inspired by the strength of our communities and center leaders in rising to the personal and financial challenges that have been heightened by the pandemic.

At this time, all of our centers are physically closed to public and community programming.  We ask that everyone exercise the greatest diligence to keep themselves and their communities safe.

We have much to share in this update, and, as always, look forward to your valuable feedback and thoughtful comments.  We will detail in this update new care and conduct initiatives as well as new online programming relevant to our current situation and need to connect to each other.

We will also report on the first quarter’s financial results and on our recent survey to leaders about their centers’ financial status.  Throughout the mandala, the requirements of staying in place and social distancing have had a significant impact on our revenues. Our land centers have many challenges since their income is driven almost completely by in-person programs and gatherings.  Your local centers continue to depend on member dues and generosity, and, now, as well are applying for government programs and working with landlords and/or lenders.

As a Board, we continue to contemplate and explore our heart-felt wish that our community can find unity, growth and ways to bring benefit to others.  We acknowledge the need to do much more work with both the community and with the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to realize this.

With warmth and appreciation,

The Shambhala Board

Veronika Bauer

Mark Blumenfeld

John Cobb

Susan Ryan

Paulina Varas

Board Decisions

Since the last update, the Board has considered and authorized the following:

• Decided to bring five new members onto the Shambhala Board as Directors.
• Decided to fund a limited number of community grant applications, given the need to relate to financial issues as a result of the pandemic.
• Surveyed centers about financial issues centers they are having as a result of the virus, and began working with centers having difficulties.
• Worked with Shambhala Mountain Center (SMC) on updating our working agreements including an easement to guarantee road access to the Stupa of Dharmakaya (the Stupa is on a land parcel that Shambhala USA has owned separate from SMC).
• Authorized the initial steps in a reparative process for the Shambhala Community (details below).
• Added funding to the Right Use of Power training to allow for translations and integration with Shambhala teachings.
• Fulfilled the Shambhala Day commitment of offering free online teachings through the new Sunday Gatherings programming initiative.
• Conducted a community survey to help determine initiatives needed in this time of COVID-19.
• Accelerated the roll-out of the new Code of Conduct.
• Provided resources to improve coordination and planning of on-line programming .
• Authorized the professional review and updating of our privacy and database policies.
• Initiated a review of the Shambhala Global Services (SGS) employee handbook and related policies.

Welcome to New Board Members

In April, the Board Advisory Nominating Group sent their candidate recommendations to the Board along with recorded interviews and references for our review.  The Board is excited to announce that the following individuals have accepted a position on the Board as a Director:

• Phil Cass (Columbus, Ohio)
• Susan Engel (New Brighton, Minnesota)
• Lily Gleich (Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia)
• Peter Nowak (Vienna, Austria)
• Tai Pimputkar (Fairfield, Connecticut)

Please click here to see photographs and brief bios of each new Director. In addition to a strong commitment to the Shambhala mandala, the new Board members will bring a wide range of skills and background to our work, including non-profit management, organizational management, financial expertise and professional psychology backgrounds as well as prior experience in leadership roles within the Shambhala community.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming these new members in the coming weeks.  We cannot express how much we appreciate the professionalism and diligence of the Board Advisory Nominating Group and wish to deeply thank and offer a bow to Patricia Anderson, Gabe Dayley, Christine Heming and Fred Van Welsem for their commitment and many hours of excellent work.

Community Care and Conduct

The Shambhala Board holds community care, conduct and training as a priority, and we are pleased to announce continued progress made in these areas.  In March and April, the Code of Conduct Support Group (CCSG) and the Director of Community Care and Conduct released the new Child Protection Policy (CPP), along with an explanatory CPP webinar (which is now available to watch as a recording), as well as “Preparing the Ground” presentations to over twenty groups in Shambhala.

A Reparative Process for the Shambhala Community: The Board recognizes that a reparative process for our community is necessary to acknowledge the harm that has occurred and support healing, as we simultaneously move forward with accountability, transparency, inclusion and care – all under one umbrella.

To continue moving forward, the Board has contracted Robert Wright, who previously delivered the “Sexual Harm, Trauma, and the Healing Journey,” course, along with two members of his team, Linda Atkinson and James Dubé, to offer professional support to a community design process. The team will assist in outlining and modeling a reparative community process. If you would like more information, please contact the Director of Community Care and Conduct at tara.templin@shambhala.org.

We want to acknowledge and thank the Process Team and countless others for their heartfelt and significant effort in advancing the healing work – work that has held our community together in many ways despite the most difficult of circumstances.

Forming a Child Protection Policy Council: A Child Protection Policy Council is being created to 1) support community members in reporting matters according to local law and mandatory reporting, and Shambhala principles, 2) handle complaints and issues using appropriate, child and family-sensitive methods, and 3) recommending and developing related training. We encourage qualified community members to consider applying to be part of Council here.

The New Code of Conduct: The writing of the Code of Conduct has been one of the most significant and important endeavors of the CCSG and the Board working together. The Board has approved an ambitious drafting and roll out schedule for the new Code, commencing with the CPP. This roll out now needs the engagement of all of us.  As a community, we are embarking on a significant cultural shift, which is to truly ‘walk the talk’ of our Shambhala teachings. This Summer, the remaining Code of Conduct policies and process will be finalized along with an annual review date. We encourage community members to become familiar with the new Code when it is published and participate in ways to improve and implement the new Code which we will announce when it is released. If you have questions or feedback, complete a feedback form, and/or contact: feedbackshambhalacoc@gmail.com or tara.templin@shambhalaglobal.org.

Preparing the Ground Presentations. The CCSG, which includes Jim Fladmark, Susie Vincent, Jan Frans Sturm, Kristine McCutcheon, Greg Lubkin, Claudia Arnau, along with Tara Templin, Director of Community Care and Conduct, are now offering a Preparing the Ground presentation to the entire community. This will be an opportunity to discuss further and deeper with the community the principles of the new framework, which is based on restoring trust through inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and care. They will present an overview of the policies and processes, how they differ from the current Shambhala Care and Conduct policy, and the next steps in regards to the
implementation of the new Code of Conduct framework.

You are invited to participate in a 90 minute call that best fits your schedule (on June 12 and June 13)

To RSVP for one of the calls, please click here.

If you’re unable to join one of these calls and want to submit a question, please send it in advance to codeofconductsg@gmail.com. The call will be recorded and made available to the community following the live events.

Right Use of Power (RUP) Training. In June, individuals holding positions of authority in Shambhala will be invited to participate in a “Right Use of Power” training. The RUP training will support individuals in positions of trust to relate with awareness and insight to the power that derives from their positions, and with increasing sensitivity to the impact of the use of power on others and in their field of influence.  Cedar Barstow, Executive Director of the Right Use of Power Institute, and Acharya Susan Skjei will be delivering and facilitating this training for our community.  Further information will be forthcoming on how to be involved.

Meeting with the Sakyong’s Representatives and the Sakyong Potrang

The Shambhala Board has had a number of Zoom meetings with the Sakyong’s representatives and correspondences with the Sakyong Potrang to discuss the relationship between Shambhala and the Sakyong and Shambhala and the Sakyong Potrang.   The Board is firm in its aspiration to find a way to heal the community and to hold space for all aspects of the Shambhala community to thrive.   We are committed to continuing to work diligently on the best way forward. We plan to continue these meetings and to share more as they unfold.

New Online Community Programs

We are happy to announce several new online initiatives that will begin in May that are intended for community participation.

Sunday Gatherings, which began on May 10, will occur weekly and feature a guest presenter and include meditation practice, and occasionally Q&A or group discussion or breakouts. Weekly presenters will offer either a short dharma teaching or will present on a particular topic. Every effort will be made to bring in many different presenters on a wide variety of topics so that as many people as possible can be invited to share dharma with the global community. If you are interested in suggesting a Sunday Gathering presenter or topic, please contact Shelly Webb at personnelofficer@dorjekasung.org. Please click here for information on specific presenters, topics and times.  Click here to register through Shambhala Online so that you can receive the link to the event.  Events are free; donations are welcome.

Virtual Chöling is an online calendar for vajrayana practitioners to join together to do specific practices on a regular basis that will be available by May 20.   Click here to see the calendar of practice sessions, umdzes, and host centers. You can add the Virtual Chöling calendar to your Google Calendar here or your iCal here. This initiative is intended to invite our vajra sangha to join in with others to do their individual practice — umdze hosts will lead each session and any tantrika can umdze.  If you would like to umdze a vajrayana practice session, please email Camren Von Davis at virtualcholing@shambhalaonline.org or fill out this form.

Shambhala Online is offering more ways to connect with dharma:

• A year-long course on the Teachings of the Hinayana (foundational Buddhism), which can be taken as a whole or in smaller bites. Foundations in Freedom has just begun – feel free to jump in! More information at:  https://shambhalaonline.org/recognizing-suffering-as-an-awakening/
• Living with Resilience: How to Become Gentle and Tough with Acharya Fleet Maull. This course is live and ongoing and is a wonderful way to explore personal choice and empowerment. More information at: https://shambhalaonline.org/calendar-details/?id=442370

Support For Centre and Group Online Programming
If you need help with developing or presenting local online programming, please contact Shodie Lyon at shodie.lyon@gmail.com who will be delighted to help get your centre or group up and running and publicize your Center’s or Group’s offerings to the global community.

Community Grants Announced

With all of the financial issues that our centers need to confront now, while the Board wants to conserve our community resources, at the same time, we also want to look to the future.  We are now announcing $41,814 USD in grants. Each of these grants is intended to benefit the community as a whole and be future facing. Unfortunately, we will need to put all of the other 37 applications on hold while we work to ensure the financial stability of our overall community.
The grants that will be funded include:

1. Touching the Earth Collective – $22,000 USD funded. The purpose of this initiative is to leverage the successful efforts of the Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective through both the compelling launch of its Shambhala Online portal, and a targeted one-year pilot project featuring online working sessions by Irene Woodard in order to initiate or amplify engagement within and beyond these Shambhala communities as exemplars and agencies of environmental transformation.  Funding for this project is also from two other organizations, Greenfaith and Living the Challenge.
2. Expansion of the Shambhala Art Heritage Teachings – $7,014 USD funded (for Phase 1).  This initiative will make the Shambhala Art teachings more widely available by creating online versions of the courses and additional resources. This will give the worldwide sangha and broader community access to tools to work authentically with other people in the world. This initiative will be led by Steve Saitzyk, International Director, Shambhala Art, Anne Saitzyk, Assistant Director, Shambhala Art, and Stuart Rice, Director of Communications, Shambhala Art.
3. Technical Upgrade of the Shambhala Archives Data Management – $12,800 USD funded. This grant will enable the first phase of a modernization project for the Shambhala Archives which will allow the archives to better manage the tremendous amount of data associated with audio and video teachings and securely house that data in an online environment multiple workers can access. A group including Jeanne Riordan at the Shambhala Archives and other archive and library experts will be coordinated by Alex Van Gils to accomplish this phase.

Advanced Program Scheduling

Through a collaborative effort guided by Practice and Education, the land centers, and the Board, Shambhala is engaged in an ongoing review of holding advanced programs. As it becomes clear that certain programs already scheduled in 2020 cannot be held due to the global pandemic, those programs are being postponed and individuals who have applied or registered are being notified. Future rescheduling options are continually being considered, and programs will be rescheduled if and when it becomes apparent that the holding of programs is feasible. Shambhala is committed to acting responsibly related to the coronavirus pandemic, and this will be an important factor in decisions regarding when group gatherings may be possible again.

For current information about the status of advanced programs, please refer to the online schedule at https://apas.shambhala.info/.

Financial Reports and Initiatives

Shambhala Global Services (SGS) First Quarter Financial Reports: We have posted the Balance Sheet, Income Statements, and Comparative Charts to the same period 2019 and to Budget for the First Quarter ended March 31^st, 2020. Of note is the fact that revenues for the quarter were significantly under budget, but comparable to the same period in 2019. Shambhala Day giving was down significantly this year, but recurring donations held steady as did center transfers. Expenses came in lower which not only offset in part the revenue shortfall, but indicates we are controlling expenses. Since we have added staff and expanded the scope of SGS activities, we are pleased to be able to enhance services yet maintain a lean expense line. Please click here to review the 1^st Quarter financial reports.

Survey Results

The Board has initiated two surveys in the last month:  one to find out what the community would like to see in this time of COVID-19, and another to leaders to determine how centers are faring financially.  The Board wishes to thank the Process Team Survey Group for all of their work to help with the survey process.

Over 1,100 community members completed the survey about what is important to them in terms of Shambhala activities in this time of COVID-19.  The survey results are being released in two parts.  The first shows the results in data and charts and can be viewed here.  The second part will be an analysis of the various text fields and will be available in the coming month.

The financial survey to leaders of our centers and groups had 87 responses.  Six centers were having difficult financial issues now, and an additional eight see issues looming in the next six months. 84% reported financial viability through the end of the year. through applying for government programs, working with the generosity of members, dipping into reserves, working with landlords and banks and moving programming online.  The Board and the Office of Finance will work to determine next steps for centers facing financial challenges as we continue relating with our centers and groups.

Fundraising Efforts for our Land Centers

Thanks so much to everyone who has given generously to support the Land Centres in the last few weeks. We are heartened by the immediate response of the community to the Land Centres joint appeal, and at the same time acknowledge there is further to go to ensure they are financially stable during this unprecedented time.

We invite you to continue giving generously to the Land Centres and to your local Centres and Groups. If many community members are able to start or increase monthly donations or make one time gifts, our collective giving will make a huge difference. Your warriorship and unwavering support for the Land Centres and your local communities is very much appreciated.

Revenue Generation Training and Financial Stabilization Workshop Update

Since the spring of 2019, the Shambhala Development Office has been offering a six-week online Revenue Generation Training to Shambala leaders. This training comprises best practices, exercises, and activities related to key areas of revenue generation at the local level: Membership, Programming & Marketing, Fundraising, and Finance, and is meant to be taken as a team of three to five people (or more) from a Centre or Group. A recent update to this training has been a specific focus on Online Programming.

Thus far, four six-week Revenue Generation Trainings have been offered, with the most recent training in April and May of 2020. Over 250 leaders, 31 centres and groups, and 3 land centres from the worldwide Shambhala community have now participated in this training and the feedback has been very encouraging.

There are no upcoming six-week Revenue Generation Trainings or Financial Stabilization Workshops scheduled, but if this is something that is of interest to your leadership, please email Development Director Faradee Rudy at faradee.rudy@shambhala.org.  Please click here for additional information about the training.

Appointments and Departures

Appointments
Directors, Shambhala Board:

• Phil Cass
• Susan Engel
• Lilly Gleich
• Peter Nowak
• Tai Pimputkar

Departures
Loden Nyima has retired as a Shastri at Shambhala Mountain Center.
Diana Evans has retired as a Shastri in Boston, MA.

Dear Shambhala Community,

We want to acknowledge that this is an unsettling and disruptive time for many, if not most, people in our global sangha; and we continue to extend compassion towards all who are affected by the pandemic. As per our previous communications, you will find further information regarding COVID-19 on Shambhala’s Community Health Resource page, as well as guidance from the WHO and the CDC.

We feel it is more important than ever to support the community through living our Shambhala principles and developing Code of Conduct policies.

In recognition of the reports of harm to children in Shambhala as revealed by the Wickwire Holm, An Olive Branch reports and others, we, along with many others, have diligently worked to create a Child Protection Policy. This policy, which applies throughout Shambhala, is an essential measure to ensure that the growing minds and bodies of our children are respected, and that each child is protected from sexual abuse.

The policy can be found here:

• Child Protection Policy
• Child Protection Policy – Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be as accurate as possible, translations of the Child Protection Policy will be reviewed by a lawyer in each country prior to being released. They will be available as soon as possible.

We encourage everyone to review the policy. Centre and group leadership are invited to join us in a live discussion on March 31st at 11am Pacific // 12pm Mountain // 13pm Central // 2pm Eastern // 3pm Atlantic // 7pm GMT // 8pm CET // 7am NZT April 1st. Webinar invitations will be sent out to center leaders later today, and the recording will be made available to all members following the recording.

The Child Protection Policy is only the first release of what will be a completely new Code of Conduct. Shortly, we will release the new draft Code of Conduct policies, including a basic code of conduct and specific policies that address sexual misconduct, discrimination, and the responsibilities of those holding positions of authority in Shambhala. In the Spring and Summer, the community will be invited and encouraged to give feedback on the proposed policies, and we will facilitate opportunities for dialogue on issues raised by these policies. We hope you will join us in these efforts, and we look forward to hearing your questions, concerns and ideas.

Yours in the vision of Shambhala,

The Shambhala Board  Veronika Bauer Mark Blumenfeld John Cobb Jen Crow Susan Ryan Paulina Varas

Code of Conduct Support Group Claudia Arnau Jim Fladmark Greg Lubkin Jan-Frans Sturm Kristine McCutcheon Susie Vincent

Director of Community Care and Conduct
Tara Templin

Dear Shambhala Community,

The Board wishes a Cheerful New Year to you all as we enter the Year of the Iron Mouse. We have taken time from our ongoing work to reflect on the past year and consider what lies ahead. The Board continues to work with the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s exhortation to “Regard chaos as extremely good news.” We are working to move from crisis management to fully recognizing and beginning to address the challenges ahead – to shift, in some sense, from reactivity to proactive responsiveness.

We thank all of you who produced and participated in the Shambhala Day events which reminded us once again what a strong community we are and that we can benefit the world around us. As a Board, we have been sustained by the people who have stepped forward to help, to support financially, and to offer generously of their time and resources, their care and skillful means. While we ended the year fatigued, we are simultaneously inspired and renewed by our strong sense of global community united by our dharmic practice path.

We aspire that the Year of the Iron Mouse may bode well for new initiatives and change, and  that the possible obstacles in the I Ching reading from Shambhala Day of arrogance and a limited willingness to learn from past mistakes will be overcome. We know that there will be challenges ahead and that we will all need a collective will to change and fresh exertion to move forward. We recognize that our pace of new beginnings has been too slow for some, too controversial for others. Wherever you are, whatever you may think, we thank you for being there, your support and continued involvement and dedication to this work in progress.

Shambhala Board Decisions:

• Approved the Child Protection Policy (CPP) which will be released to the community later this month.
• Approved the formation of a Child Protection Council to administer the CPP.
• Continue working with the Process Team, for example the Government Models Subgroup and the Offering Group, to move forward with the assessment of community feedback and how to develop proposals based on their work.
• Offer three free online talks by acharyas on the Shambhala principles that bind us in the next couple of months. Further information about these programs will be released once they are available from Shambhala Online.
• Invested a significant portion of  the Marpa House proceeds in a protected managed fund.  The managed account will use environment screening and put 50% in fixed and floating rate investments and 50% in conservative growth equities. The Board is currently in discussions about the long-term purposes of this fund.
• Advanced $80,000 USD to Shambhala Mountain Center to cover operating costs because of later-than-usual postings of advanced assembly programming.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Best Practices
We strongly encourage centers to follow best practices for health and sanitation as the virus continues to spread globally.  On Sunday, March 8 and on Friday, March 13, we sent communications to all center and group leaders worldwide with best practices for those communities who are holding programs.

We have also created a resource webpage where we will continue to share best practices and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) as they become available:

• Please click here to access Shambhala’s resource page
• Please click here to access the CDC’s best practices
• Please click here to access the WHO’s best practices

If you are a center leader or program coordinator and have additional help or questions, please contact Cynthia MacKay by email at cynthiamackay@mac.com

February 2 Webinar with the Board and Leaders Now Available
With this update, we would like to make available the February 2 webinar that the Board had with Shambhala leaders.  A wide range of topics was explored, including the invitation to the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to perform the Rigden Abhisheka.  Please click here to see the Zoom recording.

Progress on Care and Conduct
The Code of Conduct Support Group (CCSG), the Care and Conduct Panel, and the Board have been working with Tara Templin, Director of Community Care and Conduct on the finalization and implementation of the Child Protection Policy (CPP).  The Board has approved the CPP, effective February 26, 2020. We have also authorized the Director to recruit a special Child Protection Panel for the application of the CPP. This new policy will apply to all Shambhala programs and events. Please expect to see this new policy in your inboxes later this month — it is currently being translated and will be available soon.

The Board, the Director of Community Care, and the CCSG are proceeding with meetings and processes in the roll out of the draft Code of Conduct of which the CPP is the first approved part. We urge the community to participate in this process so that the new Code is reflective of our aspirations for the community.

Community Grants
The Board is now in the process of reviewing the 40 proposals we received for community grants by the January 31 deadline.  We were very excited about the thoughtful responses from the community and the possibilities that could come from going forward with new initiatives. There is a wide range of requests from our global centers, including proposals related to dharma arts, infrastructure, healing and well-being, education, center support, and finance.  The Board and Shambhala Global Services (SGS) staff will be connecting to the grant writers as we continue to evaluate the requests over the coming weeks.

Progress on Nominating New Board Members
The Board Advisory Nominating Group has been interviewing the roster of applicants for Board membership who came forward by the January 15 deadline.  The group reports that there are a number of excellent applicants that they are now vetting and then will refer candidates to the Board for approval. The Board is open to expanding its membership as well as replacing members who have left or may leave. We will continue to update you on this process.

Shambhala New Year Fundraising Update
While some Centres and Groups still need to report in fundraising totals, the following is a brief update on Shambhala New Year fundraising pledges and donations to Shambhala USA and Shambhala Canada as of March 9, 2020.

• One Time Donations: $88,024 USD
• Recurring Monthly Donations, including new Lotus Donors (annualized amount): $29,536 USD
• Lotus Donor Campaign Matching Grant: $42,500 USD
• Total: $160,060 USD

For every new Lotus Donor in 2020, $500 USD is released to Shambhala from a $100,000 USD matching grant. To date, there are 85 new Lotus Donors and we hope to release the entire matching gift in 2020.

We are launched toward our 2020 one-time donation goal of $275,000 USD and appreciate the generosity of the community.

As a reminder here are the financial reports we released on February 14 that include the 2020 Budget and 2019 Year-End Financials.

Shambhala Online Offerings
We are excited to begin a year-long course beginning April 19 entitled Foundations for Freedom: The Hinayana, which is open to all and provides an in-depth exploration of these foundational teachings through the lens of Shambhala Terma teachings. The well-received Sexual Harm, Trauma and The Healing Journey course, remains available at no cost to individuals, groups and centers.  In addition, we would like to welcome the Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective to the Shambhala Online community. This group of dedicated warriors invites others to join them in individual and collective action for the rebalancing, protection and celebration of a healthy, living world.

Jen Crow Retiring from the Shambhala Board
At the end of March, Jen Crow will be retiring from the Shambhala Board to focus on her career.  Jen has recently accepted a corporate position with a large international technology corporation and is now applying Shambhala principles to engineering and management teams around the world.  Jen has been an invaluable Board member. Among many important contributions, she managed the re-implementation of the donor system, worked on revenue generation issues with Faradee Rudy, was a member of the communications committee, worked on Board surveys, interfaced with the Process Team and performed many trouble-shooting initiatives.  Her common sense, intellect, insight and passionate commitment to Shambhala will be deeply missed.

Appointments and Departures
Appointments:

• Shambhala Global Services – Melanie Klein, Director of Operations, and Tara Templin, Director of Community Care and Conduct
• Shambhala Europe – Joanna Francis, Operations Manager and Helmut Krächan, Managing Director (effective April 1)
• Office of Practice and Education – Jeff Scott, Associate Director
• Boulder, CO – Jessie Friedman, Shambhala Center Director succeeding Melanie Klein
• Columbus, OH – Jean Pittman and Phong Nguyen, Shambhala Center Co-Directors succeeding Kate Curlis
• Halifax, NS – Meg Vigerstad, Shambhala Centre Executive Director
• Pioneer Valley, MA –  Mark Seibold, Shambhala Center Director
• Netherlands – Mary Fahrenfort, Regional Coordinator

Departures:

• Acharyas – Ani Pema Chödrön stepped down as an Acharya, Martin Janowitz retired as an Acharya and David Schneider stepped down as an Acharya
• Economy Pillar – Robert Reichner retired as Minister of Economy
• Office of Societal Health and Wellbeing –  Jonathan Kirkendall resigned as Deputy Director
• Southern California – Sharon Owyang retired as Regional Director
• Baltimore –  Jennifer Yarbro retired as Shambhala Center Director
• Edmonton, AB, – Anita Christianson and Phyllis Woolley retired as Co-Directors
• Gampo Abbey, NS – Ron Renz and Janet Whelan retiring as Co-Directors
• Ottawa, ON – Bozica Costigliola resigning as Shastri
• West Chester, PA –  Shambhala Center closing at the end of April
• Eugene, OR – Teri Rowe retiring from Open Sky Shambhala
• Germany – Dennis Engel retiring as Regional Coordinator
• Netherlands – Fred van Welsem retiring as Regional Coordinator
• Shambhala Europe – Veronika Bauer retired as Managing Director

There are also a number of appointments within the Dorje Kasung. In February 2020, the Council of the Makkyi Rabjam—the leadership body of the Dorje Kasung—resigned from their posts. Following the Council’s resignation, the Dorje Kasung General Staff (GS) was appointed as the Dorje Kasung governing body, utilizing the leadership model from Magyal Pomra Encampment. All GS appointments will take effect on March 24, 2020 and are listed below.

Dorje Kasung Appointments

• GS1 Personnel/Administration (administration, finances, and personnel) – Shelly Webb, Rupön.
• GS 2 High Command (liaison to the Makkyi Rabjam) – Bob Taylor, Rupön. Taylor, Rupön is in communication with the Makkyi, who approved his posting.
• GS 3 Gesar Operations and Security (Gesar Arm activity in regions, regiments, centres, land centres, and programs) – A rotating representative of the active Gesar Regional Commanders. The first representative will be Amanda Hester, Rupön – GES Regional Commander.
• GS 4 Logistics and Physical Camp (physical properties and assets of the Dorje Kasung, including buildings and land) – Will be a rotating representative from SunCamp Leadership Team, first rep. will be Cecily Hardin, Rupön.
• GS 5 Practice and Education (practice path and educational programming) – Sara Lewis, Rupön.
• GS 6 – In development, more details to follow.
• GS 7 Desung (Desung Arm activity in regions, regiments, centres, land centres, and programs) – Ulrike Halpern, Rupön.
• GS 8 Communications and Development (a largely facilitative role, supporting and protecting the quality of communications within the General Staff and between the General Staff and the larger Shambhala mandala) – Robert Ziegler, Rupön.
• GS 9 European Commander (European command and representation) – Véronique Villemagne, Rupön.
• NCO Representative (NCO Corps activity in regions, regiments, centres, land centres, and programs, and Kasung form and tradition) – Sergeant Moya Hallstein.

Dorje Kasung Departures

• Council of the Makkyi Rabjam – Jesse Grimes, Kasung Kyi Khyap, Jan Jercinovic, Desung Arm Commander,Toby Sifton, Gesar Arm Commander, Anna Weinstein, Dorje Kasung Sergeant Major stepping down.
  • Note: Mitchell Levy and Andrew Sacamano will remain in their respective roles as Kasung Acharya and Kasung Shastri.

We send our best wishes to everyone as we enter this new Year of the Iron Mouse.

With appreciation,

The Shambhala Board
Veronika Bauer
Mark Blumenfeld
John Cobb
Jen Crow
Susan Ryan
Paulina Varas

To the International Shambhala Community –

The Shambhala Board, in consultation with sangha medical advisors, is closely tracking the course and impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. We extend compassion towards all who are affected directly by the pandemic through sickness, quarantine, scarcity, fear, and stress.

We ask all center leaders and members to follow the guidance from your local public health organizations. Public health organizations in different parts of the world have different advice based on the progress of the virus. Following the guidance of local public health officials is the best way to protect people in your community. We want to emphasize the importance of canceling public gatherings if recommended by your local, regional or national health department.

On Sunday, March 8, we sent a communication to all centers and group leaders worldwide with web links to best practices for protecting yourself and your community. This website contains helpful information for best practices within your center, such as proper ways to disinfect surfaces and eliminating food handling. For those centers who must cancel or postpone large gatherings, we recommend that all classes, meetings, and programs be held virtually.

We have also created a resource webpage where we will continue to share best practices and guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as they become available:

• Please click here to access Shambhala’s Community Health resource page
• Please click here to access the WHO best practices
• Please click here to access the CDC’s best practices

If you are a center leader or program coordinator and have additional help or questions, please contact Cynthia MacKay by email at cynthiamackay@mac.com.
We will continue to be in touch with you in the weeks and months ahead to share what we know and do our best to support your community in its own response.

The Shambhala Board
Veronika Bauer
Mark Blumenfeld
John Cobb
Jen Crow
Susan Ryan
Paulina Varas

Dear Community –

The Shambhala Board is pleased to make available the Shambhala Global Services (SGS) summary of financial results for the 2019 calendar year and the SGS Budget for 2020. In addition, we have included a Commentary on the 2020 Budget for Shambhala members. The reports are available on the Finance Updates webpage on Shambhala.org.

Yours In the vision of Shambhala,

 

The Shambhala Board 

Veronika Bauer

Mark Blumenfeld

John Cobb

Jen Crow

Susan Ryan

Paulina Varas