Columbus KTC: Announcement of Regular (Annual) Election

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j0384726Dear Sangha Members:

In accordance with KTC elections policy, we have opened nominations for the offices of Columbus KTC Director, Secretary, and Member-at-Large. Any KTC member in good standing may be nominated for the position, but it is wise to check with the person first before nominating them. Nominees must receive two nominations from members in good standing to become eligible candidates for the office.

Nominations will be received by Rich Butchko at butchko1@columbus.rr.com, or in writing to Rich Butchko, c/o Columbus KTC, PO Box 14946, Columbus, Ohio 43214. You may also call Columbus KTC at (614) 228-6546 to nominate someone by phone.

All nominations–whether by email, phone, or postal mail–must be received by 11:59pm on Thursday, December 29, 2016.

We also invite people who are considering membership in Columbus KTC to take this opportunity to become members and join us in this process; we welcome your input. To become a member, please visit our pledge page and/or contact Steve Phallen at treasurer@columbusktc.org.

For more details on the election policy, please see the attached document.

Columbus KTC Board and Elections Policy 14.1-1.

Best wishes in Dharma,

The Columbus KTC Board

Director: Kim Miracle
Assistant Director: Tanya Bissig Schroeder
Treasurer: Steve Phallen
Secretary: Justin Fitch
Member at Large: Eric Weinberg
Resident Adviser: Lama Kathy Wesley

We Did It! First Goal Reached

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We Did It! First Goal Reached. Now…

Gratitude is overflowing at Columbus KTC, as we’ve reached our first goal – completing our $108,000 emergency fundraiser.

In seven months we raised $113,000 – enough to cover most of the losses that weren’t covered by insurance. It’s a good feeling to know that folks saw our need and stepped up – we can’t thank you enough.

Now we’re working toward the next goal – a “nest egg” of cash to lay the foundation for our new home.

We’re in the process of asking the City of Columbus to allow the Columbus KTC to rebuild on its Grubb Street property. It’s a complex process involving many steps – two Neighborhood Zoning Review Board approvals and two City of Columbus Building and Zoning approvals. Our first two “concept” reviews (with the Neighborhood and City) went well, and now we are working with our attorney, architect and engineer toward creating plans for final review meetings this fall. If the Neighborhood and City approve, we move on to the next phase – interviewing contractors and starting our Capital Campaign to raise funds for the actual construction.

At this point, we don’t know how much the final building cost will be, but you can be sure that you’ll be hearing more about this in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, thank you for helping us get to this first goal.

Creating sacred spaces and sacred objects for this generation and the generation to come is a worthy endeavor; your donations – past and future – will produce a ripple effect that will bring more teachings of awakening to Columbus. Thank you – and may all beings benefit!

Comfest is almost here! Some last-minute reminders and announcements

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Dear Dharma Friends:

Comfest is almost here!

Our sangha’s biggest outreach event of the year is the Community Festival at Goodale Park. This year’s festival is Friday Saturday and Sunday June 24, 25, and 26.

Our KTC will have a booth there, selling items and raising money for our KTC rebuilding fund. Every year we make friends at Comfest, many of whom hear about the KTC for the first time and visit in the weeks after the festival, bringing lots of new faces to KTC.

Some last-minute reminders and announcements:

1. COME HEAR LAMA KATHY! Lama Kathy will present a short talk at 4:15 p.m. Friday June 24. at the Off Ramp Stage. The talk will only be 5 minutes long, but she will wrap up with a short Chenrezig chant and take up a collection for KTC afterward.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If two or three people could join Lama Kathy onstage to sing at the end of her 5-minute talk, and stay behind to collect donations in our shiny foil bags, that would be awesome. Write to Lama Kathy at kmwesley@me.com to sign up.

2. CHENREZIG CHANT FOR THE PUBLIC will be at 11 a.m. Saturday June 25 at the Live Arts Stage. Thanks to the five people who volunteered to help Lama Kathy and Ron Hess lead our chant for peace and harmony at the festival and the world! Didn’t volunteer in advance? Don’t hesitate – COME ON DOWN ANYWAY for our REHEARSAL!

REHEARSAL: 10 a.m. Saturday near the Live Arts Stage. We will harmonize, and Ron will lead us with guitar. Short Chenrezig TEXTS will be provided, but BRING YOUR OWN CUSHION AND BLANKET to sit and chant onstage.

3. STILL WANT TO HELP BUT COULDN’T SIGN UP EARLIER? You don’t have to know everything about the Center or Buddhism to volunteer! Click the link below to sign up for booth duty.

In addition, if you are interested in volunteering for Security or Clean-Up for the Festival itself, please contact Marcus Casey at marcusocasey@gmail.com. If enough folks volunteer in these areas, KTC’s booth will be free, and we may even make money!

Here’s that signup page:

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Thanks for reading – hope to see you there!!!

In dharma,
Your KTC Columbus Family 🙂

Lama Karma Visit – Thank You Note

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Dear Sangha,

It’s been two weeks since Lama Karma visited Columbus KTC and we would like to thank all who participated. First of all: Thank you, Lama Karma, for your wonderful teaching and your generous donation of all your offerings! How amazing and how fortunate Columbus KTC is to receive your gifts. We hope you will come back soon!

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Without the many helping hands setting up our space, creating a beautiful shrine, hauling cushions, providing Lama care, selling tickets and store items, promoting the event, finding teaching locations, serving tea and helping out with hospitality, teaching weekends simply would not be possible. Thank you, tireless volunteers: you are the glue that holds our sangha together!

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A special thank you to the folks at the Thurber Center who donated their beautiful facilities to us for the entire weekend. We are grateful for your generous and friendly hospitality.

Finally, thanks to all who attended and received these precious teachings. May your practice flourish and your connection to the Dharma grow!

Yours in the Dharma,
Tanya Schroeder
Assistant Director
On behalf of the entire KTC Board

“Buddhist Night at the Movies” Prize Drawing

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We hope everyone is looking forward to our “Buddhist Night at the Movies” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Monday June 13 at the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High Street. We’ll be showing two documentary films by Buddhist director Mark Elliot – “Bodhisattva,” about the life of the 17th Karmapa; and “Eye of the Land,” about the creating of a Buddhist monument (stupa) dedicated to His Holiness the 16th Karmapa in Colorado.

Along with our “Buddhist Night at the Movies” event on Monday June 13, 2016, Columbus KTC will be hosting a Prize Drawing for Buddhist-related items and books.
Tickets will be $5 each, or 5 for $20. All proceeds will go toward the Columbus KTC’s Rebuilding Fund.

You can buy tickets at KTC Columbus on Sundays, as well as through the Columbus KTC online store. Thanks for helping us re-create the Columbus KTC!

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PRIZES

Prize 1: Buddhist Art Bundle
A Buddhist Art Coloring Book, Buddhist Origami Book and “The Art of Meditation” by Matthieu Ricard. Meditate, fold, or color – mindfulness abounds!

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Prize #2: The Dharma DVD Bundle:
The two films, “Bodhisattva” and “Eye of the Land” – shown at the KTC Columbus fundraiser – plus a third film about the reincarnation of the great master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

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Prize #3: The Dalai Lama Book Bundle:
“Healing Anger,” “The Dalai Lama’s Big Book of Happiness,” and “The Dalai Lama’s Book of Wisdom” will bring the compassionate presence of this great teacher to your home – or pocket!

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Columbus KTC Needs You!

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As we recover from the fire in January and settle into our new home at Tifereth Israel, helping hands are needed to support Columbus KTC programs and activities. Please volunteer for one or more of the opportunities below:

Greeters: Welcome members, friends and visitors and escort them to the appropriate room for Columbus KTC programs on Sundays and Tuesday nights. Time commitment:1-2 hours per month. To sign up. contact welcome@columbusktc.org.

Tea Break Hosts: Organize tea, coffee and snacks for the 11:00 am tea break on Sunday mornings. Time commitment: 45/minutes per month. To sign up. contact ad@columbusktc.org.

Dharma Storekeeper: The Dharma Store is coming back! Help sell books and other dharma related items on Sunday mornings. Time commitment: 1 hour/month To sign up. contact ad@columbusktc.org.

Sound System Helpers: Set up a simple sound system for Sunday morning/ month. To sign up. contact ad@columbusktc.org.

Event Coordinator: Help organize special events such as our Nyungne Retreat, ComFest, Lama Visits, and Fall Retreat. Time commitment: 10-15 hours/event. To sign up. contact ad@columbusktc.org.

Woodworkers: We may need assistance to build new puja tables for the center. If you have woodworking skills, let us know. Time commitment: 3 – 5 hours. To sign up. contact director@columbusktc.org.

Announcement of New Location for Columbus KTC Programs

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Dear Sangha Members:

We are happy to announce that Congregation Tifereth Israel is opening their arms and doors and inviting Columbus KTC to hold our programs at their synagogue for the foreseeable future. We are grateful to the Rabbis and staff for their extraordinary generosity.

Congregation Tifereth Israel located at 1354 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43205 south of Franklin Park. Parking is located in back. Please enter the building in through the doors that face the parking lot.

Signs will be posted in the main lobby to guide you to the appropriate rooms and greeters will be present to help, too.

Additional Information:

Seating

The shrine room is carpeted and will have plenty of chair seating available. Bring your cushions and puja tables if you would like.

*Keeping Kosher*

At their request of our hosts, we’ve been asked not to bring food items into the temple that are not kosher. Fruit and veggies and nuts are fine; home-baked items are not. We’ve been told that Entenmann’s baked goods are kosher and fine to bring in, as are snacks with the kosher label. But other items may not be approved. (I checked – no Timbits, Rich!) More details will be forthcoming. Our hosts said the East Broad Street Kroger in Whitehall has a great selection of kosher snacks.

Driving & Parking Directions

Congregation Tifereth Israel is located on East Broad Street just one mile east of downtown Columbus, between Winner and Taylor avenues.

From the north (via I-71 South): Take Exit 108B onto US 40 (Broad Street). Turn left on East Broad Street. In one mile, destination is on your left.

From the south (via I-71 North). Take Exit 108B onto US 40 (Broad Street). Turn right on East Broad Street. In one mile, destination is on your left.

From the east (via I-670). Take Exit 6 onto Leonard Avenue. Turn Right on Leonard Avenue, then in 0.3 mile, turn left onto Taylor Avenue. When Taylor dead-ends into East Broad Street, turn right on East Broad. In 800 feet, destination is on your right.

From the west (via I-670). Take Exit 6 onto Leonard Avenue. Turn Right on Leonard Avenue, then in 0.3 mile, turn left onto Taylor Avenue. When Taylor dead-ends into East Broad Street, turn right on East Broad. In 800 feet, destination is on your right.

A COTA Bus Line #10 bus runs down E Broad Street. Congregation Tifereth Israel is few blocks east of the Broad St/Ohio Ave stop.

A group of CKTC members created a rideshare group on Facebook, please click here for more information (or search CKTC Rideshares (Unofficial) on Facebook). This is not run or maintained by Columbus KTC, but rather is made up of regular attendees who want to coordinate rides.

photo credit: darthmauldds